Wind Powered Electric Energy Generation Small Generator Economics David Ryan PE, NCAT David Ryan PE Energy Engineer NCAT
About the National Center for Appropriate Technology Founded in 1976 Championing sustainable technologies and helping people, especially economically disadvantaged people, to be more self reliant. Focus on local and simple, sustainable and clean solutions to energy problems
What We ll be Talking About Interconnection or not Net metering, net billing, sale to utilities Costs and Revenues Photos of different wind machines Answer questions
Wind electric generation basics (or any electric generation) Identify loads and energy requirements of Host Estimate fuel costs Select candidate generator and Balance of System If interconnecting, utility agreement Identify funding sources Calculate economics
Power and Energy Concepts All generators have capacity to make power out of some fuel ( energy conversion ). KiloWatt Producing this power for a period of time is called Energy. KiloWatt-Hour Voltage is to electric power as height is to water power. Current is to electric power as flow rate is to water power. There are always losses.
Power and Energy Concepts We have to provide the power needed to run our equipment (pump, lights, whatever). If we are going to make our own power, we have to size the generator to meet the power requirements (also called demand of the equipment). How much of the time the equipment runs then determines how much energy the equipment uses, and how much energy the generator has to make.
Power and Energy Concepts Wind and solar energy is intermittent Can use as is, or can be stored in water tank, pond, or electric storage batteries. Larger generators (10 KW+) should be grid tied or used with thermal generators (reciprocating engines for example) in a hybrid system
Identify loads and energy requirements of Host Estimate fuel costs Get electric bills or fuel bills add up annual energy Identify load and current carrying capacity of circuit breakers If replacing/supplementing engine power, add up fuel deliveries and convert to KWh
Identify loads and energy requirements of Host For water pumping, calculate the power requirements based on the depth of the well and the flow rate needed. KW=.00034*gallons per minute*head/efficiency KWh=KW*time pump runs
Identify loads and energy requirements of Host For irrigation systems, energy is based on acre feet required, total dynamic head of the system, and the plant efficiency KW=total equipment load/efficiency (KWh=acre-feet*1.0241*head/efficiency)
Wind Energy Basics Gotta have wind Gotta have transmission Gotta have a customer Gotta have financing
Match Generator with Load and Host energy use Wind Resource Energy Usage KWh 140000 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 200000 240000 210000 200206 200208 200210 200212 200302 200304 200306 200308 200310 200312 200402 200404 200406 200408 YYYYMM
Match Generator with Load and Generator Power Curve Wind Resource
Match Generator with Load and Wind Resource Wind Frequency Distribution
Match Generator with Load and Wind Resource Hand Calculation of Energy Production
Match Generator with Load and Wind Resource Host energy use average of 220,000 Kwh per year Generation from 50 KW wind turbine 164,801 Good fit for annual energy true-up
Match Generator with Load and Wind Resource Quick and Dirty Version See generator manufacturer s web sites
Match Generator with Load and Wind Resource Stock watering 300 ft well, 2.0 GPM Requires 260 watts - 0.26 KWh each hour, 120 GPH 2277 KWh per year Pick a 1000 watt generator Use a battery, controller and dump load
Cost Analysis Tools Small Wind Energy Economic Model 2.0
Net Metering Up to 10 KW on Most Rural Electric Cooperatives Up to 50 KW on NorthWestern Energy Generator Located on Customer Side of Meter One Generator per Meter One Meter per Generator Rate is same as rate on power bill ($100.00/MWh) Generator Does Not Contribute to Demand Charge (Energy Only) On-Grid Larger System (10KW up)
On-Grid System Net Metering Used with permission. C2005 Home Power magazine, www.homepower.com
Net Metering Ponderables One meter, Two meter question One generator, two meter question What the heck is Retail energy
Utility Contract QF Qualifying Facility under PURPA Limit 10 MW in Montana Different ways to calculate rate Simplest rate $49.90 per MWH Bigger Machines 65 KW- 1.5 MW+
Resources http://www.nrel.gov/learning/fr_wind.html http://www.montanagreenpower.com/ http://www.northwesternenergy.com/ http://awea.org