Wind power variation: a highly variable, unreliable and unpredictable source of energy Facts and statistics from the largest wind generator in Germany : E-ON

Power variation - per month distributed by E-ON

E-ON wind power variation over the year (theoritical max : MW) Daily max 6234 MW Daily min 8 MW Installed capacity: MW including wind MW (23%) Production: MWh includ. wind MWh (4,16%) Installed 7558 MW

Delivered wind power: details of variation per 15 min Gradient: 1000 MW/h

7500 MW > ½ Power: 5,1% of the time = 2,7 weeks > ¼ Puissance: 25% of the time = 13 weeks 18,5%

Forecasting of wind power is hazardous Max 80% Min 3% January: windy season Accuracy of prediction : from -50% to +100%

Sensitivity of windmills to grid stability and Incapacity of the grid to face windmill output variations Expansion of wind energy in Germany is not possible without a European-wide cooperation, because electrical grids in neighboring countries are affected by the instability of wind energy production in Germany. Example : Nov 4th 2006, European-wide electrical blackout (wind instability involved).

Congestion of high voltage lines in Germany

How many conventional plants are replaced by wind mills ? Max 10% !!!

Cost of wind energy production in Germany: 2,7 billion € for MWh produced = 103 €/MWh Compare with the cost of nuclear power produced in France: Baseload  h/yr  h/yr  h/yr  68 The cost of wind produced electricity in Germany

Wind energy production in France 05 Production 2006 : 985 GWh, efficiency 20% MW 1500 MW

Wind energy in France: a good investment? For whom? –On-land windmills: year 1 to 10: 82 €/MWh year 10 to 15: 82 €/MWh if less than 2400 h/yr : 82 to 68 from 2400 to 2800 h/yr : 82 to 28 from 2800 to 3600 h/yr : 28 above 3600 h/yr –Outre-mer: 110 €/Mwh –Off-shore: year 1 to 10: 130 €/MWh year 10 to 20: 130 €/MWh if less than 2800 h/yr : 130 to 90 from 2800 to 3200 h/yr : 130 to 30 from 3200 àt 3900 h/yr : 30 above 3600 h/yr Tax credit on investment: 40%