Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Comprehensive documentation of the early commercial development of wind turbines
worldwide in the late 980s is given by Jaras [987]. In addition to extensive statistics on
the world market for wind turbines (
e.g.
, by region, rotor diameter, and type of application),
descriptions are included of 60 manufacturers of small- and medium-scale machines, with
sketches, specifications, and estimated numbers of the wind turbine models produced.
Most of the first wind power stations used relatively small wind turbines because that
was the only size available in large quantities. Research on the small-scale systems produced
at that time by industry (with ratings from to 40 kW) was begun in 976. A series of pro-
totype turbines, 5 to 25 m in diameter, was developed under the U.S. Federal Wind Energy
Program from 977 to 98, and several were used in the first wind power stations. These
systems included the
Enertech 44/40
and several derivatives of the experimental flex-hub
rotor system developed at the
United Technologies Research Center.
Commercial Wind Power Applications
Commercial generation of energy by wind turbines nearly died out during the era of
abundant low-cost fossil fuels, but the resurgence of wind power in the 2st century is ex-
pected to continue at an accelerating rate. Wind-generated power is predicted to soon surpass
hydropower as the largest renewable energy source. Markets for wind energy continue to
evolve as new and improved equipment is developed and various deployment incentives are
implemented by governments.
Wind energy applications can be divided into four major categories, as follows:
-
wind power stations - for the business of generating bulk electric power for delivery
via utility grid systems
-
distributed wind systems - individual turbines or small clusters connected to utility
grid systems
-
isolated grid systems - multiple generators supplying power to isolated communi-
ties or villages
-
remote off-grid systems - turbines interconnected with energy storage and hybrid
power generation possibly including solar, fuel cells, or engine-driven generators
Each market segment has its own characteristics, driving forces, issues, and incentives.
Wind Power Stations on Utility Grids
Commercial wind power plants in the United States are typically built with clusters
of turbines connected by a common transmission line to a utility grid. These installations
are called
wind power stations
or
wind power plants
and have also been referred to as
wind
parks
, and
wind farms,
primarily in European terminology. From 982 to 992, about 6,000
commercial wind turbines were built, mostly in California wind power stations with a total
installed capacity of ,584 MW. Since then the market has grown dramatically, to the point
where in 2007 some individual wind power stations are that large. About 5,330 MW of wind
power was added in the United States and more than 20,000 MW was added worldwide dur-
ing 2007 alone [EIA 2008]. Wind power contributed 35 percent of all new generating capac-
ity added in the United States during 2007, increasing from 9 percent added in 2006 and 2
percent added in 2005 [Wiser 2008].
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