1. Welcome!
Last day to turn in permission slip and $5
Please get out paper for notes and read the board and power up.

2. Today’s lesson
Nearpod.com
Look for join session in upper right corner

3. Harnessing the Wind – we’re #1!
Current largest wind farm: Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center
421 wind turbines
735 megawatts.
47,000 acres of land in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas.

4. Texas’ next “cash crop”?
500,000 Texas homes currently, expanding 10 times in next decade
In 2012, wind generated 10,407 megawatts
(1 megawatt = 500 homes)
13% of state’s electricity

6. How does it work?

7. How does it work? Area swept by blades can be size of 747 plane
Tips of blades can be going 200mph
Height – 240ft (taller than Statue of Liberty)
Nacelle – size of greyhound bus

8. How does it work?
World’s largest German turbine: (394-feet) behemoth capable of generating 5 MW
Need 8 mi/hr winds to generate electricity; max electrical production at mi/hr winds; turbines cut off at 55 mi/hr winds
Yaw motor – nacelle moves to face turbine directly into wind

9. Applications Typical wind farm: 100Megawatts (MW)
Coal fired power plant – MW
One 1.5MW turbine could power about 350 homes/year

10. Best wind is in the morning, but peak demand is in the afternoon 

11. So what if you currently have wind electricity
So what if you currently have wind electricity? Do your lights go out on still days?

12. Our electric “grid” = power plants connected to consumers

13. Our electric “grid” = power plants connected to consumers

14. Advantages High efficiency Moderate capital cost No air pollution
Can use land for grazing
Renewable
Domestic
Able to use current electric grid

15. Disadvantages Land use – requires space
Visual pollution – some people don’t like the look
Noise – 275 yards away, it sounds like a refrigerator
Bird and bat deaths
Winds peak in morning and March-May

16. Wind in your home?