01581nas a2200157   4500008004100000245006900041210006900110260000900179520103800188653001701226100001801243700001601261700001801277700001701295856011101312       2011                        eng d00aWind Power Energy Technology and Environmental Impact Assessment0 aWind Power Energy Technology and Environmental Impact Assessment  c20113 aPower generation for the existing electrical grid is largely based on the combustion of fossil fuels. Global concerns have been raised regarding the environmental sustainability of the system due to life cycle impacts, including land losses from fuel extraction and impacts of combustion emissions. An approach to reduce carbon emissions of fossil fuel-based energy employs the conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The work presented describes modern wind power plants and provides an environmental assessment of a representative wind park from a life cycle perspective. The empirical analysis uses commercially available data, as well as information from an existing wind power plant. The life cycle assessment (LCA) study for a modern wind farm in the northwestern U.S. found that environmental benefits of avoiding typical electricity production greatly outweigh the impacts due to wind turbine construction and maintenance. Effects of component reliability, varying capacity factors, and energy portfolio are explored.10aSupply Chain1 aHapke, Hannes1 aWu, Zhaohui1 aHaapala, Karl1 aBrekken, Ted  u/biblio/wind-power-energy-technology-and-environmental-impact-assessment-0