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present:
Wind Energy Sources
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On Thursday the 25 of March, 2002, Mr. Kapner of Austin Energy came to the ZYS classroom to answer some questions on wind energy that our wind group asked. Here they are. |
Michael: How much energy does an average windmill put out?
Mr. Kapner: An average windmill can put enough energy to run almost every students’ home in this school. A windmill puts out about 12 MW of electricity.
Michael: How many turbines make up a wind farm?
Mr. Kapner: It ranges from 50-100 and more. It depends on where the location is.
Tony: How much does it cost to construct windmill?
Mr. Kapner: Each windmill cost about 1 million dollars each.
Tony: How have windmills changed over the past years?
Mr. Kapner: We used to use lattice towers and birds use to nest in them and get hit by the blades because they were going so fast. Now they use the cylinder towers because the blades turn slower and the birds don’t nest in the towers.
Bronson: In your opinion, what is the future of wind energy?
Mr. Kapner: Very bright. The cost will come down and wind energy will be a very dominant source in the future.
Youssef: How tall is the average windmill?
Mr. Kapner: When the rotor is standing vertical, the tip of the blade to the foundation is as tall as the state capital of Texas – over 300 ft. tall. The span of some of the blades is as tall as a football field.
Youssef: How much of the electricity used in Austin, the U.S, and the world is made form wind energy?
Mr. Kapner: About 2,500 MW in Austin, 5,000 MW in the USA, 25,000 MW in the world.