Windpower

BENEFITS of WIND ENERGY

Wind Power is Booming www.omsi.edu 800.955.OMSI (6674)

WEDNESDAYMARCH 109:30 am–5:30pm

TUESDAYAPRIL 610:00 am–4:30pm

THURSDAYJUNE 310:30 am–5:30pm

Rotor Hub

Gearbox

Shaft

Brake

Generator

Brake

WHAT IS A WIND FARM?

Groups of large turbines, called wind farms or wind plants, are the most cost-effi cientuse of wind-energy capacity.

The most common utility-scale wind turbines have power capacities between 700 KW and 1.8 MW, and are grouped together to get the most electricity out of the wind resources that’s available.

They are typically spaced far apart in rural areas with high wind speeds, and the small footprint of HAWTs means that agricultural use of the land in nearly unaffected. Wind farms have capacities ranging anywhere from a few to hundreds of MW.

The world’s largest wind-power plant is in the Raheenleagh Wind Farm located off thecoast of Ireland. At full capacity, it will have200 turbines, a total power rating of 520 MW and cost nearly $600 million to build.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The wind energy in the wind is converted to rotational motion by the rotor. When the blades turn, the rotor turns a shaft, which transfers the motion in to the nacelle.

Then the slow rotating shaft enters a gearboxthat increase the rotational shaft speed. The output shaft is connected to a generator that converts the rotational movement into electricity at medium voltage (hundred of volts).

The electricity fl ows down to heavy electric cables inside the tower to a transformer, which increases the voltage of the electric power to the distortion.

The distribution-voltage power fl ows through underground lines to collection point where the power may be combines with other turbines.

The electricity may be sent to nearby farms, residences and towns. The electricity may also be sent to be substation where the voltage is increased to transmissio voltage power and sent through above-ground transmission lines to distant cites and factories.

4000

6500

10000

3000

24000 Total United States W

ind Capacity 1999-2008 (kW

h)

2500

SO WHY USE WIND ENERGY?

The two biggest reasons for using wind to generate electricity are the most important one Wind power is clean, and it is renewable. It doesn’t release harmful gases like CO2 and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere the way coal does, and we are in no danger of running out of wind anytime soon. There is also the independence associated with wind energy, as any country can generate it at home with no foreign support. And a wind turbine can bring electricity to remote areas not servedby the central power grid.

HOW MUCH DOES WIND PRODUCE?

In 2008, wind machines in the United States generated a total of 52 billion kilowatt, and 1.3% of total U.S. electricity generation. Although this is a small fraction of the Nation's total electricity production, it was enough electricity to serve 4.6 million households or to power the entire State.

The amount of electricity generated from windhas been growing rapidly in recent years. During the years from wind in the United States nearly doubled between 2006 and 2008.

New technologies have decreased the cost of producing electricity from wind, and growth in wind power has been encouraged by tax breaks for renewable energy and green pricing programs. Many utilities around the country offer green pricing options that allow customers the choice to pay more for electricity that comes from renewable sources to support new technologies.

First, Transformer increase voltage for transmissionto subststion.

WORLD WIND POWER CAPACITY GROWTH

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

United States

China

India

Ireland

Spain

Russia

12,210

23,90316,754

33,109

9,845

25,360

Then Distrubution to residence and other locations.

The cost of utility-scale wind power has come down dramatically in the last two decades due to technological and design advancements in turbine production and installation. In the early 1980s, wind power cost about 30 cents per kWh. In 2006, wind power costs as little as 3 to 5 cents per kWh where wind is especially abundant. The higher the wind speed over time in a given turbine area, the lower the cost of the electricity that turbine produces. On average, the cost of wind power is about4 to 10 cents per kWh in the United States.

The wind turbine lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. It is not uncommon for wind turbine owners with total-electric homes to have monthly utility bills of only $8 to $15 for nine months of the year. In northern parts of the country where less air conditioning is used the bills can be very low year-round. But no matter where the amount of money a wind turbine saves you in the future will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors, but you will save.

HOW MUCH IS IT? HOW MUCH DO I SAVE?

43%

71%

41%

13%

Coal

Nuclear

Gas

Wind13%

71%71%71%71%

41%

43%

Power Source Cost Increase in Cents/ KwhPercentage Increase from 2005 to 2008

The Substation increase voltage for transmission over long distance.

The energy travels from the Transmission to the grid.

WILL IT HELP THE ENVIRONMENT IF I INSTALL A WIND TURBINE AT MY HOME?

Yes, wind turbines produce no pollution andby using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generwated by your utility company.

A small residential wind turbine can offsetapproximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).

IS IT EASY TO INSTALL WIND TURBINE?

A wind turbine is easily retrofi tted to virtually any home without the need to change any wiring or appliances. In most cases, the utility will install a second utility meter to measure how much surplus electricity it is purchasing from the turbine owner.

Most dealers offer either complete turnkey (ready-to-operate) installations or the option to purchase direct from the factory and install the system yourself. The fi rst option offers morecustomer support from the company. Self installation offers signifi cant savings and a hands-on understanding of the turbine.

Prospective owners can discuss the options available with manufacturers to decide which method best suits their skills.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

The Pacifi c Northwest has the potential to generate over 137,000 MW of electricity fromwind power. This is enough to provide nearlyfour times the current electricity consumption in the region. The majority of the region’s potential wind resources are in Montana, and alone has enough potential wind resources to supply one quarter of the electricity needs of the United States.

And 2,300 MW of nameplate wind power capacity is currently generated at Northwest wind farms and projects currently in development could triple that fi gure over the next several years. Texas leads the United States in wind development with over 4,350 MW of currently installed capacity each. California, has nearly 2,500 MW of installed capacity and Colorado, Minnesota, and Iowa are also making rapid investments in wind power, with over 1,000 MW currently in service in each state.

Between 2001 and 2007, the U.S. wind generating capacity expanded at a remarkable rate of 49% per year on average. By the end of 2007, the U.S. had over 16,800 MW of wind capacity online, enough to power over 1.5 million homes for the entire year.