WIND POWER (2).
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Transcript WIND POWER (2).
Alysse Riggs and Julie Davis
General Information
In reality, wind energy is a form of solar energy
The sun's radiation heats different parts of the
earth at different rates when different areas absorb
or reflect at different rates.
Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at
the earth's surface, and cooler air is drawn in to
replace it.
Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains
the energy of that motion("kinetic energy")
The Main Goal
To create alternative energy
that was renewable
That did not create
pollution in the air and
water
That could replace
nonrenewable sources and
pollution in the near future
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Making A Difference
It is a clean source of renewable
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energy that does not create air or
water pollution
The biggest wind turbines can
power over 600 houses
Global capacity was
approximately 70,000 megawatts
(1 megawatt can power over 250
homes)
By 2050 the answer to one third
of the world's electricity needs
will be found blowing in the
wind.
The Wind Turbines
Two Groups of wind turbines:
horizontal-axis turbine and
vertical-axis turbine (egg-beater)
Turbines are made of steel. The
blades are made of fiberglassreinforced polyester or woodepoxy.
The output of a wind turbine
depends on the turbine's size and
the wind's speed through the
rotor.
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cfm
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Wind Turbines Cont.
A wind energy system transforms
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the kinetic energy of the wind into
mechanical or electrical energy
Electricity production and
consumption are most commonly
measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
A kilowatt-hour means one kilowatt
(1,000 watts) of electricity produced
or consumed for one hour.
Ex: One 50-watt light bulb left on for
20 hours consumes one kilowatthour of electricity (50 watts x 20
hours = 1,000 watt-hours = 1
kilowatt-hour).
Technological Obstacles
Wind turbines - Below 8-10 mph wind speed they do not
generate and have to cut out for safety reasons above 56 mph.
Their maximum generation is reached at about 30 mph.
Wind Farms - generate some power for 70-75% of the time but
this is often a mere trickle, so the total electricity produced is
only about 26% of their full potential.
The electricity produced cannot be stored and feeding it into the
national grid is complex and costly – a bill ultimately paid by the
consumer.
Coal or gas-fired power stations are essential to maintain
uninterrupted supplies of electricity when the wind is not
blowing
Developers claim a turbine lifespan is 20-25 years but many are
being replaced after just 9-12 years – with yet larger turbines
Political / Economic Obstacles
The electricity produced cannot be stored and feeding
it into the national grid is complex and costly , which
is ultimately paid by the consumer.
Wind turbines are being replaced every 9-12 years
which is costing more money
Negative Environmental Impacts
A turbine 375 feet high requires a
base of some 1000 tons of reinforced
concrete, to say nothing of the
materials needed to build service
roads. Together with peat
destruction on peat-rich sites, this
means that wind farms can take
years to pay back the carbon dioxide
they release during and after
construction, reducing even further
their contribution to climate
change.
Birds unaware of wind turbines
often crash into them and are killed
as a result.
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