Wind Energy and the European Union Henryk P

Wind Energy and the European Union Henryk P. Rogowski E-mail: hrogowski@kentlaw. edu

. n n Introduction Use of wind energy in Europe EU energy policy Conclusion

What is wind energy? n n Wind is a product of the sun shining on the earth and the earth’s atmosphere, it is a resource that will not be depleted by tapping it for electricity generation. Wind energy is available for electricity generation in locations where the average wind speeds are great enough to drive the fields of wind turbines. While the ability of wind technology to produce electricity economically at lower wind speeds is improving, areas where average wind speeds exceed 20 km (12 miles) per hour are currently the most economic locations.

How is the wind energy produced? n Wind plants use large blades to catch the wind, turning rotors that produce electricity. Just as fossil-fueled plants use steam or combustion gases to turn electricity-producing rotors, wind plants use many wind turbines, often assembled on a large single wind site called a wind farm, to generate electricity. The modern wind farm may consist of as many as 100 -500 wind turbines connected to the electric transmission grid.

Unpredictability of wind n Because wind follows patterns that can be predicted, and because particular locations have more reliable winds and will produce power more regularly, the value of wind for meeting consumer demand can be significant. Further, the intermittent nature of wind power does not produce significant problems for large electric systems as long as wind is a small proportion of the total system (less than 2 -3 percent of total local system capacity).

How can we use it? § Large-scale wind generation - provides power to the local utility grid just as large-scale coal, hydro or natural gas electrical generation facilities send power to the grid do. A single large-scale wind turbine produces enough energy to power hundreds of homes. Clustered together in a wind farm, turbines can produce enough energy for thousands of distant homes and businesses. § Small-scale wind generation - provides local, on-site power to a home or business. Turbines are placed at the same site where the electricity will be used. Any additional energy that is generated, exceeding the needs of the user, can be sent to the local electrical grid.

Wind technologies 1. Horizontal Axis Turbines (HAWT) 2. Vertical Axis Turbines (VAWT) a) Darrieus Turbines b) Savonius Turbines 3. Windmills

Horizontal Axis Turbines (HAWT) Horizontal axis turbines are the most common turbine configuration used today. They consist of a tall tower atop which sits a fan-like rotor that faces into or away from the wind, the generator, the controller, and other components. Most horizontal axis turbines built today are two- or three-bladed, although some have fewer or more blades.

Turbines can be build onshore or offshore

Vertical Axis Turbines (VAWT) Darrieus Turbines The Darrieus turbine was invented in France in the 1920 s. Often described as looking like an eggbeater, this vertical axis turbine has vertical blades that rotate into and out of the wind. Using aerodynamic lift, these turbines can capture more energy than drag devices. The Giromill and cycloturbine are variants on the Darrieus turbine.

Vertical Axis Turbines (VAWT) Savonius Turbines First invented in Finland, the Savonius turbine is S-shaped if viewed from above. This drag-type VAWT turns relatively slowly, but yields a high torque. It is useful for grinding grain or pumping water, but its slow rotational speeds are not good for generating electricity.

Other Lift-Type Vertical Axis Configurations

Windmills have been used by humans since at least 200 B. C. for grinding grain and pumping water. By the 1900 s, windmills were used on farms and ranches in the United States to pump water and, later, to produce electricity. Windmills have more blades than modern wind turbines, and they rely on drag to rotate the blades.

How does the turbine work? n n The wind blows on the blades and makes them turn. The blades turns a shaft inside the nacelle (the box at the top of the turbine) The shaft goes into a gearbox which increases the rotation speed enough for. . . The generator, which uses magnetic fields to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy. These are similar to those found

Required speed of wind Wind turbines start operating at wind speeds of 4 to 5 meters per second (around 10 miles an hour) and reach maximum power output at around 15 meters/second (around 33 miles per hour). At very high wind speeds, (25 meters/second, 50+ miles/hour) wind turbines shut down. Wind plants produce electricity only when the wind blows, so if the wind is not blowing, the plant is not producing electricity. For this reason, wind is called an intermittent resource.

