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How Wind Energy in Los Angeles Helps the Environment
Author: Matthew Paolini
Back in 2004, wind energy in the whole state of California produced more than 4,200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, approximately 1.5 percent of all electricity generated. More than 90 percent of all of the state's wind generating apparatus is located in three regions: Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio and Tehachapi.
Wind power plants are comprised of turbines that take advantage of the energy in wind motion to make mechanical energy, which is then converted into electrical energy. Wind turbines can be placed near farms, homes and businesses in breezy locations, such as along the Los Angeles coast. Turbines are deployable in areas where it isn't cost-efficient to place power lines.
The parts of a wind farm include turbines, which feed through an underground power conduit and a connection from the farm to the closest power grid. Wind power is more accessible in certain seasons because the climate affects wind speed. In Los Angeles, speeds are highest in the scorching summer period. An estimated three-quarters of all yearly wind energy is generated during the spring and summer.
Though power created by older wind turbines is not as cost effective as some other forms of energy generation, new generation wind turbine designs should be able to compete with power costs from nuclear and coal plants.
Some advantages in utilizing wind energy include: replacement of polluting conventional power plants; no pollution in the air, soil or water; it is completely renewable; the installment is relatively swift; and energy production not swayed by gas and oil price increases.
However, there are some issues with wind power, such as: the required use of extensive tracts of land, albeit the fact that simultaneous land uses are available for such tasks as agriculture and cattle grazing. Other potential concerns are that it can cause erosion in desert areas, and disrupt wildlife habitats.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/how-wind-energy-in-los-angeles-helps-the-environment-262056.html
About the Author
Matt Paolini is an energy writer} for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory on Los Angeles environmental services.
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What are similarities in the way wind energy and a nuclear power plant produce energy?
Can anyone suggest a wind energy power plant that has caused controversies and that I can find lots of info?
I need to write an essay in economics about it
Can you tell me about wind energy plants in India?
I need name of the plants, MW produced and their location in India.
How is energy transformed from wind to electical energy in a plant?
Im doing a science project!! HELP
How much Wind Turbines Does it take to Make the Energy in a Power Plant?
How much Wind Turbines Does it take to Make the Energy in a Power Plant?
Yes. There is a proposed project for a huge wind farm off of Martha’s Vineyard. Many of the towers will be visible from shore. Even people that generally favor wind farms are opposing this one, probably because it is in their own playground.
Just google Martha’s VIneyard wind farm proposal, or Cap Cod wind farm, and Nantcket wind farm. THeir may be too much info to weed through. THe Army Corp of ENgineers also has a feasability study one it. Use the hyperlinks to get around and pick what you want- there is great detail on it and many good summaries, both pro and con.
They both spin a generator.
Neither emits CO2.
try this link:
http://www.eai.in/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=308
The turbine rotates by the wind we get mechanical energy.This is converted into electrical energy by the generator coupled into turbine.
Since wind speed varies, it requires some kind of governing or speed control to get constant frequency electrical out put. Normally mechanical gears do the job.
Your question is confusing!
Do you mean: how many wind turbines does it take to produce the same power output as a power station?
The answer depends on a lot of things. Modern power stations vary in size. A ‘typical’ one is somewhere between 1000MW and 1600MW. (but you can get bigger ones – Drax is over 4000MW)
Wind turbines tend to be between 1.5MW and 3.6MW each, but 5MW models are being released this year and 7.5MW and 10MW ones are being researched.
So at maximum output, a 1600MW coal power station would require about 640 2.5MW turbines to match it. Or 320 of the new 5MW turbines.
The total amount of energy produced is different though; wind turbines on average only produce ~30% of their total possible output (ie their ‘capacity factor’ is about 30%). Nuclear power stations, because of their low marginal cost, tend to have a ‘capacity factor’ of 90% or so. Other power stations like coal and gas may be anywhere from 40-90%, but the US average is 55%:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/plugs/plepa00a.html
So a 1600MW coal power station will average 880MW output. You’d need almost 1200 2.5MW turbines to get the same average power output; or 600 new 5MW models.