5.3.8 On-Site Wind Turbine
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity. Windmills have
been used for many years to harness wind energy for mechanical work such as
pumping water. Wind turbines, which are in effect windmills dedicated to producing
electricity, were considered the most economically viable choice within the renewable energy portfolio. Today, they retain their reputation as an environmentally
sound and convenient alternative technology. Wind turbines produce electricity
without requiring additional investment in infrastructure, such as new transmission
lines, and are thus commonly employed for remote power applications. They are
currently available from many manufacturers and improvements in installation costs
and efficiency continue.
Wind turbines are packaged systems that include a rotor, generator, turbine
blades, and drive or coupling device. As wind blows through the blades, the air
exerts aerodynamic forces that cause the blades to turn the rotor. As the rotor turns,
its speed is altered to match the operating speed of the generator. Most systems have
a gearbox and generator in a single unit behind the turbine blades. Similar to PV
systems, generator output is processed by an inverter to change the electricity from
DC to AC before use.
References
Fujino J, Ehara T, Matsuoka Y, Masui T, Kainuma M (2008) Bask-casting analysis for 70%
emission reduction in Japan by 2050. Clim Pol 8:108–124
Huang J, Jiang C, Xu R (2007) A review on distributed energy resources and MicroGrid. Renew
Sustain Energy Rev 12(9):2472–2483
Kari A, Arto S (2006) Distributed energy generation and sustainable development. Renew Sustain
Energy Rev 10(6):539–558
Kevin LA, Sarah LM, Alice B, Simon S, Paolo A, Paul E (2008) The Tyndall decarbonisation
scenarios—part II: scenarios for a 60% CO2 reduction in the UK. Energy Policy 36
(10):3764–3773
National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) (2008) Japan scenarios and actions towards
low-carbon societies (LCSs)
Sarah LM, Alice B, Kevin LA, Simon S, Paolo A, Paul E (2008) The Tyndall decarbonisation
scenarios—part I: development of a backcasting methodology with stakeholder participation.
Energy Policy 36(10):3754–3763
Soderman J, Pettersson F (2006) Structural and operational optimization of distributed energy
systems. Appl Therm Eng 26:1400–1408
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Combined Heat and Power Partnership (2002) Catalogue of
CHP Technologies
118
H. Ren et al.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity. Windmills have
been used for many years to harness wind energy for mechanical work such as
pumping water. Wind turbines, which are in effect windmills dedicated to producing
electricity, were considered the most economically viable choice within the renewable energy portfolio. Today, they retain their reputation as an environmentally
sound and convenient alternative technology. Wind turbines produce electricity
without requiring additional investment in infrastructure, such as new transmission
lines, and are thus commonly employed for remote power applications. They are
currently available from many manufacturers and improvements in installation costs
and efficiency continue.
Wind turbines are packaged systems that include a rotor, generator, turbine
blades, and drive or coupling device. As wind blows through the blades, the air
exerts aerodynamic forces that cause the blades to turn the rotor. As the rotor turns,
its speed is altered to match the operating speed of the generator. Most systems have
a gearbox and generator in a single unit behind the turbine blades. Similar to PV
systems, generator output is processed by an inverter to change the electricity from
DC to AC before use.
References
Fujino J, Ehara T, Matsuoka Y, Masui T, Kainuma M (2008) Bask-casting analysis for 70%
emission reduction in Japan by 2050. Clim Pol 8:108–124
Huang J, Jiang C, Xu R (2007) A review on distributed energy resources and MicroGrid. Renew
Sustain Energy Rev 12(9):2472–2483
Kari A, Arto S (2006) Distributed energy generation and sustainable development. Renew Sustain
Energy Rev 10(6):539–558
Kevin LA, Sarah LM, Alice B, Simon S, Paolo A, Paul E (2008) The Tyndall decarbonisation
scenarios—part II: scenarios for a 60% CO2 reduction in the UK. Energy Policy 36
(10):3764–3773
National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) (2008) Japan scenarios and actions towards
low-carbon societies (LCSs)
Sarah LM, Alice B, Kevin LA, Simon S, Paolo A, Paul E (2008) The Tyndall decarbonisation
scenarios—part I: development of a backcasting methodology with stakeholder participation.
Energy Policy 36(10):3754–3763
Soderman J, Pettersson F (2006) Structural and operational optimization of distributed energy
systems. Appl Therm Eng 26:1400–1408
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Combined Heat and Power Partnership (2002) Catalogue of
CHP Technologies
118
H. Ren et al.