Exploring Utility-Scale Wind Energy Production and Feasibility When deciding whe

Question

Exploring Utility-Scale Wind Energy Production and Feasibility When deciding whether or not to invest in a large-scale wind turbine, it is obviously important to understand the amount of power that can be produced by the wind turbine at a given wind speed. Once an anemometer has recorded data for at least a year, this information is used to understand the potential power production, and thus, the payback of the turbine. Let's go through an example. A developer is considering the pros and cons of installing a GE 2.5MW turbine with a rotor diameter of 100m. The turbine will be placed on a ridgeline where the density of the air is 1.14 kg/m3. The average wind speed is 7.8 m/s In order to determine the potential output of this turbine, we will once again use the formula for the power in the wind (see below) where p is the density of the air in kg/m3, A is the swept area of the turbine in m2 (based on the rotor diameter in meters) and V is the speed of the wind in m/s: Power in the wind (W)?,?pAw

Explanation / Answer

Question 4:

Energy output at 40% efficiency = (40/100) x power of wind

= 0.4 x (density x area x velocity3)/2
= 0.4 x (1.14 x ? x radius2 x 7.83)/2

= 0.4 x (1.14 x 3.14 x 502 x 7.83)/2

= 0.4 x (1.14 x 3.14 x 2500x 474.552)/2

= 0.4 x 4,246,765.848/2

= 0.4 x 2,123,382.924

Energy output at 40% efficiency = 849,353.1696 watts or 849.35317 kW

In one year it will produce = 849.35317 kW x 8,760 (There are 365 x 24 = 8,760 hours in an year)

Energy output at 40% efficiency = 7,440,333.766 kWh/Yr

Question 5:

Average home consumption per year = 10,656

Energy output = 7,440,333.766 kWh/Yr

Number of houses that can be powered by this turbine = (7,440,333.766)/10,656

Number of houses that can be powered by this turbine = 698.23 or 698 houses

Question 6

Cost of electricity is 0.08/ kWh

Energy output = 7,440,333.766 kWh

Revenue generated from turbine = 595,226.70128 dollars per year

In order to generate 2,000,000 dollars, time required = 2,000,000/595,226.70128 = 3.36 years

Question 7

pros are:

Wind energy is a renewable source of energy.

Won't produce any pollutants.

Won't assist in global warming.

Helps in sustainable development of the country.

Cons are:

Regular maintenance of wind turbine is required.

Will distrub the movement of birds.

Won't produce electricity during period of low winds.

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