Ch En 310

Reading Questions for Class 16

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/wind/wind.pdf

 

Additional Info (optional):

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/wind/wind.html

 

Topic: Renewables (especially wind)

 

The reading assignment is to read the entire first article and the pertinent information on where wind energy is and where it is going that is contained in the second link.  These seem to be up-to-date, unbiased articles, which are quite hard to find!  You could also check a book out of the library on Renewable Energy, which might be a substitute.

 

A. Renewable Energy

1.     Please summarize the major renewable energy sources in the U.S., and whether each source is an increasing fraction of the nation’s energy supply or a decreasing fraction.  Categorize these renewable energy sources as continuous vs. non-continuous capacity factors.

2.     Of the non-continuous renewable energy sources, which ones coincide with the peak daily summer demand in electricity (i.e., the time of day at which peak demand occurs in the summer)?  Discuss implications this has on power sources.

3.     Please list at least 5 ways that the drought in the Western U.S. has affected energy resources.

B. Wind

4.     Off-shore wind farms have been placed in the North Sea.  Please discuss pluses and minuses of off-shore wind farms.

5.     Discuss the locations in the U.S. where there is high potential for wind farms compared to major population centers.

6.     Comment on the role that government subsidies have played in establishing wind power in the United States.

7.     Comment on the capital costs and transmission line cost considerations with wind power.  Compare the installation costs per kW to those of conventional power sources.  Also comment on the net cost of electricity from wind power compared to conventional power sources.

8.     Summarize the constraints on increasing wind-generated electricity (environmental, costs, non-continuous nature of wind, etc.).

9.     What is the future of wind power in the U.S.?

 

Write a question that will help the next class better study an important point in this chapter, or that will serve as a good discussion topic.