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Small Wind Powered Electric Generation Systems
Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.
Overview
This course was designed to introduce the basic
design concepts for small (residential) wind powered electric generation
systems. Wind energy systems are one of the most cost-effective home-based
renewable energy systems. Depending on your wind resource, a small wind energy
system can lower your electricity bill by 50% to 90%, help you avoid the high
costs of extending utility power lines to remote locations, prevent power
interruptions, and it is nonpolluting. Small wind
electric systems can make a significant contribution to our nation’s energy
needs.
In 2003, the U.S. wind generating capacity
increased by more than 30%. Wind power plants of various size now operate in 32
states with a total generating capacity of 6374 MW of power, enough to meet the
energy needs of more than 3 million homes.
The goal of the wind energy industry is to
contribute 100 GW of wind electricity to our Nation’s energy supplies by 2020. By meeting
that goal, wind energy will help secure our Nation’s energy future and clean up our
environment by displacing about 3 quadrillion BTUs
of primary energy per year and 65 million metric tons of carbon equivalent per
year.
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of
fifteen (15) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or
Skill Attained
This course will review the
basic operation, limitations, capacities and design of the following solar
generating systems:
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Review wind power resource classifications
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Review the basic parts of a small wind electric system
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Review of Hybrid systems
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Stand alone systems
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Grid Connected systems
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Calculation of potential energy output
Course
Click on the following PDF attachment and review “Small Wind
Electric Systems” published by the U.S. Department of Energy prior to taking a
quiz for credit. You will be quizzed on the attached document on its entirety.
Small Wind Electric Systems (1.3 MB)
You may need Acrobat Reader to view this document.
Click on the link below to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.
To obtain PDH credits for this course, you will need to take a quiz for
credit. Click on the link below.
(To take the quiz,
your web browser must be set to accept cookies. See how to
check your cookie settings.)
 
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