Wind EnergyWind Energy

Presented by Jerad Naymick & Selvam Presented by Jerad Naymick & Selvam

ArjunanArjunan

Fall 2006Fall 2006

http://www.tva.gov/news/files/buffmtn/turbines3.jpg

Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

OverviewOverview

• Technical backgroundTechnical background• Small wind systemsSmall wind systems• Potential in TexasPotential in Texas• Large scale economicsLarge scale economics

How does a wind turbine How does a wind turbine function?function?

Kinetic energy to mechanical energy

Mechanical energy to electrical energy

Wind

http://www.solarnavigator.net/wind_turbines/turbine_drawing.jpg

Power from a Wind Power from a Wind TurbineTurbine

P = ½CP = ½CppρρAVAV33

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 Small Wind Electric SystemsSystems

• Is wind energy a practical solution?Is wind energy a practical solution?• What power should the wind turbine What power should the wind turbine

produce?produce?• Which tower type is best?Which tower type is best?

• How much do wind turbines cost?How much do wind turbines cost?• Is grid connection an option?Is grid connection an option?

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/small_wind/small_wind_guide.pdf

Wind Potential in TexasWind Potential in Texas

Improving technology will further increase the potential capacity!

http://www.infinitepower.org/reswind.htm

Large Scale Economic Large Scale Economic AnalysisAnalysis

• Financing CostsFinancing Costs• Opportunity CostsOpportunity Costs• Operating CostsOperating Costs• ExternalitiesExternalities

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/m/c/mcc171/dollar.jpg

Opportunity CostsOpportunity Costs

• 2% of time needed for maintenance2% of time needed for maintenance• Inability to achieve Betz limitInability to achieve Betz limit

http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw91.htm

http://www.ftexploring.com/energy/wind-enrgy.html

Operating CostsOperating Costs

• Wind is free, where availableWind is free, where available• Economies of scaleEconomies of scale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US_wind_power_map.png

Financing CostsFinancing Costs• Conventional energies are better off than renewable energiesConventional energies are better off than renewable energies

• Utility versus private developerUtility versus private developer

• Risk affects interest rate, and thus costRisk affects interest rate, and thus cost– Variability in windVariability in wind– PTC renewalsPTC renewals– REPI not guaranteedREPI not guaranteed

• Industry lacks stabilityIndustry lacks stability

Company Type

Utility Private

Interest Rate

7.5% 9.5%

Payment Period

20 years

12 years

Risk Management

- DSCR

Federal Aid

REPI PTCwww.awea.org/pubs/documents/Outlook_2006.pdf

ExternalitiesExternalities

• EnvironmentalEnvironmental– Zero emissions!Zero emissions!– Minimal noise pollutionMinimal noise pollution– Bird fatalitiesBird fatalities

• No Hidden SubsidiesNo Hidden Subsidies– MedicalMedical– MilitaryMilitary

www.awea.org/pubs/documents/Outlook_2006.pdf

Questions?Questions?

http://shiftingbaselines.org/blog/wind_turbines_300.jpg

ReferencesReferences• Comparitive Cost of wind and Other Energy SourcesComparitive Cost of wind and Other Energy Sources. . Wind Energy Fact SheetWind Energy Fact Sheet. American Wind Energy Association. . American Wind Energy Association.

19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ factsheets/ Cost2001.PDF>.19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ factsheets/ Cost2001.PDF>.• ““Cost FAQ.” Cost FAQ.” American Wind Energy AssociationAmerican Wind Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ faq/ cost.html>.. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ faq/ cost.html>.• Economics of Wind EnergyEconomics of Wind Energy. Mar. 2002. American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ . Mar. 2002. American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/

pubs/ factsheets/ EconomicsofWind-March2002.pdf>.pubs/ factsheets/ EconomicsofWind-March2002.pdf>.• Economics of Wind EnergyEconomics of Wind Energy. Endless Energy Corporation. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.endlessenergy.com/ . Endless Energy Corporation. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.endlessenergy.com/

windenergy.shtml>.windenergy.shtml>.• ““Frequently Asked Questions.” Frequently Asked Questions.” Horizon Wind Energy for LandownersHorizon Wind Energy for Landowners. 2005. 19 Nov. 2006 . 2005. 19 Nov. 2006

