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This is a second draft of the AE FAQ. Please note the section on the
types of AE systems and add to or correct it. (I wrote it off the top of
my head...) It's also an attempt to develop a glossary of AE terms, please
let me know what you think of it!
We may need one or two more iterations of this draft before I can
post it to News.Answers (besides the fact that I'm about to change
jobs...)
-- Chris
This FAQ on Alternative Energy is an early attempt to provide answers
to common questions about Alternative Energy (AE) as well as provide
information on where to get more information. Permission is granted to
reproduce the information in this document as a whole as long as there is
no charge, or at most a nominal duplication fee to the end user.
This is a working document, please send your additions or corrections
to me and I'll add them to the list.
Alternative Energy discussions have occurred in the following Usenet
newsgroups:
Alt.Save.The.Earth
CA.Environment
Sci.Energy
Sci.Energy.Hydrogen
Sci.Environment
Talk.Environment
There is also a mailing list on AE that is based on SJSUVM1.SJSU.EDU. This
is not an exhaustive list by any means.
Please see the Electric Vehicles FAQ for information specific to
Electric Vehicles.
This part last updated October 26, 1993.
-- Chris Yoder Burn rubber, not gas!
Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Drive electric today.
1) Common questions and answers
2) Electronic Lists
3) Alternative Energy BBS
4) Publications
5) Books
6) Alternative Energy Parts Suppliers
7) Associations
8) Research Agencies
9) Governmental Agencies
F R E Q E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
-------------------------------------------------
Q: What types of Alternative Energy (AE) systems are there?
First and foremost is energy conservation. Any energy that can be
saved through conservation does not have to be generated, stored,
transported, etc. Even Alternative Energy systems have an environmental
cost associated with them, even if that cost is slight.
Alternative Energy systems comes in many different forms. The
following list is ordered alphabetically:
- Alcohol-based fuels: Distillation of agricultural "waste" products into
alcohol that is burned in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).
- Bio-mass: Burning of agricultural "waste" products to produce heat which
runs a heat exchanger to produce steam and drive a generator.
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): A very clean burning fossil fuel. Used in
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles converted by changing
carburetors and adding high-pressure cylinders to hold the CNG.
- Electric Vehicle (EV): A vehicle (car, bus, train, boat, cycle, etc)
propelled by an electric motor. A pure EV has electricity supplied by
batteries or by some form of electrical connection like overhead wires
or wires in the track/road bed. A hybrid EV has an on-board Auxiliary
Power Unit (APU) or electrical generator.
- Fuel Cell: A device which takes hydrogen and oxygen and recovers the
electrical energy released when they combine. In many cases only the
hydrogen needs to be pure, the oxygen can come from surrounding air.
The hydrogen can be stored in high-pressure cylinders or in a "metal
hydride". The metal hydride is a substance that absorbs hydrogen and
releases it when heated slightly.
- Hydro: Use the potential energy of water flowing "down hill". Everything
from large scale river dams with electric turbine generators to partial
diversion of streams to drive water wheels to taping into tidal currents.
- Geothermal: Use of hot volcanic rocks to generate steam. Typically done
by drilling wells into hot spots and injecting water which turns to
steam and in turn drives a generator.
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): In tropical areas the difference
in temperature between surface and deep ocean water is sufficient to
generate power. At least one test plant built off the Kona coast of the
Big Island of Hawaii.
- Propane: A very clean burning fossil fuel. Used in Internal Combustion
Engine (ICE) vehicles converted by changing carburetors and adding high-
pressure cylinders to hold the propane.
- Solar systems. There are four common types of solar systems.
-- Hot Water: Direct conversion of solar energy into hot or warm water.
Used to heat pools water and also for home use. Probably the most
common form of AE in widespread use.
-- Passive Solar Heat: Direct conversion of solar energy into space
heating. There are many different design features to accomplish
this, most of them rely on the fact that during the summer months the
sun is more directly overhead than during the winter when it is lower
in the sky in the direction of the equator.
-- Photovoltaic (PV): Direct conversion of solar energy into electricity.
Typical systems are silicon based. Common "individual" use in sunny
areas.
-- Heat Generation: (For lack of a better name...) Systems where a fluid
(typically an oil or a sodium compound) is heated up to a high
temperature. This fluid is typically run through a heat exchanger
where water is turned to steam and run through a steam turbine
connected to a generator.
- "Underground" housing: Basically using earth as a thermal mass around a
living space to regulate the temperature to be the average yearly
temperature.
- Wind: A whole set of devices that harness the energy of the wind. Most
are link a generator to a spinning device and produce electricity. Some
are mechanically linked to pumps or other devices and perform dedicated
tasks. Common "individual" use in areas with an average wind-speed of
10 MPH or higher.
Q: How much energy does it take to build an AE (PV, Wind, etc) system in
relation to how much energy it produces?
