Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1
Universidad
de Puerto Rico
Recinto
Universitario
de Mayagez
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
Abstract
Background Information 3
Purpose Statement 5
Rationale
Scope
Abstract
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
The country has invested in the past into various alternatives apart from
fossil fuel but success has not been evident(Green Energy Fund, ELA)with the
exception of the Santa Isabel project details to follow. As such the
implementation facet of the approach has been evidenced by various
bureaucracies and challenges. As such the main challenges have been initial
cost and the inability of various organizations to produce electricity within a
lower price point. Hence diverse analysts have come up with various
solutions to the prevailing energy crisis that this country faces today(Green
Energy Fund, Estado Libre Asociado), one example can be the Santa Isabel
wind turbine project.
The process of phasing or at least reducing fossil fuel for energy in Puerto
Rico started with the Santa Isabel Wind farm, a project which won "Project of
the year" in 2012 , the project met or exceeded the criteria for this award
bequeath by the Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of
Puerto Rico. The project consist of developing 74 MW and up to 101 MW
through a wind farm. Today Puerto Rico would need an excess of 3260
MW(mega watts) to fully supply the energy demand every year. Puerto Rico's
land capabilities do not allow for such a development. So for the phasing or
partial phasing of fossil fuel different projects throughout the terrain have to
be developed, researched and improved(Allan Afuah,2009).
This proposal proposes an implementation of wind power energy because it
is the best renewable energy to date(Elliot ,D 2003) and it is the best way to
begin the partial phasing of fossil fuel energy production; a process that is
long and very complicated. The energy problem in Puerto Rico is too big for it
to be solved with one proposal or with one solution so this proposal focuses
on one plausible solution that can be integrated into the networks of
solutions that we count on today.
The proposal plans to accomplish the first generation iteration of wind
turbines in the city of Arroyo Puerto Rico, that consists of a very delicate
process that involves: research, implementation and continuing revision of
the project for a continuous improvement and further implementations.
Wind technology has become an approach that has been evident in various
developed countries. Sweden, Germany and other diverse developed
countries have taken the front step towards sustainable energy. As such,
through the inculcation of wind energy, many analyst assert that
diversification and beneficial outcomes are bound to prevail(Elliot, D 2003).
However, as a developing economy, Puerto Rico convey diverse prospects in
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
Electricity generated from wind has been the best developed and available
renewable energy to date, the research supports this; thus a plausible
solution to the energy problem that Puerto Rico faces is the implementation
of wind turbines in the city of Arroyo. The proposal will evaluate the wind
power option, the costs, feasibility, benefits and the methodology to execute
such operation in the country and all within the bounds of the Green Energy
Fund in Puerto Rico.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this proposal is to examine the energy crisis that Puerto Rico
is facing in regards on the country's use of fossil fuel to provide energy and
electricity and to provide plausible and save alternatives on energy sources
through the aforementioned elucidation. The country of Puerto Rico currently
relies on a 97.2% (Central Intelligence Agency) percent of energy production
from fossil fuel, making the cost of energy in Puerto Rico among the highest
in the American nation (Cecil D. MacGregor, "Nueva Tarifa Elctrica", El
Nuevo Da, 15 enero 2009, pg. 53). The proposal will examine how the first
steps toward phasing fossil fuel use for electricity can be achieved, this with
the implementation of wind turbines for the creation of wind farms in Puerto
Rico a solution can be presented in a feasible way as per the Green Energy
Fund of Puerto Rico(Green Energy Fund, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto
Rico).
Electricity generated from wind has been the best developed and available
renewable energy to date(Elliot, D 2003). So this proposal takes on the
analysis of wind energy implementation on the city of Arroyo on a 6 step
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
Rationale
Puerto Rico relies on a 97.2% of fossil fuel to generate energy(CIA World Fact
Book) so the problem in Puerto Rico is the heavy reliance on fossil fuel to
generate the such essential resource. Mark Jacobson showed how renewable
energy: water, wind and solar can power the world by 2030(A Plan to Power
100 Percent of the Planet with Renewables, Mark Jacobson , 2009). There
isn't a silver bullet to the energy crisis in the world but some approaches are
better than others. Efficiency is the main idea behind renewable energy
research(Solar cell efficiency tables, Green, M 2011), the topic is waste less
energy to power the electric devices. Wind power is at the forefront of
renewable energies; Wind power is the best developed and the best
documented alternate energy to date(Elliot, D ,2003). Sustainable energy is
imperative within the operational mandate of any society. The inculcation of
sustainable energy is essential towards ensuring a more plausible
environment for the various individuals in the public scene. Thus, from the
evaluation of Arroyo and the research on sustainable energy, it is significant
to undertake the research based on:
i.
