WIND ENERGYWIND ENERGY

IntroductionIntroduction

• What is wind energy? – energy generated What is wind energy? – energy generated from windfrom wind

• Wind energy electrical energyWind energy electrical energy

• Renewable source of energyRenewable source of energy

• Underutilized – accounts for only 1.5% of Underutilized – accounts for only 1.5% of total energy used in the world (Merz 2008, total energy used in the world (Merz 2008, p. 46) p. 46)

• Poised to become dominant form of energy Poised to become dominant form of energy in futurein future

Historical use of wind Historical use of wind energyenergy

• Its use dates back to 5,000 years ago Its use dates back to 5,000 years ago (Righter, 2006, p. 35)(Righter, 2006, p. 35)

• Use decrease with invention of water Use decrease with invention of water and fossil energiesand fossil energies

• More developments in 19More developments in 19thth and 20 and 20thth centurycentury

Cont…Cont…

• Modern Modern development – development – from 1970s with from 1970s with discovery of discovery of turbines in turbines in DenmarkDenmark

• The picture aside The picture aside shows a a wind shows a a wind turbineturbine

Power generation from wind Power generation from wind energyenergy

• Basic electricity Basic electricity generation like in generation like in water and fossil water and fossil energyenergy

• Wind speed – areas Wind speed – areas of high and low of high and low speed wind which speed wind which turn the turbineturn the turbine

Cont..Cont..

• Turbines – located Turbines – located in wind farmsin wind farms

• A wind farm has A wind farm has several turbines several turbines which generate which generate powerpower

• Should be located Should be located in areas without in areas without distractiondistraction

Cont..Cont..• Wind farm – connected to power Wind farm – connected to power

collection systemcollection system

• Electricity flow - wind farm to Electricity flow - wind farm to substation (Zavadi, 2005, p. 52) substation (Zavadi, 2005, p. 52)

• Excess power – fed to national gridExcess power – fed to national grid

• Set back – intermittency due to wind Set back – intermittency due to wind variationvariation

• Solution – Pumped storage Solution – Pumped storage hydroelectricityhydroelectricity

Cont..Cont..

• Wind turbine site – determine total Wind turbine site – determine total power output (Demeo et al., 2005, p. 32)power output (Demeo et al., 2005, p. 32)

• Suitable site – raise areas with no Suitable site – raise areas with no distractionsdistractions

• Close to transmission linesClose to transmission lines

• Other considerations - land use use, Other considerations - land use use, cost of land, environmental impact (Gipe cost of land, environmental impact (Gipe 2008, p. 95) 2008, p. 95)

Current Usage of Wind Current Usage of Wind EnergyEnergy

• World output - 121,188 MWpWorld output - 121,188 MWp

• 55% of the total wind turbines, are 55% of the total wind turbines, are located in Europe (Merz, 2008, p. 6)located in Europe (Merz, 2008, p. 6)

• 81% of the total wind usage in the 81% of the total wind usage in the world in United States and Europe world in United States and Europe

• Since 2000 output has quadrupledSince 2000 output has quadrupled

• By 2010, total output will be 160GW By 2010, total output will be 160GW

Cont..Cont..

• Country output:Country output:

• Denmark – 1/5Denmark – 1/5thth of the total energy of the total energy demand (Mason 2008, p. 17) demand (Mason 2008, p. 17)

• United States – Leading producer United States – Leading producer with 16.8 GW outputwith 16.8 GW output

Cont..Cont..

• Australia – 6 wind Australia – 6 wind farms with 756 farms with 756 turbines (IEA, 2009, turbines (IEA, 2009, p. 13) p. 13)

• Generates 1,300 Generates 1,300 megawatt which megawatt which equals 1.35 of total equals 1.35 of total energy consumptionenergy consumption

• The graph aside The graph aside show geographical show geographical distribution distribution

Cont..Cont..

• Most countries promoting wind energy Most countries promoting wind energy in remote areas (Righter 2006, p. 325) in remote areas (Righter 2006, p. 325)

• Companies and homes erecting turbinesCompanies and homes erecting turbines

• Small scale wing power generators at Small scale wing power generators at homeshomes

• Wind farms as financial ventures Wind farms as financial ventures (Righter 2006, p. 375) (Righter 2006, p. 375)

AdvantagesAdvantages

• Environmental friendly (Perry, 2009)Environmental friendly (Perry, 2009)

• Cheap compared to other sourcesCheap compared to other sources

• Renewable (U.S Department of Renewable (U.S Department of Energy, 2008) Energy, 2008)

• Readily available in the environmentReadily available in the environment

• Economical on land useEconomical on land use

• Economical venture Economical venture

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• High initial cost (Perry, 2009) High initial cost (Perry, 2009)

• Noise pollution (Energy Kidds, 2009) Noise pollution (Energy Kidds, 2009)

• Danger to flying mammalsDanger to flying mammals

• Impact on landscape (U.S Impact on landscape (U.S Department of Energy, 2008).Department of Energy, 2008).

• It is unpredictableIt is unpredictable

ConclusionConclusion

• Wind energy - use of wind power to Wind energy - use of wind power to generate electricity from wind turbinesgenerate electricity from wind turbines

• Gained increasing use since 1970Gained increasing use since 1970• Preferred because it is renewable, cheap, Preferred because it is renewable, cheap,

and friendly to the environmentand friendly to the environment• However its costly and not reliable due to However its costly and not reliable due to

intermittencyintermittency• wind energy is the future source of energy wind energy is the future source of energy

for the world for the world

BibliographyBibliography

• Demeo, E., Grant, W., Milligan, R., & Schuerger, M 2005, Wind plant Demeo, E., Grant, W., Milligan, R., & Schuerger, M 2005, Wind plant integration. Power and Energy Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 6integration. Power and Energy Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 6

• Energy Kidds, 2009, Wind Energy, Retrieved 6th October 2009 from Energy Kidds, 2009, Wind Energy, Retrieved 6th October 2009 from http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=wind_home-basicshttp://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=wind_home-basics

• Gipe, P 2008, Wind energy basic: A guide to small and micro wind systems, Gipe, P 2008, Wind energy basic: A guide to small and micro wind systems, Chelsea Green PublishingChelsea Green Publishing

• IEA, 2009, Wind Energy: Annual Report 2008, International Energy Agency, IEA, 2009, Wind Energy: Annual Report 2008, International Energy Agency, 20092009

• Merz, S 2008, Renewable generation and implication on development, Merz, S 2008, Renewable generation and implication on development, BERR PublicationsBERR Publications

• Perry, Z 2009, Advantages and disadvantages of wind power, Retrieved 6th Perry, Z 2009, Advantages and disadvantages of wind power, Retrieved 6th October 2009 from http://hubpages.com/hub/advantages-disadvantages-October 2009 from http://hubpages.com/hub/advantages-disadvantages-windwind

• Righter, R 2006, Wind energy in America, MacmillanRighter, R 2006, Wind energy in America, Macmillan• U.S Department of Energy, 2008, Advantages and disadvantages of wind U.S Department of Energy, 2008, Advantages and disadvantages of wind

energy, Retrieved 6th October 2009 from energy, Retrieved 6th October 2009 from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.htmlhttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html

• Zavadi, R 2005, Making connection, IEE, Vol. 3Zavadi, R 2005, Making connection, IEE, Vol. 3