Mohamed Fared Zuhri Yafi

The construction costs of wind turbines

Outline

Pre-initiationWind energy industry overview• Size and scope of the current global wind energy

market• The Canadian Wind Energy Market

Wind energy and Power• Calculation of wind energy• Benefits of wind energy

Wind farm• Explanations of Wind farm• Types of Wind Farms

Outline

Environmental Impact of Wind EnergySafety Concern• Safety Risk• Wind Turbine Maintenance

FACTS about Wind TurbinesProject Information and analysisConclusionReferences

Pre-initiation

A developer wants to invest in a wind farm project in Ile Rouge – Quebec.

His idea is to generate clean energy and sell it to Hydro Quebec.

By hiring specialized subcontractors with professional background and skills to carry out the project.

The wind energy capacity increased from7,600 MW in 1997 to 120,798 MW in

2008 29% annual growth per year.

Wind energy industry overview:

The Canadian Wind Energy Market:

Canada currently ranks as the world’s 10th largest nation in terms of new installed wind energy capacity and is nearing the 3 GW mark with 2,854 MW total installed capacity as of September 2009.

 Cumulative installed wind capacity in Canada by year

Wind energy and Power

a. Kinetic Energy of Wind:

Where:m mass of airflow. ( weight )

v speed ( length/ time)E power Unit of energy Kg.m2/s2.

b. Estimating energy output of turbines:

ρ is the density of air.

Wind energy and Power

The given fig. shows the relation between wind speed and power generated in watts.

Benefits of wind Farms

Cleaner air, does not produce any harmful waterborne emissions, or toxic solid wastes.

offsets the emissions of other energy sources, thus reducing our contribution to global climate change.

compatible with other land uses and can serve as a boost for rural economic development.

one of the most economical sources of new large-scale electricity generation.

good for employment and job creation: it is estimated that the Canadian wind industry employed 3,785 people in 2006.

Explanations of Wind farm

“Wind farms” bring together groups of wind turbines to produce enough electricity to power thousands of homes.

wind farm

Small wind

Either a small turbine powering a house or a medium-sized turbine

powering a farm, business or a small community

large wind

Provides electricity to the electric grid (rather than just

a home or business)

Types of Wind Farms

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

VAWT subtypes

HAWT advantages

The tall tower base allows access to stronger wind in sites with wind shear.

Since the blades always move perpendicularly to the wind, receiving power through the whole rotation ensure the high efficiency of the wind turbine.

HAWT disadvantages

Massive tower construction is

required for lifting and support the heavy

blades, gearbox, and generator.

Suffer from fatigue and structural failure caused by turbulence when a blade passes through the tower's

wind shadow.

Their height disrupt the appearance of the

landscape and sometimes creating

local opposition.

Requiring a braking or yawning device in high

winds to stop the turbine from spinning

and destroying or damaging itself.

VAWT advantages

Can be located nearer

the ground, making it easier to

maintain the moving parts.

Have lower wind startup speeds than the typical

HAWTs

No yaw mechanisms are needed.

Locations can be closed on

rooftops, mesas, hilltops,

ridgelines, and the wind

funnel passes.

VAWT disadvantages

Decreased efficiency compared to common HAWT

Having rotors located close to the ground where wind speeds are lower due and do not take advantage of higher wind speeds above.

Often be made the subject of wild claims and investment scams over the last 50 years.

Environmental Impact of Wind Energy

NoiseHealth Impacts of Noise ExposureShadow flickerThe Land ImpactVisual Impact

Safety Risk

Offset Siting DistanceOver Speed Runway Wind TurbineFire Risks for Wind TurbineLightning Strike an Power SurgesBird and Bat DeathsSafety Concerns During

Manufacture & ConstructionIce Throw and Ice SheldStructural Hazard

Wind Turbine Maintenance

Wind Turbine Maintenance Strategy

Neglecting Maintenance Consequences

Keep Maintenance in Check

FACTS about Wind Turbines

♣Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy which produces no greenhouse gas emissions or waste products.

♣There is no significant infrasound from current designs of wind turbines.

♣The cost of generating electricity from wind has fallen dramatically over the past few years.

♣ World wind energy capacity doubled every three years and with every doubling prices fell by 15%.

Project Information and analysis

Applying RETScreen software two times; first for 45 MW Wind farm and secondly for 30 MW project built at the same location.

Operating 5 possible scenarios for 30 MW Wind farm.

For each scenario, running RETScreen-4 software three times (but 5 times for scenario 3) to study the effect of different factors.

