Large-scale electric power generation

The potential of wind energy to produce large-scale electric power is focused on the development of wind-turbine tower technology from current sizes of 1 to 3 MWe to turbines that will produce 3 to 5 MWe. The number of 5 MW wind turbines that could produce 9 PWh/a by 2050, estimated for an average electricity generating ratio of 3 GWh per installed MW (American Wind Association, 2007), would be about 600 000. These would be located in areas of sufficient mean annual wind speeds for commercial operation and as an auxiliary resource in other locations. 

By 2040-2050, natural gas reserves will be in very short supply, and the production of coal will quite likely be approaching peak production levels.19. While nuclear power plants are a source of large scale electricity generation, there exist major concerns regarding uranium supply (without breeder reactors), safety, waste disposal, and nuclear weapon proliferation. Therefore, it is prudent to explore the economic feasibility of other fuel sources such as PV electrolytic H2 for centralized, electricity generating plants. 

Analysis of the characteristics of liquid-metal coolants, such as sodium (Na), lead (Pb) and lead-bismuth eutectic (Pb-Bi), makes it possible to decide on the coolant for the new fast reactor considered as a basic component of large-scale nuclear power, which will be capable of taking over the greater part of the electricity generation increase and, possibly, of providing for other energy-intensive processes. 

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