1. 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.

2. Texas’ next “cash crop”?
Fastest growing energy industry in Texas
500,000 Texas homes currently, expanding 10 times in next decade
160 MW of power being brought on line

3. How does it work? www.bp.com

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Advantages High efficiency Moderate capital cost No air pollution
Quick construction
Renewable
Domestic
Able to use current electric grid

8. Disadvantages Steady winds needed Land use Visual pollution
Noise – 275 yards away, it sounds like a refrigerator
Bird deaths
Winds peak in morning and March-May