WIND TURBINE

Abstract Electricity generated from wind turbines is increasingly in demand across the world.

Government incentives (state and federal), renewable portfolio standards, improved technology, and marketable

renewable energy credits are driving the wind power industry, producing favorable economics at both the utility

scale as well as the smaller, community scale. Wind power is now comparable in price with the most commonenergy sources, such as coal and natural gas, resulting in a large percentage increase in the number of wind

turbines being erected throughout the country. With increasing demand for wind power, there will be a greater

need for wind technicians, or windsmiths, that provide maintenance on the turbines. There will also be a need for

training programs that provide instruction in wind turbine technology, turbine maintenance, tower construction

and erection, tower safety and wind economics. In addition, there will be an increasing need for research on

developing technologies to make wind power a steady reliable source of electricity, available on demand rather

than just when the wind blows.

Aims & objectives An association was formed to develop the idea, which aimed to promote wind

energy projects

that benefit local people and that are subject to a significant degree of local control.

To gain experience in wind measurement, site development and

operation of large scale wind turbines at sites in complex terrain and

especially under the specific geographic and climatic conditions in the

West Balkan area with the aim of increasing efficiency and reliability of

wind turbine technology.

To gain experience with innovative measurement and simulation

techniques in complex terrain and under specific local wind systems in

SEE.

To improve the accuracy of energy yield prediction in complex terrain.

To increase efficiency and reliability of operating MW scale wind turbines

at sites in complex terrain.

To standardize and harmonize building codes and related standards for wind turbine construction in West Balkans.

Objectives The North American Wind Research and Training Center will accomplish the

following objectives:

Develop a comprehensive wind energy training curriculum to train technicians in all aspects of modern wind

turbines and wind farm management, including customized industry training for each turbine design

Provide a location for applied wind research in a Class 4-5 wind energy resource region in close proximity to

major wind farms.

Provide an educational environment for instruction on wind power technology

Promote wind power as an economic development tool for the region

Serve as a demonstration site for other public institutions and industries seeking to reduce utility costs.

7/18/05

HISTORY

Wind machines were used in Persia as early as 200 B.C. The windwheel of Heron of Alexandria

marks one of the first known instances of wind powering a machine in history.

However, the first practical windmills were built in Sistan, a region between Afghanistan and

Iran, from the 7th century. These were vertical axle windmills, which had long vertical driveshafts

with rectangle-shaped blades. Made of six to twelve sails covered in reed matting or cloth

material, these windmills were used to grind corn and draw up water, and were used in the

gristmilling and sugarcane industries.

A forerunner of modern horizontal-axis wind generators was in service at Yalta, USSR in 1931.

This was a 100 kW generator on a 30 m (100 ft) tower, connected to the local 6.3 kV distribution

system. It was reported to have an annual capacity factor of 32 per cent, not much different from

current wind machines. In the fall of 1941, the first megawatt-class wind turbine was

synchronized to a utility grid in Vermont. The Smith-Putnam wind turbine only ran for 1100

hours. Due to war time material shortages the unit was not repaired.

The first utility grid-connected wind turbine operated in the UK was built by John Brown &

Company in 1954 in the Orkney Islands. It had an 18 meter diameter, three-bladed rotor and a

rated output of 100 kW.

Resources

Wind turbines locations with constantly high wind speeds bring best return on investment. With

a wind resource assessment it is possible to estimate the amount of energy the wind turbine will

produce.

Types of wind

turbine

Horizontal axis

Components of a horizontal axis wind turbine (gearbox, rotor shaft and brake assembly) being lifted

into position

Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator at the top of a

tower, and must be pointed into the wind. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind vane, while

large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor. Most have a gearbox, which

turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker rotation that is more suitable to drive an electrical

generator.

Horizontal subtypes

Doesburger windmill, Ede, The Netherlands.

12th-century windmills

These squat structures, typically (at least) four bladed, usually with wooden shutters or fabric sails,

were developed in Europe. These windmills were pointed into the wind manually or via a tail-fan and

were typically used to grind grain. In the Netherlands they were also used to pump water from low-

lying land, and were instrumental in keeping its polders dry.