Tom Gray <tgray@xxxxxxxxxxx> supplies the following information:
In the meantime, I realize I do have some information with references on
this topic.
Tom
--------------------
/* Written 2:48 pm Feb 19, 1993 by tgray in igc:en.energy */
/* ---------- "--Wind's Net Energy, Emissions" ---------- */
ENERGY AND EMISSION
BALANCE FAVORS WIND
The energy generated by wind turbines pays for the materials used
to make them in a matter of months, according to three separate
European studies.
The question, thought by industry analysts to have been effectively
answered during the 1970s, has been raised anew recently by some
critics of proposed new wind power plants, who have questioned
whether the energy produced by a wind turbine justifies its
construction.
The question possibly arises from now-dated findings on the net
energy pay-back of solar photovoltaic cells, according to Jos
Beurskens, manager of renewable energy for the Dutch national
energy research center ECN.
Early solar cells had a negative energy balance, Beurskens said,
but more recent products perform far better and pay back the energy
consumed in their manufacture within ten years. As the performance
of photovoltaics improves, so too will their energy balance.
In contrast to photovoltaics, Beurskens said, wind turbines
typically pay for themselves in a matter of months.
With the assistance of Beurskens, Birger Madsen of the Danish firm
BTM Consult, and Armin Keuper of the Deutsches Windenergie
Institut, Wind Energy Weekly has pieced together statistics from
two Danish and one German examination of wind's energy balance.
The results, including full citations, are presented in the
accompanying tables for use by the industry.
The German study, by far the most extensive, examined wind
turbines from 10 kW to 3 MW in size, while both Danish studies
considered a "typical" Danish wind turbine of the period. The
results of all three studies are comparable: utility-scale wind
turbines installed in areas with commercially usable wind resources
will pay for themselves within one year.
As expected, much of the energy used to manufacture the turbine is
contained in the rotor and nacelle. But more than one-third of the
total energy consumed by the wind turbine is contained in the
concrete foundation and tower.
The Danish study for the Ministry of the Environment also
estimated that a coal-fired power plant emits 360 times more SOx,
NOx, and carbon dioxide to generate an equivalent amount of
electricity over the 25-year life of a wind turbine.
ENERGY BALANCE (PAYBACK) OF WIND TURBINES
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
["Average Danish production"]
95 58 210 3.3
Source: Erik Grum-Schwensen, "The Real cost of Wind Turbine
Construction," Wind Stats, Spring 1990, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp 1-2.
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[Roughness Class
0 1 2]
-------------
150 212 529 395 315 4.8/6.4/8.1
Source: A. Gydesen. D. Maimann. P. B. Pedersen, "Renere Teknologi
pa Energiomradet," Energigruppen, Fysisk Laboratorium III, Danmarks
Tekniske Hoejskole, Miljoeministeriet, Miljoeprojekt Nr. 138,
Denmark, 1990, pp. 123-127.
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[Average Annual Wind
Speed at 10 m Height
7 m/s 5.5 m/s 4 m/s
16 mph 12 mph 9 mph]
----------------------
12.5 45 49 132 94 55 4.4/6.3/10.7
27 225 169 787 533 305 2.6/3.8/6.7
32 300 296 1,049 710 411 3.4/5.0/8.7
80 3,000 2,817 8,989 6,025 4,027 3.8/5.6/8.4
Source: G. Hagedorn. F. Ilmberger, "Kumulierter Energieverbrauch
fuer die Herstellung von Windkraftanlagen," Forschungsstelle fuer
Energiewirtschaft, Im Auftrage des Bundesministeriums fuer
Forschung und Technologie, Muenchen, August 1991, pp. 79, 98, 100,
111. NOTE: In this study the primary energy used to construct the
wind turbine was given in units of kWh. However, only 35% of the
energy burned in a power plant is converted to useful work. To
present the data from this study in a format consistent with that
from the other studies, the kWh consumed has been multiplied by
0.35.
PRIMARY ENERGY PAYBACK
Payback
Plant (months)
---------------------------------------
Nuclear 0.7
Coal 0.7
Wind @ 7 m/s 2.5-7.5
Wind @ 5.5 m/s 3.8-11.4
Wind @ 4 m/s 6.3-22.7
Photovoltaic
-----
Monocrystalline @ 1,000 W/m2 87
Monocrystalline @ 2,200 W/m2 44
Multicrystalline @ 1,000 W/m2 85
Multicrystalline @ 2,200 W/m2 43
Amorphous @ 1,000 W/m2 56
Amorphous @ 2,200 W/m2 28
-----------
Source: G. Hagedorn. F. Ilmberger, "Kumulierter Energieverbrauch
fuer die Herstellung von Windkraftanlagen," Forschungsstelle fuer
Energiewirtschaft, Im Auftrage des Bundesministeriums fuer
Forschung und Technologie, Muenchen, August 1991, pp. 79, 98, 100,
111.
