Instead of a windmill turning in the wind imagine a field of “stalks” that sway back and forth generating electricity. That’s the concept proposed for a new wind farm near Abu Dhabi.
A total of $168 billion is expected to be invested on offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Oil is being depleted there and energy companies are changing their focus to wind.
“Non-hydroelectric renewable generation has increased in many states over the past decade. In 2011, Maine had the highest percentage of non-hydroelectric renewable generation, at 27% of total in-state generation, up from 20% in 2001 (see maps). South Dakota and Iowa followed, with 21% and 17%, respectively, in 2011, up from 1% and less than one percent in 2001. Wind is the largest driver of this increase across all states.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.
“Surface wind data comes from the National Digital Forecast Database. These are near-term forecasts, revised once per hour. So what you’re seeing is a living portrait.” Quoted from the Wind Map Project.
“Generation from wind turbines in the United States increased 27% in 2011 compared to 2010, continuing a trend of rapid growth. During the past five years capacity additions of wind turbines were the main driver of the growth in wind power output. As the amount of wind generation increases, electric power system operators have faced challenges with integrating increasing amounts of this intermittent generation source into their systems.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.
The Energy Information Administration forecasts that United States non-hydro renewable power generation growth over the next 25 years will be led by gains in wind and biomass.
An article on the Bloomberg.com website explores how the United States is starting to approach energy self-sufficiency with rising oil output, developing shale gas fields and growth in renewable sources.
“Today, for the most part, higher education for students interested in energy lacks the cross-disciplinary curriculum that they critically need, and so we propose the adoption of energy departments on college campuses, departments that would tie seemingly disconnected fields of the sector together.” Quoted from the article.
“U.S. communities routinely use zoning laws to control where businesses may operate in a neighborhood. Now there’s a move to zone the ocean. A number of coastal states and the federal government have fledgling plans to coordinate competing uses for their off-shore waters.” Quoted from Voice of America.
The ExxonMobile 2012 Outlook for Energy has a chart that compares current demand for energy sources with the forecast demand in 2040. Demand for all sources of energy increases. Although wind and solar demand grows rapidly, in 2040 their total use is still dwarfed by the demand for oil, gas and coal.
The National Weather Service expects strong Santa Ana winds to produce gusts of 80 miles per hour or higher in southern California on Thursday and Friday.
The Energy Information Administration has an article that explores the sources of primary energy in the United States. Primary energy includes petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear fuel, and renewable energy.
FoxNews.com has an article about a project that is evaluating the potential of landfill, brownfield and Superfund sites for use in renewable energy projects such as solar or wind farms.
The EIA Annual Energy Review contains maps showing the geographic distribution of renewable energy potential that includes: geothermal, onshore wind, offshore wind, concentrating solar, photovoltaic solar and biomass.
Data from the Energy Information Administration show that net imports of energy into the United States has fallen sharply in the past year. Some of this decline can be attributed to new sources of unconventional oil and gas along with renewable energy projects coming online.
High concentrations of wind turbines in the United States occur where the conditions for wind power generation are optimal. However, wind turbines are also being sited close to power markets and where local programs support renewable energy.
“The generation of electricity in the United States from wind-powered turbines is increasing. An understanding of the sources and abundance of raw materials required by the wind turbine industry and the many uses for these materials is necessary to assess the effect of this industry’s growth on future demand for selected raw materials relative to the historical demand for these materials.” Quoted from the USGS publication abstract.
Surface disturbance from oil and gas wells in one square mile, Weld County, Colorado.
Colorado and New Mexico are endowed with multiple energy resources: oil and gas, shale gas, coal bed methane, uranium, geothermal, wind, and solar, and thus represent a microcosm of issues that affect the Western United States. Increased demand for energy—renewable and nonrenewable—drives the intensified development of all forms of energy in the region.
Resource managers and other decisionmakers are expected to balance the benefits of the rapid development of energy resources in light of their potential effects on these other resources.
The Wall Street Journal has a very interesting article titled: “Inconvenient Truths About ‘Renewable’ Energy”. The article takes a detailed look at the renewable sources of energy and how realistically they can be scaled and sustained.
Storing energy from wind and solar sources when conditions are favorable is essential if they are to become reliable power sources. An electromechanical battery designed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has the potential to provide maximum bulk storage of energy with minimal energy loss.
“The production of wind energy in the U.S. over the next 30-50 years will be largely unaffected by upward changes in global temperature, say a pair of Indiana University Bloomington scientists who analyzed output from several regional climate models to assess future wind patterns in America’s lower 48 states.” Quoted from the Indiana University news release.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories has a very interesting chart that maps energy sources such as natural gas, solar and coal with energy uses such as electricity generation, residential, transportation, etc. Check it out.
“Wind energy in Canada has increased almost tenfold in the last six years [...] and Canada is still only scratching the surface of its enormous wind energy potential and the economic benefits that will result.” Quoted from the Vancouver Sun article.
Here is an article that points to the fact that wind energy is not generated at a continuously sustained level but demand for electric power can be steady with instantaneous peaks. Wind energy will aways require a robust backup.
Hawaii is 90% dependent upon imported oil for its energy, however, the promise of abundant wind power is being met with strong opposition. This article explores some of the opportunities and challenges encountered as wind power is being proposed for less visited parts of the islands.
An interesting article on the National Center for Policy Analysis website titled: “Will Green Energy Make the United States Less Secure?” explores how some of the materials needed in renewable energy development may not have a reliable supply line.
Mansfield University will host a conference on the Marcellus Shale and Wind Farms featuring a diverse group of speakers including: David Hess, former Secretary of DEP and currently the Director of Policy at Crisci Associates; Jim Weaver, Tioga County planner; Jason Weigle, Marcellus Shale Community Education Team; Katy Dunlap, Trout Unlimited; Stacy Wolbert, Pennsylvania Game Commission; along with consultants, industry leaders, and local citizens. When: Saturday February 26th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Where: 307 Alumni Hall. For information contact Dr. Jennifer Demchak at jdemchak@mansfield.edu or 570-662-4613.
“Over the past decade the use of renewable energy is becoming more important to people, industry and governments. Why? Renewable energy resources are not depleted, they are becoming less expensive, and they have a softer environmental impact.”
In a TED: Ideas Worth Spreading talk, Mark Jacobson and Stewart Brand debate the question: “Does the world need nuclear energy?” They both attack the question by considering the alternatives.
Growing energy demand in Jamaica has the island nation rushing to find short term solutions. Coal, oil and LNG can fill demand quickly but renewable sources are more attractive from an environmental perspective. This article explores positive and negative sides of different energy strategies.
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