Wind Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment

Due to the mounting demand for energy and increasing population of the world, switching from nonrenewable fossil fuels to other energy sources is not an option--it is a necessity. Focusing on a cost-effective option for the generation of electricity, Wind Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment covers all facets of wind energy and wind turbines. The book begins by outlining the history of wind energy, before providing reasons to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. After examining the characteristics of wind, such as shear, power potential, and turbulence, it discusses the measurement and siting of individual wind turbines and wind farms. The text then presents the aerodynamics, operation, control, applications, and types of wind turbines. The author also describes the design of wind turbines and system performance for single wind turbines, water pumping, village systems, and wind farms. In addition, he explores the wind industry from its inception in the 1970s to today as well as the political and economic factors regarding the adoption of wind as an energy source. Since energy cannot be created nor destroyed--only transformed to another form--we are not encountering an energy crisis. Rather, we face an energy dilemma in the use of finite energy resources and their effects on the environment, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. Wind Energy explores one of the most economical solutions to alleviate our energy problems.

Table of Contents:
Introduction History Wind Farms Small Systems Links References Energy Philosophy Definition of Energy and Power Fundamentals Concerning Energy Energy Dilemma in Light of the Laws of Thermodynamics Exponential Growth Use of Fossil Fuels Nuclear Mathematics of Exponential Growth Lifetime of a Finite Resource Summary Links References General Questions/Activities Order of Magnitude Estimates Problems Wind Characteristics Global Circulation Extractable Limits of Wind Power Power in the Wind Wind Shear Wind Direction Wind Power Potential Turbulence Wind Speed Histograms Duration Curve Variations in Wind Power Potential Wind Speed Distributions General Comments Links References Questions/Activities Problems Wind Resource United States European Union Other Countries Ocean Winds Instrumentation Data Loggers Wind Measurement for Small Wind Turbines Links References Problems Wind Turbines Drag Device Lift Device Orientation of the Rotor Axis Description of the System Aerodynamics Control Energy Production Calculated Annual Energy Innovative Wind Systems Applications Storage Links References Problems Design of Wind Turbines Introduction Aerodynamics Mathematical Terms Drag Device Lift Device Aerodynamic Performance Prediction Measured Power and Power Coefficient Construction Evolution Small Wind Turbines References Problems Electrical Fundamentals Generators Power Quality Electronics Lightning Resistance Dump Load Links References Problems Performance Measures of Performance Windstats Wind Farm Performance Wake Effects Enertech Bergey Excel Water Pumping Wind-Diesel and Hybrid Blade Performance Comments Links References Problems Siting Small Wind Turbines Wind Farms Digital Maps Geographic Information Systems Wind Resource Screening Numerical Models Micrositing Ocean Winds Summary Links References Geographic Information Systems Problems Applications and Wind Industry Utility Scale Small Wind Turbines Distributed Systems Wind-Diesel Village Power Water Pumping Wind Industry Comments Links References Problems Institutional Avoided Costs Utility Concerns Regulations on Installation and Operation Environment Politics Incentives Externalities Transmission Links References Problems Economics Factors Affecting Economics General Comments Economic Analysis Life Cycle Costs Present Worth and Levelized Costs Externalities Wind Project Development Hybrid Systems Summary Future Links References Problems Wind Solutions

About the Author :
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, USA New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA