Why_We_Need_Wind_Power

James Chapman Richard Lahti Chemistry 304 September 26, 2012 Wind Power: May not be just hot air. Everybody knows that fossil fuels will not last forever, and the human race will soon need to find a viable renewable energy source to maintain the current quality and capacity of life as it is known today. But it’s not just that the reserves are limited, the real issue is what fossil fuels emit to achieve that huge demand for energy and what that is doing to the environment. But trying to come up with a sustainable resource to replace the world’s energy demands is a complex undertaking. There are many possible replacements for fossil fuels, but wind energy is the best viable solution for the world’s future needs and the need to invest in wind power is necessary because time is running short. What are fossil fuels and why the need to conserve them' To better understand how to conserve or replace non-renewable natural resources the first step is the need to explore how much fossil fuels are used for electricity. Fossil fuels consist of three elements; oil, coal, and natural gas. To better understand how to conserve or replace non-renewable natural resources the first step is the need to explore how much fossil fuels are used for electricity. There are many problems with fossil fuels; but the following will concentrate on the main two (what is the second one'). The first problem that needs to be addressed is the fact that the United States, for example, has been dependent on fossil fuels for the last century. From 1950 to 2005; fossil fuels provided 85–93% of all energy production (megawatts) and will not last to meet the demand at the rate of production. At this rate, the reserves will only last another 200 years. With the population in the United States predicted to increase from 314 million now to 423 million in 2050 (74.26% increase), the need to increase the production of fossil fuels is obvious.. At 42%, coal is the most common fuel for generating electricity in the United States today (EIA.Gov). The burning process of coal-fired power plants releases chemicals into the atmosphere that threaten, not only the air Americans breathe, but the water they drink, the soil they live on and the crops that grow the food they eat. (Association) The EPA classifies many of these chemicals as “hazardous air pollutants” or “air toxics,” a category that means they are known or reasonably expected to harm human health or the environment or both. (Association) In 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States produced 1,082 short tons of coal. The U.S. had a total consumption of 1,001 short tons (define short ton as the tons are listed in the billions below) that year. The energy-producing sector alone uses 930 of those 1,001 short tons. With the 74.26% increase in population in the next 37 years (census.gov), it’s safe to say that the need for the same amount of energy or more is necessary to keep up the demand to maintain the current quality of life. Coal reserves, as reported by World Energy Council (WEC), an organization that has an internationally recognized method for assessing world coal reserves, are reported to be 861 billion short' tons which is equivalent to 112 years of coal output. This fossil fuel needs time to replenish itself and an alternative source is needed to provide that time and support the energy usage needed for the populations demand in the meantime. **Fossil fuels, with coal in particular, have a major pollution predicament, acid rain. Acid rain may occur when sulfur dioxide, produced by the combustion of coal, reacts with oxygen and forms sulfur trioxide (SO3); the SO3 then reacts with water molecules in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid (H2SO4) returns to earth as acid rain. This causes the H2SO4 to absorb into the ground, affecting the food grown and the water consumed, and evaporates into the air that sustains the human race and the life, both plant and animal, that humans rely on for their survival. **Coal-fired power stations produce sulfur dioxide from the sulfur impurities in the coal. S(s) + O2(g) ==> SO2(g) **The SO2(g) combines with the water in the atmosphere and produces sulfurous acid or what most people refer to as acid rain. H2O(l) + SO2(g) ==> H2SO3(g) Coal is the most CO2-intensive fossil fuel. The U.S. burns over 1 billion (short') tons of coal every year and coal emits about 3 pounds of CO2 for every pound of coal burned. (Hansen.) The beginning of the industrial revolution (when was this') unwittingly started the CO2 emissions and has had many profound effects. One effect of CO2 emissions is that it produces an atmospheric blanket, of sorts, that traps in the heat causing the temperature to rise worldwide. Global warming doesn’t just have an impact ecologically but also socially. Like the domino effect, global warming has an effect on the ecosystems which causes problems with the climate. The change in climate then effects crops and the weather needed for farming which could lead to starvation and the end of the human race. A renewable energy source is needed and wind power could