Wind monitors serve as 'road test' for larger wind farms

Monday, 08 October 2007

Page 2 of 2 A nationwide view Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Energy released its first annual report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost and Performance Trends. The report noted that the U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27% in 2006 and “more than 61% of the country’s total capacity—more than 7,300 megawatts—has been installed since President Bush took office in 2001.” Wind power was a key component of the president’s Advanced Energy Initiative. The DOE’s report analyzes trends in the marketplace including wind power prices compared to wholesale electricity prices, projects costs, turbine sizes and developer consolidations. Challenges According to a 2007 study by the American Wind Energy Association, wind energy is one of the lowest-priced renewable-energy technologies available. Yet that won’t make it an easier sell for developers. The DOE reported that wind power technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. Repercussions of the high startup costs are being felt in other areas as well. The Long Island Power Authority recently scrapped plans to build a $700 million wind power farm in the Atlantic after costs more than quadrupled. Earlier in the year, a developer pulled out of a planned wind power project in the Gulf of Mexico, saying it would cost twice as much as similar power capacity on land. In addition, the technology is having a difficult time gaining momentum. In spite of the fact wind farms are operating in 36 states, wind accounts for less than 1% of the total U.S. power supply, according to the AWEA. Another challenge to moving forward with wind power is the shortage of turbines to construct the wind farms, although Rigas shrugged off that concern. “With any new technology, there is going to be a period of ramping up, getting all the materials together to source it,” he said. “Building the turbines will simply an industry that will be discovered as having huge potential.” Despite the challenges, Rigas believes wind resources, which he called “unmapped in South Carolina,” are the best source of energy. “We spent almost $20 billion dollars last year to fuel our way of life,” he said. “There’s no magic bullet for energy consumption, but wind is by far the most efficient natural resource we have.” Rigas will spend the next year in the Wind for Schools project hoping to prove that point. And he has a monetary boost from SC Launch!, a collaboration of the South Carolina Research Authority that provides funding and assistance to ventures with economic development potential. Its $15,000 grant will help fund startup of the project. << Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>