Wind Energy Presented by Jerad Naymick & Selvam Arjunan Fall 2006 Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin http://www.tva.gov/news/files/buffmtn/turbines3.jpg Overview • • • • Technical background Small wind systems Potential in Texas Large scale economics How does a wind turbine function? Wind Kinetic energy to mechanical energy Mechanical energy to electrical energy http://www.solarnavigator.net/wind_turbines/turbine_drawing.jpg Power from a Wind Turbine P= 3 ½CpρAV Where P = captured power Cp = max power coefficient, generally 0.25 to 0.45 (Betz limit = 0.59) ρ = air density A = rotor swept area V = wind speed http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/small_wind/small_wind_guide.pdf Small Wind Electric Systems • Is wind energy a practical solution? • What power should the wind turbine produce? • Which tower type is best? • How much do wind turbines cost? • Is grid connection an option? http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/small_wind/small_wind_guide.pdf Wind Potential in Texas Improving technology will further increase the potential capacity! http://www.infinitepower.org/reswind.htm Large Scale Economic Analysis • • • • Financing Costs Opportunity Costs Operating Costs Externalities http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/m/c/mcc171/dollar.jpg Opportunity Costs • 2% of time needed for maintenance • Inability to achieve Betz limit http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw91.htm http://www.ftexploring.com/energy/wind-enrgy.html Operating Costs • Wind is free, where available • Economies of scale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US_wind_power_map.png Financing Costs • Conventional energies are better off than renewable energies • Utility versus private developer • Risk affects interest rate, and thus cost – Variability in wind – PTC renewals Company Type – REPI not guaranteed • Industry lacks stability www.awea.org/pubs/documents/Outlook_2006.pdf Utility Private Interest Rate 7.5% 9.5% Payment Period 20 years 12 years Risk Management DSCR Federal Aid PTC REPI Externalities • Environmental – Zero emissions! – Minimal noise pollution – Bird fatalities • No Hidden Subsidies – Medical – Military www.awea.org/pubs/documents/Outlook_2006.pdf Questions? http://shiftingbaselines.org/blog/wind_turbines_300.jpg References • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Comparitive Cost of wind and Other Energy Sources. Wind Energy Fact Sheet. American Wind Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/Cost2001.PDF>. “Cost FAQ.” American Wind Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/faq/cost.html>. Economics of Wind Energy. Mar. 2002. American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/EconomicsofWind-March2002.pdf>. Economics of Wind Energy. Endless Energy Corporation. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.endlessenergy.com/windenergy.shtml>. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Horizon Wind Energy for Landowners. 2005. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.horizonwind.com/about/landowners/faq.aspx>. “How Does a Wind Turbine Work?” National Wind Technology Center. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nrel.gov/wind/animation.html>. Small Wind Electric Systems. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of Energy. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/small_wind/small_wind_guide.pdf>. “Texas Wind Energy Development.” Wind Project Database. American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/projects/texas.html>. Texas Wind Energy Resources. Texas State Energy Conservation Office. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.infinitepower.org/reswind.htm>. Variability of Wind Power and Other Renewables: Management Options and Strategies. 2005. American Wind Energy Association. June 2005. International Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://awea.org/policy/regulatory_policy/transmission_documents/IEA_report_variability_wind.pdf>. Wind Energy Applications Guide. American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/pubs/documents/appguideformatWeb.pdf>. Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 18 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/33590.pdf>. “Windmill Efficiency.” The Energy Advocate. 2001. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw91.htm>. Wind Power Myths vs. Facts. American Wind Energy Association. 18 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf>. Wind Power Outlook 2006. American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/pubs/documents/Outlook_2006.pdf>. “Wind Turbines and the Energy in the Wind.” Energy Exploration. 2005. FT Exploring Science and Technology. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.ftexploring.com/energy/wind-enrgy.html>.