Wind Power Planning Research Articles

05/02637 Wind power planning: assessing long-term costs and benefits

05/02637 Wind power planning: assessing long-term costs and benefits

Wind power planning: assessing long-term costs and benefits

In the following paper, a new and straightforward technique for estimating the social benefit of large-scale wind power production is presented. The social benefit is based upon wind power's energy and capacity services and the avoidance of environmental damages. The approach uses probabilistic load duration curves to account for the stochastic interaction between wind power availability, electricity demand, and conventional generator dispatch. The model is applied to potential offshore wind power development to the south of Long Island, NY. If natural gas combined cycle and integrated gasifier combined cycle (IGCC) are the alternative generation sources, wind power exhibits a negative social benefit due to its high capacity cost and the relatively low emissions of these advanced fossil-fuel technologies. Environmental benefits increase significantly if charges for CO 2 emissions are included. Results also reveal a diminishing social benefit as wind power penetration increases. The dependence of wind power benefits on CO 2 charges, and capital costs for wind turbines and IGCC plant is also discussed. The methodology is intended for use by energy planners in assessing the social benefit of future investments in wind power.

Wind power planning in three Swedish municipalities

The aim of the paper is to compare the planning for wind power in three municipalities and analyze how it has influenced three important aspects of the wind power development: the siting of turbines, the ownership of turbines and citizen participation. The paper shows that the planning strategies of the municipalities differed considerably and that this in turn has led to differences in the development of wind power. A general conclusion is that there seems to be a dilemma in municipal planning between, on the one hand, the promotion of wind power and, on the other hand, the organization of a planning that effectively regulates the siting of turbines and allows for citizen participation. The results show that there is a need to support and strengthen municipal planning capacities, and efforts in that direction are being undertaken by state and regional authorities in Sweden. The results, however, also imply the need for stronger policy measures in order to avoid large differences between the way wind power is handled at the municipal level.

Wind Power Planning and Operational Benefits and Issues in Evolving Competitive Markets

Wind Power Planning and Operational Benefits and Issues in Evolving Competitive Markets

Air Flow in the Central Valley of Maui, Hawaii

Abstract Low-level winds in the central valley of the island of Maui were investigated in a field program during August 1976. Forty-one sites were occupied using three mobile stations during a period of persistent trade winds. Contemporaneous data from the Kahului Weather Service Office as well as other Hawaiian stations were collected to relate field observations to large-scale events. Streamline analyses reflect the diurnal variation of the low-level circulation which is profoundly influenced by Haleakala and West Maui volcanoes. The field survey was utilized in planning new fixed stations to monitor wind characteristics for wind power applications. Preliminary fixed station results are discussed. The importance of diurnal mesoscale patterns on wind power planning was emphasized.