Renewable Energy - Wind Energy Economics Flashcards
What is the potential of wind energy?
About 72TW, seven times the global electricity demand
What is the largest UK wind farm?
Hornsea 2
Hornsea 2
A UK wind farm off the coast of yorkshire, 165 turbines powering 1.4million UK homes.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm
This power 6 million homes opening in 2024
What is the largest wind farm in the world?
Jiuquan in China with 20GW capacity
What is the soon to be largest wind farm in the world?
China powering 13m homes, 43,3 GW capacity
What are the two types of wind turbine?
Horizontal and vertical
What are the main causes of wind turbine dysfunction?
Electrical components failing, waves and wind damage
Why are wind turbines reducing in cost so rapidly?
Changes in material, labour by employee, recycling of components and learning-by development
What are the major costs of wind farms?
Upfront capital costs of towers and installation
How much are wind farm costs in onshore compared to offshore for turbine construction?
70% of the costs of an onshore farm and 40% for offshore.
Why do offshore wind farms have lower turbine costs?
Because grid connection and capital costs are more.
What are the major materials used in wind turbines?
70% steel, 13% fibreglass and iron, copper and aluminium.
What are the two types of electricity grid distribution?
Transmission Network
Distribution Network
Transmission Network
This is transmission lines, being high voltage systems
Distribution Network
This is the final stage of electricity grid, distributing to homes, industries etc.
Why is HVAC better than DC?
AC has higher coltage, thus lower currents, thus less energy lost as heat.
How do grid costs compare between total costs of onshore vs offshore?
11-14% and 15-30%
What is used for onshore vs offshore installation?
Onshore is poured concrete, whilst offshore steel monoplies.
What is the most envrionmentally costly process of wind farm?
The construction process, especially steel.
How much CO2 emissions of wind farm construction are transport?
5.6%
How can CO2 emissions be offset?
Recycling of materials reduces 55.4% CO2 emissions.
What is the service phase of wind turbines?
20-30 years
How long does it take for wind farm to repay its CO2 emissions?
Six to eight months
How mnay birds in the US are killed by wind turbines?
1.17m
How can bird deaths be prevented?
Putting wind farms away from migratory paths.
