It sounds like you are attributing the same space usage for these types of generators as wind turbines, when it appears they could be much more closely packed. I wouldn't expect ten of these to use ten times the square footage as the wind turbines. Additionally, I wouldn't expect ice to be flung as far (but I'm not sure what the oscillation is really like), but from the design, maybe ice poses other challenges to these.
Re:Wind Power Without the Mills
by startupfounder on Monday May 11, 2015 @03:23PM
(#9527245)
MWh/sq.ft.
I am attributing larger footprint usage to trying to generate a similar power output given current wind mast technology. 10 wind masts alone don't take up the same space as 10 classic turbines, but the the number of wind masts necessary to generate the equivalent output of 10 classic turbines is greater that 1:1 due to wind swept area per turbine.
Having 500 4kw systems cuts into harvest revenues as do 10 20kw systems as the equivalent square footage lost to generate 1MWh is an order of magnitude larger.
Also, wind turbines blades in colder climates tend to accumulate ice in the winter and thus are permitted to be located away from populated areas. Some big chunks of ice have been flung hundreds of meters. The larger the blade the further the distance you need to put your structure for safety reasons. These masts shouldn't be put on buildings (vibration) or near populations (ice).