What is the “energy payback time” for a wind turbine?
The “energy payback time” is a tem used to measure the net energy value of a wind turbine or other power plant – i.e., how long does the plant have to operate to generate the amount of electricity that was required for its manufacture and construction? Several studies have looked at this question over the years and have concluded that wind energy has one of the shortest energy payback times of any energy technology. A wind turbine typically takes only a few months (3-8, depending on the average wind speed at its site) to “pay back” the energy needed for its fabrication, installation, operation, and retirement.
