Hydropower versus Wind Turbine Generators in the Waikato - Essay Example

Assignment Report on hydropower versus wind turbine generators Table of content ……………………………………………………………………….3 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..4 Research plan……………………………………………………………………5 Result of study…………………………………………………………………...8 Discussion…………………………………………………………………….....12 Recommendation………………………………………………………………...13 References……………………………………………………………………….14 Glossary…………………………………………………………………………..16 Appendices………………………………………………………………………..17 Images……………………………………………………………………………… Hydro turbines……………………………………………………………………...9 Wind turbine………………………………………………………………………..11 Te Akau wind farm …………………………………………………………………11 Abstract The main objective for this report is to pass the research result on power production through hydroelectric systems and the wind turbine generators. Form the analysis of data collected, it became clear that wind power stand a better chance in the promotion of economic development as it minimizes the pollution to the environment. Our study whose plan entailed; evaluation method development, data collection, assessment of power supply and needs, an interview with expert and analysis of power supply trends resulted in information which was used to describe the functionality of the two turbines; hydro and wind turbines. It became evident from the research that wind turbine power generation will lead to low levels of pollution, reduced cost of power production and large amounts of power being generated to the national grid. Although hydro power has dominated the sector of power generation in Waikato, it is expensive to construct a power plant for the generation of hydroelectricity. It leads to pollution of the environment and make aquatic life endangered. To conclude, we have recommended further study on the power production trend and more research into systems for a more effective method and calculation of the cost and benefit analysis between these two methods of electricity generation. Introduction The objective of this report is to determine which, is a better power production method between hydro and wind power systems. Upon evaluation and analysis of these two methods of power generation, we realized that wind power generation systems stand an upper chance to continue generating power for use in Waikato. Wind power already provides some percentage of power into the grand power used in the Waikato Te Uku which is a wind power generating farm about 28 turbines and has produced a fairly high amount of power in watts. This is possibly due to the presence of winds which have speeds going beyond 6metres per second. In future, Waikato residents and business operators would like to get power which is consistently available, cheap and also causes minimal pollution to the environment (Craddock, 2008). Failure to choose the best option between the many options of power generation including the burning of coal will mean continued pollution to the environment and intermittency in the production of power. This report therefore entails; a research plan; (1) the development of evaluation and comparison aspects, (2) data collection, (3) an assessment of the power needs and supply for Waikato, (4) and an interview of an expert from the field and (5) an analysis of the previous and current trends in the power supply. Research plan To ensure that best information was gathered research was structured as follows; Step1. Develop evaluation and comparison aspects. Step2. Collect of data Step3. Assess the power needs and supply for Waikato Step4. Interview an expert Step5. Analyze the current and the previous power supply trends in Waikato Step1.Aspects for evaluation and comparison From interview data aspects for evaluation and comparison of, - an appropriate method for power production will need to be at from the following aspects; Duration – method should be fairly durable to avoid continued expenses on construction of the new plants. Minimal environmental impact- method should be one that reduces pollution to the environment. It should not be hazardous to life or cause disruption to the existing activities. Cost effectiveness- method and its systems should not involve very high cost; have favorable construction and maintenance cost. Level of power generation- the plants must be able to meet the power requirements of residents of the region. Research into the above named aspects of power production, contribute largely to the discussion which will later on follow in this report. Step2. Collection of data Due to our need of clear information as pertaining to power production processes and systems, our research had its starting point being in the library where we read quite a number of books with related topics to get the previous trends of power production and supply. Since we had the need for up to date and more information, we visit internet where we searched through search engines like Google, as many keywords related to power and energy as we could memorize. From a basic research survey of the literature, the basic requirements for the two power generation systems and the situation in the Waikato became very clear; initial research in the literature and online information from relevant government departments revealed the situation in the Waikato. From this basic understanding, research continued into step 3. Step3. Assessing the power needs and supply for Waikato To make a comprehensive analysis of the power trends we had to look for information on power supply and usage in the Waikato. Since a comprehensive and summarized report on power usage was not available from any one source, therefore, some of the forty industries in the Waikato municipality and other facilities were researched for their consumption. A comparison of records from the various offices was necessary due to disparity in the information given. Power supply firms were interviewed to discover the amounts of power transmitted to the other parts of New Zealand. Available information on the supply and use of power was collected to get a summary of consumption and production, we used statistical methods where we grouped the consumptions according to the source of energy used and the production according to the areas supplied. Whereby we realized that wind power managed to supply up to about 75000 households with power and some of the hydro power from river Waikato is transmitted to Auckland. The business entities rely on a variety of power sources ranging from coal, solar power, and wind to hydro power. Limitations to the research investigation were due to time and availability of targeted information. Despite extensive effort, research was limited by time and few residential areas were investigated. Some of the information received was neither exhaustive nor exact on the power leakages and amount of the off grid power tapping and usage. Step4. Interview of experts We hold some interview with some of experts from power offices and from the municipality of Waikato. These included interview of a prominent staff; Richard Kingsford, a Senior Project Manager. Our interview with Richard Kingsford entailed a series of questions pertaining to the power generation. Some of these questions included; (1) what are some of the renewable sources of power in Waikato, (2) what is the gap between the power supply and need in the region, (3) how much energy production from both hydro power and wind power and (4) where are the wind turbines located and why are they located in those places. On his response to the question, Mr. Kingsford started with a brief introduction on the origin and development of the two methods of power production. He then highlighted the duration for the plants, mentioned some of their impacts on the environment, cost of their construction and maintenance. He too addressed the issue of the previous and current supply trends by giving some ratios. Step5. Analyzing the previous