Can wind be groomed to become a dependable source of electricity? Researchers at Stanford University say that it can. They conclude that various wind farms can connect and then join at a centralized transmission line to accomplish the mission.

Wind is becoming a premier energy source. But, its intermittent nature means that providers must "insure" against lulls by backing up plants with steadier fuels such as natural gas and coal. If, though, separate wind farms can be linked to a transmission grid, it would make wind more reliable.

The goal is to create a "master plan," say Stanford University's Cristina Archer and Mark Jacobson. If so, individual wind farms could be joined through common transmission lines that would transport the power to where it is needed. Such a strategy would be paid by the users of the power, who would ultimately be getting cheaper and more consistent wind energy. This could result in bigger rollout of wind energy, which would be beneficial economically and environmentally, they add.

"This study implies that, if interconnected wind is used on a large scale, a third or more of its energy can be used for reliable electric power, and the remaining intermittent portion can be used for transportation, allowing wind to solve energy, climate and air pollution problems simultaneously," says Archer, a professor in Stanford's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The two Stanford professors published their findings in the November issue of the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. If the wind turbines are all interconnected, they say that it increases the odds that some of them will be performing at any given time. That effect, they add, is similar to hamsters in cage where at any point some may be resting while others may be turning their treadmill.

To support their findings, the Stanford group accumulated wind data from the National Weather Service for one year in 2000. They found that the Midwest has 19 locations with average wind speeds of nearly seven meters per second, making it a plush region to produce wind energy. If different wind farms were to connect, they could significantly improve their performance. Wind could therefore increase its market share, albeit such wind facilities would still not be able to run at the same level of efficiency as base-load plants that operate all the time.

Missing Link

To be sure, it's both expensive and time consuming to try to get new transmission built. Simply, some groups don't want electrical chords running their communities for the benefit of outsiders. And, power companies may not have the determination to fight that sentiment if they are already able to generate power on a more cost effective basis with other fuels such as coal and natural gas.

But, the Stanford scholars say that connecting multiple wind farms to a common point before it is sent to far away cities, would reduce the cost. That's because the "meeting stage" would be in close proximity to the wind farms, thereby reducing the travel time of the electricity. It's the same as a tributary system where lots of streams and creeks join together to form a river that flows out to sea, the authors say.

"The idea is that, while wind speed could be calm at a given location, it could be gusty at others," says Archer. "By linking these locations together we can smooth out the differences and substantially improve the overall performance."

Wind's supporters say that public policy should promote more growth. Toward that end, they are pushing Congress to enact renewable portfolio standards that mandate utilities to generate more green energy while also asking it to renew the production tax credit that encourages the construction of more wind farms. They are also saying that all parties need to join forces to determine how such mammoth projects will be paid.

The creation of a "master plan" to deal with the layout of transmission is doable, proponents say. They point to an off-shore wind project in Europe that is already underway. The developer's vision is to harness this natural energy resource by building a Supergrid that ties together wind sites from the Mediterranean to the North Sea.

By connecting and integrating geographically dispersed wind farms across Europe -- with each site experiencing a different phase of the region's weather system -- electricity will always be produced. It will then be transported to where it is needed, ensuring a reliable and predictable source of energy, says Airtricity, the developer. It says that the project will be economical, noting Europe is starved for new and plentiful sources of energy.

"By providing interconnection between electricity systems, the Supergrid will automatically overcome the most significant barrier to establishing a single internal market for electricity, and thereby will create a more competitive electricity supply for Europe," says Airtricity. "The establishment of a functioning internal market in electricity is necessary . if (Europe) is to retain competitive energy supplies into the future and to avoid sliding into irreversible economic decline."

As the global community tries to cope with climate change in the face of rising energy demand, it makes sense to find more efficient ways to produce green energy. The linking of various wind sites to a centralized transmission line is therefore worth exploring. While the power generated would not replace that produced by fossil fuels, the expanded role could help solve the current predicament.



 

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