| Wind Energy |
wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of
an electrical generator.
an electrical generator.
Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and reduces toxic atmospheric and greenhouse gas emissions if
used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when using wind power at low
to moderate penetration levels
used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when using wind power at low
to moderate penetration levels
According to the Electric Power Research Institute, the
cost of producing wind energy has decreased nearly four
fold since 1980. The levelized cost of energy from wind
turbines in 1993 was about 7.5 cents per kilowatt/hour.
With current wind research and development efforts, the
Energy Commission estimates that newer technologies
can reduce the cost of wind energy to 3.5 cents per
kilowatt-hour.
cost of producing wind energy has decreased nearly four
fold since 1980. The levelized cost of energy from wind
turbines in 1993 was about 7.5 cents per kilowatt/hour.
With current wind research and development efforts, the
Energy Commission estimates that newer technologies
can reduce the cost of wind energy to 3.5 cents per
kilowatt-hour.
The components of a utility-scale "wind farm" include wind turbines, an underground power transmission system, control and
maintenance facilities, and a substation that connects the farm with the utility power grid. Utility-scale wind turbines are classified by
size as follows: small (less than 50 kilowatts [kW]); intermediate (50 to 500 kW); and large (above 500 kW). Small and intermediate
turbines make up the bulk of the older installed turbine base, but new turbines installed in the late 1990s are generally 600 kW and
larger.
Utility-scale wind farms are generally located in areas with average annual wind speeds of at least 13 miles per hour. Wind power is
more available during certain seasons because climatic conditions affect wind speed. In California, wind speeds are highest in the hot
summer months, and approximately three-fourths of all annual wind power output is produced during the spring and summer.
Another application of wind is in distributed use systems, which provide on-site power in either stand-alone or grid-connected
configurations. Most such systems range in size from one to 25 kW. Distributed wind systems are applicable to industry, water districts,
rural residences, agricultural use, and a wide variety of isolated power uses located in good wind resource areas.
Wind power for utility-scale applications is considered to be commercially available under most conditions. The technology is
considered to be mature, and there are several system suppliers. The federal government encourages electricity production from wind
farms with a 1.5-cent per kilowatt-hour tax credit. California also offers incentives through the Existing Renewables Program
maintenance facilities, and a substation that connects the farm with the utility power grid. Utility-scale wind turbines are classified by
size as follows: small (less than 50 kilowatts [kW]); intermediate (50 to 500 kW); and large (above 500 kW). Small and intermediate
turbines make up the bulk of the older installed turbine base, but new turbines installed in the late 1990s are generally 600 kW and
larger.
Utility-scale wind farms are generally located in areas with average annual wind speeds of at least 13 miles per hour. Wind power is
more available during certain seasons because climatic conditions affect wind speed. In California, wind speeds are highest in the hot
summer months, and approximately three-fourths of all annual wind power output is produced during the spring and summer.
Another application of wind is in distributed use systems, which provide on-site power in either stand-alone or grid-connected
configurations. Most such systems range in size from one to 25 kW. Distributed wind systems are applicable to industry, water districts,
rural residences, agricultural use, and a wide variety of isolated power uses located in good wind resource areas.
Wind power for utility-scale applications is considered to be commercially available under most conditions. The technology is
considered to be mature, and there are several system suppliers. The federal government encourages electricity production from wind
farms with a 1.5-cent per kilowatt-hour tax credit. California also offers incentives through the Existing Renewables Program
Advantages of wind power include:
* It forestalls or replaces the need to build potentially more polluting conventional power plants.
* It produces virtually no pollution of air, water or soil.
* It is renewable (non-depletable). There is enough potential wind energy in the U.S. to power the entire country.
* Because of its modular nature, it is easy to add capacity as needed.
* Installing wind turbines is relatively quick.
* While the power is currently more expensive than that produced by natural gas-fired plants, the price of wind power is not affected by
fuel price increases or supply disruptions.
* There is currently an attractive federal tax credit for wind generation.
Permitting Issues. Some of the potential issues associated with windfarm development include:
* Use of large tracts of land. (The average windfarm requires 17 acres of land to produce one megawatt of electricity. However,
simultaneous land uses such as agriculture and cattle grazing occur often.)
* Erosion in desert areas.
* Changes in visual quality (since windfarms tend to be located at or just below ridge lines).
* Disturbances to wildlife habitats.
* Avian mortality due to collisions with wind turbines and associated wires (research is on-going to reduce bird deaths).
* Noise (wind turbines generate both audible and low frequency [deep base vibration] sound waves).
* Grass or brush fires caused by shorts in the electrical cables in the unlikely event that they become stretched or twisted when the
turbines turn to catch the wind.
* It forestalls or replaces the need to build potentially more polluting conventional power plants.
* It produces virtually no pollution of air, water or soil.
* It is renewable (non-depletable). There is enough potential wind energy in the U.S. to power the entire country.
* Because of its modular nature, it is easy to add capacity as needed.
* Installing wind turbines is relatively quick.
* While the power is currently more expensive than that produced by natural gas-fired plants, the price of wind power is not affected by
fuel price increases or supply disruptions.
* There is currently an attractive federal tax credit for wind generation.
Permitting Issues. Some of the potential issues associated with windfarm development include:
* Use of large tracts of land. (The average windfarm requires 17 acres of land to produce one megawatt of electricity. However,
simultaneous land uses such as agriculture and cattle grazing occur often.)
* Erosion in desert areas.
* Changes in visual quality (since windfarms tend to be located at or just below ridge lines).
* Disturbances to wildlife habitats.
* Avian mortality due to collisions with wind turbines and associated wires (research is on-going to reduce bird deaths).
* Noise (wind turbines generate both audible and low frequency [deep base vibration] sound waves).
* Grass or brush fires caused by shorts in the electrical cables in the unlikely event that they become stretched or twisted when the
turbines turn to catch the wind.