very well be a great alternative to fossil fuels. What are renewable energies' Renewable energies consist of five main natural resources that can produce electricity; hydro, tidal, geothermal, wind, and solar. Each has its own its own set of advantages and/or disadvantages. Wind energy is competitive, renewable, plentiful, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. The U.S. imports 1/3 of the energy it generates (how does this fit into the tons/short tons produced, noted above'), so the best part of wind power is that it’s domestic. (By Will Brownsberger) But just like any other renewable energy source, wind energy has its fair share of hurdles with the biggest one is the initial price. Technology plays a big part in all renewable energies, with most being in the fledgling stages, which causes each to have its own set of pros and cons. With the extent of our current technology, there are only two economical and reliable sources of renewable energy that any consumer can purchase to offset the cost of electricity, (what are the two'). The biggest hurdle in any of the renewable alternative energies, whether it is solar or wind power, is the initial capital cost and the investment that is needed. Wind power and solar power have proven to be advanced enough to be cost effective and even make a profit over a long period of time. Hydropower has been a reliable source of energy for centuries and is one of the largest renewable energies being harnessed globally today. Hydropower pushes pressurized water from local rivers and lakes to flow across the blades of a turbine. (this produces energy how') The process of dam building and the filling of reservoirs can damage the ecosystem (how so, by displacing animals and nature') and communities. In 2008 it was estimated that, worldwide, 40-80 million people had been physically displaced as a direct result of dam construction (Brief). Tidal power is an up-and-coming renewable resource; tidal power uses the principles of hydropower energy but uses the tides of oceans and seas to turn the turbines instead. The disadvantage of tidal power is the lack of technology; tidal energy is still in its beginning stages (and requires what to make it a reliable source'). Geothermal-powered electricity uses water and the steam that is heated from the Earth to power turbines. The problem with this method is that fluids, drawn from deep in Earth, can contain carbon dioxide(CO2) and methane (CH4). These pollutants can contribute to the problem of global warming because they are considered greenhouse gases (and mess with the atmosphere like the gases from acid rain'). Existing geothermal electric power plants emit an average of 122 kg of CO2 per megawatt-hour (MW·h) of electricity, a small fraction of the emission intensity (what is the emission intensity used per day/year'). (Plant) Another issue is that there are very few areas with exploitable geothermal resources to produce electricity needed. Solar power has proven to be useful. This is also a newer technology which has its limitations as it cannot produce any electricity in cloudy conditions or at night. Solar has its problems too.. “Modern solar energy collection devices are inefficient and expensive compared to other energy conversion technologies. These drawbacks cause direct solar energy to continue to be a minor component of the global energy system” (GCEP). How much electricity do we really use' Electricity consumption by the 107 million U.S. households in 2009 totaled 1,140 billion kW-h (eia.gov). In 2010, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 11,496 kWh, with an average of 958 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. This is an average power consumption of 32 kWh per day. So, based on these averages, you would need 12 MW to power 10,000 homes. But consumption depends heavily on the time of day and on the season of the year. During a temperate night, these homes might consume power at a rate of only a few hundred watts. In the middle of a hot summer day, the energy consumption can be tens of thousands of watts. To better understand how much electricity costs, we first need to know how it is measured. Wattage x hours used ÷ 1000 x price per kWh = cost of electricity. When you use 1000 watts, for 1 hour that is one kilowatt hour. In January 2011 the average retail cost for electricity was 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour (KWH) for residential. So looking at the table below for reference, you can calculate that, if you lived in Arizona and needed to use you medium sized AC for 24 hours straight, it would cost you $2.76. In 2010, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 11,496 kWh, an average of 958 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. At the current rate, that would be an average of $110.17 a month. small window-unit AC | 500 watts | one hour | 0.5 kWh | medium window-unit AC | 1000 watts | one hour | 1.0 kWh | Large window-unit AC | 1500 watts | one hour | 1.5 kWh | 42" ceiling fan on low speed | 24 watts | ten hours | 0.24 kWh | light bulb | 100 watts | 730 hours | 73 kWh | Coffee Maker 1200 | 