The need for a more plausible source of energy since the use of
petroleum and other carbon based sources is extensively
expensive
ii.
iii.
Scope
The scope of this proposal consists of proposing a plausible implementation
of wind turbine in the city of Arroyo for helping the partial phasing of the
extensive fossil fuel use in Puerto Rico's energy production. The high energy
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
prices in Puerto Rico are due to the total dependence of petroleum and coal
use to produce electricity(Green Energy Fund). So to start the phasing of
fossil fuel so the energy prices in Puerto Rico can be reduced an alternative
energy capable of sustaining a city needs to be developed. In this proposal
this alternative energy is the wind power turbines for energy production in
the city of Arroyo capable of producing 100 kW(kilo watts) details to follow
trough out the proposal.
GRANTT
CHART
TASK
Initial
meeting
with
respondent
s
Questionna
ire
Desktop
auditing of
start
Week Week
1
3
Week
5
Week
6
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
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reports
Write up
Final report
2.Goals
The steps toward accomplishing the objectives of this proposal and the
general implementation with all the logistics involved are the following:
1. Planning and Organization
i. Meeting with top management
ii.
Form a team and inform staff
iii.
Pre assessment to collect general information
iv.
Select focus areas
2. Assessment
i. Staff meeting and training
ii.
Prepare focus flow charts
iii.
Quantify inputs and outputs and costs to establish a baseline
iv.
Quantify losses through material and energy balance
3. Identification of Options
i. Identify possible options
ii.
Screen options for feasibility analysis
4. Feasibility Analysis of Options
i. Technical, economic and tourism evaluation of options
ii.
Rank options for feasibility
iii.
Prepare implementation and monitoring of proposal for approval
5. Implementation
i. Evaluation meeting and implementation
6. Continuous Improvement
i. analysis on the continuing improvements on renewable energy
technology
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
Puerto Rico. And the continuous research of alternate energies by the top
universities in the country. With implementation of wind turbines and more
research the efficiency of wind energy power generation can be improved
which results in lowering the fossil fuel dependency in Puerto Rico and the
wind power option can be further improved as technology and research
advances.
Methods
1.Methodology
In this study, following a Gantt approach, will be used in the interview of the
various officials and visitors in Arroyo. The target population of 100
interviewees is welcomed into a rented hall for a short discussion of up to
half an hour on the various issues. As such, in the topic of analysis will be the
importance of wind energy and impact of wind farms on reducing the cost of
energy. However, the potential benefits in regards to tourism will pose as a
slight avenue of discussion. However, on the analysis of the contentious
topic of importance of the natural landscapes and the natural scenery,
exclusions are to be made. After the interview, questionnaires will be
handled out to the various businesses in Arroyo. Through the questionnaires,
questions based on business performance prior and after the inculcation of
wind farms will be answered. Further, the businesses willing to give out their
statements will play a formidable role in the analysis of the business
performance in terms of electricity costs. Through the methodology of this
proposal the following are the research questions:
Research Questions
1. What denotes wind energy?
2. What are the tourism benefits of wind energy?
3. Is wind energy cost effective in its initial installation?
4. What are the effects of incorporating wind energy?
5. What is the market share of renewable energy?
6. What is the maintenance cost of wind power solutions?
7. Which are the responsible authorities for the design and
implementation?
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3.Data analysis
Data attained will be looked at through the use of two critical strategies.
From the interview undertaken, it is evident that it will be in form of
qualitative research findings; hence analysis will be done through note
taking. Moreover, from the sample done of the various participants,
measurements will be done through central tendency and graphical
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
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Literature review
In the analysis of wind technology and its impact on the economy of Arroyo,
it is fundamental to analyses what it inculcates. Admittedly, analysis into the
various issues circumnavigating the wind technology in the city is of critical
importance. Hence, in this chapter I will look into the wind technology,
impact on tourism and cost benefit evaluation
Climatic change has been the hugest and most urgent environmental peril
that we face. As such, the greenhouse gases that have been held responsible
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meant that wind energy can compete formidably with the cost of energy
based on the conventional fossil fuels. Further, the on-going rise in fuel
prices means that wind energy can become a competitor and energy source
of choice. As such, wind turbines operate under the principles of conversion
of winds kinetic energy into electricity. As such, wind farm proposals may be
for a singular turbine or groupings of many in one location. As such, the wind
turbine is consistent of four main parts that give them their huge size. The
four are tower, nacelle, blades and the transformer. As the first part of the
turbine, the tower varies in size from 35 meters upwards. As such it is
tubular steel which has a typical base diameter consistent of 3-7 meters. As
such, the tower displays a slight tapering to the nacelle. In respect to Elliot
(2003), larger towers require larger diameter base. As the second part, the
nacelle is the engine of the turbine or the most important part. It contains
the imperative components of the turbine including the gear box and the
ever efficient generator (Elliot 2003). A yaw mechanism is used to turn the
nacelle in order for the rotor blades to face the winds prevailing. The third
parts are the blades. Blades capture and are in turn set into motion by the
wind. In most cases, the blades are made up of glass which is reinforced by
plastic or wood epoxy. In other instances, the blades can be made of
aluminum or steel. The modern blades are made up of three blades. As such,
the blades may vary in terms of the rotor diameter from 35 meters upwards.
