Energy efficiency: The UK potential for wind power

Résumé du document

In the present economical and ecological context, finding new, cheaper and less polluting power sources is a major issue.

No miracle solution can replace fossil energies and nuclear power. However, some sources of energy could be interesting alternatives. Among these, wind power appears to be one of the most promising and is actually booming. Moreover, researchers find every day important innovations to improve this technology.
Nevertheless, some requirements are essential to install wind turbines. This fact limits the possibilities of setting up.

The United Kingdom has a certain advantage over other European countries. Indeed, it has the highest annual mean wind speed and a pretty large offshore wind resource.

But the National Grid is an important brake of this expansion because it is not fit to receive this added power. In order to do so, projects have to be delayed until it has been updated.

If the UK wants to reach its objectives in terms of parts of wind power in energy consumption, the country should invest a lot of money and make important changes.

Extraits

[...] - The size and the number of wind turbines are adaptable to the demand. Disadvantages - Initial investment is often higher than fossil fuel systems. Furthermore, costs to build new substations and new transmissions lines could raise it. - The wind is naturally variable. It is therefore impossible to produce the same quantity of electricity round the clock. If the wind does not blow during a peak of consumption, current can't be supplied. - Building wind turbines, carrying them to the site and installing them pollutes. [...]

[...] It is reported to be more efficient, less noisy and need less servicing than usual wind turbines. Wind turbine blades with bumps. WhalePower, based in Toronto, Ontario, was testing in March 2008 an unusual wind-turbine blade. The bumps, or "tubercles," on the blade's leading edge reduce noise, increase the stability and the durability of the wind turbine and enable it to capture more energy from the wind. The tubercles effectively channel the air flow across the blades and create swirling vortices that enhance lift. [...]

[...] As a consequence, the forces exerted on them are different depending on their position at a precise moment. Wind speed: The wind speed is another essential requirement to install a wind turbine. The meteorology gives it for a height of 10m. However, the boss of the wind turbine is higher than 10m (between 40 and 80m for wind turbines between 600 and 1500 kW). Consequently it is necessary to take it into account to determine the wind speed at a blade level. [...]

[...] Holding back by cables, these giant kites measure more than one hundred metres long. FloDesign revolutionary new wind turbine This design of turbine offers the possibility of getting much more energy from the wind. The FloDesign Wind Turbine uses advanced aerospace technology to increase efficiency. This wind power machine is called the Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine (MEWT). The rotor is smaller than that of usual wind turbines and it is shrouded. That makes it cheaper and less intrusive. It has low inertia, spins faster and is more efficient at all wind speeds. [...]

[...] Some innovations which could increase the UK potential - M. A. R. S. : a transportable balloon MARS is a Wind Power Anywhere™ solution proposed by the American company Magenn Power Inc. which can be deployed anywhere in the world. The MARS wind turbine is lifted by helium, and floats at an altitude of 1000 feet (about 305m). It can easily capture any kind of winds, whether the wind is as slow as 4mph or as fast as 60mph (Magnus effect). [...]