Transcript Document

Heidi Sevor and Esther
Bruening present…
Wind Energy!




Green Power
Renewable
Sustainable
Affordable
Wind Energy, The Basics
 The terms wind energy or wind power
describe the process by which the wind is used
to generate mechanical power or electricity.

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the
wind into mechanical power.
– Mechanical power can be used for specific
tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping
water) or a generator can convert this
mechanical power into electricity.
Wind Energy
from http://www1.eere.energy.gov
 A group of wind
turbines can make
electricity for the utility
grid.
 The electricity is sent
through transmission
and distribution lines to
homes, businesses,
schools, and so on.
Land for Wind Energy
 Turbines require open
space to harness the
power of the wind
 Land surrounding
turbines can be used
for farming and
ranching
 In this area there is
plenty of open land!!
Wind Measurements
from http://www.windexplorer.com
 Brockport:
– 14.5-15.7 mph (6.0-6.5 m/s)
– Conducive for wind turbines
 Offshore:
– 16-20.1 mph (7.5-9 m/s)
From:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/img_400
/Wind-turbine.jpg
Turbine Sizes
from http://www.energy.ca.gov
 Utility size turbines
– 100 kilowatts to several megawatts
– Wind Farms
 Provide bulk power to electrical grids
 Average price installed for $1,000/kW
Turbine Sizes Continued
from http://www.energy.ca.gov
 Single small turbines
– Average price for typical 10kW home system
$25,000-$35,000
– Below 100 kilowatts
– Used for homes, telecommunication dishes, or
water pumping
 Can stand alone or grid-connected
Efficiency
 Efficiency varies by machine
 ~ 40% of wind collected will be turned into electricity
Community Benefits
 Small turbines can be hooked into the grid to
supply power to community as well
 Currently, there are approx. 198 community
wind projects in the United States
Local Project Benefits
from http://www.ceinfo.org
 Harbec Plastics, Ontario NY
– Installed 250kW wind turbine and 25
microturbines
– Saved/avoided $165,000 per year in energy
costs
– 90% reduction in emissions of CO2 per year
– Improved employee working conditions
 Air conditioning
 Payback period: 8-10 years
This is Cool!
from http://www.wind-works.org
 Tests have been done with
turbines on buildings
 Could be used on
college buildings
 Why not other tall
structures?
Measuring Wind Power Locally
 In Hamlin, there is
a met tower, a
device used to
measure wind
speed and
direction,
presumably
because there are
prospects of wind
turbine
installation.
Public Opinion
 Hamlin, NY: NO WIND TURBINES vs.
Clean & Green
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert
Einstein, 1918 (from http://www.savewesternny.org)
From http://www.savewesternny.org
Reasons for Opposition
(Environment and Wildlife)
from savewesternny.com
 Wildfires (short circuits,
 Disruption of avian
downed electrical cables,
migration routes
welding splatter, etc.)
 Foundations for turbines  Provide shelter for
can disrupt water flow to
rodents that raptors
shallow wells
consume
 On construction sites,
 Bat deaths
many liquids that can
cause contamination
(documented
(gasoline, hydraulic oil)
worldwide)
are used and can spill
and contaminate wells
Reasons for Opposition
(Health, Safety, and Noise)
from savewesternny.com
 Potential to cause vibroacoustic disease
(results from chronic exposure to highintensity/low-frequency noise and
infrasound)
 Flicker induced health risks
 Electrocution and injury from loose
machinery
 Ice throw
 Radar interference
Comparatively…
From wikipedia.org (photo from
http://www.globalforestwatch.ca/ifl/photos/mining.jpg
•Coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs
on earth, with 6,027 deaths in 2004 in China (28
in the U.S. during the same year)
•Can result in chronic lung diseases
•Interference with groundwater and water table
levels
•Renders land unfit for common usage
•It is thought that coal mining is harmful to the
quality of the surrounding air
Earth Day Survey
 April 25th, 2007: A
wind energy survey
was conducted to
see what people’s
general opinions
and knowledge of
wind and
renewable energy
was. Eighteen
people responded
Class
# of Respondents
Senior
1
Junior
2
Sophomore
1
Freshman
12
Graduate
1
Staff
1
Gender
Male
3
Female
15
Table 1: Earth Day wind energy survey
What People Thought
 Only one person surveyed opposed the installation
of wind turbines in their area
 50% of people were aware of the pros and cons of
wind turbines
 All respondents were aware of global warming
issues, believed that there should be more
government funding for wind energy, were in
support of researching and utilizing alternative
energy sources, and would like to see more wind
energy used in the United States.
Economic and Social Advantages
from http://www.windustry.org
 Revitalizes rural
economies
 Fewer subsidies
 Free fuel
 Price stability
 Promotes costeffective energy
production
 Creates jobs
 National
security/energy
independence
 Supports agriculture
 Local ownership
Environmental Advantages
from http://www.windustry.org




Clean water
Clean air
Mining & transportation
Land preservation
Other Disadvantages
from http://www.windustry.org
 A variable resource: the wind is not always
as strong as needed
 Aesthetics: some people dislike the look of
the turbines
Are the Risks Worth the
Benefits?
 People generally seem to support the use of
wind turbines once they view and
understand the facts.
 Many people in the community who oppose
them have the “not in my backyard”
mentality.
 The installation of wind turbines is one step
towards becoming more eco-friendly in the
future.
Other Works Cited
 http://www.windustry.org/maps/CommunityD
atabaseApril272006.pdf
 http://www.ftexploring.com/energy/windenrgy.html
 http://www.cenfo.org/rgbn/details.php?Case
StudyID=1