As the last main part, the transformer is the device used for changing
voltage of the alternating current. Electricity in reference to Elliot (2003) is
typically generated at a less than 1000 volts by the ensuing wind turbine.
Accordingly, the transformer kicks up the voltage in order to match the
national grid. As such, the electricity may be housed either inside of
alongside the tower. As a complementary part of the wind turbine, the base
is typically of 7 and 18 meters square which are consistent of a hard and
formidable standing area at the ground of each turbine (Elliot 2003).
Accordingly, with such a turbine, generation of electricity may ensue hence
profiting the country. However, issues of development of wind farms, their
impact on the Arroyos tourism sector are a facet of evaluation not covered
extensively in this proposal.
Tourism impact of wind energy on Arroyo
From the evaluation of Elliot (2003) it is evident that Arroyo is a plausible
tourism destination with wide acclaim. With its sandy beaches and scenic
scenery, the impact of wind turbines is bound to enhance the profitability of
the energy approach. Accordingly, wind farms have become a major source
of tourism in the various fast paced developed economies such as Sweden
ENVIRONMENTAL PROPOSAL
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and Germany. As such, the scenic location of the wind turbines has posed a
plausible avenue in which countries can capitalize on extra income. Thus,
from the evaluation of Arroyo, the incorporation of wind farms is bound to
lead to catapult the revenue yield from the location. As such, the city has
numerous scenic ranges and landscapes that can pose a plausible avenue for
the installation of wind farms. Through the inculcation of wind farms, an
additional income is bound to prevail for the city hence sustaining the costs
incurred from the installation of the wind farms.
Costs
1.Budget
The initial process of implementation of the wind turbines or wind farms to
solve the increasing prices of fossil energy coupled with reducing the costs of
electricity is highly cost demanding. As such, a $100,000 is highly feasible in
setting up the first medium sized turbine. The proposal will explore the Green
Energy Fund of Puerto Rico and the United States department of Energy Wind
Program budget for alternative energy sources development.
1.1 U.S. Department of energy wind program budget
The Wind Program Budget form The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has
allocated $88.2 million in fiscal year 2014 and for fiscal year 2015 the
budget request is $115 million funds for the Wind Program to reduce the cost
of wind power technologies and accelerate the deployment of wind
power(energy.gov/eere). The activities supported by this budget are the
following(energy.gov/eere):
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Conclusion
The current cost of electricity in Puerto Rico fluctuates in approximately twice
as much as the average cost of 9.81 cents/kWh in the continental United
States. Due to this high energy costs, economic development has been
negatively affected. Wind energy is a plausible approach within the
sustainability mandate in any country. Most fundamentally, Puerto Rico is
highly reliant on fossil energy which has led to the increased costs of
electricity that have led to the losses incurred among the various businesses.
As such, from the above evaluation, it is evident that wind energy is a
plausible strategy towards facing the diverse challenges posed. As such, the
prevailing beneficial aspects emanating from tourism, the phasing of fossil
fuel dependency and the inculcation of different alternative energy sources
in the country are facets that require extensive research for Arroyo city and
the wider Puerto Rican government to determine the viability of the
approach. Through a partnership approach between the private and public
stakeholders just like we see in the Santa Isabel project for green energy,
significant changes are bound to prevail with beneficial outcomes evident as
evaluated. Hence, wind energy should pose a formidable tool within the
energy industry in Arroyo and Puerto Rico. No alternative energy source can
give the one in all solution needed in today's world economy, there is no
silver bullet for this problem, but with different energy sources and different
projects working together greener energy can be produced and generated at
lower costs.
Work Cited
Elliott, D. (2003) Energy, Society and Environment, second edition. London:
Routledge.
Devine-Wright, P. (2005) Local aspects of UK renewable energy development:
Exploring public beliefs and policy implications Local Environment 10(1) 5769
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