Wind Energy

Ally Keefe, Dave Mccabe, Geoff

Frazier, Ryan Whalen, Meghan Moroni,
Jeb Stuart, Brianna Parke, Peter
Virchick

General Info
Wind constitutes less than 3% of US
energy sources.
Many say wind has the power to add more
to US generating capacity than coal in the
next 20 years.
North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas alone
have enough harnessable wind to meet
national electricity needs.

History of Wind Power

Wind power evolved from the use of simple, light
devices driven by aerodynamic forces to heavier
drag devices and finally to light, more efficient
lifts.
The sailboat is the earliest known use of wind
power.
The first windmills were made to automate the
tasks of grain grinding and water pumping in
Persia 500-900AD

Wind as Electricity

The first use of a windmill to

generate electricity was in
Cleveland, Ohio in 1888 by
Charles F. Brush.
In 1891, Dane Poul la Cour
made the first aerodynamically
(low solidity, four bladed)
designed system.
By 1920, the la Cour system
replaced all previous sail and
fan systems.

Development of Wind Technology

-During the 1920s modified propellers were used to drive direct current
generators.
-Bulk Power Wind Energy was first made in Russia in 1931 (100kw
Balaclava Wind Generator).
-The largest bulk wind energy producer was the Smith-Putnam
Machine (Installed in Vermont, 1941)

European and American

Involvement
After WWII European
Countries developed wind
systems further when
fossil fuel shortages led
to high energy costs.
US wind involvement
began after the 1973 oil
embargo. Beginning of
the US Federal Wind
Energy Program.

The Mechanics of a Wind

Turbine

Where Does the Wind Come

From?
The wind is a by-product of
solar energy. Approximately
2% of the sun's energy
reaching the earth is
converted into wind energy.
The surface of the earth heats
and cools unevenly, creating
atmospheric pressure zones
that make air flow from highto low-pressure areas.

 Wind power is a measure of the energy

available in the wind. It is a function of the
cube (third power) of the wind speed. If
the wind speed is doubled, power in the
wind increases by a factor of eight (23).
This relationship means that small
differences in wind speed lead to large
differences in power.

Equation Of Wind Power

The amount of power available in the wind is
determined by the equation:
w = 1/2 r A v3
w is power, r is air density, A is the rotor area,
and v is the wind speed. This equation states
that the power is equal to one-half, times the air
density, times the rotor area, times the cube of
the wind speed. Air density varies according to
elevation, temperature and weather fronts.

Vertical Axis Turbines

Although vertical axis
wind turbines have
existed for centuries, they
are not as common as
their horizontal
counterparts. The main
reason for this is that they
do not take advantage of
the higher wind speeds at
higher elevations above
the ground as well as
horizontal axis turbines.

Horizontal Axis Turbine

This is the most common
wind turbine design. In
addition to being parallel to
the ground, the axis of blade
rotation is parallel to the
wind flow. Some machines
are designed to operate in an
upwind mode, with the
blades upwind of the tower.
In this case, a tail vane is
usually used to keep the
blades facing into the wind.
Other designs operate in a
downwind mode so that the
wind passes the tower before
striking the blades.

 Rotor- The hub and the blades

together are referred to as the
rotor. Wind turns the blades
which turn the drive shaft.
Shaft- Two different shafts turn
the generator. One is used for
low speeds while another is
used in high speeds.
Gear Box- Gears connect the
high and low speed shafts and
increase the rotational speeds
from about 10-60 rotations per
minute to about 1200-1800 rpm,
the rotational speed required by
most generators to produce
power.

 Generator- The generator is what converts the turning

motion of a wind turbine's blades into electricity. Inside
this component, coils of wire are rotated in a magnetic
field to produce electricity. Different generator designs
produce either alternating current (AC) or direct
current (DC), and they are available in a large range of
output power ratings. The generator's rating, or size, is
dependent on the length of the wind turbine's blades
because more energy is captured by longer blades.
Controller- Turns the blades on at 8-16 mph and shuts
them down around 65 to prevent any high wind
damage.
Tower- Tall tubular metal shaft. The taller the tower,
the more power produced.

Pros of Wind Power

 Wind power Units are quickly

constructed.
Wind generators are much smaller
in size compared other types
electrical generators.
Small size allows wind power to be
very versatile.

 Wind power is a great compliment

to a house with a preexisting
photovoltaic system.
Serves as a great backup system.
Wind power gives off no harmful
emissions into the environment.

