Wind Energy

Wind EnergyJake

JennyJarrett

AnnalieseConnor

How is it used? Wind Turbines are used to power

electric generators and allows wind to be used as an alternative fuel.

Wind Power is used to power homes, businesses, schools, etc.

Wind Energy in use

The simplest possible wind turbine consists of 3 crucial parts: rotor blades, shaft, and the generator.

Among three designs for floating giant wind turbines in the deep ocean, MIT research is focusing on the tension leg platform (center), a system that oil companies use for deep-water rigs.Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Wind Energy in Use (cont.)

Basing their work on decades of wind energy research and experience, Sandia engineers are creating several concept designs, running those designs through modern modeling software and narrowing those design options down to a single, most-workable design for a VAWT turbine-blade. Results aren’t in, but the early favorite for further testing is the Darrieus design. (Illustration by Josh Paquette and Matt Barone).

Wind Turbines are going to be put in the oceans where winds are stronger.

Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world. The average annual growth rate is 28% compared to 3% for fossil fuels. The major reasons for this growth is climate change and energy security.

Wind energy is still a little of the total energy worldwide. Increasing wind power will require significant political support.

Advantages Friendly to the environment Fossil fuels are not needed to generate

wind energy Wind turbines doesn’t take up a lot of

space Renewable Widely distributed Doesn’t release toxic gases

Disadvantages Has an unreliable factor Produces less electricity than an

average fossil fuel station Construction is costly Cannot only rely on wind energy

Is this energy source good or bad? Wind power is currently the fastest-growing

source of electricity production A single wind turbine can power 500 homes More than 1/3 of all new generating capacity

installed in America since 2007 is wind power

US wind power produces as much electricity as nearly 10 nuclear power plants

The on-shore wind in America is enough to power the country 10 times over.

Modern wind turbines produce 15 times more electricity

Wind Power uses virtually no water and by 2030, wind power will save about 30 trillion bottles of water

Wind Energy used outside of the US Example 1: China produces the largest

amount of wind energy Example 2: Wind power produces as

much as 45% of the electricity in Spain Example 3: China used wind for

pumping water several millennium ago.

What is the impact on public lands/environment?

Wind Turbines harm small birds The primary impact of wind power is

visual, wind turbines are usually in prominent locations because they must be exposed to wind

From about 100 feet the noises made by wind turbines can be compared to the sound of a refrigerator

Is wind energy effective? Wind Energy is effective because:

› It is a source of clean renewable energy› Will reduce carbon emissions and coal

consumption› Provides economic benefits› Widely Available› It is a form of solar energy › Most cost effective› Relatively quiet

Wind Energy and Fossil Fuels

Wind energy is more efficient than fossil fuels.

Example 1: wind energy provides Great Britain with 14 TWH (Terra-Watt hours) of electricity and fossil fuels provide it with 372 TWH but it can lose 54% of its energy.

Example 2: Wind power’s capacity, factor is 30% on shore and 40% off shore and fossil fuels are nearly always below this amount.

Is this energy used globally or outside of the US?

Wind energy is globally used and is the world’s fastest growing technology. In the US wind power is about 1% of the energy. Wind power provides electricity without polluting the air. They are places at cities with strong winds. It does not generate enough electricity to accommodate all of our needs. However, it is most commonly used in the US, India, Germany, France, Spain, UK, China, Denmark, Italy, and Portugal.

Current Research The US Department of energy

exploring to create alternative uses for wind power such as combining wind with hydropower to use in electrical power grid networks.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is trying to forecast wind energy at any given time