On May 4 a towering new presence was erected on the lawn of the Great Lakes Science Center on Cleveland's lakefront — a 150-foot tall wind turbine. It's the first turbine on the southern shore of Lake Erie, and supporters hope it will be a highly visible symbol of the potential for Northeast Ohio to become a center of advanced energy manufacturing.
The science center intends to use the turbine to demonstrate wind power technology, create a greater public awareness of renewable energy, and educate its visitors and the public about the benefits of alternative energy for the region. It is also developing related exhibits, including interpretive panels on the science and technology of the turbine, an example turbine blade, and a touch-screen kiosk providing both real-time and historical data on wind speed, power generated over time, and the amount of carbon dioxide pollution prevented. With peak output of 225 kilowatts, the turbine is expected to generate enough electricity to meet about 7 percent of the center's annual needs. Go here for the full story.
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Statement by Bill Spratley, executive director of Green Energy Ohio, about the new wind turbine in Cleveland
On behalf of Green Energy Ohio, we applaud the Great Lakes Science Center's leadership in advancing clean, wind energy in Ohio by installing a substantial wind turbine and furthering public education about wind power as we work toward a sustainable energy future.
Not since the days of the 1890s when the world's first-ever wind turbine invented by Charles Brush and producing electricity for 12 years on Euclid Avenue has Cleveland witnessed wind power in action. We believe Cleveland today can again be a leader in manufacturing modern wind turbines, as well as educating a public starved for energy produced at reasonable prices in our own nation.
As the local host for SOLAR 2007, the national solar conference coming to downtown Cleveland in July 2007, Green Energy Ohio looks forward to the Science Center's new installations and exhibits as a renewable energy showcase for the conference theme: "Sustainable Energy Puts America to Work!" GEO is also anxious to learn about the wind resource data from the new GLSC lakeshore wind turbine compared to the wind speed and wind power data being collected on the Water Crib wind monitoring tower 3.5 miles offshore - the highest elevation wind test in any of the Great Lakes. GEO will be releasing the initial 6 months of wind data from the Crib test in the next several weeks along with an update of other land-based wind power tests to improve the Ohio Wind Resource map.
More information about wind power in Ohio
Ohio Wind
Green Energy Ohio
Cleveland Crib wind monitoring project
PD graphic on the workings of the wind turbine
When will turbine operate?
Marc Lefkowitz Says:I noticed in the Plain Dealer coverage of the Reid-Brown energy press conference that a point was made that the wind turbine at the Science Center isn't running yet...does anyone know the cause of the delay? Is it a lack of wind power?
too bad it's not running
Susan Miller Says:It' not getting off to a stellar start, is it? One would hope that at the Science Center there is an electrician who could wire the thing. Not surprising though... what happened to our anemometer readings?
The more disturbing issue is its placement. In speaking with wind experts I know, they have said that it is in a poor location to make a substantial impact; one that might sway politicians, taxpayers, voters. A symbolic turbine is nice, but one that makes a point and proves its case is so much better. Its nice art for now. Check out the discussion of this here http://realneo.us/blog/jeff-buster-realneo-us/wind-turbine-getting-close...
At least we're further along now, but it is still more art and politic than science.
Where is a better place to put a tower to take advantage of the prevailing winds (SSW) in Cleveland? Maybe the Zone Rec Center?
Small wind would work, too, but it’s not as flashy.
Wind Turbine as Political Backdrop
Bob Weinberg Says:And now the turbine becomes a soundstage for political statements.
Check out: http://www.sherrodbrown.com/story/2006/5/20/172042/952
Sherrod Brown on May 20th.
Exhibit the Wind
Bob Weinberg Says:Turbine purpose as art/symbol versus test case
Bob Weinberg Says:The Science center’s new turbine installation represents a high profile symbol along Clevelands highly visible lakefront. Sleek, graceful, white and high-tech. While this refurbished turbine brought from out West looks just like the latest technology we could be using or manufacturing here (and exists in far larger capacity at Bowling Green Ohio) - it is not at all positioned where wind scientists would recommend it to be. Because of the highly turbulent wind conditions and blockage from the Stadium and Downtown structures higher and to the South it just can’t capture the usable prevailing winds. This is more a small scale physical model and not a pilot plant. So we can’t consider this a project about economic viability of wind power at Lake Erie or in Ohio in general.
