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SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh

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SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh

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  1. Wind and Wave: A Viable Solution?By 2020, the Scottish target for renewable energy penetration is 50% of total energy consumption. Does wind and wave energy have the potential to achieve these targets?By: Ieuan Rickard (0786266); Frances Radford (0791363) Doug White (0784746); Alex Robinson (0785665), Imad Gammoh (0800059), Hector Haines (0791309), Jamie Paterson (0784886)IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2008 SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Environmental Issues: All renewable energy generators have a certain embodied energy from construction and transportation. Over a short period of time this is compensated for by producing energy with no emissions. Wave generators have been found to have a similar embodied energy and carbon footprint to wind turbines. The climate in the United Kingdom displays strong energy potential for both wind and wave power in comparison to other European countries as demonstrated by the two diagrams to the left. Bird mortality is a considerable issue surrounding wind farm developments and largely overlooked when choosing sites. This combined with noise pollution also has hugely adverse effects on non-predatory animals such as squirrels. Wave machines could provide new habitat for marine life or nesting areas for birds. It would provide substrates for various biological systems, which could be a positive or negative complement to existing natural habitats. Many complaints have been made by people who live near wind farms due to the noise pollution associated with them. Toxic releases may be of concern related to leaks or accidental spills of liquids used in wave energy systems with working hydraulic fluids. Economic Factors: One of the factors slowing the growth of offshore wind is that in coastal areas there is very little existing infrastructure for getting electricity generated offshore on to the national grid. Most wave energy devices do not require as solid foundations; rather they are just anchored to the seabed using cables. This reduces the construction cost and complexity dramatically. Wave energy is still considered as a developing technology and thus the cost of energy utilization is expected to drop considerably in the coming years similar to the “mature” wind energy which dropped 80% in 20 years. The cyclic nature of pressure systems means that wind and wave energy are not consistent, but are in reality extremely erratic. Currently, there are no commercially viable methods of storing such a high level of power for more than a few hours, therefore it may be necessary to buy and sell surplus electricity from neighbours in Europe . Considerable permanent and temporary infrastructure is required for the erection of wind farms. Not only this but the most desirable sites are often at height, or in large, open, untouched areas so implementing these developments are incredibly difficult and expensive. Wind and wave devices are susceptible to damage in storms. Offshore generators are difficult to access in storm conditions, meaning that damage becomes more expensive to repair than onshore energy devices. Figures to show wind (top) and wave (bottom) energy potential for the UK References J Stimpson. The Way The Wind Blows. Article, New Civil Engineer Magazine 21.01.10. p20-22. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ J Oswald, M Raine, H Ashraf-Ball. Will British Weather Provide Reliable Electricity? Energy Policy Journal. 2008 Szarka, J. (2007), Wind Power in Europe: Politics, Business and Society. Palgrave ISBN 978-1-4039-8985-7. Pictures: http://www.renewables-atlas.info http://lacoastpost.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/wind-turbine.jpg For further reading, see the annotated bibliography. Conclusion - So is it viable? As a source of renewable energy, wind power is much more established than wave power in the UK. Currently it is difficult to fully assess the potential of wave power generation, as it is a rapidly growing technology. However, as both technologies are dependent on interlinked, erratic climate conditions, it seems certain that they are not the sole solution to the UK’s energy targets. This could only be solved by an interlinked global electricity market, massive increase in local energy storage, or a more rounded renewable energy infrastructure.

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