De Montfort University - Assignment Solution
Added on 2021-06-17
17 Pages5734 Words73 Views
|
|
|
De Montfort UniversityInvestigation on Offshore Wind Power Technology in U.K.[Type Name here][Type course module here][Type module name here]May 20181
Executive SummaryFrom a worldwide point of view there are great advancements in the exploration of the windpower technology, with major investments in most European countries. The United Kingdom, inparticular does so well in this energy sector. This has been mainly caused by the vast resourcesof the onshore wind power readily available to satisfy to a great degree the power needed in thecountry. However, on land wind power is smaller compared to the offshore due to the increasedwind speeds in the seas. This paper presents a critical assessment of the coastal resources in theUnited Kingdom by exploring the possible use of this promising deep-water wind technology,predicting the long term cost of energy trends, the resulting impacts of its use to the environment.The possible hindrances to the full development of the technology in the United Kingdom isanalysed and then a personal reflection on the impacts of the widespread adoption and thefeasibility of using the offshore wind technology is given to conclude the report. The use ofoffshore wind technology can be used to greatly diversify the electric energy supply of theUnited Kingdom and provide a new market for wind energy to complement on the onshoredevelopments.2
Table of ContentsExecutive Summary.........................................................................................................................2Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................3Introduction......................................................................................................................................4Current state of offshore wind power in the U.K............................................................................5Impact on the energy system and other fuels...................................................................................7Technical developments..................................................................................................................9Barriers to offshore wind power....................................................................................................10Personal reflection.........................................................................................................................11References......................................................................................................................................123
IntroductionIn the category of clean energy, the wind power makes one of the most actively sort for energyresources and is developed on many countries around the world. The resource forms one of theoldest source of clean and renewable energy. In the early centuries the wind power was used inboat propulsion along River Nile, water pumping to large farms in China, and for draining lakesand marshy lands in Germany[CITATION Win16 \l 1033 ]. The increasing shortage anddepletion of the fossil fuels (oil) around the world change the worldwide view of the energypicture, thus inspiring interests in alternative sources of energy: this therefore paved up way forthe re-entry of wind turbine technology mainly for power generation. Environmental andscientific studies in Europe resurfaced the immediate concern on the adverse effects in continueduse of the fossil fuels to the environment, which indicated that the global climate would changeif no alternative sources of clean energy were developed; therefore wind technology dramaticallypicked up, both in research and development in Europe. Today, wind power technology existsfrom small sized turbines for charging batteries to large onshore and offshore gigawatt sizes forelectric supply to the national grids[CITATION Win16 \l 1033 ].Electricity is generated through the conversion of the wind’s kinetic energy (contained in aircurrents) into the rotation of wind turbines, as they flow past the turbine blades, which thusrotates a motor inside a generator to produce power. This power is then conveyed through cablesdown to the base of the tower which then combines with power from other windmills thencollected at a local electricity distribution network[ CITATION Mar10 \l 1033 ]. The windmillsare usually spread out in a common area (in a wind farm) for energy collection and also to reducethe adverse environmental impacts. Each windmill has a control computer system installedwithin to monitor the wind speeds then auto sets the blades to rotate at a safe speed. In cases ofexceedingly high wind speeds, the computer control system ensures a complete automaticturbine shut down thus preventing the turbine from turning; this prevents cases ofaccidents[ CITATION Gen10 \l 1033 ].Onshore wind technology has been on the lead in generating renewable energy in the UnitedKingdom with a 7TWh in 2010, an amount able to save 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide whichwould have otherwise been released to the atmosphere. It is expected to generate about 30TWh4
End of preview
Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.
Related Documents