Vertical-axis wind turbines (or VAWTs) have the main rotor shaft arranged vertically. Key

advantages of this arrangement are that the turbine does not need to be pointed into the wind to be

effective. This is an advantage on sites where the wind direction is highly variable.

With a vertical axis, the generator and gearbox can be placed near the ground, so the tower doesn't need

to support it, and it is more accessible for maintenance. Drawbacks are that some designs produce

pulsating

Darrieus wind turbine

"Eggbeater" turbines, or Darrieus turbines, were named after the French inventor, Georges

Darrieus. They have good efficiency, but produce large torque ripple and cyclical stress on the

tower, which contributes to poor reliability. They also generally require some external power

source, or an additional Savonius rotor to start turning, because the starting torque is very low.

The torque ripple is reduced by using three or more blades which results in a higher solidity for

the rotor. Solidity is measured by blade area divided by the rotor area. Newer Darrieus type

turbines are not held up by guy-wires but have an external superstructure connected to the top

bearing.

Turbine design and construction

Components of a horizontal-axis wind turbine

Wind turbines are designed to exploit the wind energy that exists at a location. Aerodynamic modeling

is used to determine the optimum tower height, control systems, number of blades and blade shape.

Wind turbines convert wind energy to electricity for distribution. Conventional horizontal axis turbines

can be divided into three components.

The rotor component, which is approximately 20% of the wind turbine cost, includes the blades

for converting wind energy to low speed rotational energy.

The generator component, which is approximately 34% of the wind turbine cost, includes the

electrical generator, the control electronics, and most likely a gearbox component for converting

the low speed incoming rotation to high speed rotation suitable for generating electricity.

The structural support component, which is approximately 15% of the wind turbine cost, includes

the tower and rotor yaw mechanism.

INDIA WIND ENERGY In the early 1980s, the Indian government established the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to encourage diversification of the country's energy supply, and satisfy the increasing energy demand of a rapidly growing economy. In 2006, this ministry was renamed the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Renewable energy is growing rapidly in India. With an installed capacity of 13.2 CW, renewable energy sources (excluding large hydro) currently account for 9% of India's overall power generation capacity. By 2012, the Indian government is planning to add an extra 14 CW of renewable sources. In its 10th Five Year Plan, the Indian government had set itself a target of adding 3.5 GW of renewable energy sources to the generation mix. In reality, however, nearly double that figure was achieved. In this period, more than 5.4 GW of wind energy was added to the generation mix, as well as 1.3 GW from other RE ssurces The tdi^ot si.t tor the pound tism 2008-2012 was increased to 14 GW, 10.5 GW of which to be new wind generation capacity. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) estimates that there is a potential of around 90,000 MW for the country, including 48,561 MW of wind power, 14,294 MW of small hydro power and 26,367 MW of biomass In addition, the potential for solar energy is estimated for most parts of the country at around 20 MW per square kilometer of open, shadow free area covered with 657 GW of installed capacity. The total potential for wind power in India was first estimat¬ed by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) at around 45 GW, and was recently increased to 48.5 GW. This figure was also adopted by the government as the official estimate. The C-WET study was based on a comprehensive wind mapping exercise initiated by MNRE, which established a country-wide network of 105O wind monitoring and wind mapping

stations in 25 Indian States. This effort made it possible to assess the national wind potential and identify suitable areas for harnessing wind power for commercial use, and 216 suitable sites have been identified. However,the wind measurements were carried out at lower hub heights and did not take into account technological innovation and improvements and repowering of old turbines to replace them with bigger ones At heights of 55-65 meters, to replace them with bigger ones. At heights of 55-65 meters, the Indian WindTur bine Manufacturers Assodation (IWTMA) estimates that the potential for wind development in India is around 65-70 GW. The World Institute for Sustainable Energy, India (WISE) considers that with larger turbines, greater land availability and expanded resource exploration, the potential could be as big as 100 GW.

India Wind Energy Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 (Global Data)

The report provides detailed analysis and forecasts of the global wind power market and the India wind

market in particular. It also helps in analyzing and forecasting key metrics relating to the installed

capacities, market size and growth. The report facilitates to understand onshore and offshore market in

India. It provides information relating to the major wind farms onshore and offshore projects and also

the upcoming projects in India. The report helps to comprehend the wind turbine industry and the

regulatory framework regarding the wind market in India. It offers interesting results on the market

share of the top manufacturers in the Italy wind turbine industry. Additionally, it also provides ten

profiles of the major wind turbine companies in India.