EMISSION COMPARISON BETWEEN A WIND TURBINE
AND A COAL PLANT OVER 25 YEARS
SOx NOx CO2
(tons) (tons) (tons)
----------------------------
Wind [40 kg] 0.3 87
Coal 14 108 31,326
-----------
Source: A. Gydesen. D. Maimann. P. B. Pedersen, "Renere Teknologi
pa Energiomradet," Energigruppen, Fysisk Laboratorium III, Danmarks
Tekniske Hoejskole, Miljoeministeriet, Miljoeprojekt Nr. 138,
Denmark, 1990, pp. 123-127.
Q: How much AE generating capacity exists right now?
Martin Schafer <schafer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> supplies the following:
From the 1993 Vital Signs, put out by the World Watch Institute
World Wind Energy Generating Capacity --
1981 18 megawatts
1982 80
1983 260
1984 657
1985 971
1986 1325
1987 1419
1988 1385
1989 1636
1990 1961
1991 2347
1992(prel) 2652
World Photovoltaic Shipments --
1971 0.1 megawatts
1975 1.8
1976 2.0
1977 2.2
1978 2.5
1979 4.0
1980 6.5
1981 7.8
1982 9.1
1983 21.7
1984 25.0
1985 22.8
1986 26.0
1987 29.2
1988 33.8
1989 40.2
1990 46.5
1991 55.3
1992(prel) 57.9
World Geothermal Electrical Generating Capacity
1950 239 megawatts
1955 246
1960 368
1965 558
1970 715
1975 1314
1980 2390
1981 2422
1982 2822
1983 3383
1984 4164
1985 5954
1986 6505
1987 7098
1988 7279
1989 8095
1990 8777
1991 9369
World Hydroelectric Generating Capacity (I don't recall if
we include this in AE, but I'm including it for completeness.
There are also charts of oil and coal use (in millions of bbl/day)
and nuclear generating capacity)
1950 44596 megawatts
1955 67857
1960 157080
1965 214023
1970 282491
1975 366458
1980 466938
1985 555463
1990 628429
1991(prel) 643511
In 1992 Nuclear generation is at 328000 megawatts 1/2 of hydro, 100
times wind and 30 times geothermal.
In 1992 Coal 2180 million tons of oil equivalent, down slightly from
its peak in 1989 at 2218.
In 1992 Oil is at 58.8 million barrels a day down slightly from its
peak in 1990 of 59.5.
I don't know how to convert those last numbers in power generated so
that they can be compared.
Q: What standards should I follow building my own AE system?
1) Safety comes first. This cannot be stressed too much.
2) Follow the "KISS" (Keep It Simple Stupid) standard whenever possible.
3) The National Electric Counsel has standards for electrical systems of
all types, including AE systems. It's a good idea to meet or exceed
these standards.
Q: How do I compare Propane and Compressed Natural Gas numbers?
From Mike Prine CIRT <mikep@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
1 Therm=100000BTUs
1000BTUs per cubic foot of natural gas (This varies but good for comparisons)
91500 BTUs per gallon of propane
4 Pounds per gallon of propane
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A L T E R N A T I V E E N E R G Y B B S
-------------------------------------------
ECIX files available via anonymous ftp from igc.apc.org
EnviroLink Gopher. Can be accessed via telnet (username gopher) or
anonymous ftp at envirolink.hss.cmu.edu
Home Power BBS. (707) 822-8640
P U B L I C A T I O N S
-----------------------
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Home Power
Richard Perez, Editor
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Comment: Merged with Alternative Transportation News. A must have
for those seriously interested in Alternative Energy issues.
BBS: (707) 822-8640 -- Includes GIFs of graphs and diagrams
PV Network News
Paul Wilkins, Editor
(505) 473-1067
2303 Cedros Circle
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759 South State, #81
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$25/year
6 issues a year
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monthly
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B O O K S
---------
Consumer Guide To Solar Energy
(Easy and Inexpensive Applications for Solar Energy)
by Scott Sklar and Kenneth G. Sheinkopf
Published by Bonus Books Inc. 1991
160 East Illinois Street
Chicago Illinois 60611
ISBN 0-9299387-23-6
$9.95
Independent Home, The
(Living Well with Power from the Sun, Wind and Water)
by Michael Potts
published by Chelsea Green Publishing Company 1993
PO Box 130, Route 2
Post Mills Vermont 05058-0130
ISBN 0-930031-65-2 (pbk.)
$18.00
Available thru Real Goods
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(the photovoltaics how-to handbook)
by Joel Davidson
Published by aatec Publications 1990
PO Box 7119
Ann Arbor Michigan 48107
ISBN 0-937948-09-8
Methane - the eternal flame
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Wind Power for Home & Business
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Available for $35 from:
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A L T E R N A T I V E E N E R G Y P A R T S S U P P L I E R S
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA Solar Sales and Service
(505) 243-3212
(800) 245-0311
2012 Zearing Ave. NW.
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Comments: Solar Heating (Pool, water, air) Install, parts(new/used) &
service, System design (Merged with Solar Master so now do PV as well) Mail
order and walk-in business
Array Technologies, Inc.
