Wind Energy Wind Energy

Developed and presented by Ed Shoener

To Wilkes University FYF 101J

19 November 2007

Wind Energy is the Fastest Growing Energy Wind Energy is the Fastest Growing Energy Source in the World!!Source in the World!!

Top 10 Countries - Installed Wind Capcity (2005)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

Germ

any

Spain

USAIn

dia

Denm

ark

Italy

United

Kin

gdom

China

Nethe

rland

s

Japa

n

MW

Why such growth…costs!1979: 40 cents/kWh

• Increased Turbine Size

• R&D Advances

• Manufacturing Improvements

NSP 107 MW Lake Benton wind farm

4 cents/kWh (unsubsidized)

2004: 3 – 4.5 cents/kWh

2000:4 - 6 cents/kWh

Elegant Power Source

Need to Change Perceptions…

Modern WindmillsModern Windmills

Types of Electricity Generating WindmillsTypes of Electricity Generating Windmills

Small (10 kW)•Homes•Farms•Remote Applications (e.g. water

pumping, telecom sites, icemaking)

Large (250 kW - 2+MW)

•Central Station Wind Farms

•Distributed Power

Intermediate (10-250 kW)•Village Power•Hybrid Systems•Distributed

Power

Modern Small Wind Turbines:Modern Small Wind Turbines:High Tech, High Reliability, Low MaintenanceHigh Tech, High Reliability, Low Maintenance

• Technically AdvancedTechnically Advanced• Only 2-3 Moving PartsOnly 2-3 Moving Parts• Very Low Maintenance Very Low Maintenance

RequirementsRequirements• Proven: ~ 5,000 On-Proven: ~ 5,000 On-

Grid Grid • American Companies American Companies

are the Market and are the Market and Technology LeadersTechnology Leaders

10 kW50 kW

400 W

900 W(Not to scale)

10 kW Wind Turbine

24 m (80 ft) GuyedTower

Safety Switch

Power Processing

Unit (Inverter)

Cummulative Production

Meter

AC Load Center

Large Wind TurbinesLarge Wind Turbines

• 328’ base to blade328’ base to blade• Each blade 125’Each blade 125’• Span greater than 747Span greater than 747• 163.3 tons total163.3 tons total• Foundation 20’ deepFoundation 20’ deep• Rated at 1.5 to 3.0 Rated at 1.5 to 3.0

megawattmegawatt• Supply at least 350 Supply at least 350

homeshomes

Connected to Regional Power Connected to Regional Power GridGrid

Wind FarmsWind Farms

Windfarm 2Windfarm 2

Off-Shore WindfarmsOff-Shore Windfarms

DenmarkDenmark

Wind Power Today: Wind Power Today: RelativeRelative HeightHeight

Empire Eiffel Umass 1.5 MW Medium Farm State Tower Library Turbine Turbine Turbine1250’ 986’ 297’ 356’ 212’ 142’ 381 m 301 m 90 m 109 m 65 m 43 m

28 stories --------------examples -------------------

Relative height of tall human

structures

North Wind HR3rating: 3 kWrotor: 5 m hub height: 15 m

North Wind 100rating 100 kWrotor: 19.1 mhub height: 25 m

Lagerwey LW58 rating: 750 kWrotor: 58 mhub height: 65 m

Enercon E-66rating: 1800 kW rotor: 70 mhub height: 85 m

Boeing 747wing span: 69.8mlength: 73.5 m

Enercon E-112rating: 4000 kWrotor: 112 mhub height: 100 m

Comparative Scale for a Range of Wind Turbines

Wind Turbine Technology

Why do windmills need to be high in the Why do windmills need to be high in the sky??sky??

