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Wind power pros/cons and output: 1.5 m blade

Short answer

Advantages are renewable, clean, free fuel, low running cost, modular sizes, and land use under turbines; disadvantages are intermittency, need for storage, limited sites, high initial cost, noise, and bird deaths. With A = pi r^2 and P = 0.5 rho A v^3 Cp, the output is about 4.18 kW.

List out the advantages and disadvantages of wind power. Estimate electric power output from a wind turbine that has turbine blade length of 1.5 m and wind speed of 14 m/sec. Assume that air density is 1.23 kg/m³ and power coefficient is 0.35.

Advantages of wind power

  • Renewable, clean, free fuel; no emissions during operation.
  • Low running cost; short construction time; modular sizes.
  • Land below can be used for agriculture.
  • Useful in remote areas and in hybrid systems.

Disadvantages of wind power

  • Intermittent and variable output; needs storage or backup supply.
  • Good sites are limited and often far from load.
  • High initial cost; noise, visual impact and bird deaths.
  • Output falls at high altitude because of lower air density.

Power output

P=12ρAv3Cp,A=πr2P = \frac{1}{2}\rho A v^3 C_p, \qquad A = \pi r^2

Given: r=1.5r = 1.5 m, v=14v = 14 m/s, ρ=1.23\rho = 1.23 kg/m³, Cp=0.35C_p = 0.35.

A=π×1.52=7.069 m2Pw=0.5×1.23×7.069×143=0.5×1.23×7.069×2744=11,929 WP=0.35×11,929=4,175 W\begin{aligned} A &= \pi \times 1.5^2 = 7.069\ \text{m}^2 \\ P_w &= 0.5 \times 1.23 \times 7.069 \times 14^3 \\ &= 0.5 \times 1.23 \times 7.069 \times 2744 = 11{,}929\ \text{W} \\ P &= 0.35 \times 11{,}929 = 4{,}175\ \text{W} \end{aligned}

Answer: Electric power output ≈4.18\approx 4.18 kW.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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