let’s take a look at the windmill. Because not all windmills are the same but lets see what is te average.
A quick Google search tells me that these turbines have a tower height of 89 meters. With the blades up, they reach a total of 132 meters. These turbines have a capacity of 2.35MW. Let’s call it 2,350kW. ⚡
To calculate the total generation, we use a concept called “full-load hours,” which represents the number of hours the windmill runs at full capacity.
I found various numbers online, but I think 3,000 full-load hours is a good starting point.
So, the calculation becomes simple: Power * Full-Load Hours = Annual Output
2.350 kW x 3000 hours = 7.050 MWh / year = 7.050.000 kWh
How many trucks can I charge with this? ⚡️🚛
Then, we need to know something about their consumption. ⛽️
Let’s assume a 4×2 tractor drives about 100,000 kilometers per year, consuming 25 liters per 100km. In other words, it has a fuel efficiency of 1 in 4.
This efficiency is roughly equivalent to an electric consumption of:
👉 1.25 kWh per kilometer to give it a number
So, how much electricity does one windmill generate:
Dividing the total annual generation of a windmill by the consumption per kilometer gives us the total number of kilometers a windmill can power. Let’s do that:
7.050.000 kWh / 1.25 kWh = 5.640.000 km
If we divide that number of kilometers by 100,000 kilometers per year we get:
5,640,000 km / 100,000 km = 56.4 trucks per year.
So, a windmill can power approximately 56 electric trucks per year!
Keep in mind that windmills could be even larger. For example, the Haliade-X with a capacity of 12MW can generate more than 5 times the electricity using the same calculation. 📐
💰 Understanding the business case of electric trucks also prompts us to consider generating our own electricity. Solar panels alone may not be sufficient. ☀️
So, maybe having a windmill at your transport company is a good idea? 👇
Interrested? Contact me for more information.
PS there is ofcourse much more then just placing a windmill (grid connection, substations, etc)