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How much of the time do wind turbines produce electricity? |
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Some of the time the wind drops below the lower (“cut-in”) speed where the turbine control system makes the turbine a net consumer of power, so it is shut down. Some of the time the wind is too fierce (“cut-out”) and so it is shut down for safety reasons. Some of the time it has a fault or is being maintained (“down time”). Some of the time it is unwinding itself because of the cables at the top of the turbine have become too twisted (“unwind time”). Putting all of these parameters together, a turbine is usually turning for about 85% of the time. |