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Wind Energy in Virginia: JMU and Beyond

Wind Energy in Virginia: JMU and Beyond. By Matthew Heck David Strong Gregory Allen Adam Jones Bryan Franey Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Miles. The Beginning. In the spring of 2001 two groups formed thesis proposals dealing with wind energy The two groups had two distinct goals and objectives

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Wind Energy in Virginia: JMU and Beyond

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  1. Wind Energy in Virginia:JMU and Beyond By Matthew Heck David Strong Gregory Allen Adam Jones Bryan Franey Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Miles

  2. The Beginning • In the spring of 2001 two groups formed thesis proposals dealing with wind energy • The two groups had two distinct goals and objectives • We combined two project proposals to form one with two main sections

  3. The Virginia State-Based Anemometer Loan Program (SBALP) • Purpose - spur the development of the Virginia’s wind resource • Help facilitate the development of widely distributed wind expertise throughout the nation • Allows landowners to measure their wind energy resource • Help Virginia and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory collected data that can be used to validate wind resource models

  4. Tower siting Regulations Safety Visual impact Wind modeling (WAsP) Avian mortality Maintenance Noise Grid connection Economic analysis JMU East (CISAT) Campus Study • More detailed site assessment dealing with issues such as:

  5. 5000BC Sailboats on the Nile River 1940 First megawatt turbine in operation (Vermont) 1980s Large wind farms in US 1888 First electricity generating turbine constructed in Denmark 1000AD Grain-grinding windmills in the Middle East 1854 American windmill invented 1300AD Windmills in the Netherlands

  6. What Is Wind? • Driven by the sun • Differences in pressure • Hadley convection cells • Coriolis Effect Hadley Cell Model (Western Illinois University)

  7. Wind Basics • Wind speed increases with height • Small increases in wind speed result in large increases in power • Tall towers often needed for clearance above obstacles (turbulence)

  8. Wind Classes

  9. Wind Resource Assessment • Is there enough wind in a particular spot to support a wind turbine? • A year’s worth of data is usually the minimum study period • Class II needed for small wind, Class IV for large

  10. Siting of Wind Turbines • The concept of micrositing • Topographical maps • Freedom from obstructions

  11. Virginia State-Based Anemometer Loan Program (SBALP)

  12. Partners

  13. Materials • Loan agreement • Borrowers eligibility • Borrowing process • Application • Site information • Purpose • Contract

  14. Publicity • Website • Press release • Media relations • Written in a non-technical language • Distributed across the state • Contact information provided

  15. Criteria Topographic maps Wind resource maps Purpose Property characteristics

  16. Rob Preston 10/18/01 Jaye Baldwin 12/12/01 Tim Altizer 12/21/01 Dick Stokes 1/10/02 Henry’s Point 2/24/02 Northampton County 2/24/02 Borrowers/Installation Dates 4 1 5 6 3 2

  17. Installation Pictures

  18. Virginia interested Over 200 inquiries Approximately 70 applications Expansion of program Have groups continue the thesis in upcoming years Wind Powering America (WPA) proposal SBALP Conclusions

  19. SBALP Recommendations • Better outreach to public • More stringent application process, include more parameters • Expand website • Establish school contact, answering machine, mailbox, etc.

  20. Wind Energy Potential at JMU • 30-meter Meteorological (MET) tower that we have now can support a turbine • East (CISAT) campus in valley, but above immediate surroundings • Wind resource purely anecdotal • More data necessary • Potential for small-scale wind turbine exists

  21. Tower Location

  22. 30-Meter MET Tower • Installation next week • Wind speed and direction • Instruments at 10, 20 and 30 meters • Manufactured by Rohn • Specially designed for Bergey WindPower turbines • 700 Bergey Excel turbines installed

  23. Objectives • Analyze: • Relevant issues and public misconceptions • Preliminary economic analysis of wind turbine • Non-market benefits

  24. Regulations • No restrictions on proximity to roads, parking lots, etc. • Zoning, permitting, etc. handled by JMU • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements

  25. Turbine Testing and Safety • Proven technology – 150,000 small turbines around globe • Small turbine standards – American Wind Energy Association • Dynamic and duration testing through accredited test laboratory • Turbine failure extremely rare • Bergey – passive overspeed protection, heavy-weight material, and fiberglass blades

