Investigating Wind Energy in the Southwest
Washington Coastal Region
Energy Systems and Climate Change – E.J. Zita
The Evergreen State College
Fall 2011 – Winter 2012
By: Zach Baugher
Introduction:
Having been in Washington for most of my life, I’ve come to recognize much of what we as
inhabitants of this place are so lucky to have. Many of these things, resources in particular, have long
been misused by our citizenry and outsiders alike, yet some invaluable ones exist under-utilized to this
day. This is the case over and over, across our nation and others. Resources are finally being reassessed
for broader outlooks and those who know the scale of the climate change problem understand that the
time is now for concerted action. In our efforts to mitigate climate change, a highly versatile approach
has proven more effective both in adapting to the future climate and making the most of what we have
now with the least negative impact. I’ve stood witness to the boon of wind-energy in central
Washington over the latter half of the past decade; from memories of the now defunct Darrieus (eggbeater) turbine whirring in the dusty hills to the chains of monolithic generators sprouting up along the
I-90 corridor. Now, having the opportunity to investigate the topic via this Energy Systems and Climate
Change program, I’m faced with a multi-faceted question and a bit of starting direction.
The direction is inspired in particular by the research of one John Dabiri, a graduate from the
California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. His findings, presented to The Journal of Renewable and
Sustainable Energy in his paper titled Potential order-of-magnitude enhancement of wind farm power
density via counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbine arrays changed my understanding of the
conventional wind farm fundamentally [1]. Formerly, I kept a lot of interest in the evolution of towering
horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) like those in eastern Washington, finding their ever-increasing
size and capability highly impressive. I completely respect the engineering marvels these machines
represent, but we must avoid tunnel-vision in solving our energy needs. New understanding of spacing
requirements, particularly among larger windmills, is a product of the relatively new practice of large
scale farm simulation in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. These analyses show the spacing
in wind farm layouts were, in many cases insufficient to achieve 90% performance of an unobstructed
turbine, a standard in array efficiency [5].
As the title of Dabiri’s report alludes to, his experiments showed order-of-magnitude
improvements in Watts generated per m-2 over conventional wind farms using far-smaller vertical-axis
wind turbines (VAWTs, like the Darrieus) arranged in counter-rotating patterns for aerodynamic
efficiency [1]. Not surprisingly, wind farms have grown up faster than the science around them,
multiplying capacities nationwide in just a few years. Understanding of large-scale aerodynamics,
primarily the effect of turbulence both on and as a result of massive HAWTs, is a particularly shocking
void as this means existing arrays were installed on generous investment (of cash and materials) prior to
access to sufficient software simulation and analysis even existed [5]. This is not to say thought and
investigation wasn’t invested in these installations, but as our knowledge improves and our means
improve, our approach must evolve before we find out we’ve done too little, too late. Being a designer
at heart, issues of efficiency put fire in my belly and in this case I’m led to a surprisingly unanswered
question: What is the wind-energy potential along our coastline, and what is the best approach to
capturing that energy given new means and methods? After investigating what kind of a resource
coastal wind can be, it is the prerogative of my work to answer a larger question. By what factor might
an efficiently designed coastal VAWT array outperform some of Washington’s existing HAWT
installations in Watts/m-2 and overall cost in $/MWh produced?
Project Description:
I intend to break my research into three distinct portions, each feeding off of the last to move toward a
more complete understanding of wind-energy’s future on (and perhaps off) of our coastline.
My initial focus will be gathering all relevant wind data to establish a baseline for wind energy
potential in the Long Beach region. From this localized analysis I hope to determine an accessible locale
showing consistently strong winds, where I can collect my own data on-site for cross analysis. This would
allow me to adjust for ‘realization’ of the actual wind energy potential for a broad area at varying points
(directly on-shore [levee], directly off-shore [barge/boat mounted], and off-shore [pylon, platform]).
Currently I’ve located datasets from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), USGS, Windwatch.org
(an online windsurfing community with years of localized coastal wind data), AMS, local municipal
archives and I will be taking anemometer readings of my own to cross-examine these data [8][10][12].
After creating wind-roses for all of my collected wind data begins an investigation of the various VAWT
designs, focusing on apparatuses particularly well-suited for coastal installations. Currently, there are
multiple sea-worthy VAWTs with power capabilities exceeding 3MWe, while smaller designs provide
incredible diversity and strength –able to collect the slightest breezes at ground level or just above [6].
