Wind Power

Ashraf Ul Haque
n36s9@unb.ca
Today
• Why… wind?
• Renewable Energy
• What is wind energy?
• Advantages
• Some turbines
• Disadvantages
• Conclusion
Are you Fade up?
Coal/Gas

Nuclear
Power

Renewable
Energy
Renewable Energy

Which one is popular

now?
 He is not
smiling !!

Present scenario
(2008)
What is wind energy?

• Wind is a form of solar energy

• Wind flow patterns are modified by the
earth’s terrain, water, and vegetation

• Wind energy: mechanical power to

electricity

• Wind speed: 20 km (12 miles) per hour

 Wind Power advantages

• Clean and non-polluting

• Wind supply is plentiful
• Dovetails well with other systems
• Simple technology
• Cheap electricity
• Safe
Wind turbines
Sizes and Applications

Small (≤10 kW)

• Homes Intermediate
• Farms (10-250 kW)
• Remote Applications • Village Power
• Hybrid Systems
• Distributed Power

Large (250 kW - 2+MW)

• Central Station Wind Farms
• Distributed Power
1. Onshore

2. Offshore
 The concerns

• May impact fish and fishing

industry
• May impact tourism industry
• May interfere navigation systems
• May interfere vital sea lanes
• May impact environment
Wind Power - Disadvantages

• Aesthetically disturbing
• Wind farm generate noise
• Wind turbine syndrome
• headache, dizziness, vertigo, nausea etc
• Affect bird population
• Inconstant nature of the wind
Aesthetically disturbing !!!
Wind farm generate noise
 Affects of bird population

• According to US bird strike

committee, the estimates of
mortality range from approx 1.8 ~
2.2 bird deaths/ turbine/ year or
about 30,000 birds killed annually
in the US.
Inconstant in nature

But why do we need to care

About?
Wind Power ∝ (wind speed) 3
 Price

• Wind power = 8¢ per kilo Watt hour

(kWh)
• Hydro power = 5¢ per kWh
• Nuclear power = 15¢ per kWh

Can reduce the price

• Increased Turbine Size
• R&D Advances
• Manufacturing Improvements
Canada is lagging much of the world in harnessing the
winds
 Wind Power Isn’t Perfect

• Wind Power output varies over time

• Wind Power is location-dependent
• Wind Power is transmission-dependent
• Wind Power has environmental impacts

. . . But Wind Power has a Great Future!