Wind Power

Yoo-Jung Yang Shravya Utlapalli

http://www.geenergy.com/content/multimedia/_ files/photos/wind_main.jpg

Use of wind turbines to produce electricity

What is Wind Power?

Vertical-axis Wind Turbine

http://plainswindeis.anl.gov/images/photos/Darrieus_windmill.jpg

Horizontal-axis Wind Turbine

http://www.epicresins.com/files/alternativeEnergy-WindTurbines.jpg

How It Works
1. 2. 3. 4. Winds cause blades to move Shaft spins Magnets turn around conductor Sensors cause turbine to face into the wind and blade angles to catch the wind

The Bigger the Better!

x4 in size over last 30 years x2 in size= -14% in global warming potential per kilowatt-hour of electricity Higher it is, the stronger winds it will catch Power output in kilowatts = k x Cp x 1/2 x p x A x Vcubed K= constant Cp= Power coefficient p= air density in pounds per cubic foot A= area swept by rotor V= wind speed

Suitable Locations

To Make it worthwhile: Wind must blow 25 km/h Coastal Areas Tops of rounded hills Open Plains Gaps in Mountains

http://www.windsolarenergy.org/map-of-best-locations-for-wind-power.htm

Environmental Impacts

Consumes no fuel Gives off no air pollution No waste produced

Noise Bats and Birds Die Habitat loss Collisions

http://www.scitizen.com/cacheDirectory/HTMLcontributions/img/Bird-wind-farm.gif

Obstacles
Technological No wind= No electricity generated Winds are too strong= Blades will stop turning

Political/Economical Established energy industries hate competition Low Price of natural gas Even with falling prices of wind turbines
5-8 cents per kWh

Potential Global Impact

Already used by many countries
Generates 20% of electricity in Denmark 1 Megawatt produced= annual needs for 350 average households

Recent studies show that wind turbines could supply the world with half of its future energy demands

 http://jeanblanc.com/repowering-used-wind-turbines/ http://www.windrake.com/Products.html http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/concern/index.cfm http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wind.htm http://www.windsolarenergy.org/map-of-best-locations-for-wind-power.htm http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/windpower11.htm http://lowcarbonfacts.eu/2012/04/05/low-carbon-technologies-are-increasingly-costcompetitive/ http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2013/sep/wind-energy-potential-091012.html http://www.windenergyamerica.com/faqs.html http://www.greatenergychallengeblog.com/2012/07/20/worlds-largest-windturbines-is-bigger-always-better/

Bibliography