Part of the motivation here is the frustration in seeing how much material is invested into getting a rareearth metal-intensive 3MW conventional turbine hundreds of feet off the ground [13]. The same
materials would go a long way toward building an array of vertical axis wind turbines. Combined with
evidence that the global wind power available 30 feet off the ground is greater than the world's energy
needs several times over, this approach is accessible, smaller and more productive/m2, at a lower
operating cost than any horizontal turbine array in the northwest [1]. By gaining an understanding of the
wind resource our coast provides, a calculation can be done to describe what it would take to offset the
electrical consumption of the entire coastal region using wind as an on-site, renewable resource [6].
Combining data for potential VAWT array productivity and the necessary offset should result in a
reasonable scenario for achieving net-zero consumption on the coastline. Such a project, carried out to
capacity, would create hundreds of local jobs in the short term and energy-stability over the long term
for the coastal region and beyond [3].
Bridging the gap between these analyses of energy potential and the people who have the means to act
on this information is a primary deliverable of my research. A demonstration table will act as a scale,
topographically-accurate representation of some site with various turbine arrangement possibilities (See
rendering below). A key part of this display is an adjustable laminar-air fan (also pictured) mounted at
one end blowing across the scene. This fan more accurately represents inbound sea winds before
becoming highly turbulent from surface friction, whereas a circular fan creates an unnatural ‘pulsing’ of
air which may well negate my study of turbine airfoil interaction at the scale level. After replicating
conditions for the directly on-shore site using the demonstration table, a platform with similar
adjustability will be mounted to a scale barge to test the effect of waves (pitch and yaw) on VAWT
efficiency in a wave tank. My means for measuring turbine rotation rates at scale will be comprised of a
counting-sensor array hooked up to a simple digital display. By constructing this platform, wired in such
a way to allow ‘plug & play’ adjustment for testing, I will have also created an interactive educational
tool. Part experiment, part visual aid; one display for this project is the scale test bed, made accessible
for all to experience-directly the effect of changing turbine placement on array efficiency.
A further level of investigation would be carrying out my own CFD analysis for entire-array
efficiency, basing the models on the arrangements proving most-efficient in scale testing. I would like to
put my experience with CAD and simulation software to use and I believe a CFD representation either
confirming or contradicting my scale findings would tell me a lot about the effectiveness of my scale
testing method. The only way to test my method further would be a ‘boots on the ground’ installation
and analyses of full-scale VAWT arrays on location, collecting substantial data over time. As this does not
fall within the realm of possibility during a three month program, combining scale and simulated results
shall provide evidence confirming my hypothesis: Wind energy along the Pacific coast is under-utilized.
New evidence shows potential order-of-magnitude improvements in W/m-2 over conventional wind
arrays using increasingly effective vertical axis wind turbines. This technology thrives in low-altitude
gusty winds providing megawatts with minimal visual and environmental impact, perfect for tourismreliant coastal towns.
Following the conclusion of scale and simulation work, I will coalesce my findings into a useful,
searchable excel datasheet providing combined wind data and placement efficiencies. This will also be a
time to refine my working test bed into a more user-friendly learning apparatus. This will be
accompanied by instructions and explanation of my research findings in the form of a poster board. As a
critical element of the academic program my findings will be presented at the Evergreen Science Fair
and before any funding committees. Additionally, throughout each stage of research I will post follow-
up slidecasts on our program webpage, providing access to my progress along the way. I also intend to
send slidecasts and information about my research to the Washington State Department of Commerce
Energy Office, The Washington Bureau of Land Management, and the American Wind Energy
Association, in the hopes of receiving guidance and assistance in bringing this capability, by whatever
means a single citizen can achieve, to the windy coast. This project’s coordination with Energy Systems
and Climate Change will conclude upon final presentation before my peers of all research/investigative
findings and visual displays, prior to March 9th.
Impact on my Educational Career:
This research will equate to the Capstone project of my undergraduate career. While even as a senior I
can’t say exactly what direction my degree from Evergreen will take me in the coming years, I predict
that undertaking this project will, like many college experiences, tell me plenty about what I can do with
my newfound knowledge. I have a tremendous interest in Architecture and the history of dwellings and
as a primary contributor to CO2 emissions, building sciences have a long way to go, meaning plenty of
research and experimentation for the willing. What I hope to prove with this project is that I have honed
my investigative mind, both capable of coming to a new understanding of how something works and
describe that something effectively to the bystander. This is why Capstone describes well the
undertaking I’m dedicating myself to for three months, to expand what I do know and to erase another
chunk of what I do not.
Project Significance:
Beyond the significance for me and for this program, the ultimate legacy of such a research project
would be to set in motion a series of events needed to bring wind energy here before climate change
pushes the ocean into vast swaths of the same coastal lowlands that wind as a clean resource could help
to protect. In my humble opinion, the unbridled potential of continued research on the topic really could
lead to a coastline with net-zero electrical consumption. I hope to find taking on such a task both a wise
economic and ecological decision for growing Washington’s wind energy portfolio. By combining
research detailing one order-of-magnitude improvement with the advantage in wind energy density our
coast has over the eastern Washington plains (along with the inherent benefits of vertical-axis wind
turbines) I believe the case will be made clear for acting on the data. As nations worldwide begin to
literally test the waters of coastal wind power, Washington may have no reason not to follow suit and
progress our nation towards sustainable existence.