(505) 242-8024
PO Box 751
614 2 Street SW. (street address)
Albuquerque, NM 87103 USA
Comment: Wattsun solar tracking frames
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8530-HP Rapid Lightning Creek Road
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seminars
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48 Canal St.
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PO Box 1545
512 37th Street
Parkersburg West Virginia 26101
Comment: OEM Linear Current Bosters, Charge Controllers
Centre for Alternative Technology
Machynlleth,
Powys,
Wales,
United Kingdom
SY20 9AZ
Tel +44 654 702400 / 703743
Comment: All types of Renewable Equipment / Books / Courses and a
very good place to visit for AE enthusiasts
Cruising Equipment Co.
(206) 782-8100
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Seattle, WA 98107 USA
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A S S O C I A T I O N S
------------------------------
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(602) 921-0433 (602) 967-6601 (FAX)
216 S Clark Ave, Suite 103
Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
American Institue of Architects/Asooc. of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Deane Evans, Dir ASCA/AIA Research
(202) 785-5912
American Wind Energy Association
(202) 408-8988 (202) 408-8536 (FAX)
777 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 805
Washington, DC 20002
e-mail: awea@xxxxxxxxxxx
Center for Renewable Energy and Sutainable Technology (CREST)
Michael Totten, Director
777 N. Capitol St NE, Suite 805,
Washington, DC 20002
e-mail: totten@xxxxxxxxx
IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(310) 860-8666
16804 Gridley Place
Cerritos, CA 90701-1792 USA
Comment: CNG and LP conversion systems. (May have list of conversion
firms.) Gaseous fuel carburetors and mixers, high
and low pressure regulators, fuel lock-off valves, etc.
They also have "closed loop" computer controlled systems for
their carburetors and an electronic mixture control valve/gas
mass sensor.
R E S E A R C H A G E N C I E S
---------------------------------
Electric Power Research Institute
P.O. Box 10412
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Comment: Research in PV systems and wind energy
Institute for Bioregional Studies
(902) 892-9578
446 University Ave. Suite 126
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 8K3
e-mail: capferra@xxxxxxx <Phillip Ferraro>
National Renewable Energy Lab
Ken Zweibel
(303) 231-7141
1617 Cole Blvd
Golden CO 80401-3393
Princeton Center for Energy and Environmental Studies
Bob Williams
(609) 258-5448
G O V E R N M E N T A L A G E N C I E S
-----------------------------------------
CARB, California Air Resources Board
Public Information Office
Contacts: Bill Sessa, Jerry Martin
(916) 322-2990
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95812 USA
Comment: CARB was formed in 1969
(ZEV) Emissions Standards Adopted Sept 27, 1990
CARB, California Air Resources Board -- Southern CA
Contact: Sylvia Vanderspek
(818) 575-6703
NYSERDA, New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority
Larry Hudson
(518) 465-6251 ext 209
2 Rockefeller Plaza
Albany, NY 12223 USA
Comment: NYSERDA was formed in 1976
Operates a fleet of nearly 300 alternate-fuel vehicles
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficency and Renewable Energy
(DOE/OEERE)
Lou Divone
(202) 586-5540
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20585
9-NOV-1993 22:44:57.89
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This is a second draft of the AE FAQ. Please note the section on the
types of AE systems and add to or correct it. (I wrote it off the top of
my head...) It's also an attempt to develop a glossary of AE terms, please
let me know what you think of it!
We may need one or two more iterations of this draft before I can
post it to News.Answers (besides the fact that I'm about to change
jobs...)
-- Chris
This FAQ on Alternative Energy is an early attempt to provide answers
to common questions about Alternative Energy (AE) as well as provide
information on where to get more information. Permission is granted to
reproduce the information in this document as a whole as long as there is
no charge, or at most a nominal duplication fee to the end user.
This is a working document, please send your additions or corrections
to me and I'll add them to the list.
Alternative Energy discussions have occurred in the following Usenet
newsgroups:
Alt.Save.The.Earth
CA.Environment
Sci.Energy
Sci.Energy.Hydrogen
Sci.Environment
Talk.Environment
There is also a mailing list on AE that is based on SJSUVM1.SJSU.EDU. This
is not an exhaustive list by any means.
Please see the Electric Vehicles FAQ for information specific to
Electric Vehicles.
This part last updated October 26, 1993.
-- Chris Yoder Burn rubber, not gas!
Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Drive electric today.
1) Common questions and answers
2) Electronic Lists
3) Alternative Energy BBS
4) Publications
5) Books
6) Alternative Energy Parts Suppliers
7) Associations
8) Research Agencies
9) Governmental Agencies
F R E Q E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
-------------------------------------------------
Q: What types of Alternative Energy (AE) systems are there?
