The payback for the associated energy use is within about 5-7 months, and even in the worst case scenario, lifetime energy requirements for each turbine only takes 1 year of operation.1 So for the next 19 years, each turbine will, in effect, power over 500 households without consuming electricity generated using conventional energy sources, and if the turbines end up operating for over 20 years, that's just a bonus.
"Based on the assumptions made, the results of this study can be used to conduct an environmental analysis of a representative wind park to be located in the US Pacific Northwest."
IOW, this study was likely "commissioned" to justify a massive contract for a wind turbine farm.
Whenever I see a statement like this I think, well, that could be true but who did the figuring, the calculations?
It's off, like most of these memes are.
I found this:
https://www.treehugger.com/energy-paypack-megawatt-wind-turbine-lasts-over-years-months-4858396
From the 1st source cited in the article:
"Based on the assumptions made, the results of this study can be used to conduct an environmental analysis of a representative wind park to be located in the US Pacific Northwest."
IOW, this study was likely "commissioned" to justify a massive contract for a wind turbine farm.