Rather, we should celebrate and be inspired to take action integrating all that we know about worldwide wind technology successes and specifically the geography, needs, economics and public opinion of our own residents and businesses. We should turn to our brownfields, open areas, farms and yes, out on to the Lake past the “Crib” to tap wind resources and pass the power into our grid.
I went out Thursday to see this installation, and also took pictures. Here is a link to a few more you may find of interest:
http://www.lakenet.net
windy afternoon
Susan Miller Says:What great news on this breezy afternoon!
I think I heard that off shore wind in the fresh water of Lake Erie is being studied (ice factors being different from those in the salty NorthSea) and that the prevailing winds in our region are from the South Southwest. And that even though folks who live in the lovely lakefront homes might be worried, they won't be staring down off shore wind turbines in Lake Erie unless they can see 14 miles into the distance. There should be no NIMBY issues there. And that Gene Krebs of Greater Ohio is talking to farmers about zoning so that they could "plant" turbines on their farmland with some rezoning isses addressed. And that Jeff Buster is working on small wind for intown solutions -- patents pending...
That's a lot of ands. This is great news. Did we get the anemometer reads back for public view? Can we get live feeds of the wind speeds and watts on this site?
Wattage question
Stephen Gross Says:This is really exciting! I'm glad the GLSC has gotten on board with this. It's in a particularly visible place, so hopefully a lot of people will notice it and get interested.
I see that its peak production capacity is 225kWh. How much energy is that, realistically? I know that a computer runs on about 300 watts, which means the wind turbine could power around 750 computers, theoretically. Does anyone have numbers on wattage levels for other components?
Thanks!
--Steve (mrstephengross@hotmail.com)
computer watts usage really 50 W
Gary H Cole Says:Stephen
the nameplate rating on a typical desk top PC can be inthe 300 range as you stated but if you measure it you will find it more like 50W, and the monitor 50W, newer LCD flat screens lower, and a laptop about 25W. Other peripherals about 25-50W
there is a meter available to measure things, they are available from local solar installer Erika Welizcko on her site http://www.repowersolutions.com/webstore.html
Gary Cole
Basics on Kilowatt generation and home consumption
Bob Weinberg Says:Steve - good question. Lets clear up a central issue however. The NAMEPLATE rating on that turbine is 225 KW, not 225 KWH. The 225 KW is the maximum possible power production RATE while KHW is the accumulated energy produced over time.
Further, the turbine can only produce power if it is (a) in service (b) receiving wind sufficient to be converted, less various system losses and (c) maintains this generation rate over long periods. A good discussion of all of this can be found at: http://www.awea.org/faq/basicen.html
The utility turbines at Bowling Green recently reported a CAPACITY FACTOR experience overall for their 4 units of 37.41%, really quite good; and an 89% of possible hours in service actually generating.
I have not seen any calculations to support GLSC's estimation that this turbine will supply 7% of their electricity need annually. That seems like an almost impossibly optimistic amount considering the size of the facility, hours of operation and high air conditioning rate. Moreover, I'm not aware of any wind study specific to that spot to estimate the wind regime. The Ohio wind energy computer models could be used, but they are too general for a location along the shore. I certainly hope they could achieve this, but we ought not measure their success on that.
As to consumption. Your mileage may vary! I found some statistics on energy use you may find interesting at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/reps/enduse/er01_enc.html although it is for 2001.
I'd round this out for similicity, to 1000 kilowatt-hours of consumption per month on an annual basis within perhaps +/- 20%. My own use over 2005 averaged nearly 2200 as we have a large house and I spend a lot of time on my computer :-)
Here is one table of some values: http://www.psnh.com/Residential/ReduceBill/Applianceusage.asp
There are a number of ways to measure your power use (besides reading your bill or learning to read your utility meter). If you don't know/realize what you are using, then you can't learn to adjust or control it.
Hope this gets you started!