Wind Energy Philip Winterland. What Is Wind and Wind Energy Wind is the movement of the air and is produced by the heating of the earth’s atmosphere.

Wind EnergyWind Energy

Philip WinterlandPhilip Winterland

What Is Wind and Wind EnergyWhat Is Wind and Wind Energy

Wind is the movement of the air and is Wind is the movement of the air and is produced by the heating of the earth’s produced by the heating of the earth’s atmosphereatmosphere

The harnessing of wind to produce The harnessing of wind to produce mechanical work is wind energymechanical work is wind energy

What are some types of wind energyWhat are some types of wind energy– Sail Boats, Electrical Power Generation, Pumps, Sail Boats, Electrical Power Generation, Pumps,

etcetc

Courtesy of Neil Kelly - NWTC

When Did It Start?When Did It Start?

Believed to have started in Egypt around Believed to have started in Egypt around 5,000 years ago (3000 B.C.) 5,000 years ago (3000 B.C.) 11

– Used to sail from shore to shoreUsed to sail from shore to shore

First actual windmills were in Babylon First actual windmills were in Babylon around 2000 B.C.around 2000 B.C.– Used for agricultural purposesUsed for agricultural purposes

1 http://www.energy.iastate.edu/renewable/wind/wem/wem-04_history.html

History of WindHistory of Wind

Ancient WorldAncient World– Egyptians – 3000 B.C.Egyptians – 3000 B.C.– Babylonians – 2000 B.C.Babylonians – 2000 B.C.

Medieval WorldMedieval World– Commonly used by 1100 A.D.Commonly used by 1100 A.D.– No major changes since the ancient timesNo major changes since the ancient times

Modern TimesModern Times– 1890’s sees the first electrical generating wind turbines in Denmark1890’s sees the first electrical generating wind turbines in Denmark– By the 1940’s, multi megawatt machines have been designed and By the 1940’s, multi megawatt machines have been designed and

builtbuilt– In the 70’s and 80’s, the main types of wind turbines were kW sized In the 70’s and 80’s, the main types of wind turbines were kW sized

machines (10’s to 100’s of kW’s)machines (10’s to 100’s of kW’s)– Today multi megawatt machines are built and installed world wideToday multi megawatt machines are built and installed world wide

History of WindHistory of Wind

3000 B.C. – Sail Boats - Egypt

2000 B.C. Wind Mills - Babylon

0 A.D.Common Agricultural Use – 1100 A.D.

Invention of the Light Bulb - 1879

First Electrical Generating Wind Turbines - 1890

First Megawatt Turbine 1940

Present

The harnessing of wind for work has been around for nearly 5,000 years!!! Why is it just now so important??

Why Wind Energy?Why Wind Energy? Using wind for utility scale electric generation began Using wind for utility scale electric generation began

around 40 years ago during the mid-east oil embargoaround 40 years ago during the mid-east oil embargo– Showed the vulnerabilities associated with relying on one form of Showed the vulnerabilities associated with relying on one form of

energyenergy

Its good for the environment.Its good for the environment.– Once built, wind farms produce little to no green house gasses Once built, wind farms produce little to no green house gasses

(mostly from maintenance and driving to inspect the towers)(mostly from maintenance and driving to inspect the towers)

Developing alternative sources of energy is critical to Developing alternative sources of energy is critical to supporting not only the environment, but also to national supporting not only the environment, but also to national security.security.– Where do we get a lot of our gas and oil? Is it an unstable region?Where do we get a lot of our gas and oil? Is it an unstable region?

Why Wind EnergyWhy Wind Energy

Wind farms create many jobs (production, Wind farms create many jobs (production, maintenance, construction, etc)maintenance, construction, etc)– In one town, a 1,000 MW farm was put in and it created In one town, a 1,000 MW farm was put in and it created

2,500 new jobs and increased the town’s tax base by 2,500 new jobs and increased the town’s tax base by almost 30%almost 30%22

Wind energy reduces the affects and costs of Wind energy reduces the affects and costs of energy supply shortagesenergy supply shortages– By diversifying where and how energy is produced, you By diversifying where and how energy is produced, you

dampen the effects of a fuel shortagedampen the effects of a fuel shortage

http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/MythsvsFacts-FactSheet.pdf

Modern Wind EnergyModern Wind Energy

Simply put, modern wind turbines transfer energy Simply put, modern wind turbines transfer energy from the air to mechanical energy which then from the air to mechanical energy which then makes electrical energymakes electrical energy

In reality, large turbines (multi-megawatt) machines In reality, large turbines (multi-megawatt) machines are complex machines requiring a massive amount are complex machines requiring a massive amount of planning and designof planning and design

