We are in the era of progress, where ideas that drive efficiency are the first to be capitalized on, and capital flows freely from inefficient forms to efficient ones, where rational calculation and economic indicators dictate the direction and pace of investments. Platforms such as Uber, Glovo, or advanced technologies like AI have a common thread: they offer large-scale efficiency, reducing costs and capturing a share of the market’s benefits. Renewable energies also find themselves in this privileged position, representing a range of technologies with a multiplier effect, capable of delivering not only economic efficiency but also social benefits.
These advantages arise because renewable energies are easier to implement and practical in that they access energy directly from the natural environment without the need for fuel processing, as is the case with gas, steam, or nuclear power plants. In these traditional systems, the energy consumption begins with obtaining and transporting the fuel, followed by converting it into mechanical energy and generating electricity. Each step adds costs and losses before the energy can be effectively utilized.
In contrast, wind turbines capture energy from a consistent natural source – the wind. According to Betz’s limit, a wind turbine can theoretically extract up to 59.3% of the kinetic energy of the wind passing through the rotor. In practice, modern turbines capture between 35% and 45% of this energy. The primary advantage of these turbines remains the ability to extract energy from an available source without requiring costly fuel preparation, as is the case with other technologies. Similarly, photovoltaic panels capture solar energy without involving preliminary conversion processes.
In the case of gas or nuclear power plants, the losses are significant. For example, gas-fired power plants recover only one-third of the available energy in fuel as electrical energy, with the rest dissipated as heat. Similarly, nuclear plants consume more fuel than the electric energy they produce, making losses inevitable. These factors create additional costs and lead to inefficiency, as acquiring and transporting fuel to produce 1 MWh of useful energy typically involves sourcing enough fuel to generate 3 MWh. In contrast, wind energy is captured directly at the turbine blades, without additional costs.
Production Costs and Wind Turbine Efficiency
To debunk the myth that producing wind turbines is a polluting process, we must understand that until renewable energy is widely integrated, any technology—whether a wind turbine or a steam turbine—is manufactured using energy that can be partially polluting. In the analysis below, we compare the embedded energy for the production and operation of 1 MW generation facilities for each technology: wind, gas, and nuclear.
For a complete analysis of the required energy, we include the following stages:
- Material production – the processing of steel, concrete, and necessary special materials.
- Component manufacturing – the final production of installations.
- Transportation – moving large components to the installation site.
- Installation and construction – assembling parts and preparing infrastructure.
A 1 MW wind turbine, based on current technology, requires between 500 and 1,000 MWh of energy for manufacturing. A modern turbine recovers this energy in 3-5 months of operation, and over its 25-year lifespan, it can produce 75 to 150 times the embedded energy, or approximately 75 GWh.
A 1 MW natural gas power plant incorporates between 200 and 300 MWh of energy, including component production, transportation, and installation. With a capacity factor of 45%, the facility can generate 100 GWh over its 25-year lifespan, meaning the energy consumed in production is recovered within the first month of operation.
For nuclear energy, the embedded energy cost for a 1 MW reactor is between 1,200 and 2,000 MWh. With a lifespan of 25 years and a 90% capacity factor, the initial energy is recovered within 1-2 months. However, it should be noted that nuclear plants are designed to operate for up to 50 years, which can provide a long-term benefit.
Total Energy Efficiency (EROI – Energy Return on Investment)
To compare the total energy efficiency, we analyze the ratio of the total useful energy generated over the lifetime to the energy consumed in production and operation, expressed as EROI (Energy Return on Investment).
- Wind turbine of 1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 35% capacity factor
- Usefull energy produced: 76.650 MWh
- Embedded energy: 500-1.000 MWh
- EROI: between 75 -150
- Gas turbine of 1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 45% capacity factor
-
- Useful energy produced: 98.550 MWh
- Embedded energy + fuel energy: 266.351 MWh (calculated for an efficiency of 37%)
- EROI: approximately 0,37
- Nuclear power plant of 1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 90% capacity factor
-
- Useful energy produced: 197.100 MWh
- Embedded energy + fuel energy: 600.000 MWh
- EROI: approximately 0,33
25 yr – EROI
| Technology | Estimated EROI |
| Wind turbine | 75 – 150 |
| Gas turbine | 0,37 |
| Nuclear power plant | 0,33 |
According to these figures, wind turbines are far more energy-efficient than gas turbines or nuclear power plants, even without considering environmental costs.
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
To assess the final cost of energy produced by each technology, we calculate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), representing the total cost over the lifetime divided by the total electrical energy produced.
- Wind turbine (1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 35% capacity factor)
-
- Initial cost: 1.500.000 – 2.000.000 USD
- O&M costs: 1.916.250 USD
- Estimated LCOE: 45 – 51 USD/MWh
- Gas turbine (1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 45% capacity factor)
-
- Initial cost: 700.000 – 1.000.000 USD
- O&M cost: 1.231.875 USD
- Fuel cost: 2.956.500 USD
- Estimated LCOE: 50 – 53 USD/MWh
- Nuclear power plant (1 MW, 25-year lifespan, 90% capacity factor)
-
- Initial cost: 6.000.000 – 8.000.000 USD
- O&M cost: 4.927.500 USD
- Fuel cost: 5.972.730 USD
- Estimated LCOE: 86 – 96 USD/MWh
25 yr – LCOE
| Technology | Estimated LCOE (USD/MWh) |
| Wind turbine | 45 – 51 USD/MWh |
| Gas turbine | 50 – 53 USD/MWh |
| Nuclear power plant | 86 – 96 USD/MWh |
Final Conclusion
From an EROI and LCOE perspective, wind turbines emerge as the most efficient and cost-effective energy source, with lower costs and reduced resource impact. Although gas and nuclear power plants may appear more attractive in the short term due to lower initial costs, their constant fuel consumption and energy conversion losses lead to inefficiency in the long term.
Therefore, wind energy stands out not only for its lower costs but also for its high sustainability in the future economy. Environmental costs, though not included here, would further tip the balance in favor of this technology, highlighting the advantages of an economy powered by renewable sources.