 It is a renewable
resource.
The more time
spent researching
makes each new
wind turbine more
efficient.
Mass production of
wind turbines
drives down costs.

Downfalls To Wind Energy

Aesthetics Not in my back yard.
Inefficient and unreliable
Hazard to bird migration

Aesthetics
Turbines are around 50ft high and can be
seen for miles
Wind Farms use up more space than any
other form of power plant
Access roads will follow the construction
of a wind farm
Houses too close to turbines will be
disturbed by their noise

Not In My Back Yard

Inefficient & Unreliable

It is not uncommon for turbines to be hit by
lightning strikes. This can cause damage to
the turbine, and also provoke forest fires.
Propellers often fall off and are not repaired
example -> Altamont area of California
Inefficient: 9,369 turbines only produce 1.7
% of Germanys power
No Wind = No Power

Some Stats on Contribution and Failure

Country

MW
windpowe
r

Wind
output
(GWh/y)

Total
output
(TWh/y)

Wind
contributi
on (%)

Denmark

2338

4240

35

Germany

6095

8400

486

1.73

76

817

0.009

12.1

Japan

121

UK

408

895

388

0.23

USA

2554

6000

3688

0.16

Failure Stats for Germany (2000)

FAULT % TURBINES AFFECTED
Loosening of parts-------3
Cause unknown----------8
Other causes------------10
High wind----------------4
Grid failure--------------6
Control system---------20
Icing---------------------1
Component failure---44
Lightning---------------4

Hazard To Bird Migration

Turbines and power lines
and a danger to migrating
birds
Proof:
- Wind Power Monthly
stated that large numbers
of several bird species
protected by European
Law have been killed by
turbines (1994)
- 200-300 Red Tail Hawks,
40-60 Golden Eagles are
killed each year by turbines

- English nature stated

that habitat loss,
significant death to birds,
and changes in migratory
patterns are a result of
wind farms

Sources
Hinrichs, Kleinbach, Energy: Its Use and the Environment, 3rd ed. Thomson Learning,
Australia 2002.
Nigel Barnes, An Ill Wind An Objection Against Windfarms in Ireland.
http://www.geocities.com/nigbarnes/#oth 3.28.04
www.windpowercons.com 3.28.04

What is the Cape Wind Project?

Proposal for the first off shore wind farm in the United States
130 turbines (24 square miles)
maximum output=420 megawatts

Where will it be?

Horseshoe Shoal, Nantucket
Sound, Massachusetts
At least five miles off shore
Strong, consistent winds and
shallow water
Close to electrical
interconnections and away from
shipping lanes and boating
traffic

Pros of the Project

Replaces 113 million tons of oil
per year
Zero-emissions
Boost to Cape Cods economy
-600-1,000 new jobs for
Cape Codders
Does not require land
May help with navigation and
rescue

Cons of the Project

Private take over of public land

May alter public use and access
Decrease in property values
No regulatory process to govern
project
Potential hazard to wildlife
Aesthetics of Cape Cods natural
landscape may be interrupted

Who are the major stakeholders?

17 different government agencies
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA)
Clean Power Now
The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound

United States Army Corps of Engineers

Regulate water resources
Seven Principles (2002)
No regulatory framework or experience
NEPA, EIS, and MEPA
Public Interest Doctrine
Scientific Monitoring Station

The Alliance vs. Clean Power Now

Supporters:

Supporters:

The Kennedys

U.S. Coast Guard

Gov. Mitt Romney

Walter Cronkite?

Argument:

Argument:

navigation hazard

help navigation

blades will kill birds

turbines are too slow

interrupts whale migration

Horseshoe Shoal is shallow

there are other nearby options

best location

Clean Power Now

Charley Cummings
(representative of the Brown
College Environmental Action
Network)

Protest outside of USACE meeting in

Falmouth, MA

Over 300
supporters
gathered in front
of the State
House!

The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound

State Rep. Demetrius

J. Atsalis and Sen.
Robert OLeary

Susan Nickerson,
Director of the
Alliance

Cliff Caroll of
Wind Stop

Cape Winds Visual Simulations from Cotuit

6.0 miles off the coast

The Alliances Simulation from Cotuit

Websites to check out

www.capewind.org
www.cleanpowernow.org
www.saveoursound.org (The Alliance)
www.windstop.org