Hao Tran
htran170@ivc.edu
Physical Geology
Notes: Geol 1
● Wind Power
○ Winds generate about 5x more power than total global energy consumption
○ North Dakota could provide 1/3 of US electrical needs
○ 2008: Wind generates 1.5% of global electrical supply
■ 20% Denmark, around 15% Spain & Portugal,
■ 10% Germany & Ireland
○ Wind Advantages
■ 1. Cost down 80% in last 20 years (disputed)
■ 2. Energy Payback only about 1 yr
○ Wind Disadvantages
■ 1. Not consistent in many areas (wind is not always blowing)
● Areas defined by classes 1-7
● < Class 3 = wind energy not viable, class 3 or above = ok to use)
■ 2. Best sites often farm from population centers
■ 3. “Not in my backyard” Syndrome
● Home turbine: 30 ft tall, blades 7-25 ft long
● Industrial Turbine: 20 stories tall, blades about 100 ft long
○ Case Study: Cape Cod, MA
■ People objecting to a windfarm that would be built 5.5 miles offshore
■ “Ruining our View” (very rich area)
○ WARP Turbines
■ Wind Amplified Rotor Platform
● As efficient but more aesthetically pleasing
■ Is it Safe?
● Concerns about birds being killed
● Government has reduced fines for wind farm bird deaths for the
next 30 years (wind turbines kill 1 bird/yr on avg)
■ What about the Safety of other Animals?
● Bats, insects, ppl only care about the cute animals
● PT 4: Biofuels
○ Use of biological materials as fuel
■ Ex. Wood
○ Renewable IF managed properly
○ Algae
■ Grow algae, then convert their lipids into biofuel
■ Algae farms = oil crops
○ Algae Advantages
■ 1. Doesn’t need freshwater
■ 2. Doesn’t need cropland/soil
■ 3. Waste is biodegradable