First and foremost is energy conservation. Any energy that can be
saved through conservation does not have to be generated, stored,
transported, etc. Even Alternative Energy systems have an environmental
cost associated with them, even if that cost is slight.
Alternative Energy systems comes in many different forms. The
following list is ordered alphabetically:
- Alcohol-based fuels: Distillation of agricultural "waste" products into
alcohol that is burned in Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).
- Bio-mass: Burning of agricultural "waste" products to produce heat which
runs a heat exchanger to produce steam and drive a generator.
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): A very clean burning fossil fuel. Used in
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles converted by changing
carburetors and adding high-pressure cylinders to hold the CNG.
- Electric Vehicle (EV): A vehicle (car, bus, train, boat, cycle, etc)
propelled by an electric motor. A pure EV has electricity supplied by
batteries or by some form of electrical connection like overhead wires
or wires in the track/road bed. A hybrid EV has an on-board Auxiliary
Power Unit (APU) or electrical generator.
- Fuel Cell: A device which takes hydrogen and oxygen and recovers the
electrical energy released when they combine. In many cases only the
hydrogen needs to be pure, the oxygen can come from surrounding air.
The hydrogen can be stored in high-pressure cylinders or in a "metal
hydride". The metal hydride is a substance that absorbs hydrogen and
releases it when heated slightly.
- Hydro: Use the potential energy of water flowing "down hill". Everything
from large scale river dams with electric turbine generators to partial
diversion of streams to drive water wheels to taping into tidal currents.
- Geothermal: Use of hot volcanic rocks to generate steam. Typically done
by drilling wells into hot spots and injecting water which turns to
steam and in turn drives a generator.
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): In tropical areas the difference
in temperature between surface and deep ocean water is sufficient to
generate power. At least one test plant built off the Kona coast of the
Big Island of Hawaii.
- Propane: A very clean burning fossil fuel. Used in Internal Combustion
Engine (ICE) vehicles converted by changing carburetors and adding high-
pressure cylinders to hold the propane.
- Solar systems. There are four common types of solar systems.
-- Hot Water: Direct conversion of solar energy into hot or warm water.
Used to heat pools water and also for home use. Probably the most
common form of AE in widespread use.
-- Passive Solar Heat: Direct conversion of solar energy into space
heating. There are many different design features to accomplish
this, most of them rely on the fact that during the summer months the
sun is more directly overhead than during the winter when it is lower
in the sky in the direction of the equator.
-- Photovoltaic (PV): Direct conversion of solar energy into electricity.
Typical systems are silicon based. Common "individual" use in sunny
areas.
-- Heat Generation: (For lack of a better name...) Systems where a fluid
(typically an oil or a sodium compound) is heated up to a high
temperature. This fluid is typically run through a heat exchanger
where water is turned to steam and run through a steam turbine
connected to a generator.
- "Underground" housing: Basically using earth as a thermal mass around a
living space to regulate the temperature to be the average yearly
temperature.
- Wind: A whole set of devices that harness the energy of the wind. Most
are link a generator to a spinning device and produce electricity. Some
are mechanically linked to pumps or other devices and perform dedicated
tasks. Common "individual" use in areas with an average wind-speed of
10 MPH or higher.
Q: How much energy does it take to build an AE (PV, Wind, etc) system in
relation to how much energy it produces?
Tom Gray <tgray@xxxxxxxxxxx> supplies the following information:
In the meantime, I realize I do have some information with references on
this topic.
Tom
--------------------
/* Written 2:48 pm Feb 19, 1993 by tgray in igc:en.energy */
/* ---------- "--Wind's Net Energy, Emissions" ---------- */
ENERGY AND EMISSION
BALANCE FAVORS WIND
The energy generated by wind turbines pays for the materials used
to make them in a matter of months, according to three separate
European studies.
The question, thought by industry analysts to have been effectively
answered during the 1970s, has been raised anew recently by some
critics of proposed new wind power plants, who have questioned
whether the energy produced by a wind turbine justifies its
construction.
The question possibly arises from now-dated findings on the net
energy pay-back of solar photovoltaic cells, according to Jos
Beurskens, manager of renewable energy for the Dutch national
energy research center ECN.
Early solar cells had a negative energy balance, Beurskens said,
but more recent products perform far better and pay back the energy
consumed in their manufacture within ten years. As the performance
of photovoltaics improves, so too will their energy balance.
In contrast to photovoltaics, Beurskens said, wind turbines
typically pay for themselves in a matter of months.
With the assistance of Beurskens, Birger Madsen of the Danish firm
BTM Consult, and Armin Keuper of the Deutsches Windenergie
Institut, Wind Energy Weekly has pieced together statistics from
two Danish and one German examination of wind's energy balance.
