Wind Power
Wind Power
Wind Power
Wind Power in Manitoba APEGM Professional Development Committee Luncheon Meeting May 25th 2005
Sequoia Energy
Manitoba Based Renewable Energy Company
Manitoba based equity investors with extensive finance, energy and manufacturing experience Equity and operational partnership with Windkraft Kontor of Germany
Community Wind project developer throughout Europe Have developed 10 projects previously
Corporate philosophy which strongly establishes local community participation in the development and planning of new energy projects
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Private equity investment No investment by Prov government or Manitoba Hydro Community focused development
Large economic benefits directed to community and Province
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Wind Energy
Industry Information
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Wind power is the worlds fastest growing energy source at over 30% per year 1 The global wind energy potential is roughly 5 times the current global electricity use 1 Global wind energy generating capacity topped 46,000 MW in 2004 2 $8 billion USD market in 2004 growing to $48 billion in 20143
________________________________ 1 Source: CanWEA The Canadian Wind Energy Assoc. 2 Source: AWEA American Wind Energy Association 3 Source: Clean Edge Inc Clean Energy Trends 2005
GHG Emissions
850 No Reduction Kyoto Target Action Plan 2000 Before Action Plan 2000
Gap
Equivalent)
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Current Emissions
Canadian fossil generation of electricity emits (2000): 16% of greenhouse gases (climate change) 17.3% of sulfur dioxide (acid rain) 12.8% of nitrogen oxide (smog)
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Emissions
A 100 MW wind energy project can reduce GHG emissions by:
404,000 tonnes compared to coal 287,000 tonnes compared to natural gas
2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Coal Gas Wind SO2 kg/mWh
CO2 tonnes/mWh
Nox kg/mWh
Comparison based on MB based wind project displacing PCC Coal based electrical production with 33% efficiency and NG plant at 42% efficiency
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GHG Emissions
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Technology
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In the other extreme case, the wind could pass though our tube above without being hindered at all.
no energy would be extracted
We can assume that there must be something between these two extremes. There is a surprisingly simple answer to this: An ideal wind turbine would slow down the wind by 16/27 (59%) of its original speed.
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Must find good winds and a little bit goes a long way
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The graph shows a probability density distribution. The 6.6 m/s is the median of the distribution.
Half the time it will be blowing less than 6.6 metres per second, the other half it will be blowing faster than 6.6 metres per second 50%
50%
Shape parameter k,indicates how peaked the wind distribution is around a value. A high k value suggests the wind is more tightly distributed around a value (more consistent)
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Energy Production
For each of the Weibull parameters (wind profiles) we have different annual energy output. Output may vary up to 50 per cent depending on the shape parameter at a low average wind speed of 4.5 m/s, Vary > 30 per cent at a high average wind speed of 10 m/s Tend to have a choice between
a relatively stable power output (close to the design limit of the generator) with a high capacity factor or a high energy output (which will fluctuate) with a low capacity factor. 20
Ideal is to match peak turbine efficiency in the region of wind speeds where most of the energy is to be found
This is a critical premise to project design and requires significant assessment of turbine parameters It is not an aim in itself to have a high technical efficiency of a wind turbine. What matters, really, is the cost of pulling kilowatt hours out of the winds
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Power Output
The graph shows a power curve for a typical Danish 600 kW wind turbine.
Cut in Speed Rise in power output to peak Cut out Speed
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Useable Energy
The bulk of wind energy will be found at wind speeds above the mean (average) wind speed at the site
Energy output varies with cube of velocity
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Wind Variance
In areas with a very uneven terrain surface, and behind obstacles such as buildings there is turbulence, Turbulence decreases the possibility of using the energy in the wind effectively for a wind turbine. It also imposes more wear on the wind turbine. Projects are designed with towers made tall enough to avoid turbulence from the wind close to ground level
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Wind Shear
Wind speeds are affected by the friction against the surface of the earth The more pronounced the roughness the more the wind will be slowed down.
Forests and large cities slow the wind down considerably Water surfaces are even smoothest
Turbulence
Wind turbines in parks are usually spaced at least three rotor diameters from one another Critical to space so as to avoid too much turbulence around the turbines downstream. In the prevailing wind direction turbines are usually spaced even farther apart (5 plus rotor diameters) 26
Project Siting
A common way of siting wind turbines is to place them on hills or ridges overlooking the surrounding landscape and oriented to the prevailing wind direction
On hills wind speeds are higher than in the surrounding area due to the fact that the wind becomes compressed on the windy side of the hill, and once the air reaches the ridge it can expand again into the low pressure area on the lee side of the hill.
If the hill is steep or has an uneven surface, one may get significant amounts of turbulence, which may negate the advantage of higher wind speeds.
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Park Effect Each wind turbine will slow down the wind behind it as it pulls energy out of the wind Ideally space turbines as far apart as possible in the prevailing wind direction.
Land use and connecting wind turbines to the electrical grid would require them closer together.
