Wind Power
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4 |
Reduces GHG emissions associated with fossil fuel consumption and increases energy independence and security |
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4 |
One year to record wind data for a specific location, six to 12 months for design, and six months for installation |
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3 |
Engineering services, wind turbine and tower, and balance of system (switches, relays, meters, wiring, controllers) |
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FAC, FIN, GEN, BPO |
As with other renewable energy generation sources, wind can contribute to power independence for a site, increasing energy security and reducing costs and GHG emissions. Use of on-site wind to generate power has proven to have beneficial financial payback, depending on utility and fuel costs and wind speeds. Wind energy has been used as a supplement to prime power sources (on-site power generation) and as a strategy to reduce electrical use during peak load conditions. Low maintenance requirements make wind turbines attractive and minimally impactful to operations budgets.
There are two primary types of wind turbines:
- Horizontal axis turbines are most common and most efficient. These have two or three blades that must point perpendicular to the wind, and rotate around a horizontal rotor shaft at the top of a The electrical generator is located at the top of the tower.
- Vertical axis turbines have a vertical rotor shaft. These turbines need not face into the wind, which is advantageous on sites with variable wind The generator can be located at ground level for ease of maintenance. However, vertical axis turbines are 15-25% less efficient than horizontal-axis turbines.
Generally, there are three turbine sizes: small (<10 kW), medium (15-60 kW), and large (100-250 kW) for general feasibility and life-cycle cost. While large turbines were the most cost effective, the small and medium turbines proved to be a more reasonable scale solution for most sites.
Final turbine selection depends on utility rates, land availability, height, permitting restrictions, and available wind speeds.
Although wind systems have relatively low environmental impact compared to fossil fuel power plants, there is some concern about turbine noise and effects on bird populations.
See Figure 11 for comparison of wind turbines to noise level. To minimize noise pollution and ensure safety, provide a ‘topple zone’ equal to the height of the turbine. Wind energy projects should not be located in areas with a high incidence of fog and mist, frequent severe weather events, or where birds and bats are known or suspected to reside during breeding, nesting, maternity, hibernating, or overwintering periods.15
Figure 11: Wind turbine sound comparison