Potential of Wind Potential of Wind EnergyEnergy

Source: U.S. DOE

Wind Potential

Key Environmental Key Environmental Issues facing Wind Issues facing Wind PowerPower

Photosimulationof Wind Plant

ActualWind Plant

Impacts of Wind Power:Impacts of Wind Power:NoiseNoise

• Modern turbines are Modern turbines are relatively quietrelatively quiet

• Rule of thumb – stay Rule of thumb – stay about 3x hub-height about 3x hub-height away from housesaway from houses

BATSBATS• Bat fatalities have been reported at nearly all wind energy facilities in the U.S. and Bat fatalities have been reported at nearly all wind energy facilities in the U.S. and

annual mortality has been estimated to vary from <2 to nearly 50 bats/turbine/year.annual mortality has been estimated to vary from <2 to nearly 50 bats/turbine/year. • Current evidence suggests that bat mortality appears to be highest in or near Current evidence suggests that bat mortality appears to be highest in or near

forests, especially along ridge tops, moderate in open areas close to forest in the forests, especially along ridge tops, moderate in open areas close to forest in the Midwest, and lowest in open grassland or farmland away from forests.Midwest, and lowest in open grassland or farmland away from forests.

• No endangered species of bat has yet been found and reported killed at a wind farm No endangered species of bat has yet been found and reported killed at a wind farm in the continental United States. in the continental United States.

• Many of the bats involved in collisions with wind turbines were apparently migrating. Many of the bats involved in collisions with wind turbines were apparently migrating.

• About seven species of bats have been documented to collide with wind turbines. About seven species of bats have been documented to collide with wind turbines.

• Bats involved are primarily common, tree-dwelling bats with widespread geographic Bats involved are primarily common, tree-dwelling bats with widespread geographic distributions. distributions.

• Bat fatality at wind turbines is largely understudied; to date, only 12 studies have Bat fatality at wind turbines is largely understudied; to date, only 12 studies have been conducted in the U.S. Numerous information gaps remain and warrant been conducted in the U.S. Numerous information gaps remain and warrant investigation. Only one refereed journal article on bat mortality at turbines has been investigation. Only one refereed journal article on bat mortality at turbines has been published.published.

BIRDSBIRDS

• Birds occasionally collide with wind turbines, as they Birds occasionally collide with wind turbines, as they do with other tall structures such as buildings. do with other tall structures such as buildings.

• Avian deaths have become a concern at Altamont Avian deaths have become a concern at Altamont Pass in California, which is an area of extensive wind Pass in California, which is an area of extensive wind development and also high year-round raptor use. development and also high year-round raptor use.

• Detailed studies, and monitoring following Detailed studies, and monitoring following construction, at other wind development areas construction, at other wind development areas indicate that this is a site-specific issue that will not indicate that this is a site-specific issue that will not be a problem at most potential wind sites. be a problem at most potential wind sites.

• Wind's overall impact on birds is low compared with Wind's overall impact on birds is low compared with other human-related sources of avian mortalityother human-related sources of avian mortality

Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation• Wind energy can also negatively impact birds and other Wind energy can also negatively impact birds and other

wildlife by fragmenting habitatwildlife by fragmenting habitat

• Installation and operation of wind turbines themselves and Installation and operation of wind turbines themselves and through the roads and power lines that may be needed. through the roads and power lines that may be needed.

• This has been raised as an issue in areas with unbroken This has been raised as an issue in areas with unbroken stretches of prairie grasslands or of forests. stretches of prairie grasslands or of forests.

• More research is needed to better understand these More research is needed to better understand these impacts.impacts.

• Design and locate projects to minimize fragmentationDesign and locate projects to minimize fragmentation

Environmental Benefits

Generating power without air or water pollution Wind farms generate clean, renewable energy without the environmental or health risks of other energy sources, such as coal and oil.

Reducing harmful fossil fuel emissions Power produced from wind has zero emissions. Wind power has the potential to produce three times the total electricity generated in the U.S. today, while emitting no pollutants into the environment

Conserving valuable water resources Wind energy uses no water in energy production and emits no mercury, a leading cause of contamination of our rivers, lakes, and oceans from conventional electricity production.

Preserving local lands Wind farms enable local property owners to maintain the current use of their land, such as farming, grazing, or logging, while creating a new source of clean energy.

Reducing health risks By offsetting the need for fossil-fueled generation, wind energy helps decrease the harmful health impact on humans from particulates and pollutants in the atmosphere, urban smog, and toxic heavy metals found in fish.