Measuring the WindMaking an anemometer

Wind in Colorado

How Wind Energy Works

Power from the wind

•Power in the wind • Effect of air density, • Effect of swept area, A• Effect of wind speed, V

R

Power in the Wind = ½ρAV3

Wind Speed (V) Most important part of

equation Power is a cubic

function of wind speed◦V X V X V◦ 20% increase in wind

speed means 73% more power

◦ Doubling wind speed means 8 times more power

(power =½ρAV3)

Effect of wind speed on production

Same turbine, two different wind regimes:

◦ Yampa (8.3 mph) 1,200 kWh/year

◦ Sheep Mtn: (18.4 mph) 6,500 kWh/year

“Micro-Siting” to maximize generation at a site

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