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Wind Energy. Chelsea King. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database. History of Wind Energy. 5,000 BC – Egyptians harnessed wind to cross the Nile River 200 BC – Windmills used to pump water in China Modern day – popularity of wind energy fluctuates with price of fossil fuels.
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Wind Energy Chelsea King National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
History of Wind Energy • 5,000 BC – Egyptians harnessed wind to cross the Nile River • 200 BC – Windmills used to pump water in China • Modern day – popularity of wind energy fluctuates with price of fossil fuels http://www.crystalinks.com/windmills.html
The Problem • As population rises, so does the need for energy • We rely heavily on fossil fuels • Fossil fuels • Contribute to global climate change • Nonrenewable • Mostly imported
Coal Dependence http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/new-epa-tougher-coal.php
Prime real estate? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/europe/23coal.html
Oil Dependence http://www.alibaba.com/product/nardida-11612734-11007641/Used_Oil_Refinery.html http://failblog.org/2008/01/30/oil-rig-going-down/
Wind: A Sustainable Solution • Switch to wind as an electricity-generating source • Wind as an energy source is: • Abundant • Domestic • Low cost • Renewable indefinitely National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
The top ten windiest states: 1. Texas2. Kansas3. Montana4. Nebraska5. South Dakota6. North Dakota7. Iowa8. Wyoming9. Oklahoma10. New Mexico National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Notable Facts • Harnessing 1/5 of the Earth’s available wind would provide seven times the energy we currently use • North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas have enough harnessable wind to run the entire U.S. economy • The U.S. has the potential for harnessing 1,900 gigawatts of wind energy off-coast • 1 gigawatt = 1,000 megawatts • 1 megawatt supplies 300 homes Brown
Progress • In early 2009, the U.S. had over 28,000 megawatts of wind generating capacity and 38 projects still underway • Current wind farm development in Texas is predicted to exceed 53,000 megawatts when completed • Maine, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Rhode Island are currently investing in wind energy projects Brown
Profiting Farmers and Ranchers • Turbines take up only 1% of the land on which installed • Landowners can receive $3,000 – $10,000 in royalties yearly per turbine • In rural communities, competition for wind farms is intense National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
Increasing Land Value An acre of corn land in Iowa used to site a turbine could generate $300,000 in electricity per year but only $960 of ethanol Brown National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
Manufacturing and Installation • The need for labor would create more employment opportunities • Production could be completed in idle automobile factories National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
What about the birds? National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
A Feasible Action Plan American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has proposed reaching 20% generating capacity in the U.S. by 2030. This would help: • Avoid 7,600 million tons of CO2 emissions • Reduce water consumption by 4 trillion gallons • Save consumers $130 billion in natural gas • Create at least 30,000 manufacturing jobs • Generate over $600 million for landowners in rural areas National Renewable Energy Laboratory Database
What Can YOU Do? • Stay informed • The WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition in Dallas, Texas May 23-26 • Encourage state legislators and campus officials to invest in wind energy • Use products that are manufactured by sustainable sources • Minimize your overall impact by choosing a more sustainable lifestyle
Works Cited "About WINDPOWER 2010." WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition. 2010. American Wind Energy Association, Web. 28 Feb 2010. <http://2010.windpowerexpo.org/about_windpower.cfm>. Blair, Nate, et al. "Renewable Energy and Efficiency Modeling Analysis Partnership (REMAP)." National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Sept 2009. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy09osti/45656.pdf>. Brown, Lester. Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. 1st ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009. 109-17. Hylleberg, Jan. "Profile of the Danish Wind Industry." Denmark - Wind Power Hub. 2008. Danish Wind Industry Association, Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.windpower.org/download/378/profilbrochure_2008.pdf>. "Installed U.S. Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations." Wind Powering America. 17 Feb 2010. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp#projects>. "Project at a Glance." Cape Wind. 2010. Cape Wind Associates, LLC, Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.capewind.org/article24.htm>. "Sector's Yearbook: Analysis and Data." Wind Power 2008. 2008. Spanish Wind Energy Association, Web. 23 Feb 2010. <http://www.aeeolica.es/userfiles/file/aee-publica/AEE_anuario_ingles08.pdf>. "Wind energy makes sound economic sense." Global Wind Energy Council. Global Wind Energy Council, Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=137>. "Wind Energy - The Facts." Executive Summary. 13 Feb 2009. Global Wind Energy Council, Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.gwec.net/fileadmin/documents/WETF.pdf>. "Wind Research." National Renewable Energy Laboratory. U.S. Department of Energy, Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.nrel.gov/wind/>. "Year End 2009 Market Report." American Wind Energy Association. Jan 2010. American Wind Energy Association, Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.awea.org/publications/reports/4Q09.pdf>.