Wind Energy
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Wind Energy
By Madeleine Cameron
A Look Into The History of Wind Energy
Charles F. Brush was born in 1849, in Euclid, Ohio. He was known as a child prodigy because he made telescopes, microscopes, and other electrical mechanisms. In 1869, Brush graduated from the University of Michigan. He earned a degree in mining engineering. Later in 1887 -1888, Charles invented what may be considered Ohio's 1st wind powered turbine.
Charles F. Brush
- 144 blades
- The tail was 60 feet long and 20 feet wind
- produced 12 kilowatts at most
Then
Now
- 2-3 blades
- Can vary in height
- A typical onshore turbine with the capacity of 2.5MW can make over 6 million kilowatts in a single year
How It Works
Wind energy is produced by wind turbines. These turbines are 30 meters tall above the ground and the capture the wind’s energy by using 2 to 3 blades that are propeller-like, on top of a shaft to make a rotor.
Environmental Advantages
The advantages of wind energy are endless.
- Wind energy does not make greenhouse gases. The gases are only produced in installation, the manufacture, and the conservation of the wind turbines.
- Wind energy is considered to be pollution free.
Economic Advantages
- Recently the cost of producing wind energy has gone down.
- Wind energy has increased the number of different jobs available. There are jobs ranging from meteorologists to assembly workers that are all related to wind energy in some way.
Wind Energy Compared to Fossil Fuels
- The price of wind energy does not fluctuate. On the other hand, electricity made from nuclear power and fossil fuels can vary in cost depending on different things.
- Per unit of energy generated, wind energy produces 66% more jobs than a nuclear energy plant. Also, 30% more jobs are created with wind energy than a coal plant.
According to ACEEE in 2008
between 4-9 cents
Cost per kWh of Natural Gas
between 7-10 cents
Cost per kWh of Coal
between 7-14 cents
Cost per kWh of Wind
Small Complications of Wind Energy
- When wind power plants are being compared to common power plants they have a small influence on the environment. However, there are debates about the amount of noise being produced by the blades of the turbines.
- Birds used to be killed by flying directly into the turbine blades. Many of these issues however, have been taken into account and have been fixed. There is now a fewer number of birds being harmed.
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Sources
- http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/wind/
- https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20090930/25-cents-kilowatt-hour-americas-cheapest-cleanest-fuel-holds-steady
- http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/
- http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/tech.htm
- http://www.windustry.org/pros_cons_wind_energy
- https://energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy
- http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Advantages_WindEnergy.php
- https://energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsZITSeQFR0
- http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageId=341
- http://www.ewea.org/wind-energy-basics/faq/