The results, including full citations, are presented in the
accompanying tables for use by the industry.
The German study, by far the most extensive, examined wind
turbines from 10 kW to 3 MW in size, while both Danish studies
considered a "typical" Danish wind turbine of the period. The
results of all three studies are comparable: utility-scale wind
turbines installed in areas with commercially usable wind resources
will pay for themselves within one year.
As expected, much of the energy used to manufacture the turbine is
contained in the rotor and nacelle. But more than one-third of the
total energy consumed by the wind turbine is contained in the
concrete foundation and tower.
The Danish study for the Ministry of the Environment also
estimated that a coal-fired power plant emits 360 times more SOx,
NOx, and carbon dioxide to generate an equivalent amount of
electricity over the 25-year life of a wind turbine.
ENERGY BALANCE (PAYBACK) OF WIND TURBINES
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
["Average Danish production"]
95 58 210 3.3
Source: Erik Grum-Schwensen, "The Real cost of Wind Turbine
Construction," Wind Stats, Spring 1990, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp 1-2.
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[Roughness Class
0 1 2]
-------------
150 212 529 395 315 4.8/6.4/8.1
Source: A. Gydesen. D. Maimann. P. B. Pedersen, "Renere Teknologi
pa Energiomradet," Energigruppen, Fysisk Laboratorium III, Danmarks
Tekniske Hoejskole, Miljoeministeriet, Miljoeprojekt Nr. 138,
Denmark, 1990, pp. 123-127.
Wind
Turbine Energy Energy Generated Payback
Diam Power Consumed [Wind Regime]
(m) (kW) (MWh) (MWh/yr) (months)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
[Average Annual Wind
Speed at 10 m Height
7 m/s 5.5 m/s 4 m/s
16 mph 12 mph 9 mph]
----------------------
12.5 45 49 132 94 55 4.4/6.3/10.7
27 225 169 787 533 305 2.6/3.8/6.7
32 300 296 1,049 710 411 3.4/5.0/8.7
80 3,000 2,817 8,989 6,025 4,027 3.8/5.6/8.4
Source: G. Hagedorn. F. Ilmberger, "Kumulierter Energieverbrauch
fuer die Herstellung von Windkraftanlagen," Forschungsstelle fuer
Energiewirtschaft, Im Auftrage des Bundesministeriums fuer
Forschung und Technologie, Muenchen, August 1991, pp. 79, 98, 100,
111. NOTE: In this study the primary energy used to construct the
wind turbine was given in units of kWh. However, only 35% of the
energy burned in a power plant is converted to useful work. To
present the data from this study in a format consistent with that
from the other studies, the kWh consumed has been multiplied by
0.35.
PRIMARY ENERGY PAYBACK
Payback
Plant (months)
---------------------------------------
Nuclear 0.7
Coal 0.7
Wind @ 7 m/s 2.5-7.5
Wind @ 5.5 m/s 3.8-11.4
Wind @ 4 m/s 6.3-22.7
Photovoltaic
-----
Monocrystalline @ 1,000 W/m2 87
Monocrystalline @ 2,200 W/m2 44
Multicrystalline @ 1,000 W/m2 85
Multicrystalline @ 2,200 W/m2 43
Amorphous @ 1,000 W/m2 56
Amorphous @ 2,200 W/m2 28
-----------
Source: G. Hagedorn. F. Ilmberger, "Kumulierter Energieverbrauch
fuer die Herstellung von Windkraftanlagen," Forschungsstelle fuer
Energiewirtschaft, Im Auftrage des Bundesministeriums fuer
Forschung und Technologie, Muenchen, August 1991, pp. 79, 98, 100,
111.
EMISSION COMPARISON BETWEEN A WIND TURBINE
AND A COAL PLANT OVER 25 YEARS
SOx NOx CO2
(tons) (tons) (tons)
----------------------------
Wind [40 kg] 0.3 87
Coal 14 108 31,326
-----------
Source: A. Gydesen. D. Maimann. P. B. Pedersen, "Renere Teknologi
pa Energiomradet," Energigruppen, Fysisk Laboratorium III, Danmarks
Tekniske Hoejskole, Miljoeministeriet, Miljoeprojekt Nr. 138,
Denmark, 1990, pp. 123-127.
Q: How much AE generating capacity exists right now?
Martin Schafer <schafer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> supplies the following:
From the 1993 Vital Signs, put out by the World Watch Institute
World Wind Energy Generating Capacity --
1981 18 megawatts
1982 80
1983 260
1984 657
1985 971
1986 1325
1987 1419
1988 1385
1989 1636
1990 1961
1991 2347
1992(prel) 2652
World Photovoltaic Shipments --
1971 0.1 megawatts
1975 1.8
1976 2.0
1977 2.2
1978 2.5
1979 4.0
1980 6.5
1981 7.8
1982 9.1
1983 21.7
1984 25.0
1985 22.8
1986 26.0
1987 29.2
1988 33.8
1989 40.2
1990 46.5
1991 55.3
1992(prel) 57.9
World Geothermal Electrical Generating Capacity
1950 239 megawatts
1955 246
1960 368
1965 558
1970 715
1975 1314
1980 2390
1981 2422
1982 2822
1983 3383
1984 4164
1985 5954
1986 6505
1987 7098
1988 7279
1989 8095
1990 8777
1991 9369
World Hydroelectric Generating Capacity (I don't recall if
we include this in AE, but I'm including it for completeness.