<http://www.horizonwind.com/ about/ landowners/ faq.aspx>.<http://www.horizonwind.com/ about/ landowners/ faq.aspx>.• ““How Does a Wind Turbine Work?” How Does a Wind Turbine Work?” National Wind Technology CenterNational Wind Technology Center. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nrel.gov/ wind/ . 19 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nrel.gov/ wind/

animation.html>.animation.html>.• Small Wind Electric SystemsSmall Wind Electric Systems. . Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. U.S. Department of Energy. 19 Nov. 2006 . U.S. Department of Energy. 19 Nov. 2006

<http://www.eere.energy.gov/ windandhydro/ windpoweringamerica/ pdfs/ small_wind/ small_wind_guide.pdf>.<http://www.eere.energy.gov/ windandhydro/ windpoweringamerica/ pdfs/ small_wind/ small_wind_guide.pdf>.• ““Texas Wind Energy Development.” Texas Wind Energy Development.” Wind Project DatabaseWind Project Database. American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006 . American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006

<http://www.awea.org/ projects/ texas.html>.<http://www.awea.org/ projects/ texas.html>.• Texas Wind Energy ResourcesTexas Wind Energy Resources. Texas State Energy Conservation Office. 19 Nov. 2006 . Texas State Energy Conservation Office. 19 Nov. 2006

<http://www.infinitepower.org/ reswind.htm>.<http://www.infinitepower.org/ reswind.htm>.• Variability of Wind Power and Other Renewables: Management Options and StrategiesVariability of Wind Power and Other Renewables: Management Options and Strategies . 2005. . 2005. American Wind American Wind

Energy AssociationEnergy Association. June 2005. International Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://awea.org/ policy/ . June 2005. International Energy Association. 19 Nov. 2006 <http://awea.org/ policy/ regulatory_policy/ transmission_documents/ IEA_report_variability_wind.pdf>.regulatory_policy/ transmission_documents/ IEA_report_variability_wind.pdf>.

• Wind Energy Applications GuideWind Energy Applications Guide. American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ . American Wind Energy Association. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ documents/ appguideformatWeb.pdf>.documents/ appguideformatWeb.pdf>.

• Wind Energy for Rural Economic DevelopmentWind Energy for Rural Economic Development. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 18 Nov. 2006 . National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 18 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nrel.gov/ docs/ fy04osti/ 33590.pdf>.<http://www.nrel.gov/ docs/ fy04osti/ 33590.pdf>.

• ““Windmill Efficiency.” Windmill Efficiency.” The Energy AdvocateThe Energy Advocate. 2001. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.energyadvocate.com/ fw91.htm>.. 2001. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.energyadvocate.com/ fw91.htm>.• Wind Power Myths vs. FactsWind Power Myths vs. Facts. American Wind Energy Association. 18 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ . American Wind Energy Association. 18 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/

factsheets/ 050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf>.factsheets/ 050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf>.• Wind Power Outlook 2006Wind Power Outlook 2006. American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/ . American Wind Energy Association. 17 Nov. 2006 <http://www.awea.org/ pubs/

documents/ Outlook_2006.pdf>.documents/ Outlook_2006.pdf>.• ““Wind Turbines and the Energy in the Wind.” Wind Turbines and the Energy in the Wind.” Energy ExplorationEnergy Exploration. 2005. FT Exploring Science and Technology. 19 . 2005. FT Exploring Science and Technology. 19

Nov. 2006 <http://www.ftexploring.com/ energy/ wind-enrgy.html>.Nov. 2006 <http://www.ftexploring.com/ energy/ wind-enrgy.html>.