1200 watts | one hour | 1.2 kWh | CFL light bulb | 25 watts | 730 hours | 18 kWh | Cost is a major factor in an alternative energy source as well. The problem with any renewable resource used for energy production, is the initial capital costs. A geothermal power plant, for example, requires drilling. The average cost to drill one well is $4.5 million and a 35 mw geothermal plant needs 18 wells which would cost $81 million.. A 35 megawatt wind farm, which uses GE 1.5 megawatt turbines and costs $2.25 million per turbine (how many turbines are needed for this wind farm') (which includes the use of roadways, the power lines to deliver the energy produced, and other development and start-up costs) would only cost $52.5 million. On land or in sea, wind farms are generating greater popularity with a 20% increase annually (since when'). But one of the biggest gripes about wind farms is the myth that they take up so much room. On average a 5 MW wind turbine has a footprint of about one half acre. In comparison, Apple's new data center in North Carolina, that currently has a 20 MW solar farm,that has a footprint of over 100 acres, renders the land that it utilizes virtually useless for use of any other energy alternatives. An agricultural farmer can put 20 MWs worth of wind turbines and on a 2 ½ acre piece of property, . but it’s the offshore wind farms have the greatest potential. Due to high and low pressure heat,offshore wind farms are more efficient than on-shore wind farms because of the higher and more constant wind speeds that generate over the vast distance of a marine surface. (Keith C. Heidorn) Noise pollution and a risk to birds are two potential problems that bother wind power critics. Offshore wind farms would solve both of those problems. Offshore Wwind farms are well, offshore, which would negate the noise pollution and the skies are less populated with birds and a bonus is that they are would not be an eyesore to the general public. It’s not just the big wind farms that can make a difference. Small wind is a term used to describe wind turbines usually under 50 kW and designed for residential use. There are grid tie and off grid wind turbines designed for residential use. Most off grid systems utilize a battery backup system that will help supplement the power if the wind gets either too strong and has to shut down or not strong enough. In the grid tie system, if the wind turbine slows or shuts down completely the local power station will supply the energy demand. Another advantage of the grid tie system is that when you're wind turbine is at full capacity, and you're not using hardly any electricity you can sell the energy you produced to your local power source. 2008 the average size home was 2500 ft.² home (census) With an average power consumption of 1200 Watts it would take a 10 kW wind turbine would be sufficient enough to take care of an average size home There are two types of wind turbines Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) and Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWT). Vertical axis wind turbines are gaining tremendous popularity in the residential market. Vertical axis wind turbines are more appealing to the eye and some can almost be artistic. With low cut in speeds and high operating efficiency is and making it a great choice for residential neighborhoods. Subsidies are important to jump-start the industry. The Federal government has set an ambitious goal of '20% wind power by 2030. (megawatts)In 2009 the U.S. Federal government paid over $2.1 billion to the coal fired energy sector while the wind energy sector only received $725 million (EIA). Only if the government would allocate the funds in favor of wind power instead of coal, wind energy would grow substantially. There are also State and Federal subsidies that can help the general consumer offset the initial cost of a wind power system in their home. In Minnesota for example, there are subsidies to eliminate any additional property tax due to any increase in property value. Minnesota also has sale tax breaks for any materials used to construct or maintain a wind generating system. (dsire) But in the federal government states that the federal government will pay $500 for each 0.5kw up to $4000 per new wind generating system under 100kw (dsire) So in conclusion, it is eminent that fossil fuels which we rely on for the majority of our energy needs will run out. Not to mention the Pollutants that emanates from the process. With so many options available wind energy is the obvious choice to invest in. Investing in wind energy has long term benefits, it’s a clean, renewable, domestic energy source, will save Americans billions in the long run through reduced health effects, and pollution and waste cleanup costs. Whether it's the giant offshore wind farm or that 5 kW wind generator on top of the garage we can all do our part to save the earth and still maintain our quality of life. Works Cited 2008., “H.R. 6049--110th Congress: Energy Improvement and Extension Act of. “H.R. 6049--110th Congress: Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.” GovTrack.us (data