Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 8.3
Concept map of the proposed European DC supergrid. (Reproduced with permission of
Airtricity)
difference and therefore the time shifts in peak demand among the linked counties. It should
be noted that present HVDC systems are usually point to point therefore considerable tech-
nology development would be required to deliver a multiterminal HVDC network of the sort
proposed.
8.2.3 Building Integrated Wind Turbines
There has been considerable interest of late, particularly in Northern Europe, in the possibility
of fi tting small wind turbines on the roof tops of individual houses. Enthusiasts for this
approach claim that small wind turbines sited within the urban environment have the potential
to make a signifi cant contribution to the reduction of CO 2 levels. A typical wind turbine of
this type is illustrated in Figure 8.4.
The diffi culties facing the designers and manufacturers of such machines are substantial.
The dis-economies of downsizing are such that the installation cost per kW of a small wind
turbine is considerably more than for a MW size machine. Moreover, the annual average
wind speed in a typical urban environment is perhaps one half of that usually experienced in
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