completely agree. too often the operating performance of these inventions does not take into account the capitol, resources and impact that their research, development and manufacture/deployment demanded.
toyota prius for example.

Also, to follow up on xearo’s post, turbine power potential is dependent on rotor radius squared, substrate velocity cubed, and substrate density (with a few other small variables related to efficiency of the axle, resistance of the turbine surface, etc.) This combination of variables shows why a single hydroelectric turbine is far more productive than several large scale wind turbines: water is dense and very fast moving, air is not dense and relatively slow. Wind turbine compensate by increasing rotor radius to windmill sizes. Nano-scale turbines would have an almost negligible power output, particularly when compared with energy invested in their research, development, manufacture and deployment.

So lets hang up the fancy renderings and science fiction language for a minute and concentrate on reduction and efficiency. Sorry for the slam post, it just gets me when science is wielded like magic.