Joyce.Leger.Fall+2010

= The Power of Wind =

by, John Joyce & Ryan Leger

__ What is the Problem? __

The problem that is currently taking over the world is that people are suffocating the earth and filling the atmosphere with CO2 by using ineffective energy methods during the daily routines. People have to get to work every day and heat their houses and the ways that people are going about it is becoming a serious problem. The most common source of energy that people are using is the non renewable source of "fossil fuels". When using fossil fuels the energy is very useful but it is also very damaging during the process that we use it in. Burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas results in the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which cause global warming. Some of the damages that the use of fossil fuels are producing are, significant warming, indicated by sea levels rising, hotter temperatures and freakish storm weather patterns, like tsunami's and hurricanes, becoming more and more regular. These are all serious problems that must be stopped before it is to late





** What is and is not being done to HELP!!! ** Over the past few years more and more awareness has been brought to the attention of the ineffective non renewable source of energy Fossil Fuels. It is a positive step in the right direction that people are turing to alternative energy sources and striving to make a change to keep our planet more clean. Some of the methods you may have realized is the use of electric or hybrid cars, and the car industries movements to create more fuel efficient cars. Also people are trying to save the earth with recycling and using materials that are less harmful to the earth. But one of the more up incoming effective methods that there is a great abundance of and is starting to take a bigger role as an energy source is the natural clean source of WIND!! !!! The Solution !!! ~ __WIND __ ~

__ The Power Of Wind __ **Definition:**

> [|en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_Energy]
 * Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships.

> [|sln.fi.edu/franklin/glossary.html]
 * energy obtained from turbine engines powered by wind

> [|www.energex.com.au/switched_on/glossary.html]
 * energy derived from the kinetic energy of the wind.



Quick Fact

Can we rely on wind power? Yes. The wind power generating fleet of over 25,400 MW in place as of December 31, 2008 will supply an estimated 73 billion kilowatt- hours (kWh) in 2009, enough to serve the equivalent of close to seven million average U.S. homes. Wind power is an important part of the electric utility generation portfolios. ====**How many homes can a wind turbine power?** ==== A single 1 MW turbine on land can provide enough electricity to power 225 to 300 households. A single 1 MW turbine in an offshore wind farm, where the wind blows harder and more consistently, can power more than 400 households. (www.mass.gov)

====**How much carbon dioxide does a wind energy turbine offset?** ==== 1 MW of wind energy can offset approximately 2,600 tons of carbon dioxide annually. (www.mass.gov)



** Wind energy is one of the fastest growing sources of electricity in the world. Since 1990 it has increased at a steady annual rate of about 25%. Even though it has such a great annual growth rate it still only accounts for just over 1.25% of out nations energy supply. Wind energy is very effective and also extremely clean leaving no negative traces that effect earths atmosphere. **



//The American Wind and Energy Association and its team of scientist believe that "Sun, wind and water are perfect energy sources...depending on where you are. They are non-polluting, renewable and efficient. They are simple: all you need is sunlight, running water and/or wind. Not only do the use of renewable energy sources help reduce global carbon dioxide emissions, but they also add some much-needed flexibility to the energy resource mix by decreasing our dependence on limited reserves of fossil fuels. Essentially, these renewable energy sources create their own energy. The object is to capture and harness their mechanical power and convert it to electricity in the most effective and productive manner possible. There's more than enough renewable energy sources to supply all of the world's energy needs forever; however, the challenge is to develop the capability to effectively and economically capture, store and use the energy when needed." //

Benefits of Wind!!!

Wind turbine promise a clean means to getting the energy we need and help the world with dependence on fossil fuel. With less dependency on fossil fuel, less power plants needed and eventually maybe even closing down power plants. Which hopefully will lead us into less greenhouse pollution. Helping us reserve our natural resources. Many people believe the wind turbine to be too expensive. How many of us have 2 million dollars in our back pocket? Wind turbines are interesting in this aspect, you can money off of them. When your wind turbine is working properly and you have great wind, you can make a surplus of energy. Surplus of energy means you now have energy you can sell back to your country or state, depending where you are. While still keeping your self well powered. The government also supports clean energy and will give you tax breaks. Unlike power plants, wind turbines are much cleaner. Making them easy to maintain and take care of, for the most part they are computer automated. The computer located at the base will control all the complex movements. Wind turbines have censors that will direct it towards the wind and control the pitch of the wings. They also have the built-in shut off, in case of an emergency.

Problems With Wind Turbines??


 * The largest problem one faces when dealing with wind turbines is location. Wind turbines are large to begin and this leads to many problems. Open areas are need in order to set them up and the these can be anywhere from 27 meters to 80 meters tall, 44 meters is equivalent to 144 feet. Most people want the greatest amount of energy which means larger turbine. The larger the turbine, the more of a problem they cause. A lot of people do not like the way they look, in order to set these turbines you need approval. This is like a problem we have with Massachusetts wanting to build a Wind Turbin Farm in Nantuckett. **


 * What Are Wind Turbin Farms? **
 * A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power. Individual turbines are interconnected with a medium voltage usually 34.5 kV power collection system and communications network. At a substation, this medium-voltage electrical current is increased in voltage with a transformer for connection to the high voltage transmission system. **
 * A large wind farm may consist of a few dozen to several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes. A wind farm may be located off-shore to take advantage of strong winds blowing over the surface of an ocean or lake. **

[|Carbon offsets]



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