1

Wind Energy

2

Ancient Resource Meets 21st Century

3

Wind Turbines

Power for a House or City

4

Wind Energy Outline History and Context Advantages Design Siting Disadvantages Economics Future

5

History and Context

6

Wind Energy History1850’s

Multiblade turbines for water pumping made and marketed in U.S.1882

Thomas Edison commissions first commercial electric generating stations in NYC and London

1900 Competition from alternative energy sources reduces windmill population

to fewer than 10,0001936+

Rural Electrification Administration extends the grid to most formerly isolated rural sites

Grid electricity rapidly displaces multiblade turbine uses

7

Increasingly Significant Power Source

Wind could generate 6% of nation’s electricity by 2020.

Wind currently produces less than 1% of the nation’s power. Source: Energy Information Agency

8

9

Wind Power Advantages

10

Advantages of Wind Power Environmental Fuel Diversity & Conservation Cost Stability

11

Environmental Benefits No air pollution No greenhouse gasses Does not pollute water No water needed for operations

12

Fuel Diversity Benefits Domestic energy source Inexhaustible supply Small and easy design for power supply

reduces supply risk

13

Cost Stability Benefits Flat-rate pricing Wind electricity is inflation-proof

14

Wind Power Design

15

Wind Energy Natural Characteristics Wind Speed

Wind energy increases with the cube of the wind speed 10% increase in wind speed translates into 30% more

electricity 2X the wind speed translates into 8X the electricity

Height Wind energy increases with height to the 1/7 power 2X the height translates into 10.4% more electricity

16

Wind Energy Natural Characteristics Air density

Wind energy increases proportionally with air density Humid climates have greater air density than dry climates Wind energy on earth surface is about 6% less than at sea

level

Blade swept area Wind energy increases proportionally with swept area of the

blades So blades are shaped like airplane wings

10% increase in swept diameter leads into 21% greater swept area

17

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

KW

MPH

5040302010

Wind Turbine Power Curve

Vestas V80 2 MW Wind TurbineVestas V80 2 MW Wind Turbine

18

2003 1.8 MW 350’2000

850 kW 265’

2006 5 MW 600’

Recent Capacity Enhancements

19

Turbines Improvements Larger turbines Specialized blade design Computer modeling

produces more efficient design Manufacturing improvements

20

Wind Project Location

21

Factors determining location Winds

Speed and direction Transmission

Distance of grid from project site Permit approval

Land-use compatibility Public acceptance Visual, noise, and bird impacts are biggest concern

Land area Economics of scale in construction as a large area is

needed to apply a good project

22

Wind Disadvantages

23

Wind Energy and the Grid Pros

One time investment Low maintainance cost

Cons Generally remote location Grid connectivity -- lack of transmission capability Not a continuous output

Only When the wind blows (night? Day?)

24

Birds - A Serious Obstacle

Birds of Prey (hawks, eagles)

25

Wind Farm Economics

26

Construction Cost Elements

Turbines, FOB USA49%

Construction22%

Towers (tubular steel)

10%

Interest During Construction

4%

Interconnect/Subsation

4%

Land Transportation

2%Development

Activity4%

Design & Engineering

2%

Financing & Legal Fees3%

27

Wind Farm Cost Components

28

Improved Capacity Factor Performance Improvements due to:

Better siting Larger turbines/energy capture Technology Advances Higher reliability

Capacity factors > 35% at good sites

29

Future Trends

30

Expectations for Future Growth

20,000 total turbines installed by 2010 6% of electricity supply by 2020

100,000 MW of wind power installed by 2020