Connection to the grid The power output goes to a transformer, which converts the electricity coming out of the generator at around 700 Volts (V) to the right voltage for distribution system, typically 33, 000 V. n The national grid transmits the power around the country. n

Advantages of wind energy n n n No external energy dependence No energy imports No fuel costs No fuel price risk No exploration No extraction No refining No pipelines No resource constraints No CO 2 emissions No radioactive waste

Issues associated with wind farm development Use of large tracts of land n Changes in visual quality n Disturbances to wildlife habitats n Avian mortality due to collisions with wind turbines and associated wires n Noise n Grass or brush fires caused by shorts in the electrical cables n

EU energy policy n The In 1997 the European Commission White Paper on Renewable Sources of Energy set the goal of doubling the share of renewable energy in the EU from 6% to 12% by 2010. One of the targets of the Commission’s White Paper was to increase the EU electricity production from renewable energy sources from 337 TWh in 1995 to 675 TWh in 2010. Within this target, the goal for wind power was for 40, 000 MW (40 GW) of installed capacity in 2010. This target was reached in 2005.

Growth of wind power capacity in the European Union

EU energy policy n n The 2001 EU Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources followed the goal described in the White Paper and set an overall Community target to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources from 14% in 1997 to 21% in 2010. In 2004 the Commission Baseline prepared scenario projection for wind and solar - 28 GW in 2005, 73. 2 GW in 2010, 91. 7 GW in 2015, 104. 1 GW in 2020, 125. 2 GW in 2025 and 149. 2 GW in 2030.

EU energy policy n The parallel liberalization of the EU’s electricity market will not create a level playing field overnight but the Directive ensures that short-term distortions do not undermine the possibility of developing those renewable energy technologies that will facilitate a future European energy supply that is cheap, clean and independent of fluctuating oil and gas prices.

Contribution of wind power to new generation capacity in the EU (GW)

European wind resources There is enough wind energy resources to power all of Europe, whose current consumption is 2, 900 TWh. n Offshore and onshore conditions allow building wind farms on the land on the water. n

Wind resources above 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground level

Wind resources above the open sea more 10 kilometers (6 miles) offshore

Production of wind energy in Europe n n n Europe leads the world in developing wind energy as a pollution-free fuel for electricity generation. Over the past decade wind power has proved the most successful of all the new renewable sources. In 1994 there was 1, 683 MW of wind energy installed across the EU. By the end of 2005 the figure had increased 24 times to 40, 504 MW The average annual growth rate in cumulative installation over the past decade (1995 -2005) was 32%.

Production of wind energy in Europe more facts At the end of 2005, an estimated 47, 000 wind turbines were installed in Europe, generating 83 TWh of electricity, equal to about 2. 8% of European electricity demand. n The average size of turbines delivered to the European market in 2004 was about 1. 3 MW onshore and 2. 1 MW offshore. n

EU leaders in wind energy production

EU energy market realties n n n One of the basic concepts in the European Union is the common market which also includes the energy sector. In theory, producers of electricity from the member countries should compete with each other on the European market which means sale of electricity is supposed to be free of the boundaries. European Commission is constantly monitoring the opening and competition in the power market.

EU energy market realties The recently published report exposes the serious distortions of competition and the lack of “level playing field” and points reasons of that condition: 1. 2. 3. 4. Too few cross-border transmission links, Too dominant national power companies, Too biased grid operators, The non-existence of a liquid wholesale market

Conclusion n Demand for electricity in the EU grows rapidly because of industrialization and urbanization Europe is energy intensive and heavy reliant on imports – already 50% today, and projected to increase to 70% within two decades. By 2030 the level of gas imports could rise from 50% (in 2000) to 81%. Governments need to make steps forward to implement the market opening measures required by the gas and electricity Directives.

Conclusion n n Europe is running out of indigenous energy supplies at a time when world resources are diminishing and are concentrated into fewer, more geopolitically sensitive regions. The resulting constraints and associated increases in fuel prices are a threat to both economic and political stability The effects of climate change require a continued reduction in carbon emissions from the power sector.

Conclusion n Wind power requires no fuel. This means no: 1. geopolitical risk, 2. no external energy dependence, 3. no extraction or refining, 4. no resource constraints, 5. no CO 2 emissions

Conclusion From those reasons wind energy is a great alternative for energy from the traditional sources. n To develop that alternative, political climate should be created and maintained. n

. Europeans should finally realize that there is a high time for action – luckily wind will never stop blowing