Wind Energy
April 7, 2008
Wind energy is a converted form of solar energy. The sun’s radiation heats different parts of the earth at different rates—most notably during the day and night, but also when different surfaces (for example, water and land) absorb or reflect at different rates. This in turn causes portions of the atmosphere to warm differently. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at the earth’s surface, and cooler air is drawn in to replace it. The result is wind.
Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of that motion — “kinetic energy.” Some portion of that energy can converted into other forms — mechanical force or electricity — that we can use to perform work.
How does wind energy work?
A wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for practical use. Wind flows through turbines which create energy that can be used for electricity.
There are two basic designs of wind electric turbines: vertical-axis, or “egg-beater” style, and horizontal-axis (propeller-style) machines. Horizontal-axis wind turbines are most common today, constituting nearly all of the “utility-scale” (100 kilowatts, kW, capacity and larger) turbines in the global market.
The Future of Wind Energy
The U.S. wind energy industry turned in a solid performance in 2004, adding 389 megawatts (MW) of new generating equipment to the nationwide fleet, or enough to serve more than 100,000 average homes, according to AWEA.
How many homes can one megawatt of wind energy supply?
An average U.S. household uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. One megawatt of wind energy can generate between 2.4 million and 3 million kWh annually. Therefore, a megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 240 to 300 households use. It is important to note that since the wind does not blow all of the time, it cannot be the only power source for that many households without some form of storage system. The “number of homes served” is just a convenient way to translate a quantity of electricity into a familiar term that people can understand. (Typically, storage is not needed, because wind generators are only part of the power plants on a utility system, and other fuel sources are used when the wind is not blowing.)
How much energy can wind realistically supply to the U.S.?
Wind energy could supply about 20% of the nation’s electricity, according to Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, a federal research lab. Wind energy resources useful for generating electricity can be found in nearly every state.
U.S. wind resources are even greater, however. North Dakota alone is theoretically capable (if there were enough transmission capacity) of producing enough wind-generated power to meet more than one-third of U.S. electricity demand.
What is needed for wind to reach its full potential in the U.S.?
Consistent policy support
Over the past five years (1999-2003), the federal production tax credit has been extended twice, but each time Congress allowed the credit to expire before acting, and then only approved short durations. The PTC expired again December 31, 2003, and as of March 2004 had still not been renewed. These expiration-and-extension cycles inflict a high cost on the industry, cause large lay-offs, and hold up investments. Long-term, consistent policy support would help unleash the industry’s pent-up potential.
Nondiscriminatory access to transmission lines
Transmission line operators typically charge generators large penalty fees if they fail to deliver electricity when it is scheduled to be transmitted. The purpose of these penalty fees is to punish generators and deter them from using transmission scheduling as a “gaming” technique to gain advantage against competitors, and the fees are therefore not related to whether the system operator actually loses money as a result of the generator’s action. But because the wind is variable, wind plant owners cannot guarantee delivery of electricity for transmission at a scheduled time. Wind energy needs a new penalty system that recognizes the different nature of wind plants and allows them to compete on a fair basis.
New transmission lines
The entire transmission system of the wind-rich High Plains, which cover the central one-third of the U.S., needs to be extensively redesigned and redeveloped. At present, this system consists mostly of small distribution lines—instead, a series of new high-voltage transmission lines is needed to transmit electricity from wind plants to population centers. Such a redevelopment will be expensive, but it will also benefit consumers and national security, by making the electrical transmission system more reliable and by reducing shortages and price volatility of natural gas.
Transmission will be a key issue for the wind industry’s future development over the next two decades.
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About the Author:
C. Ozcan – is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit Site Insaat Mimarlik Hizmetleri Insaat Firmalari for more information about Turkish contracting and construction services in Turkey.
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Realistically speaking, we cannot expect that the energy industry will at any time in the near future, embrace the simple technology we as a species require to continue our survival. One of the biggest mistakes in the history of mankind has been the city and public infrastructure. They have their uses and in some cases are totally beneficial, on a small scale. Each and every one of us needs to realize that the advantages of cities become moot when the sizes grow beyond a given level. Aater that there is rampant anonymity and a loss of connection to your neighbors. Crime escalates and attitudes become jaded.
A simple lifestyle based on community and agrarianism is what will be necessary to save the human species. Take back the freedom of your forefathers and create your own conveniences and life situation rather than rely on being provided the simple things. A little education and a willingness to do it yourself must be cultured and promoted to all the world.
John
I 100% agree. I believe that it starts first with the individual saying what can I do to make things better instead of depending on others. I believe in educating ones self. But I don’t limit educating ones self to the school system. Not at all, self education is to be active in leaning to do what you feel is important:-)
Wind Fans generate electricity and don’t use fuel or add pollution so why are they not being built more rapidly? Answer- cost. What is needed is a way to get multi millionaires to help.
Establish memorial parks. For each one who pays the costs of a wind Fan put a plaque near the base showing the name of the donator and the name of the one to be memorialized. The memorial park should be designed to attract visitors to walk around viewing the wind generators and reading the plaques.
An alternate plan would be to create a cemetery where wind towers honored the deceased instead of expensive mausoleums and head stones.
Money generated could be used for poor who can’t afford to pay electric bills or for soldiers families who are killed in action.