Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development

• Pumped Storage Power Plant
• Advantages of Wind Power Plant

Part 1

Question 1 Answer only part (a) or part (b). If you answer both, the first answer only will be marked and counted. Marks for parts (a) or (b) are 20% of the total for the module a) A preliminary assessment is required for a wind farm with installed capacity of 1.5 GW at the Irish Sea Zone as part of the potential 4.2 capacity allocated by the UK government. Perform the following tasks/calculations/estimates: i. Collect the necessary data about the sight including wind speed, direction, water depth and other environmental and geographical data useful for the assessment ii. Choose a suitable wind turbine from those available in the market explaining the reasons behind the choice and providing the main specifications. iii. Calculate the number of wind turbines needed to achieve the required capacity and estimate the area required to install the turbines explaining the most suitable turbine fixing method to the sea bed. iv. Estimate the amount of energy that would be generated per year. v.

Based on the estimated energy, use the daily average to work out the size of the two reservoirs for a backup hydroelectric pumped storage plant to be located in a suitable site in North Wales to provide backup for three days of no wind. Assume a suitable elevation between the upper and lower reservoirs based on local topology.

1. b) For the combination of the offshore wind farm and pumped hydroelectric storage power plant described in part a, write an essay (1000 words) arguing the case for or against the combination of an off-shore wind farm with a sole back up from the pumped hydro plant considering the technical, logistic, regulatory and economic feasibility as well as the combined environmental impact of the two plants. Write the word count at the end of the essay. Reference should not be counted.

Do only question B. (1000 words)

Combination of wind farm with back up of pumped hydro plant.

Logistics – Location of North Wales and Irish Sea, pretty logistical. Grid connection (km)

Technical

Regulatory. (Incentives, lobbies)

Economic feasibility. See prices of operation costs, and grid connection. How would be economical for the location.

Combined environmental impact. Wind farms for disrupting environment. And Hydro plant disrupting fish migration, location of the plant, etc.

Could be considered also environmental impact of installation of both sides, how much emission has been produced (but do not focus on this).

Conclusion. For combination.