2. Wind Energy Basics
• Sun heats land/atmosphere.
Hotter air rises and cooler air
flows quickly to fill the gaps
left from the hot air. That air
rushing in is wind.
<1.Kinetic energy (wind)
<<5.Mechanical Energy (turbine)
<<<10.Electrical Energy (Electricity)
3. History
• 5000 B.C.: boats traveled by wind
• 200 B.C.: windmills used to pump water and grind grains
• 11th century: Windmills used extensively in Middle East for food
production, influenced Europeans
• 1887: first electricity generating windmill built in Scotland by Prof
James Blyth
• 1890: Larger wind turbines appeared in Denmark
4. In 25 years, wind turbines have increased in height and diameter by 100m (>300ft)!!
The wind turbines have increased in potential energy generation by 9,900%!!! (50kW->5MW)
5. Wind Resources in the US
Based on the resource map of average winds in
certain locations, wind turbines only in the Dakota’s
and Texas could produce enough energy to power the
United States. (currently wind provides 2.3%)
According to the National Renewable Energy Lab,
the US has the potential to install over 10,000 GW of
onshore wind power at a 30% Capacity Factor.
That is 9 times more than current US electricity
consumption.
6. Capacity Factor of Wind Farms
• Capacity Factor is the ratio of actual energy produced to
the hypothetical maximum at full power. So, a capacity
factor of 50% means that a power plant would operate
at 100% power 50% of the time. These vary
considerably between energy sources (Below).
Nuclear- 90%
Natural Gas- 85% CF should not be confused with efficiency,
which attempts to understand the
Coal- 80% mechanical conversion efficiency. Rather
Biomass- 80% CF represents the the base-load potential
Hyrdoelectric- 45% that resource can utilize. (Wind does have
one of the higher efficiencies
Wind- 33% though~90%)
Solar- 20%
7. Distribution and Capacity
• Offshore winds faster and stronger, produce more
energy
• Over 600 MW of offshore wind energy installed
worldwide
• US has 47 GW installed onshore as of December 2011
• EU has 93 GW total installed
11. Utah
Utah has over 327 Megawatts of developed wind
(Of which, goes to CA.)
400 to 600 MW are planned to be developed by 2013
Spanish Fork
Milford
12. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre
Wind farm- Wyoming USA
• 1,000 wind turbines
• Approximately 2,500 megawatts
• Best winds in the country – Class 6-7
• $4B-$6B estimated cost
• 2013 construction start
725-mile transmission line will have to be
built from Wyoming to California.
• 3,000 MW capacity
• 600 kV HVDC
• 725-mile proposed route
• 3-year construction creating 1,000+ jobs each year
• $3B estimated cost
13. Economical Considerations of Wind
• Wind resource development requires large amounts of upfront
costs. For example, a 500MW wind farm costs between $600
million and $1.5 billion.1 (Depending on grid connection costs)
• Generally, purchase power agreements are made that ensure
stable, low cost energy over a period of time ranging from 20-
25 years.
• Based on a research study, 2.6 jobs are created for each 1
Megawatt of energy built.2
• Transmission lines must be incorporated into the costs for
transportation of wind energy. Transmission lines are eligible
for federal subsidizations because these improve grid
efficiency.
• Rural development of wind energy can allow for communities
to invest in their power source.
14. Concerns with Wind
• Impact on wildlife and
natural environment
• Aesthetic and aural issues
w/local residents
• $$$
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=8OZgoERceSU
15. Final thoughts on Wind Energy
• Wind energy is intermittent. When the wind does not blow, wind
turbines provide 0 energy.
• Energy storage is the only solution to the intermittency problem.
Depending on new technological breakthroughs, energy storage
could change the way we produce and consume energy.
• Depending on the regulatory atmosphere and whether or not
pollution laws are implemented, the cost margin between wind and
other conventional resources could be greatly reduced.
• Economically and Technologically, wind would be able to provide
100% of energy in the entire world.
• The main barriers to large scale development of wind are social and
political factors.
18. Bibliograpghy
Energy Information Administration. http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html.
"GWEC Global Wind Statistics 2011" (pdf). Global Wind Energy Commission. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
http://offshorewindfarms.org/
http://www.windustry.org/wind-basics/learn-about-wind-energy/wind-basics-wind-energy-today-and-
tomorrow/wind-energy-today-and
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp
http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=180
http://utahcleanenergy.org/our_work/utah_wind_power_campaign/utah_wind_projects_development
Werner, Carol. “Jobs From Renewable Energy and Efficiency. Environmental and Energy Study Institute.”
8 Nov. 2007. www.eesi.org/files/EEREJobsFactSheet_11-8-07_0.pdf
Editor's Notes
1. Based on cost of previous wind farms developed.2. Jobs from Renewable Energy and Efficiency. (see bibliography)
