785 cubic yards X 400lbs of CO2 per yard concrete = 314,000lbs of CO2 released = 143 metric tons CO2. We haven't even got to all the emissions from producing and shipping the iron rebar.
I calculated that an equivalent CO2 for a power plant burning natural gas is 3 metric tons. Can that be right?
A wind turbine produces about 500 kW per year. I read somewhere that the lifetime of a wind turbine is about 30 years. I don't remember where. For a total lifetime energy production of 15 MW.
This would be for 1 year, so assuming 30 year lifespan that would be a total estimate of 131,400MWh.
If you take that number and multiply by the amount of co2 per kwh of natural gas, it would be 26.28M kg of co2. (If I did my math right)
The co2 released by the concrete alone wouldn't come close to the co2 emissions from natural gas for a comparable lifetime power output, but as there's a lot more co2 released in other aspects of wind turbine production (rebar, material transport, mining, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, cables, etc) it's hard to say how efficient they really are. This would be something cool to look into.
785 cubic yards X 400lbs of CO2 per yard concrete = 314,000lbs of CO2 released = 143 metric tons CO2. We haven't even got to all the emissions from producing and shipping the iron rebar.
I calculated that an equivalent CO2 for a power plant burning natural gas is 3 metric tons. Can that be right?
A wind turbine produces about 500 kW per year. I read somewhere that the lifetime of a wind turbine is about 30 years. I don't remember where. For a total lifetime energy production of 15 MW.
Natural Gas emits 0.2 kg of CO2 per kWh. 15,000 kW * 0.2 kgCO2/kW = 3 metric tons.
That can't be right. Tell me it isn't so. Just the concrete?
concrete curing releases CO2. that is what he is talking about.
It takes large kilns to produce cement powder to make concrete. You have to use natural gas or coal for those large kilns.
I'm not sure this math is correct. I was looking online and found the following (assuming a 2MW turbine running at 25% efficiency).
2 MW × 365 days × 24 hours × 25% = 4,380 MWh = 4,380,000 kWh
This would be for 1 year, so assuming 30 year lifespan that would be a total estimate of 131,400MWh.
If you take that number and multiply by the amount of co2 per kwh of natural gas, it would be 26.28M kg of co2. (If I did my math right)
The co2 released by the concrete alone wouldn't come close to the co2 emissions from natural gas for a comparable lifetime power output, but as there's a lot more co2 released in other aspects of wind turbine production (rebar, material transport, mining, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, cables, etc) it's hard to say how efficient they really are. This would be something cool to look into.
Thanks. Yeah, that looks better.