Modern TurbinesModern Turbines

Photos courtesy of Walt Musial - NREL

Pros Of Wind EnergyPros Of Wind Energy Its cleanIts clean

– Does not generate green house gasses during operationDoes not generate green house gasses during operation

Its environmentally friendly (sort of)Its environmentally friendly (sort of)– You do need to lubricate the machinery (oil, etc)You do need to lubricate the machinery (oil, etc)– It does reduce the amount of COIt does reduce the amount of CO22 that would need to be produced that would need to be produced

with traditional power sourceswith traditional power sources

Relatively quietRelatively quiet– Only 45 decibels at 1,000 ft (as loud as your refrigerator)Only 45 decibels at 1,000 ft (as loud as your refrigerator)

The energy source is free! Don’t have to buy fuel!The energy source is free! Don’t have to buy fuel!

Cons of Wind EnergyCons of Wind Energy Its more expensiveIts more expensive

– The turbines cost a fair amount to buildThe turbines cost a fair amount to build– It costs about $800-$1000 per kW to installIt costs about $800-$1000 per kW to install

Takes a lot of landTakes a lot of land– You can only space the turbines so close, otherwise you get significant You can only space the turbines so close, otherwise you get significant

turbulence damage on the turbineturbulence damage on the turbine– At sea you have to lay miles of cabling under water to transmit the At sea you have to lay miles of cabling under water to transmit the

generated electricitygenerated electricity

Other forms of energy may be needed to diversify the energy portfolioOther forms of energy may be needed to diversify the energy portfolio– Sometimes its not a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket for Sometimes its not a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket for

energyenergy Depending on the area, power is not produced at peak hoursDepending on the area, power is not produced at peak hours

– Having power at peak hours is important for meeting demandHaving power at peak hours is important for meeting demand

Courtesy of Neil Kelly - NWTC

Common MythsCommon Myths Wind Turbines Kill Too Many BirdsWind Turbines Kill Too Many Birds

– Human related activities kill many more birds on average than wind Human related activities kill many more birds on average than wind power plants (less than 1 in 10,000 are killed at wind farms).power plants (less than 1 in 10,000 are killed at wind farms).

– Wind energy got a bad rap at Altamont Pass, CA for killing raptors. Wind energy got a bad rap at Altamont Pass, CA for killing raptors. Migratory paths can be avoided and systems are being developed Migratory paths can be avoided and systems are being developed to prevent birds from coming near the turbines.to prevent birds from coming near the turbines.

They are noisyThey are noisy– Right around 45 decibels at 1000 ft (about as loud as your Right around 45 decibels at 1000 ft (about as loud as your

refrigerator)refrigerator)

You can’t produce enough power with it or its not reliable You can’t produce enough power with it or its not reliable enoughenough– All forms of electrical generation require backup supplies.All forms of electrical generation require backup supplies.– As more energy is installed over a large area, the effects of one As more energy is installed over a large area, the effects of one

farm being offline is mitigated by others being onlinefarm being offline is mitigated by others being online

Common MythsCommon Myths Its not economically viableIts not economically viable

– AllAll forms of energy generation have tax credits to help keep the forms of energy generation have tax credits to help keep the cost of energy lowcost of energy low

– As more turbines are produced and more farms are installed, the As more turbines are produced and more farms are installed, the COE is lowered signifigantlyCOE is lowered signifigantly

– Currenly its 7.5 cents/kWh to buy from traditional sourcesCurrenly its 7.5 cents/kWh to buy from traditional sources

Wind turbines are unsafeWind turbines are unsafe– All turbines must meet stringent requirements to be certified.All turbines must meet stringent requirements to be certified.– The NWTC tests blades and turbines right down the road.The NWTC tests blades and turbines right down the road.

Wind Turbines don’t reduce green house gassesWind Turbines don’t reduce green house gasses– Constructing and making the turbines, somewhere on the line, will Constructing and making the turbines, somewhere on the line, will

produce green house gasses.produce green house gasses.– Wind turbines themselves, unlike modern coal power plants, do not Wind turbines themselves, unlike modern coal power plants, do not

produce green house gasses.produce green house gasses.

ConclusionsConclusions Wind energy has been around for a long Wind energy has been around for a long

time, but has changed significantly in the time, but has changed significantly in the last 100 years.last 100 years.

Wind energy is a safe, reliable, clean source Wind energy is a safe, reliable, clean source of energy.of energy.

The energy source itself is clean and The energy source itself is clean and renewable (as long as the sun doesn’t turn renewable (as long as the sun doesn’t turn off).off).

Questions??Questions??