WIND

POWER

The Coastal region of North Carolina promises substantial wind power potential for wind energy development. An increasing realization of the wind resource in this region and the importance this renewable energy could play in providing the state with new energy sources makes knowledge of this alternative source of energy a critical part of environmental education.


Energy designs must create ways in which local communities can benefit from wind projects. This enhances the "buy-in" factor.


The history of wind power for energy use is long and integral to the rural sections of North Carolina. New advances in technology and design place this resource as a viable one in the future of this state.

 

$$$$ THE ECONOMICS OF WIND POWER $$$$

  • Electricity costs from wind systems has dropped by more than 80% over the last 20 years.

  • In the early 1980's, when the first utility-scale wind turbines were installed, wind-generated electricity cost as much as 30 cents per kilowatt-hour. Now, high technology wind power plants generate electricity at less than 5 cents/kWh.

  • Wind energy offers other economic benefits which make it even more competitive in the long term:

    1. Greater fuel diversity and less dependence on fossil fuels, subject to rapid price increases and supply decreases. As our world gas supply decreases, the prospect of tight supply will grow, making further reliance on it unwise and increasing the value of diversity.

    2. Greatly reduced environmental impacts per unit of energy produced, compared with conventional power plants. Environmental costs are becoming an increasingly important factor in utility resource planning decisions.
      More jobs per unit of energy produced than other forms of energy.

    3. Long-term income to ranchers and farmers who own the land on which wind farms are built.
      Selection of a suitable site is key to the economics of wind energy. The power available from the wind is a function of the CUBE of the wind speed, which means that, all other things being equal, a turbine at a site with 5 meters/second (m/s) winds will produce nearly twice as much power as a turbine at a location where the wind averages 4 m/s. In the electric power business, where technology options often hinge on very small economic differences, good wind resource assessment and siting is critical.

  • Winds exceeding 5 m/s (11 mph) produce a cost-effective application of small wind machines, while wind farms (large power producers) require wind speeds of 6 m/s (13 mph).

     Negatives of Wind Power

  • Wind farms built on land prove very controversial. Residents complain of noise and ugly views of wind towers over beautiful countryside. Placing the wind towers at sea is less of a problem, in spite of 300 ft high turbines which may be scenic detractors or aviation hazards.

  • The disadvantage of wind power is that it is neither steady nor predictable. Denmark, which relies heavily on wind power, has at times been forced to fall back on coal-fired power to keep the lights on in weeks when there was little breeze. Installing turbines at sea can be complex and expensive.

 

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