Wind

Biol 4861
April 15
th
, 2014
Bryce Pippy
Renewable energy:
Brief self-introduction
M.Sc. Biology with Karen Kidd
Contamination in Saint John
Harbour
Benthic invertebrates
Bsc. Env. at University of Guelph
Environmental Monitoring &
Analysis in Biotic Systems

Harnessing wind
Wind power in use since early times
Windmill = wind-driven mill
Also commonly used to pump water
Generation of electricity from wind came
much later
First wind turbine to generate electricity
installed in 1887
Wind energy production of electrical energy from wind using
turbines
Turbines can be inland, coastal, or offshore
Very straightforward form of energy
Wind turns turbine directly to spin generator
Not reliant on steam more efficient energy production
Many conventional power sources still rely on boiling water
Wind turbines commonly horizontal-axis or vertical-axis design
Introduction to wind energy
Mechanics of a turbine
http://www.offshorewind.biz/2012/07/31/usa-sandia-re-evaluates-vertical-axis-wind-turbines/
Turbines typically produce 1.5-2.0 MW per turbine
Variable sizes
Largest current wind turbine (Enercon E-126) produces 7 MW of power
and has a total height of 650ft (including blades)
Smaller turbines may only produce 100-200 kW


Turbine technology
http://visualinfo.ru/proizvodstvo/samyj-vysokij-vetryanoj-generator.html
A bit of perspective
Worlds Largest
Passenger Airline
Canada is 9
th
in the world for wind
energy, producing 4,500 MW
New Brunswick has 113 wind turbines
in three locations
Wind produces 294 MW in-province
USA 2
nd
largest producer of wind
energy
Considerable untapped potential for
development worldwide
http://www.nbpower.com/html/en/save_energy/wind_energy/wind_energy.html
Wind energy statistics
Offshore vs. inland turbines
Inland:
Energy transport may be
easier already in place
Synergy with agricultural and
other land use less dedicated
area
NIMB aesthetic concerns
Wind may be more erratic
Offshore:
Transport of energy difficult
underwater cabling
Poses obstacle to fishing and
shipping
Residential & aesthetic
concerns not an issue
Coastal and offshore areas
have high winds

Renewable source fuel is free and plentiful
Low GHG production
Developmental scale is flexible
Large-scale wind farm operations
Personal or house-mounted turbine for offset
Minimal land usage
Wind farms can still be used for agriculture with little conflict
High Energy payback ratio

Advantages of wind energy
GHGs from energy production
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmenvaud/584/5111706.htm
Costs energy to make energy concept of net energy from lecture 17
Manufacture, installation, operation, and dismantling of power plants all
require energy input
Energy cost varies for different energy sources
Consider the efficiency of a power source by comparing energy
produced to energy consumed this is an Energy Payback Ratio (EPR)
Similarly; consider time needed to make up for all the energy used
this is an Energy Payback Period (EPP)
Energy Payback Ratios
Energy Payback Ratios by source
From Energy Center of Wisconsin Net energy balance and greenhouse gas emissions from renewable energy storage systems, 2003.
Disadvantages
of Wind Energy
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Variable wind is unpredictable
Wind can be too weak or too strong want wind between 5 and 15 m/s
Negative reputation in some eyes (opinions vary)
too much noise, ugly
Not In My Backyard
Mortality in bird and bat populations
Must be placed in ideal locations issues of transport
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Energy produced during off-peak times is not necessarily useful
Insufficient demand
Wind energy is sporadic in timing, and so may not match demand
for energy
To capitalize on this excess production the energy must be stored
until it is needed
Energy Storage
Battery storage
Expensive
Impractical at this scale (technology lacking)
Water storage (Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric or PSH)
Use turbine to pump water up a gradient during off-peak, converting
kinetic energy to potential
Run water downhill (through turbine) to extract energy
Infrastructure (and water) required
Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
Storage Strategies
Store excess energy by pumping air into a storage container at
increasing pressure
Can be man-made container or natural (salt cavern or abandoned mine)
Air is released and heated (using natural gas or oil) to retrieve stored
energy
Compression of air generates heat, expansion requires heat
Search underway in NB for suitable salt caverns
Compressed Air Energy Storage
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/news/4292830-3
Mortality most obvious effect
Can be from collision with turbine or barotrauma
Collision mortality greater in birds
Barotrauma potential threat, particularly in bats
Other sublethal effects to consider as well
Interference with migratory routes
Disturbance
Loss of habitat

Avian and Chiropteran impacts
Location is important in placement of wind farms
Areas of steady, strong wind ideal
Poor area choice, poor power generation inefficient
Migratory birds have similar wind requirements to turbines
Soaring behaviour up slopes
Wind that is ideal for wind energy also used in migration
Migrating eagles use wind farm areas when thermals arent available
Birds use wind, too!
Measuring wind farm fatalities
Collision mortality and death rates commonly estimated using
carcass counts
Collection of carcasses within a certain distance of each turbine
Examination for cause of death
Collision fatalities fairly obvious decapitation, evisceration, severe trauma
Because sampling done periodically (1/month for example) correction
for removal of birds by scavengers applied
Extrapolate from birds found to mortality for the turbine / site
Commonly described in deaths/turbine/year or deaths/MW/year
Bird fatalities commonly cited as a major environmental concern of wind energy
Particularly with reference to large birds and endangered or protected species
Species of highest risk have low numbers, slow growth
Raptors, large waters, seabirds may be at risk
Particular concern for endangered species
Turbines pose a threat to both migratory and local birds
Impact of mortality on populations debatable
Fatality rates extremely variable each turbine different
Bird mortality at wind farms
Relative to other anthropogenic sources, wind
energy mortality is minor
Building collision, electrocution, and poison-
related deaths substantially higher
Still concern over turbine collisions?
Social cost negative reputation
Additive mortality increased strain on species
Rapid development of wind energy could push
endangered species to extinction

Bird mortality at wind farms
Sublethal effects may be severe
Loss of habitat / nest sites
Forced alteration of migratory route (avoidance) could
mean greater energy expenditure
Mitigation is possible
Selective stopping
Smart placement of turbines (population modeling)
Repowering of old turbines
Discouraging birds from using area
More research is needed to develop and test strategies
Impacts of wind energy on birds
Bats are adept at detecting moving objects via echolocation
Collision with turbine and blades is less likely to be a threat
So why are bat fatalities so high?
Decompression hypothesis - Pressure difference created by turbine
blades can cause internal hemorrhaging
Barotrauma tissue damage from pressure changes
Also experienced by divers
No universally accepted explanation available for bat mortality
Bat deaths from wind energy