For all scenarios, the following parameters are constant:

The location =Ile Rouge, QuebecThe wind farm capacity = 30 MWH Wind speed (Annul)=6.7m/sAir temperature (Annual)=2.8 Atmospheric pressure =97.7 Selling price / MWH=100

Scenario 1: 0.6 MWH Wind turbine, 50 nos., same manufacturer (Siemens)

Scenario 2: 1 MWH, 30 nos., same manufacturer (Siemens)

Scenario 3: 1.5 MWH, 20 nos., different manufacturers

Scenario 4: 1.0 MWH, 30 nos., different manufacturers

Scenario 5: Different wind turbine ratings and manufacturer

Explanation of Scenarios

The total estimated cost $48,365,423 did not change by different scenarios because the software assumes a fixed unit price of $1,500 per KW for the 30 MW wind farm.

For scenarios 1&2: changing the wind turbine rating from 0.6 to 1 MW with the same rotor diameter (44 and 54 m respectively) for the same manufacturer resulting changing the height of the turbine.

Explanation of Scenarios

The higher the mast will:Decrease:◦The electricity production cost.◦The equivalent CO2 emission.◦The payback period.Increase:◦Electricity exported to the grid.◦The NPV (Net Present Value). ◦The B/C ratio (Benefit/Cost Ratio).

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 UnitsHorizontal Axis is height of hub

40m high 45m high 55m high42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

45.5

46

46.5

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 Units

Cost $/MWH

40m high 45m high 55m high3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 Units

Payback

40m high 45m high 55m high0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500 Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50

Units

tCO2/year

40m high 45m high 55m high76,00077,00078,00079,00080,00081,00082,00083,00084,00085,00086,000

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 Units

Grid - ...

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 UnitsHorizontal Axis is height of hub

40m high 45m high 55m high56,000,000

58,000,000

60,000,000

62,000,000

64,000,000

66,000,000

68,000,000

Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 Units

NPV

40m high 45m high 55m high3.9

4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5 Siemens - 0.6 MW x 50 Units

B/C

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units Horizontal Axis is height of hub

45m high 60m high 70m high38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

Cost $/MWH

45m high 60m high 70m high2.9

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

Payback

45m high 60m high 70m high57,000,00059,000,00061,000,00063,000,00065,000,00067,000,00069,000,00071,000,00073,000,00075,000,000

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

NPV

45m high 60m high 70m high78,000

80,000

82,000

84,000

86,000

88,000

90,000

92,000

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

Grid - MWH

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units Horizontal Axis is height of hub

45m high 60m high 70m high2,200

2,250

2,300

2,350

2,400

2,450

2,500

2,550

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

tCO2/year

45m high 60m high 70m high4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

Siemens - 1.0 MW x 30 Units

B/C

Explanation of Scenario 3

1- Different manufactures can produce the same rating of power at different turbine heights and rotor diameter.

2- If the height is reduced, the diameter of the rotor increases to produce the same power.

3- The above mentioned 3 Decrease and 3 Increase relations with the turbine heights are still valid.

4- For the same manufacturer (Ming Yang): when the height was increased from 77.4 m to 82.7 m, the electricity production cost has been reduced and consequently improving the economical analysis of the higher turbine (82.4 m).

Explanation of Scenario 4

For the same unit rating and the same number of units but different manufacturer another remarkable factor has been noticed that is the technology used by different manufacturers trying to reduce the cost of the electricity produced and its impact on the financial analysis like reducing the bay back period. In such case, the financial analysis will play an important role in our choice.

Explanation of Scenario 5

The case of different wind turbine ratings, different numbers and different manufacturers; the best choice is Erecon 3 MW x 10 nos. Our choice was based on financial analysis; lowest payback period (2.0 years), highest NPV (116,729,036), highest R/C ratio (7.03), highest CO2 reduction (3,412 tCO2), highest electricity production to the grid (121,849 MWH), and lowest electricity production cost ($29.54 per MWH). We only need to consider if there are restrictions on the height (135 m).

Conclusion

☼The wind is a clean and plentiful source of energy.

☼Wind turbines used to generate electricity come in a wide variety of sizes.

☼Large wind turbines can generate large amounts of electricity.

☼Small wind turbines designed to be installed at homes, farms and small businesses.

☼Very small wind turbines are used to charge batteries for sailboats and other recreational uses.

References

Daniel J. Alberts, Primer for Addressing Wind Turbine Noise , Revised Oct. 2006

Karen Rideout, Ray Copes, Constance Bos ; Wind Turbines and Health, January 2010.

Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Report May 2010; The Potential Health Impact of Wind Turbines.

Citizen’s Advisory Committee ; Wind Energy Task Force,April 2, 2010.

NSW Goverment (Enviromental, Climate Change $ Water); The wind energy fact sheet.

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin: Effects of Wind Turbines on Birds and Bats in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Thank You