Transcript Slide 1
Group 13: Wind Energy
By: Rachel Wood (0563411); Björn Sederholm (0568164); Maxence Marchalot (0790024); Fraser Anderson (0562517) IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2008
Introduction What is a wind turbine?
A wind turbine is a device ‘able to tap some power of the wind’.
They most commonly have 3 blades, these face into the wind, which forces them to turn, usually at 10-30 rpm. This spins a shaft inside the turbine, which is connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Why Wind?
Wind is a clean, renewable fuel with no carbon emissions The large amount of carbon produced in the current methods of energy production (fossil fuels) are believed to be contributing to global warming The rising costs of fuel are making our energy more expensive Fossil fuels are a limited resource, using other sources of power there is energy security
Why not?
Wind farms are capital intensive; it costs a lot to construct It is difficult to accurately estimate the output There is a concern about the effect they have on wildlife. They are thought of by some as ugly and noisy.
Three types: On-shore, off-shore & microgeneration
Current situation:
•2007: 93.8GW of wind energy capacity is installed worldwide. •Growth rate of 26.6%.
•Wind energy produces 200 TWh, and is responsible for 1.3% of total worldwide energy production.
•Wind energy responsible for 2389MW of UK energy production in 2007 (WWEA) •196 wind farms in operation in the UK, with 1969 turbines in total. (BWEA) •This is equivalent to powering over 1.36 million homes •This saves ~5.5 million tonnes of CO 2 per annum.
~640000 tonnes of SO 2 per annum ~192000 tonnes of NO X per annum •There has also been an increase in focus on the health and safety aspects of contruction.
Impacts
:
Micro generation
0.4-2.5 kW •Doesn’t work well in urban environemnts (turbulence, low wind speeds).
•Payback time ~27 years, which is longer than the 20 year expected life span of the turbine.
On-shore
Space limitations Nieghbours must be considered, with respect to noise and visual impact Almost all viable land-based areas are already in use.
Benefit of being close to the National Grid.
Off-shore
2.3MW
Far from National Grid More difficult to construct.
Boat travel might be affected.
Roughly 1.5 times more efficient than on-shore.
Nysted Havmøllepark
•World’s largest off-shore wind farm to date.
•10 km south of the town of Nysted, Denmark.
•72 turbines of 2.3MW, generating electricity for 145000 households on a yearly basis. •Total output of the wind farm is 165.5MW.
•The turbines rise 69 meters from the sea, and the blades are 41 meters long. •The wind farm will save the environment from 0.5 million tonnes of CO 2 , 490 tonnes of SO 2 •During construction, ~100000m 3 & 440 tonnes of NO x . seabed was disrupted, destroying 3-4 tonnes of bottom fauna and 250 tonnes of blue mussels. However, this accounts for less than 1% of total fauna in area by volume.
•An expected growth of 550 tonnes of blue mussels on the foundations and artificial reefs will offset this loss • Fauna is expected to regrow fast in both the foundation area and over the land cables.
•Noise levels: 10dB above sea level at the seal reserve, the same sound level of a human calmly breathing. This will be even lower, just a few dB, at the nearest coast.
In the future…?
The targets are 10% of power generated by renewable sources by 2010 (UK, 18% in Scotland), 40% by 2020 (UK & Scotland).
Wind power plays a vital role in reaching these targets, and as it is carbon-free, it will help the UK reach its target of a reduction in CO 2 emissions by 60% by 2050.
Off-shore is the way of the future since most on-shore land has already been utilised, while there is ample space off-shore for new development.