Advanced Energy Research -- Wind Power

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Wind Energy Systems

Water pumping windmills and small wind electric generators were at one time widely

used throughout the western US. The rural electrification programs of the 1930s and

1940s largely replaced the need for these systems. Starting in the late 70's and early 80's

there was a resurgence in the use of wind for energy. There are now thousands of turbines

operating in the US. In 1999 the EIA estimated that there was at least 2,250 MW of

installed generating capacity, and about 4.488 billion kWh of wind generated electricity

produced. The majority of wind turbines are owned and operated by independent power

producers that sell the electricity to utilities. There are a few utilities that have or are

planning to install wind generation capacity.

The following gives some of the disadvantages of the various forms of renewable

energy, including wind energy:

Wind

• Erratic power production, may not be at peak periods

• Capacity factor 25% vs. 75-95% for conventional power

• Land disturbance – large amounts of space used

• Noise

• Visual blight

• Need cleanup fund to dismantle old units

• Bird mortality from blades, wires

Hydroelectricity

• Disastrous effect on fisheries

• Best sites already taken

• Land inundated

• Increase in parasites in water

Solar

• Uses large amounts of fuel to build

• Large amounts of land used

• Bird mortality – higher than wind power

• High capital cost

• Toxic chemicals used

• Displacement of local animals

• Visual blight

Biomass

• CO2 released may be higher than coal

Geothermal

• Only on specific sites

• Sites may be in environmentally protected areas

• May have corrosive acids and toxic emissions

• Risk due to unpredictable life of resource

Landfill gas

• Landfill gas is about 50% methane

• Methane is explosive greenhouse gas

• Rest of gas is CO2, N, O, and contaminants

• 3.8% of U.S. global warming damage is from methane in landfill gas

• Halogens (chlorine, fluorine, bromine) burned with hydrocarbons make highly toxic dioxins and furans

Waste incineration

• Toxic ash

• Toxic air emissions

• Poultry waste burning is about as polluting as coal for NOX, SOX, CO, particulates and mercury