Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2000:
4-6
cents/kWh
NSP 107 MW Lake Benton wind farm
• Increased 4 cents/kWh (unsubsidized)
Turbine Size
• R&D Advances
2004:
• Manufacturing 3 – 4.5 cents/kWh
Improvements
Wind Farms
Modern Small Wind Turbines:
High Tech, High Reliability, Low Maintenance
• Technically Advanced
• Only 2-3 Moving Parts
• Very Low Maintenance 50
10 kW kW
Requirements
• Proven: ~ 5,000 On-Grid
• American Companies are the
Market and Technology
Leaders
400 W
900 W
(Not to scale)
Does Small Wind Energy Pay?
• Does wind energy have to pay for itself?
– We often buy items of equivalent cost that provide no
monetary value, and often cost money to use
– Off grid customers are looking for least cost option
(connect to grid, diesel generator, solar/wind hybrid, etc..)
• Comparing initial costs is not useful
– Wind has no fuel cost
– Generators are cheaper per kW, but not necessarily
cheaper at producing energy over the entire life
Economic Incentives
Tax Credits
Tax Exemptions
Rebates
Production Incentives & Rebates
Accelerated Depreciation
Grants & Loans
Net Metering Arrangements
www.dsireusa.org
www.masstech.org
Wind Power in AZ
Best sites:
•Hilltops
•Open plains
•Mountain passes
•Coasts
•Offshore
•Though this was not the case in early wind farm development (1980’s), today
all proposed wind farms must undergo a strict environmental impact
assessment.
What about
the birds?
Wind Turbines kill very few
birds compared to other
human activities
Estimates are ~1-2 bird deaths
per turbine per year
Global warming is the single
biggest threat to wildlife today
A recent study in Nature found
that more than 1/3 of species “As responsible citizens, stewards, and
worldwide will be extinct by advocates, Mass Audubon strongly supports
2050 if global warming trends public policies and private projects that
continue advance energy conservation and efficiency.
We also support the development of wind
farms, as a renewable energy source to
offset the effects of global climate change
produced by the burning of fossil fuels.”
Sept. 21, 2004
Impact on Birds of Prey and Migratory Birds
•Do wind turbines affect migration
patterns of birds?
• People who have never seen modern wind turbines in person are more likely
to think they will be an eyesore.
• People may complain that wind turbines look industrial and take away from
the natural beauty of the landscape
• Though people may support renewable energy, they may not want the
turbines in their “backyard”
– NIMBY
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Thank you!
Questions?