Raw materials for wind energy storage equipment

What materials are used in wind energy?

Material Intensity (t/MW) of Potential Future Wind Energy Technologies by Material Category Component Subassembly Steel Road Cast iron Other metals and alloys Composites and polymers Concrete aggregate Other materials Land -B ased W ind Array and export cables Total* 3.6 4.4 Foundation Total* 22.8 1.1 <0.01434.4 Roads Total* 383.9

What materials are used to build wind turbines & solar panels?

But the materials needed to build wind turbines and solar panels are not always common. Take the rare earth metals—neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium—for example. Chances are those names are just as unfamiliar as the silvery metals they represent. And yet, some wind turbines cannot function without them.

How can wind energy help reduce global material supplies?

Certain types of wind energy technologies could also help alleviate pressure on global material supplies. Hybrid tower systems, for example, use more concrete and less high-demand steel. And alternative generator designs could incorporate materials other than rare earth metals.

How much material does a land based wind plant need?

As shown in Figure 10, land-based wind plants require a total of 1,000-1,200 t of material per megawatt compared to 300-350 t of material per megawatt for offshore wind. 13 Land-based wind energy projects show the most change in material intensity over time.

How much material does a wind power plant use?

For example, current land-based wind power plants require about 1,200 metric tonnes (t) of material per megawatt, comprised (by mass) of approximately 53% road aggregate, 34% concrete, 9% steel, 2% composites and polymers, 1% cast iron, 1% other metals and alloys, and less than 1% other materials.

How much material do offshore wind plants need?

Offshore wind plants currently require about 300 t of material per megawatt, comprised (by mass) of 87% steel, 5% other metals and alloys, 4% composites and polymers, 3% cast iron, and 1% other materials. Shifts in material 10 Refer to Section 2.1.3 and Figure 3 for a definition of the foreground and background systems. 11