Project Siting
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Topography
Objective would be to have as wide and open area as possible in the prevailing wind direction, few obstacles and as low a roughness as possible in that same direction. Ideal is to find a rounded hill to place the turbines.
Grid Connection
The generators in large, wind turbines generally produce electricity at 690 volts. A transformer located next to the turbine, or inside the turbine tower, converts the electricity to higher voltage (usually 10-30 kilovolts). Then need to run lines to collector substations after which it is stepped up to system voltage (to 230KV). Critical to have capacity Both the feasibility of building foundations of the turbines, and road construction to reach the site 29 with heavy trucks must be taken into account with any wind turbine project.
Soil Conditions
A large generator, on the other hand, will be very efficient at high wind speeds, but unable to turn at low wind speeds. Distribution of wind speeds and the energy content of the wind at different wind speeds are considered to determine the ideal combination of the size of the rotor and the size of the generator at different sites. Tower Heights generally increase a wind turbine's energy production but relative value depends both on the roughness class, and the cost of electricity.
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Wind Generator
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Technology Drivers
Swept areas (bigger blades) Tower Heights (faster winds) Economies of scale Improved siting
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Technology
Cost Reductions
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Radius of rotor (metres)
Technology
Cost Reductions Tower Sizes
40M
50M
65M
80M
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Technology
Fixed speed Variable speed With or without gearbox
Fixed pitch Variable pitch
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80 59.6
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Potential in Manitoba
40
4000
2800
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2400
= Natural battery
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% of annual total
10 8 6 4 2 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Months Source: GP CO Inc. Demand Supply
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The wind does not stop everywhere at the same time Wind is a distributed generation product
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Issues
Is it a noise or a sound?
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Wind Turbine
Birds Average turbine bird death 2.2 birds per year Less than communications or transmission tower Less than buildings Less than house cats Less than cars Tubular versus lattice towers new towers lack perches Positive wildlife impact from reduced emissions
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98% of land available for other uses Compatible with pasture, crop, bike path, recreation, industry Multiple uses/productivity
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Issues?
Wind Turbines can aggravate global warming by altering wind currents D Keith U of C suggests that if 2 terawatts of the energy needs are supplied by wind, there will be an impact to global wind and climate patterns. Reality or Myth? What about any tall object?
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Is this a hypothetical climate damaging item? 100,000 such buildings create the energy drag equivalent to 25% of the electrical power generated in the world Should we now use low rise?
Flatten all the buildings / mountains / etc
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Issues?
Reality this study was taken out of context and misquoted by many:
Keith study was based on 2 Terawatts of production or equal to the current world wide electrical production
This is not a practical reality for any technology 100% of the global electrical production would mean approximately 2,350,000 2 MW wind turbines (35% capacity) would be installed (about $10 trillion invested)
Keith conclusion:
if you put enough wind turbines all over the planet it will change the climate (by changing the circulation patterns around the globe) but the effects may not necessarily be harmful. Further concluded that polar regions would be colder and equatorial regions warmer, which might counteract CO2 related warming
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ISSUES ?
Wind farms are not concentrated and use 2% of the land for foundations and roads Not any more harmful to birds or other wildlife than other common situations Sound produced not out of place to environment No air pollution or hazardous residues
.45-0.78 tonnes per MW-hr reduction in CO2 compared to Nat. Gas .79-1.1 tonnes per MW-hr reduction in CO2 compared to Coal Minimal water consumption and no contamination
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Projections
Year
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WIND ECONOMICS
Deployment Time Increases Profitability
9-18 months compared with 5 10 years for traditional generation Saves costly system overbuilds, stranded debt Capacity expands with demand, rather than pre-build for long term forecast, that can be difficult to foresee
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WIND ECONOMICS
Part of a Overall Energy Strategy
Wind complimentary to water based storage
When wind is blowing, store the water behind the dam When calm, run water through turbine
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Performance vs cost
When including environmental costs . (price in USD per KW-hr) Coal: Nuclear: Natural gas: 0.09 0.06 0.05
Wind:
0.04-0.06
The beauty of wind is that the energy input costs do not change!
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Economic Development
Wind is a rural economic opportunity Larger return per acre than crops Property tax assessment in rural areas Rural diversification Local jobs in construction, services, O&M
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St. Leon
Project Outline
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$26 million in local taxes and land fees $31 million in MB Provincial Taxes $109 million in net Federal Taxes $43 million in inter-provincial taxes
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Community Considerations
Wind Projects are really a Community development opportunity Individuals can lead it but communities make it happen
The benefits to the community are bigger than those to an individual landowner
Community Considerations
Is it possible to develop wind projects in this area
Is there enough wind? How do you/they know? Can the electricity be transmitted into the grid?
Talk to the Dept of Energy, EDI Group
Community Considerations
How does this affect the Community?
Will it improve the tax base? Will there be new jobs? Will local services be used? Can the community support the activity? Do you want this development in your community?
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