The report also provides trends and analysis of investments in the India wind power market as well as

deal summary and news flow for the last 6 months. On an all, it helps an investor to gauge the market

and technological development of the India wind market.

Scope

- Global Wind Market Analysis

- India Wind Market Overview, Market Size and Growth

- Predict and forecast future wind industry trends in India

- Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the India Wind Market

- Identify growth segments and opportunities in the India Wind Industry

- India Wind Turbine Industry and the leading players in the Indian wind market

- Key details regarding the active and upcoming wind projects in India

Reasons to buy

- Gain the most up to date and in-depth information on the India wind power market

- Analyzes the India Wind Turbine Industry

- Identify the key growth and investment opportunities within the India market based on the deal

analysis

- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data, deal analysis and recent

developments

- Develop strategies based on the latest operational and regulatory events in India

- Rapidly help to prepare more detailed and effective planning materials

- Understand and respond to your competitors’ business structure, strategy and prospects

- Do deals with an understanding of how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships

that have shaped the market

- Identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the leading wind companies in India

Keywords

India, Indian, Asia Pacific, Renewable Energy, Renewable Power Market, Historical Cumulative

Installed Capacity, Renewable Type, Wind Market, World Wind Power Market, Market Dynamics,

Infrastructure Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Human Resources Analysis, Offshore Development,

Average Wind Farm Cost, Average Wind Turbine Size, Capital

Advantages of Wind Energy

1. Wind energy is nothing new. It's a well-known method of using kinetic energy (wind) to produce

mechanical energy and has been around for thousands of years since the Persians and later Romans

were using windmills to draw water and grind grain.

2. Wind energy is a renewable resource meaning that the Earth will continue to provide this and it's up

to people to use it and harness it to best advantage.

3. Wind energy is cheap and is largely dependent upon the manufacturing, distribution and building of

turbines for the initial costs. The U. S. DOE estimates wind energy can be produced for as low as 4 to 6

cents per kilowatt hour.

4. Wind energy replaces electricity from coal-fired power plants and thus reduces greenhouse gases that

produce global warming.

5. Wind energy is available worldwide and though some countries may be "windier" than others, the

product is not like oil that has to be transported on tankers to the far regions of the earth.

6. Wind farms on average have a smaller footprint than coal-fired power plants and even though some

people don't like the appearance to wind turbines, they object more to having a coal-fired power plant

in their backyards.

7. Wind turbines can also share space with other interests such as the farming of crops or cattle.

8. Wind energy is available in many remote locations where the electrical grid doesn't reach. Farms,

mountain areas and third world nations can take advantage of wind energy.

9. Wind energy is creating jobs that are far outpacing other sectors of the economy.

10. Wind energy doesn't have to be used solely on a commercial scale as residential wind turbines are

now gaining ground in many communities.

Disadvantages of Wind Energy

1. Wind is an intermittent source of energy and when connected to the electrical grid provides an

uneven power supply. Some places such as the Gulf Coast region of the U. S. have too strong of winds

during hurricane season that may damage wind turbines.

2. Some people object to the visual site of wind turbines disrupting the local landscape.

3. The wind doesn't blow well at all locations on Earth. Wind maps are needed to identify the optimal

locations.

4. The initial cost of a wind turbine can be substantial, though government subsidies, tax breaks and

long-term costs may alleviate much of this.

5. Transmission of electricity from remote wind farms can be a major hurdle for utilities since many

time turbines are not located around urban centers.

6. The storage of excess energy from wind turbines in the form of batteries, hydrogen or other forms

still needs research and development to become commercially viable.

7. Some environmentalists have complained that large utility wind turbines have a detrimental effect to

migratory bird flight paths.

8. Depending upon the type of wind turbine, noise pollution may be a factor for those living or working

nearby.

9. Even though costs of wind energy have come down dramatically it still has to compete with the ultra

low price for fossil fuel power plants.

10. Utility scale wind turbines can interfere with television signals of those living within a mile or two

of the installation, which can be frustrating for homeowners.

These are the top 10 advantages and top 10 disadvantages of wind energy. Make up your own mind

whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for your household and your community