Proposed Timeline:
Week
9th-13th Jan.
16th-20th Jan.
23rd-27th Jan.
30th Jan. - 3rd Feb.
6th-10th Feb.
13th-17th Feb.
20th-24th Feb.
27th Feb. – 2nd March.
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5th-9th March
Follow-up
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Tasks
Collect data
Devise means for data analysis
Final revisions CEC prop.
Data Analysis
Recognize potential sites
Research VAWTs
Slidecast 1
Apply for funding
Data analysis
Data collection
Research VAWTs
Construction of test bed
Investigate sensor setup
Complete data analysis
Construct test bed
Construct scale turbines
Finish test bed construction
Purchase laminar fan
Construct scale turbines
Install sensor array
Set up wave-tank analysis
Slidecast 2
Scale testing + wave
Conduct simulated analyses
Begin final PowerPoint and
visual aids
Finish simulations
Evaluate & continue scale
testing
Presentation materials
Convert test bed into vis. aid
Complete all presentation
materials
Submit/present findings to
CEC/others.
Slidecast 3
Final Presentation
Evergreen Science Carnival
(Late May)
Send findings and requests for
assistance in furthering my
research and my cause
Notes
Key Deliverables:
 Final Research Proposal (This document)
 A series of Slidecasts following progress
 Searchable excel wind/power potential-database
 Scale test bed/interactive visual aid
 Final Report to involved parties, class
 Share results, petition State for action
Primary Materials:
Item
Use
Quantity
Source/$ each
Anemometer
Wind-speed meter
2
Lab Stores
1
Lab Stores
12
Potentially lab stores
Wave tank
Counting sensor
Wave-generating test
bed
Micro-sensor for
counting rotations/min
3/16” mill Al sheeting
3’x3’
Blade construction
1
$21.98
Homedepot.com
oak dowel 1/4” x 3’
Turbine shafts
8
$.98 Homedepot.com
1/4” Plywood
4’ x 8’
Table, Topography
construction
4
$24.42
Homedepot.com
2” x 2” x 8’ Furring strip
Table legs, supports
4
$1.52 Homedepot.com
Dyson Air Multiplier
tower fan
Laminar wind source
1
$449.00
Homedepot.com
Digital counter
Data assimilation
1
Lab Stores?
Digital Display
Data Display
2
Lab Stores?
Estimated Total
$600
Annotated Bibliography:
[1] ScienceDaily Wind-turbine placement produces tenfold power increase, researchers say. at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110713092153.htm
This article provides a foundation for one important facet of my research, which is to make the most
energy per unit of land area. Research has shown that will careful arrangement these vertical axis wind
turbines (VAWTs) can have an order of magnitude higher Watt/meter^2 electrical generation over
conventional, horizontal axis wind farms. I’ve sourced the original article, presented in the Journal of
Renewable and Sustainable Energy in order to extract the game-changing organizational strategies for
use in my own experiments.
This information seems highly reliable and substantive toward my research goals.
Link to journal article source: Dabiri, J.O. Potential order-of-magnitude enhancement of wind farm
power density via counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbine arrays. Journal of Renewable and
Sustainable Energy 3, 043104 (2011).
[2] Janet L. Sawin and Eric Martinot & Martinot, J.L.S. and E. Renewable Energy World. Renewables
Bounced Back in 2010, Finds REN21 Global Report (2011).at
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/09/renewables-bounced-back-in-2010finds-ren21-global-report
This is an article reviewing the state of multiple fields of renewable energy after a tremendous bounceback in 2010. It shows that multiple sectors are growing worldwide, giving evidence for the seriousness
with which countries and major corporations are approaching the energy crisis and climate change in
general. The wind sector grew the most last year, by nearly 39GW of added capacity, three times the
growth experienced just five years prior. Clearly wind has caught the eye of investors and policymakers
alike.
The information for this article was collaborated from the REN21 Global Report, something I would
assume to be fairly impartial and factual about the changes in renewables fields.
[3] SeaRoc to provide two Meteorological Masts to Forewind on Round 3 offshore wind farm, Dogger
Bank | Natural Power. at http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/naturalpower/news/article/2011/10/searoc-to-provide-two-meteorological-masts-to-forewind-on-round-3offshore-wind-farm-dogger-bank
This is an article providing some basic background information on the sea-wind industry, helping me to
understand the various complexities of such an endeavor.
