The Impact On Tower Height Of Wind Turbine

Abstract

Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world today. The most critical factor influencing the power developed by a wind energy conversion system is the wind velocity. Wind velocity increases with height due to wind shear. Hence, the taller the tower, the higher will be the power available to the rotor. However, taller towers cost more. Thus, the optimum tower height should be taken into account by working out the economics of the options in terms of cost per kWh of electricity generated. Other factors must also be considered in the design of tower height such as the limitation of regulatory law and the difficulty of service and maintenance. So, final decision on the tower height should be made after considering all these factors.