Wind Energy

Daniel Aydlott, Dom Puglisi, Noah Vazquez, Kyle Bekkering

Current NY/US Investment in Wind Power● The wind production tax credit (PTC) powered $25 billion in private investment in U.S.

wind farms in 2012. Twenty-nine states have standards for production of renewable energy. By 2030, wind power will grow to supply 20 percent of the nations electricity and support over 500,000 jobs.

● The U.S. should invest in wind power because it provides a limitless supply of clean energy. The turbines are manufactured primarily in the rust belt, creating much-ballyhooed green jobs for unemployed factory workers.

● In New York State, the maximum incentive available is #1,040,000 per site/customer.● The maximum equipment size is 2 MW per site/customer. ● The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ( NYSERDA) incentive

shall also not exceed 50% of the total installed cost of the wind energy system.

Latest Scientific Advancements on Wind Power

● Technology advancements make wind turbines bigger, smarter, and more competitive in all situations.● Capacity Factor - Helps keep energy cost low by providing the most possible power. One of the deciding

forces so far for increasing capacity factors has been an increase in the size of the rotors used on wind turbines. Longtin said GE's predominant turbine in the U.S., which has a 1.6 MW capacity, currently comes with a 100-meter rotor, compared to a 70-meter rotor in the past.

● Alstom has made similar changes in the size of rotors for its platforms. The company took its eco100, a 3-MW turbine with a 100 meter rotor, and upgraded it to a 110-meter rotor in 2010. Last year, the company increased that to a 122-meter rotor. They were able to increase by nearly 40 percent the area of the rotor in less than five years, when you increase the area of the rotor, you are able to get more energy at a lower wind speed.

● Gearboxes, generators and bearings are more reliable. Onboard sensors are more effective at measuring and recording data. Power output sizes and ratings have increased.

● The latest scientific advancements on wind power have made it stronger, bigger, smarter, and an increasing supply of energy.

-In New York, the energy being generated is about 2.6% of the energy used.-Today, wind power generates 1.6% of the energy in America.

How Much Energy is being Generated?

Wind Energy in New York

-As of Spring 2014, New York has 20 wind energy projects operating with a rated capacity with more than 1,812 MW. That amount of energy powers almost 500,000 homes.-In the entire U.S, there is >48,000 active utility-scale wind turbines.

Pros of Wind Energy

There are many things that make wind energy the best source to choose.● Wind energy produces no pollution.● Wind energy is completely renewable.● Turbines don’t take up a lot of space.● Energy from the wind has the potential to power the entire world.● Wind energy is great for consumers because they are protected from

power outages, save money on electricity, and can sell excess power back to the grid

● One very large wind turbine can power up to 600 homes.

Cons of Wind Energy

There are also some downfalls of wind energy.● Wind can be unpredictable and

can fluctuate.● Turbines can be noisy.● Some consumers dislike the look

of the wind turbines.● Wind turbines can be a threat to

certain wildlife like birds and bats.

Economic Limitations of Expansion● Many companies have the

power to create and build the turbines but some or most of them are unsure how the investment would pay off.

● This would also be stopped by having to transport the giant parts of the turbine to the area it is going to be built up which uses other resources to get them there.

Political Limitations of Expansion

● Two political blockades that constantly comes up is the taxation and mandates on the energy that is being produced.

● Many big companies try to invest in the energy but since the wind is inconsistent the conventional plants stay open.

Works Cited● "Wind Energy Pros and Cons - Energy Informative." Energy Informative. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "Disclaimer." Wind Power. Web. 20 Apr. 2015."Wind - IER." IER. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "Wind Energy Facts at a Glance." Wind Energy Facts at a Glance. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "Common Disadvantages of Wind Energy Debunked." Efergy Blog. N.p., 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "5 Reasons to Invest in Wind Power (And 5 Reasons to Turn Your Back) - US News." US News RSS. 31 July 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "Federal Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy." Federal Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "NYSERDA's On-Site Wind Turbine Incentive Program." - NYSERDA. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "Technological Advances Are Improving Wind Power's Competitiveness | EWEA Blog." EWEA Blog. 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

Work Cited Continued

● "Technology Advances Wind Energy Development." RSS. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "A Problem With Wind Power." A Problem With Wind Power. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies." Union of Concerned Scientists. Union of Concerned Scientist. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "Cartooning About Change." For the Wind. 10 May 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

● "Intermittent Energy Source." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

● "Energy comparison." SuperScience Apr. 2015: T6. General OneFile. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.

● "Wind Energy Rising." New Scientist 225.3010 (2015): 8. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.