Wind Energy Essentials - Societal, Economic, and Environmental Impacts

Examines the possible societal impacts of wind energy projects and explains the potential issues faced when siting, constructing, and operating a wind energy project.
 
This book begins with a history of wind power and the social impacts of both electricity and wind power from a historical perspective, a discussion of basic electrical terms, and a primer on the conversion of power in the wind to electricity. Much of the second half of the book is devoted to comparing wind energy to other forms of electric generation, both renewable and non-renewable sources. In order to have a true understanding of the impact of wind energy on society, one also has to have a thorough understanding of the impacts that other sources of electric generation have, such as fossil-fuelled plants or nuclear power plants. The comparison of electric generation sources includes a review of how such sources are typically utilized within the electric system, as well as the economic factors and environmental considerations that affect which resources utilities or operators of electric grids have to take into account. The authors conclude with a discussion of energy policies in the U.S., individual states, and foreign nations, how these policies influence the use of renewable energy, and what our future may hold in terms of energy supply and demand. Some highlights of this book are:
* Discusses the wind energy impacts on the environment, local economy, electric utilities, individuals and communities
* Provides a visual explanation of wind energy principles through tables, graphs, maps, illustrations and photographs
* Offers a comprehensive overview of the issues associated with the creation and use of wind energy
* Models chapters around an existing university curriculum
Spanning the broad range of environmental, financial, policy and other topics that define and determine the relationships between wind energy technology and our energy-dependent society, Wind Energy Essentials is a resource for students, universities, and the entire wind energy industry.

List of contents

Preface xiii
 
Foreword xv
 
About the Authors xvii
 
Dedication and Acknowledgments xix
 
1 Impacts of Energy and Electricity on Society 1
 
1.1 What are "Social and Environmental Impacts"? 1
 
1.2 Early Wind Power Innovation and Discovery 2
 
1.3 Impact of Electricity on Society 20
 
1.4 History of Wind Energy for Electricity Production 28
 
1.5 Renewables and Electrification in Third World Countries 32
 
1.6 The Nexus of Wind, Water, and Electricity 32
 
References 32
 
2 The Basics of Electricity 34
 
2.1 Units of Electrical Measurement 34
 
2.2 Descriptions of Common Electrical Equipment 36
 
2.3 Types of Companies or Business Units within the Electric Industry 39
 
2.4 Frequently Asked Questions 40
 
Reference 47
 
3 Overview of Wind Energy and Other Sources of Electricity 48
 
3.1 Defining Renewable Energy 48
 
3.2 Sources and Uses of Energy 51
 
3.3 Growth of Renewable Energy in the United States 53
 
3.4 Use of Renewable Energy for Electricity Production in the United States 53
 
3.5 Growth of Wind Power Capacity in the United States 58
 
3.6 Subsidies or Incentives for Wind Energy 59
 
3.7 Potential for Increased Use of Wind Energy in the United States 60
 
3.8 Wind Resources in the United States 62
 
3.9 Overview of Other Sources of Electric Generation in the United States 67
 
References 70
 
4 Conversion of Power in the Wind to Electricity 71
 
4.1 Wind Power Plants and Wind Turbines 71
 
4.2 Atmospheric Science 85
 
4.3 Wind Statistics 94
 
5 The Wind Energy Development Process 100
 
5.1 Requirements for an Economically Viable Wind Energy Project 100
 
5.2 Other Factors that Contribute to the Success of a Wind Energy Project 103
 
5.3 Potential "Fatal Flaws" 104
 
5.4 Coordination of the Wind Energy Project Development Process 105
 
5.5 Timeline for Developing a Wind Energy Project 106
 
5.6 Major Steps in the Early Stage Wind Project Development Process 107
 
5.7 Major Steps in Latter Stage Wind Energy Project Development 111
 
5.8 Final Steps in Developing a Wind Energy Project 113
 
5.9 Conclusions 114
 
References 114
 
6 Overview of Issues Faced by Wind Energy 115
 
6.1 The Need to Understand and Respond 115
 
6.2 Community Relationships and Public Outreach 117
 
6.3 General Categorization of Issues 119
 
Reference 121
 
7 Wind and Wildlife: Siting Issues and Challenges 122
 
7.1 Overview of Wildlife-Related Issues Faced by the Wind Industry 122
 
7.2 State and Federal Regulations Relevant to Wind Development's Impact on Wildlife 123
 
7.3 USFWS Guidelines for Wind Development 124
 
7.4 Best Management Practices for Wind Energy Development Included as Chapter 7 of the USFWS Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines 125
 
7.5 Bird Deaths Due to Collisions with Wind Turbine Blades 128
 
7.6 Wind Generation Wildlife Issues Not Limited to Avian Collisions 131
 
7.7 Avian Species of Concern 133
 
7.8 Bat Deaths due to Wind Energy Development 136
 
7.9 Organizations Studying Ways to Minimize Effects of Wind Development on Birds and Other Wildlife 140
 
7.10 Conclusions 141
 
References 141
 
8 Environmental and Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy on Humans: Public Health Issues 145
 
8.1 Overview of Environmental and Ecological Impacts on Humans 145
 
8.2 Wind Turbine Noise: Key Terms 146
 
8.3 Estimates of Noise from Wind Turbines 1

About the author

Richard Walker has many years of experience in both the electric power and the wind energy industries, in addition to teaching wind energy at Texas Tech University.  During his career, he has been involved in electric transmission engineering, solar energy, research and development, state and federal governmental affairs, and the development of over 1,600 MW of wind farms currently in operation (including the first utility-scale wind farm in Texas and the 782 MW Roscoe wind farm, which for several years was the world's largest wind energy project).

Andrew Swift is presently Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Associate Director of the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University, where his focus is on wind energy education and workforce development. His previous academic appointments include Director of the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech and Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Summary

Examines the possible societal impacts of wind energy projects and explains the potential issues faced when siting, constructing, and operating a wind energy project.

Product details

• Authors: Inorganic Synth, A Swift, Andrew Swift, Andrew Inorganic Synth Swift, Andrew Inorganic Syntheses Inc. Swift, Richard Walker, Richard P Walker, Richard P. Walker, Richard P. Swift Walker, Walker Richard P.
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.05.2015
• EAN: 9781118877890
• ISBN: 978-1-118-87789-0
• No. of pages: 512
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Electronics, electrical engineering, communications engineering; Energietechnik, Windenergie, Energie, Leistungselektronik, ENERGY, Wind Energy, Power electronics, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Elektrotechnik u. Elektronik, Power Technology & Power Engineering