WIND POWER: Do the pluses outweigh the negative impacts?

Annelise Przywara, Carl Von Glahn, Eleanor Laffey & Ammar Sabanovic

What is wind power?

---> Power that captures the natural wind in our atmosphere and converts it into mechanical energy then electricity.●Wind power is a form of solar energy- result of uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun●Wind energy has been utilized for many years (windmills and sailboats)●Modern turbines harness wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electricity●Most turbines have three blades and sit atop a steel tubular tower

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

energy.gov

Major types

● Utility-scale wind

● Distributed or small wind

● Offshore wind

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

On shore Off shore Wind Farm Wind Farm

mitchelltech.edu

leadenergy.org

How it works

● Wind blows past a turbine and the blades capture the energy as it rotates

● A shaft that is connected to a gearbox makes it spin faster

● All of this is connected to a generator that makes electricity

Consists of:● steel tubular tower(up to 325 ft)● gearbox, generator and controlsThe turbines are all made with wind assessment

equipment to pick up the wind and rotate automatically.

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

Inside a Wind Turbine

thenewecologist.com

PROS VS.CONS

● Clean Energy Source● No radioactive waste● Renewable● Space efficient ● Prices have decreased over

80% since 1980● Low operational costs- only

cost is construction and maintenance

● Intermittent power source● Threat to wildlife● Habitat fragmentation● Aesthetics● Noise & Wind turbine

syndrome

energyinformative.org

Wind is a Clean Energy Source

● Harnessing wind does not pollute environment AT ALL!

● No emissions of carbon into the atmosphere● No acid rain

*According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Vision, if we increase our nation’s wind energy capacity by 20% by 2030, it would:

- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions- A cumulative total of 7,600 million tons of

carbon dioxide would be avoided by 2030, and more than 15,000 million tons of carbon dioxide would be avoided by 2050

No radioactive waste

Why is radioactivity bad?●Radioactive waste is hazardous to life and the environment●Has to be isolated when disposedComparing wind to other forms:Nuclear - produces mass amounts of radioactive wasteCoal - produces carbon dioxideGas - releases methane,nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html

Renewable

Originates from the nuclear fusion processes that take place on the sun

- Form of solar energy since winds are caused by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, rotation of earth, & the earth’s surface irregularities

●Naturally occurring●Reliable

oAs long as sun shines and the wind blows the energy produced can be harnessed

*Not the case for oil & natural gas; their supplies will be depleted

energy.gov

Space Efficient

● The largest wind turbines are capable of generating enough electricity to meet the energy demand of 600 average U.S. homes

● Turbines can’t be placed too close to each other○ Land in between can be used for other things○ Ex.) Farming

Project Guidelines

❏ Projects must go through permitting process at Federal, State and Local levels

❏ Must Address:❏ Wild and habitat issues ❏ Military and nonmilitary infrastructure ❏ COMMUNITY CONCERNS

❏ NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) is the opposition of a proposal by residents for a new development that is near them

Wind Energy Costs

Main Costs for Wind Energy:●For a land based wind project, 70% or more of the cost is primarily from purchasing the wind turbine.

○ Installation takes up the rest of the Capital Costs. ●Once operating, maintenance is required by wind technicians and operators Other costs include:

-financing, permitting, cost/availability of skilled labor, and the economy of the surrounding community.

http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=5547#ComparativeCost

Advancements in Technology = Lower Costs

Since 1980, the demand for wind energy has greatly increased while the cost has been decreasing.●Taller towers and longer lighter blades have increased production and capacity ●Prices have decreased over 80% since 1980

Intermittent Power Source

● Unpredictable● Wind doesn’t always blow● Availability is not constant

*Hope for breakthroughs in storage technologies

Threat to Wildlife

● New study (September 2014)● Passerine birds most common

o less than 0.01% collideo 130,000-230,000 out of 5 billion

● All bird specieso 214,000-368,000

http://awwi.org/new-study/

Habitat Fragmentation

● Require so much land● Building roads and transmission lines

are dangerous● Other species can move into the area● Can upset hunters

retrieved from: Journal of Wildlife Management

Aesthetics

● How wind turbines look is a concern for some people

● Too big, too many all in one place

http://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/

Noise & Wind Turbine Syndrome

Wind Turbine Syndrome (WTS) - produces several symptoms related to the vestibular system’s (balance) organs: ●disturbed sleep●headaches, tinnitus (ear ringing)●sense of quivering or vibration●nervousness●rapid heartbeat●nausea●difficulty with concentration●memory loss●irritability and anger

Overall...

★ The pluses of wind power do outweigh the negatives impacts.

● Doesn’t pollute environment● Renewable● Prices decreasing

Sources

http://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/http://energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-workhttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.htmlhttp://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=900http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/basics/http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35953.pdfhttp://www.energymatters.com.au/components/wind-energy/http://windwisema.org/about/noise/wind-turbine-syndrome-and-vibroacoustic-disease/http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/61095.pdf