Wind Energy in the U.S. and Pennsylvania

5/13 Questions of the day: 1. Where do we get our Energy in PA? 1. Where do we get our Energy in PA? 2. What are the environmental impacts? 2. What are the environmental impacts? 3. How does wind fit in to the solution of making us energy independent? 3. How does wind fit in to the solution of making us energy independent? 4. What are your opinions for obtaining wind as an energy source? 4. What are your opinions for obtaining wind as an energy source?

Review: Sources of Electricity in PA Solar, Wind, OTEC, Tidal, Geothermal

Review: PA and Electric Energy PA is the 28 th largest consumer of electricity in U.S. per capita (per person) PA is the 28 th largest consumer of electricity in U.S. per capita (per person) PA is the 3 rd largest producer of electricity in U.S. (TX, WY) PA is the 3 rd largest producer of electricity in U.S. (TX, WY) Primary energy source is coal (36.1%) followed by natural gas (35.5%) Primary energy source is coal (36.1%) followed by natural gas (35.5%)

Review: PA Coal-fired Power Plant Impacts Sulfur dioxide Sulfur dioxide Nitrogen oxide Nitrogen oxide Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide Impacts of Resource extraction Impacts of Resource extraction

Alternative to Coal in PA: Wind Energy

Types of Wind Energy Systems Utility scale wind farming Utility scale wind farming Generate to supply utility grid or community Generate to supply utility grid or community Turbine size 100 kW up to 2.5 MW Turbine size 100 kW up to 2.5 MW Small wind systems Small wind systems Typically under 100 KW Typically under 100 KW Supplement/replace energy from utility Supplement/replace energy from utility “Distributed generation” “Distributed generation” Back-up power using battery banks Back-up power using battery banks Sell back to utility (net metering) Sell back to utility (net metering)

How Turbines Work ch?v=tsZITSeQFR0 ch?v=tsZITSeQFR0 ch?v=tsZITSeQFR0

Question of the Day 5/16 How do wind turbines generate energy? How do wind turbines generate energy?

Cape Cod Wind Farm ology/story?id=97849&page= 1 ology/story?id=97849&page= 1 ology/story?id=97849&page= 1

What about Wind Energy in PA? PA annual wind potential is 44 million MWh (22 nd in US) PA annual wind potential is 44 million MWh (22 nd in US) Power for 4.5 million homes Power for 4.5 million homes PA wind power generation PA wind power generation 1340 MW of generation already (16 th ) (1.5% of electricity in state) 1340 MW of generation already (16 th ) (1.5% of electricity in state) 720 turbines in 24 locations 720 turbines in 24 locations Power for ~307,000 homes Power for ~307,000 homes Estimate by 2030 enough energy for 1.6 million homes Estimate by 2030 enough energy for 1.6 million homes

Wind Energy Production by State #1 Texas – MW #2 Iowa – 6364 MW #3 California – 5662 MW #4 Oklahoma – 5453 MW #5 Illinois – 3842 MW #6 Kansas – 3764 MW #7 Minnesota – 3235 MW #8 Oregon – 3153 MW #9 Washington– 3075 MW #10 Colorado – 2965 MW #1 Texas – MW #2 Iowa – 6364 MW #3 California – 5662 MW #4 Oklahoma – 5453 MW #5 Illinois – 3842 MW #6 Kansas – 3764 MW #7 Minnesota – 3235 MW #8 Oregon – 3153 MW #9 Washington– 3075 MW #10 Colorado – 2965 MW

California Wind Farm

Pennsylvania Policies Encourage Wind Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) 18% of Electricity From Alternatives within 15 years 18% of Electricity From Alternatives within 15 years 8% from TIER 1 – Renewables 8% from TIER 1 – Renewables 4,000 MW Wind by 2021? 4,000 MW Wind by 2021? Net Metering and Interconnection Rules Net Metering and Interconnection Rules Up to 1 MW to Net Meter Up to 1 MW to Net Meter Standardize Interconnection Requirements Standardize Interconnection Requirements

Location, Location, Location Wind Resource Wind Resource Proximity to Transmission Lines Proximity to Transmission Lines Local community issues – zoning, neighbors Local community issues – zoning, neighbors Environmental – birds, bats, roadless areas Environmental – birds, bats, roadless areas

Orientation of Wind Farms 014/04/ htm 014/04/ htm 014/04/ htm 014/04/ htm

Benefits of Wind Energy Significantly lower environmental impacts vs. traditional energy sources Significantly lower environmental impacts vs. traditional energy sources Zero emissions Zero emissions Zero water use Zero water use Indigenous resource Indigenous resource Sustainable Sustainable Economic development Economic development

Downside of Wind Energy Intermittent energy source Intermittent energy source Cost is still slightly higher than traditional energy Cost is still slightly higher than traditional energy Environmental impacts Environmental impacts Visual – PA Model Ordinance Visual – PA Model Ordinance Noise – PA Model Ordinance Noise – PA Model Ordinance Wildlife Wildlife

Wind/Wildlife Issues PA has wealth of wildlife/habitat resources; migratory routes PA has wealth of wildlife/habitat resources; migratory routes Experience at wind farms – good and bad Experience at wind farms – good and bad Lots of potential wind development- need surveys of sites for migration patterns Lots of potential wind development- need surveys of sites for migration patterns

What Can You Do? #1 Conserve energy #1 Conserve energy #2 Consider buying green energy #2 Consider buying green energy PA is an “electric choice” state PA is an “electric choice” state Contact your utility Contact your utility #3 Consider a renewable energy project for your home, business, community or school #3 Consider a renewable energy project for your home, business, community or school Solar, wind, geothermal Solar, wind, geothermal #4 Conserve energy!!! #4 Conserve energy!!!

Day 2: Pop Quiz-from HW reading What has improved in windmill technology? What has improved in windmill technology? What two forces affect turbine rotors? What two forces affect turbine rotors? What has helped improve wind reliability? What has helped improve wind reliability? How has testing wind turbine design changed in the past ten years? How has testing wind turbine design changed in the past ten years?

Today’s activity: Challenge: The WindNRG Corporation needs a team of wind engineers to design and build a wind turbine for the new wind farm. The wind turbine must be durable, quiet and effective at converting the energy of the wind. Challenge: The WindNRG Corporation needs a team of wind engineers to design and build a wind turbine for the new wind farm. The wind turbine must be durable, quiet and effective at converting the energy of the wind.

Details and Directions: Timeline: Timeline: Today in class, time for design and building using materials here. Today in class, time for design and building using materials here. Friday, we will make any last minute modifications/design changes and test the wind turbines and compete for prizes. Friday, we will make any last minute modifications/design changes and test the wind turbines and compete for prizes.

Directions: Follow directions as outlined on handout. Follow directions as outlined on handout. Be creative, test, retest and follow design constraints. Be creative, test, retest and follow design constraints.

Some examples:

Google wind- East Coast

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