Project Number: IQP JRK-WND1 Wind Power Suitability in Worcester, M assachusetts An Interactive Qualifying Project Report: submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science by ______________________________ Christopher Kalisz chkalisz@ wpi.edu ______________________________ Calixte M onast cmonast@ wpi.edu ______________________________ M ichael Santoro santron@ wpi.edu ______________________________ Benjamin Trow btrow@ wpi.edu Date: March 14, 2005 Faculty Advisors: _________________________ Professor Scott Jiusto _________________________ Professor Robert Krueger ABSTRACT The goal of this project was to identify criteria needed to determine the suitability of potential wind turbine sites in Worcester, Massachusetts. The report first discusses physical, environmental, economic, and social factors that affect the suitability of potential wind power sites. We then completed a case study for a site in downtown Worcester, directly applying the criteria. Our hope is the project will raise local awareness of renewable energy and illustrate the practicality of a clean energy project. - 1 - TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................ 2 TABLE OF FIGURES................................................................................................................ 3 TABLE OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 4 Wind Power in Perspective..................................................................................................... 6 The Opportunity..................................................................................................................... 7 The Vision ............................................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 2: SUITABILITY CRITERIA.................................................................................12 Physical Characteristics.........................................................................................................12 Technical Considerations ......................................................................................................15 Regulations ...........................................................................................................................18 Economics and Financing......................................................................................................24 Societal Concerns..................................................................................................................32 Conclusion............................................................................................................................36 CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY IN WORCESTER, MA...............................................................39 The Opportunity....................................................................................................................40 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................41 Suitability Analysis ...............................................................................................................42 Turbine Analysis ...................................................................................................................59 Final Turbine Analysis ..........................................................................................................62 APPENDIX A: ALTERNATE WIND POWER SITE DESCRIPTIONS....................................66 Princeton, Massachusetts.......................................................................................................66 Altamont Pass, California......................................................................................................67 Cape Wind ............................................................................................................................68 Top of Iowa Wind Farm........................................................................................................69 Cornwall, England.................................................................................................................70 Hull, Massachusetts...............................................................................................................71 Searsburg, VT .......................................................................................................................72 Comparison Analysis ............................................................................................................75 APPENDIX B: TABLES OF REGULATIONS .........................................................................77 APPENDIX C: PERMITTING FLOWSHEET ..........................................................................78 APPENDIX D: AERODYNAMIC NOISE ................................................................................79 APPENDIX E: TECHNOLOGICAL PRIMER..........................................................................80 APPENDIX F: INTEREST LETTER ........................................................................................82 APPENDIX G: USEFUL RESOURCES ...................................................................................83 APPENDIX H: BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................85 General .................................................................................................................................85 Environmental.......................................................................................................................86 Economics ............................................................................................................................87 Regulatory ............................................................................................................................88 Case Studies..........................................................................................................................89 Electrical...............................................................................................................................89 Miscellaneous .......................................................................................................................90 FIGURE REFERENCES...........................................................................................................91 - 2 - TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Local Wind Class Regions. .............................................................................................................13 Figure 2: Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines: Upwind and Downwind, respectively .................................17 Figure 3: Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Giromill, Savonius, and Darrieus, respectively........................17 Figure 4: Wind Farm Capital Cost Breakdown.............................................................................................25 Figure 5: Comparison of Decibel Levels From a Hypothetical Wind Turbine.......................................32 Figure 6: New England wind velocity and Worcester Area wind velocity ...............................................43 Figure 7: Wind Regions of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island............................................44 Figure 8: Initial Return on Investment...........................................................................................................60 Figure 9: Power Output For Different Wind Speeds ..................................................................................61 Figure 10: ROI for Air-X 24V.........................................................................................................................63 Figure 11: ROI for Lakota 900........................................................................................................................64 Figure 12: Princeton Wind Farm.....................................................................................................................66 Figure 13: Altamont Pass Wind Farm ............................................................................................................67 Figure 14: Cape Wind Project Site ..................................................................................................................68 Figure 15: Top of Iowa Wind Farm................................................................................................................69 Figure 16: Cornwall, England Wind Turbines ..............................................................................................70 Figure 17: Wind Turbine at Hull, Massachusetts..........................................................................................71 Figure 18: Map of Hull, Massachusetts ..........................................................................................................72 Figure 19: Searsburg, Vermont Turbines.......................................................................................................73