There are also charts of oil and coal use (in millions of bbl/day)
and nuclear generating capacity)
1950 44596 megawatts
1955 67857
1960 157080
1965 214023
1970 282491
1975 366458
1980 466938
1985 555463
1990 628429
1991(prel) 643511
In 1992 Nuclear generation is at 328000 megawatts 1/2 of hydro, 100
times wind and 30 times geothermal.
In 1992 Coal 2180 million tons of oil equivalent, down slightly from
its peak in 1989 at 2218.
In 1992 Oil is at 58.8 million barrels a day down slightly from its
peak in 1990 of 59.5.
I don't know how to convert those last numbers in power generated so
that they can be compared.
Q: What standards should I follow building my own AE system?
1) Safety comes first. This cannot be stressed too much.
2) Follow the "KISS" (Keep It Simple Stupid) standard whenever possible.
3) The National Electric Counsel has standards for electrical systems of
all types, including AE systems. It's a good idea to meet or exceed
these standards.
Q: How do I compare Propane and Compressed Natural Gas numbers?
From Mike Prine CIRT <mikep@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
1 Therm=100000BTUs
1000BTUs per cubic foot of natural gas (This varies but good for comparisons)
91500 BTUs per gallon of propane
4 Pounds per gallon of propane
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A L T E R N A T I V E E N E R G Y B B S
-------------------------------------------
ECIX files available via anonymous ftp from igc.apc.org
EnviroLink Gopher. Can be accessed via telnet (username gopher) or
anonymous ftp at envirolink.hss.cmu.edu
Home Power BBS. (707) 822-8640
P U B L I C A T I O N S
-----------------------
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P.O. Box 2630
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Home Power
Richard Perez, Editor
(916) 475-3179
P.O. Box 520
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Comment: Merged with Alternative Transportation News. A must have
for those seriously interested in Alternative Energy issues.
BBS: (707) 822-8640 -- Includes GIFs of graphs and diagrams
PV Network News
Paul Wilkins, Editor
(505) 473-1067
2303 Cedros Circle
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Solar Mind
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759 South State, #81
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$25/year
6 issues a year
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monthly
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B O O K S
---------
Consumer Guide To Solar Energy
(Easy and Inexpensive Applications for Solar Energy)
by Scott Sklar and Kenneth G. Sheinkopf
Published by Bonus Books Inc. 1991
160 East Illinois Street
Chicago Illinois 60611
ISBN 0-9299387-23-6
$9.95
Independent Home, The
(Living Well with Power from the Sun, Wind and Water)
by Michael Potts
published by Chelsea Green Publishing Company 1993
PO Box 130, Route 2
Post Mills Vermont 05058-0130
ISBN 0-930031-65-2 (pbk.)
$18.00
Available thru Real Goods
New Solar Electric Home, The
(the photovoltaics how-to handbook)
by Joel Davidson
Published by aatec Publications 1990
PO Box 7119
Ann Arbor Michigan 48107
ISBN 0-937948-09-8
Methane - the eternal flame
by Raymond F Spargo
Wind Power for Home & Business
Paul Gipe -- Author
Available for $35 from:
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P.O. Box 130
Route 113
Post Mills, VT 05058-0138
A L T E R N A T I V E E N E R G Y P A R T S S U P P L I E R S
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA Solar Sales and Service
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(800) 245-0311
2012 Zearing Ave. NW.
Albuquerque New Mexico 87104 USA
Comments: Solar Heating (Pool, water, air) Install, parts(new/used) &
service, System design (Merged with Solar Master so now do PV as well) Mail
order and walk-in business
Array Technologies, Inc.
(505) 242-8024
PO Box 751
614 2 Street SW. (street address)
Albuquerque, NM 87103 USA
Comment: Wattsun solar tracking frames
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8530-HP Rapid Lightning Creek Road
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seminars
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48 Canal St.
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Comment: Sol-R-Roll, a solar pool water heater
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(800) 222-3988 Technical Support
PO Box 1545
512 37th Street
Parkersburg West Virginia 26101
Comment: OEM Linear Current Bosters, Charge Controllers
Centre for Alternative Technology
Machynlleth,
Powys,
Wales,
United Kingdom
SY20 9AZ
Tel +44 654 702400 / 703743
Comment: All types of Renewable Equipment / Books / Courses and a
very good place to visit for AE enthusiasts
Cruising Equipment Co.
