Past, Present and Future of Wind UseBy Tyler Evans, Marc Massie, Ken Prior

Wind Power and STS: Wind power is a very controversial aspect of STS. Its success relies heavily on science and improved technology and many of the wind farm developments have had

substantial effects on society. While some of these effects are positive including reductions in carbon emissions, pollutions and contaminates, some have had adverse effects on society. Some of the prominent disadvantages of wind power include intermittency, aesthetics, conservation of land and the distribution of the electricity

produced.

Past

Early History•Earliest known use of wind power are sail boats over 7,000 years ago•The first proven use of windmills were in Persia 500-900 AD (vertical axis)•First horizontal axis windmills appear in Europe in 1100 AD.•Tower mill design is invented in the 1390 AD•Used primarily for grinding

19th Century•James Blythe develops the first windmill used to generate electricity•Dutch modified windmill to drain lakes in the Rhine River Delta•Windmills are brought to the New World and are smaller more efficiently shaped

20th Century•Eggbeater turbine developed in 1920’s•Turbines begin to be used widely on farms in 1930’s •First megawatt turbine is built and connected to the power grid in Vermont in 1940’s •Individuals become more interested in wind power and US Government/NASA research commercial level turbines in 1970’s•1980s world’s first wind farm in New Hampshire. California provides tax rebates as incentive to continue research in the 1980’s 

Present•Wind power has become a prominent source of alternative energy worldwide.•Global wind generation capacity has more than quadrupled since 2000.•In 2008, wind accounted for roughly 1.5% of worldwide electricity usage.

Top Five Suppliers of Industrial Turbines and Turbine Technology1. Vestas (Denmark)2. GE Energy (United States)3. Gamesa (Spain)4. Enercon (Germany)5. Suzlon (India)

Current Industries using Wind PowerResidential installations: small scale turbines Industrial manufacturing companies attempting to offset portions of power consumptionPrivate power companies and suppliersFarms/agricultureSki resorts: Jiminy Peak, Massachusetts

Current Technology Pros and ConsPROS:

Current installations can generate 2.5 MW on land and 3.6 MW offshoreTypical turbine output averages only 1.8 MW

Turbines can supply power to remote areas not serviced by the central power gridThe energy generated by wind turbines balances with the energy used to make them in a matter of months. Much of the energy used to manufacture turbines is contained in the rotor and one-third of the total energy is consumed in making the concrete foundation and tower.

CONS:Distribution: in the U.S. and elsewhere, some of the richest wind resources tend to be far from the densely populated regionsthat need the most electricity.Intermittency Bearings cannot handle very strong wind speeds Transportation of turbines from the factory to the installation siteNoise

FutureShould wind use be continued?

Anti-Wind Power:•Wind use doesn’t correlate to decreased fossil fuel use •Still need conventional energy production facilities to supplement wind•Turbine efficiency decreases with use•Ecological damage is unavoidable •Turbines have a 42x42 square foot base, approximately 30 feet deep, using nearly 3,500 cubic yards of cement•Disrupts the ground water•Causes erosion•Affects local animal habitats•Most people who oppose wind power use are concerned about their personal land•NIMBY

Pro-Wind Argument:•It is estimated that nearly 20% of our energy consumption could realistically come from wind power.•Less demand for alternatives when prices of fossil fuels are low •Technical improvements and advancements will make it less expensive•Creation of jobs in the industry •Wind is becoming increasingly affordable for individuals as the technology improves (residential wind generators are on the market for $699)•There are no real impacts on property values as a result of wind farm developments 

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