  26. Visual Perception • Barrier to wind turbine development • Misconception turbines will ruin landscape • Similar to other structures in area • Location already developed (parking lot, light towers)

  27. Avian Issues • Misconception on wind turbine impact • More problematic where there is a higher concentration of raptor species • Most studies on large-scale wind farms • Small swept-area

  28. Bergey Excel Noise • At 300 ft in 25 mph winds sound was measured at 54-55 dB • This means it would only be detectable if the ambient background noise were less than 52.5 dB • Ambient sound at parking lot measured at 65-70 dB standing on the tower platform • Dr. Chen lecture 20 ft away measured at 55-60 dB

  29. Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP)

  30. Required WAsP Inputs • Wind Atlas • Meteorological Tower, Observed Wind Climate • Turbine Site • Obstacles, power curve • Site Description • Topography, Roughness, Obstacles

  31. WAsP – Wind Atlas and Turbine Site • Meteorological station • Observed wind climate • Turbine site • Power curve (Excel and XL.1)

  32. WAsP – Site Description • Topography • DEM of Harrisonburg Quadrangle • Surface Roughness • Roughness Classes

  33. WAsP – Site Description • Obstacles • CISAT, HHS • Potomac • Chesapeake • College Center Turbulence created by obstacles

  34. WAsP Output • Annual energy output (11.87 MWh) • Wind power density (154.5 W/m2) • Mean speed (5.15 m/s) • Resource grid

  35. Economic Analysis • Turbine cost • Bergey Excel (10 kW) • Bergey XL.1 (1 kW) • Cash flow analysis • Simple and discounted payback • Sensitivity analysis

  36. Turbine Cost

  37. Cash Flow Analysis

  38. Cash Flow Diagram

  39. Simple and Discounted Payback

  40. Sensitivity Analysis on Wind Resource

  41. Economic Conclusions • Bergey Excel and XL.1 are unlikely to pay back over lifetime • Ways the turbine may become more cost-effective • Reduce JMU’s initial investment • Verify wind resource

  42. Non-Market Benefits • Education • Reputation • Promotion of renewable energy • Emissions benefits

  43. Education • “The college seeks and creates new models through innovative curriculum development and uses the advancing knowledge of science and ever-evolving technologies to integrate the rapidly shifting world into the professional lives of faculty and students.” • Excerpt from CISAT mission statement • Growing, sustainable technology • Hands-on learning experience • Benefits for a variety of courses

  44. Reputation • National and local recognition • Solar panels and wind turbine – technologically advanced university • Visible symbol for prospective students

  45. Promotion of Renewable Energy • Raise local and state awareness • Encourage wind energy use • Provide opportunity to educate

  46. Virginia’s electricity production on average emits 1.83 pounds of CO2 per kWh Average tree consumes 14.7 pounds of carbon dioxide each year The combustion of a gallon of gasoline produces 19.59 pounds of CO2 The average gas mileage of an American car is 17 mpg WAsP model predicted annual energy output of 11.87 MWh Equivalent to 21,722 lbs CO2 from power generation 1,478 trees 1,108 gallons of gasoline 18,850 automobile miles traveled Emission Benefits

  47. East (CISAT) Campus Conclusions and Recommendations • Data very preliminary – obtain at least one year • Commonly perceived problems should not obstruct development at JMU • Likely will not pay back economically without discounts, grants, or other funding • Positive impact on education, reputation, and promotion of renewables

  48. Questions?

  49. Dr. Jonathan Miles Mr. Ken Jurman Ms. Maryanne Daniels Mr. Tony Jiminez Mr. Charlie King Dr. Doug Brown Mr. David Mars Ms. Christine Watson Mr. Brent Beerley Mr. Kevin Schulte Mr. Theo de Wolff Mr. Mike Bergey Mr. Steve Wilke Dr. Jack Taylor Mr. Rob Preston Mr. Tim Hayes Mr. Dick Stokes Mr. Jaye Baldwin Mr. Rick Hall Mr. Tim Altizer Ms. Tyler Urr Ms. Dodge Chrysler Perry Ms. Bunty Dharamsi Ms. Peter Salmon All applicants All others Acknowledgements

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