(206) 782-8100
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Comment: OEM AmpHour Meters
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(619) 460-3930
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Solar Plus, The Sun Electric Company
Gary Giles, President
(604) 743-9796 or 1-800-661-4550
2460 Recreation Road,
R.R.1, Shawnigan Lake,
British Columbia, V0R 2W0 Canada
Comment: Planning Guide & Product Catalog specializes in design,
installation and sales of AE electrical generation (solar, wind, hydro) and
all the related components. Works all over the Canadian and American
Pacific North West.
Solo Power / A Division of Zomeworks
(505) 242-8340
(800) 279-7656
1011B Sawmill Rd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104 USA
Comment: Photovoltaic system design and parts walking+mail-order. Outlets in
Albuquerque NM, Santa FE NM and El Paso Texas.
SunAmp Power Company
(602) 951-0699
8502 E. Cactus Wren Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85253 USA
Comment: OEM Meters, controllers
Sun Family
(714) 898-3084 (800) 822-7652 (714) 895-2618 (FAX)
5741 Engineer Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Comment: Solar assist for existing water heater
Sun, Wind, & Fire
(503) 245-2661 or 1-800-397-9651
Alternative Energy Supply Co., Inc.
7637 S.W. 33rd Ave,
Portland, OR 97219
Comment: Design Guide and Catalog for remote electric power generating
equipment, and all the usual AE goodies.
Trace Engineering
(206) 435-8826
5916 195th NE
Arlington, WA 98223 USA
Comment: OEM Inverters
Trojan Battery Company
(310) 946-8381 or (800) 423-6569
12380 Clark Ave.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 USA
Product: Lead-Acid Batteries
U.S. Battery Company
(909) 371-8090 or (800) 695-0945
1675 Sampson Av
Corona, CA 91719 USA
Product: Lead acid batteries
Utility Free
(303) 928-0846 Customer Support
(800) 766-5550 Orders
PO Box 228
Basalt Colorado 81621
Comment: New and Reconditioned Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Iron batteries plus
other EA stuff
Wattevr Works
(209) 654-3627
PO Box 207
Ceder Creek
San Andreas, CA 95249 USA
Comment: High effeciency motors, washer conversion kits
Wind and Sun
The Howe,
Watlington,
Oxford,
OX9 5EX
England,
Tel +44 491 613859
Comment: Electricity generating renewables and off-grid systems
A S S O C I A T I O N S
------------------------------
American Hydrogen Association
(602) 921-0433 (602) 967-6601 (FAX)
216 S Clark Ave, Suite 103
Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
American Institue of Architects/Asooc. of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Deane Evans, Dir ASCA/AIA Research
(202) 785-5912
American Wind Energy Association
(202) 408-8988 (202) 408-8536 (FAX)
777 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 805
Washington, DC 20002
e-mail: awea@xxxxxxxxxxx
Center for Renewable Energy and Sutainable Technology (CREST)
Michael Totten, Director
777 N. Capitol St NE, Suite 805,
Washington, DC 20002
e-mail: totten@xxxxxxxxx
IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(310) 860-8666
16804 Gridley Place
Cerritos, CA 90701-1792 USA
Comment: CNG and LP conversion systems. (May have list of conversion
firms.) Gaseous fuel carburetors and mixers, high
and low pressure regulators, fuel lock-off valves, etc.
They also have "closed loop" computer controlled systems for
their carburetors and an electronic mixture control valve/gas
mass sensor.
R E S E A R C H A G E N C I E S
---------------------------------
Electric Power Research Institute
P.O. Box 10412
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Comment: Research in PV systems and wind energy
Institute for Bioregional Studies
(902) 892-9578
446 University Ave. Suite 126
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 8K3
e-mail: capferra@xxxxxxx <Phillip Ferraro>
National Renewable Energy Lab
Ken Zweibel
(303) 231-7141
1617 Cole Blvd
Golden CO 80401-3393
Princeton Center for Energy and Environmental Studies
Bob Williams
(609) 258-5448
G O V E R N M E N T A L A G E N C I E S
-----------------------------------------
CARB, California Air Resources Board
Public Information Office
Contacts: Bill Sessa, Jerry Martin
(916) 322-2990
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95812 USA
Comment: CARB was formed in 1969
(ZEV) Emissions Standards Adopted Sept 27, 1990
CARB, California Air Resources Board -- Southern CA
Contact: Sylvia Vanderspek
(818) 575-6703
NYSERDA, New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority
Larry Hudson
(518) 465-6251 ext 209
2 Rockefeller Plaza
Albany, NY 12223 USA
Comment: NYSERDA was formed in 1976
Operates a fleet of nearly 300 alternate-fuel vehicles
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficency and Renewable Energy
(DOE/OEERE)
Lou Divone
(202) 586-5540
1000 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20585