and current trends of power From the library sources and internet information extracted, we were in a position to get some traditional trends and current trends. These were analyzed with reference to the report received from the different parties whom we visited. With an eye on our evaluation aspects highlighted earlier on in this report, we analyzed our data critically and made our comparisons on the two selected methods of power generation that is, hydro power and wind turbine power. Result of study In this section of our report we described the functionality of two turbines used in the two processes; the hydro turbine and the wind turbine (Tagare, 2011). Hydro turbine Figure of Hydro turbine from original patent of Pelton (October, 1800) This operates by utilizing water which hits the gears in the anti clockwise direction; this makes the gear rotate at a very high speed (Currie, 2011). The rotation of the turbines generates some power. This taps and transmits power to converters then to step up transformers which then step it up to high voltages. For this engine to work it needs an important pre-requisite condition; this is high volume of water; - this is ensured by the construction of dams. The Waikato River provides sufficient water for the running of turbines. Wind turbines Wind turbines work under the principle that wind of more than 6 meters per second of speed has to blow the rotor blades (raised above obstructers) which are then made to propel or rotate.( Armentrout, 2009). This rotation generates some energy. This energy is transmitted to the generator inside the gearbox where it stimulates the generator and hence power. Wind Turbine Towers The construction of these towers involves the use of high aggregated concrete which is less expensive compared to dam construction. These turbines are to be constructed in remote but raised areas where they can cause minimal disruption and get little obstruction from the surroundings. The companies that won the construction tender intended to use turbines from Siemens to actualize this project (Networks, 2011). Photo from Fairfax showing Te Akau wind farm site Evaluation of the power generation systems Durability; Hydroelectric power generating systems were found to be more durable than the wind turbine generators. Hydro turbines could live for as long as eighty years and above while the wind turbines could only live for as long as twenty to thirty years in operation. It was found that the first hydro power station was build in 1929 and lasted till 1970 while the first wind turbine generators had just lasted for few years since their construction in the 1990s. Impact to the environment; wind power generators were found to be the most environmentally friendly, they only produce noise which was harmful to the ears while hydro power plants were found to emit some smoke to the atmosphere.( Nelson, 2009). These gases had a great impact to the ozone layer as they may corrode it. This corrosion to the protective layer has risks for human life including increased risk of cancer. Leakages of oil from the hydro turbines subject the aquatic life to very harsh conditions. The construction of dams increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the river water as it involves the use of concrete which contained carbon dioxide. Cost effectiveness; the construction of the dams and installation of the hydro turbine for the generation of power are both costly projects which always require government involvement (Førsund, 2007). The running cost of a hydroelectric power plant was generally low implying that in the long term the method would be cost effective. The construction of wind turbine systems involved highly expensive on the concrete work as it required high grade concrete. It called for frequent maintenance as its rotor blades were prone to destruction by wind of high intensity. Level of production; Hydro power has contributed to the highest amount of power to the national grid. Wind had not been fully exploited but was showing upward trends in the power generation from the ratio of 1:100 ten years back to 1:10 when compared with hydoelectricity. Discussion of the results Reduced reliance on the hydro power; with the upward trend in the wind power generation over reliance on the hydro electric power is going to be minimized. This will be made possible by the current levels of technology which device ways for the extraction of the wind energy. Reduced pollution; adopting wind power generation, pollution caused by hydro power generators are going to be minimized. Since wind turbines are located in isolated remote areas they will have minimum impact to people around. The following chart reveals that public perception on pollution within the Waikato has tremendously changed due to the adoption of wind energy (www.waikatoregion.govt.nz). From our research, it is clear that there lies a bright future for Waikato if they support the wind turbine power generation. (Wind energy, 2009) Recommendations To end this report, we recommend the following; Further research is recommended into the two fields of power production to deter mine the most effective method for power production. Cost and benefit analysis between wind turbine and hydro turbine power production be undertaken. As a conclusion, it is expected that in the next 10 years, wind power will be exploited to the fullest and shall have become the chief energy producer. References Armentrout, D., & Armentrout, P. (2009). Wind energy. Vero Beach, Fla.: Rourke Pub.. Craddock, D. (2008). Renewable energy made easy: free energy from solar, wind, hydropower, and other alternative energy sources. Ocala, Fla.: Atlantic Pub. Group. Currie, S. (2011). Hydropower. San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint Press. Førsund, F. R. (2007). Hydropower economics. New York: Springer. Hodge, B. K. (2010). Alternative energy systems and applications. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Nelson, V. (2009). Wind energy: renewable energy and the environment. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Wind energy-- the facts a guide to the technology, economics and future of wind power. (2009). London: Earthscan. Community views about the environment. (n.d.). Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Community/About-the-Waikato- region/Community-views-about-the-environment/ Networks, W. (2011). Te Uku makes the most of Waikatos wind. Infonews, 0(0), 12. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=63431 Glossary Hydropower – power generated from water action Turbines- gears used in the power generation process Power plant- power generation station Google-internet search engine Grid- power networking Rotor blades- arm of a wind turbine Appendices Summary of interview with Richard Kingsford Hydropower has been in the use for more than a hundred years in Waikato while wind power has just lasted for 10’s of years. The first hydropower (Horahora dam) in Waikato was founded in 1929 and operated till 1970’s when Lake Karapiro was formed while the first wind power generator in Waikato Te Uku has just lasted for a few years. The hydro power generation has been made possible by the existence of sufficient water supply from river Waikato. Construction of the hydro power schemes requires a lot of money after which their running costs is highly reduced. The engineering work involved in the construction of dam is of high standards as some are housed underground and therefore needs the involvement of the government. Wind power tapping has only been done in low scale due to the high cost involved but the raising prices of power is making it viable. Mr. Kingsford noted that the highest challenge to extraction of wind power is their location which requires only remote areas due to their nature of making noise. Hydro turbine lasts for over eighty years while wind turbines can last for between twenty to thirty years. Read More