[4] Offshore Wind Energy | Offshore Wind Farms. at
http://www.oceanenergycouncil.com/index.php/Offshore-Wind/Offshore-Wind-Energy.html
This resource has a broad spectrum of useful information and sources for my research. One particularly
enticing tidbit, the site states that “Few studies have been carried out to determine the total global
marine current resource, although it is estimated to exceed 450 GW (Blue Energy, 2000).” Perhaps a lot
has changed in the field, but clearly there are resources out there yet to be investigated and
understood, something I intend to achieve through research.
[5] Optimizing large wind farms. at
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101123174322.htm>
The article from November of 2010 reviews the findings of researchers from Johns Hopkins University
and Leuven University in Belgium, who did some of the earliest large-scale wind-farm CFD analyses and
found that the conventional spacing of 5-7 rotor diameters between turbines was less than half of what
their findings recommended as optimal. Instead at least 15 rotor diameters is often required to achieve
equivalent efficiency to an unobstructed turbine.
Because the findings are computationally based, and the methods for CFD are well-known (just
immature in multi-turbine testing), I find no evidence discrediting the information given.
[6] Aspects when installing a wind turbine Wind energy - NTNU. at
<http://www.ivt.ntnu.no/offshore2/?page_id=291>
This website has a number of useful pages giving everything from the pros and cons of HAWT and VAWT
systems to the math behind wind energy.
Mostly scientifically-based information, trustworthy source.
[7] Better turbine spacing for large wind farms. at
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110120111332.htm>
Another article that recites much of the information from source [5], but being from 2011 this includes
some useful new facts and findings, as well as details a scale testing model similar to what I intend to
create, only theirs replicate HAWTs in a wind tunnel. What is hard to represent, and interesting to note,
is the fact that large wind turbines are able to tap into the strong upper wind currents by the act of
causing turbulence, literally dragging more fast-moving air down. Their ability to do this only seems to
complicate, yet with great reward, the act of siting one of these turbines.
All information seems credible, just provides an interesting insight into the inner working of large wind
farms.
[8] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page. at <http://www.nrel.gov/>
An excellent resource for all things renewable energy! I made specific use of the wind data maps they
provide, though their data is for the 50-90m range, which I must still determine to be be useful towards
calculating surface wind speeds from the coast seaward.
Being a governmental lab, and division of the U.S. Department of Energy, I’ve found the information
given valuable and highly reliable. Maps available directly at
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp
[9] Global warming won’t harm wind energy production, climate models predict. at
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110502151355.htm>
This is a really important and useful report by a pair of Indiana University Bloomington scientists who
analyzed output from several regional climate models to assess future wind patterns in the lower 48.
Alluding again to the infancy of wind energy science, one author said "We decided it was time someone
did a thorough analysis of long term-patterns in wind density," and "There are a lot of myths out there
about the stability of wind patterns, and industry and government also want more information before
making decisions to expand it."
Intriguing and potentially useful information, especially considering their finding that wind energy
density just east of the Cascades will likely fall somewhere between 5 and 10 percent between 2000 and
around 2050. I have to take this one with a grain of salt though, as anything based off climate models is
inherently subject to some margin of error.
[10] Wind Energy | Oregon/Washington | Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | US Department of the
Interior. at <http://www.blm.gov/or/energy/windenergy/index.php>
While I have yet to fully get what I want out of this page, that being wind roses for Washington cities, I
can figure out how to make them for Oregon cities, which leads me to believe that, with more time
scouring the site I will be able to find some highly useful data.
Wind roses for coastal cities would provide hard data for calculating average wind speed at lower
altitude as these are based off of historical data collected from weather stations on rooftops and the
like.
[11] The Home Depot website. at <http://www.Thehomedepot.com>
Perhaps my favorite source, and greatly improved since last I found myself on its pages, the Home Depot
has a vast online warehouse listing prices for every last nut and bolt, making project costing a breeze.
While some prices are ‘online only’ the option to show only what’s available in your local warehouse lets
you know whether or not you’ll have to go to Lowes ;-)
[12] WindAlert.com homepage. at <http://www.windalert.com>
A Windsurfer’s resource, the site has localized wind data dating back to 2007, I just need to verify the
source of individual location data so I can verify what altitude readings were taken, as I presume will be
a particular difficulty in finding qualitative wind record data.
[13] Northwest Mining Association informational PDF. at
<http://www.nwma.org/pdf/Wind_Power_Needs_American_Minerals%20%282%29.pdf>
While the exact validity of this data is perhaps questionable, even as estimates this document points out
both the necessity of mined materials and our reliance on imports for continued windmill installation, an
undeniable fact given current technology.