Wind Energy in the United States and Materials Required for the Land-Based Wind Turbine Industry From 2010 Through 2030 Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5036 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Photograph of the Twin Groves wind farm in McLean County, Ill., by Guenter Conzelmann, Argonne National Laboratories. Wind Energy in the United States and Materials Required for the Land-Based Wind Turbine Industry From 2010 Through 2030 By David R. Wilburn Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5036 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. 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Suggested citation: Wilburn, D.R., 2011, Wind energy in the United States and materials required for the land-based wind turbine industry from 2010 through 2030: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5036, 22 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Historical Perspective ..........................................................................................................................1 Description of a Typical Wind Turbine ..............................................................................................2 Profile of Electricity Generation in the United States From Wind Power .............................................4 Life Cycle of a Wind Turbine ...............................................................................................................5 Transportation Logistics ......................................................................................................................6 Recent Technological Advancements ...............................................................................................7 Material Requirements of Wind Turbines ..................................................................................................7 Nacelle..................................................................................................................................................10 Rotor ......................................................................................................................................................11 Tower ....................................................................................................................................................11 Projected Use of Materials Through 2030 ...............................................................................................11 Cast Iron and Steel .............................................................................................................................14 Concrete ...............................................................................................................................................14 Fiberglass and Composites ...............................................................................................................15 Rare Earth Elements ...........................................................................................................................15 Copper...................................................................................................................................................15 Land Area .............................................................................................................................................15 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................16 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17 Appendix 1. Estimates of Wind Turbine Life Cycle Emissions, Energy Consumption, and Water Consumption ................................................................................................................20 Appendix 2. Wind Turbine Assumptions and Selection Methodology ............................................21 Figures 1. Diagrams showing a typical large wind turbine and major components. ..........................2 2. Graph showing the growth of the U.S. wind power industry ................................................4 iv Tables 1. Estimates of the costs for components of a typical 1.5-megawatt wind turbine ...............3 2. Principal advantages and disadvantages of wind power .....................................................6 3. Lifetime resource consumption per kilowatthour produced for representative onshore wind turbines in Europe ...............................................................................................7 4. Principal components of a wind turbine and areas of research for each component .....................................................................................................................................8 5. Estimated requirements for materials per megawatt capacity of electricity for representative wind turbine technologies .......................................................................12 6. Annual requirements for materials in selected years to meet projected wind turbine demand by 2030 ...................................................................................................13 A2–1. Estimates used in this report for the quality of selected materials required by the wind turbine industry from 2010 through 2030 ...........................................................23 Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain Area square meter (m2) 0.0002471 acre hectare (ha) 2.471 acre Mass kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb) megagram (Mg) or metric ton (t) 1.102 ton, short (2,000 lb) Energy watt (W) 0.00134 horsepower (HP) Wind Energy in the United States and Materials Required for the Land-Based Wind Turbine Industry From 2010 Through 2030 By David R. Wilburn Abstract conditions could also affect the development schedule of anticipated capacity. The generation of electricity in the United States from wind-powered turbines is increasing. An understanding of the sources and abundance of raw materials required by the Introduction wind turbine industry and the many uses for these materials is necessary to assess the effect of this industry’s growth As the amount of electricity generated from wind power on future demand for selected raw materials relative to the increases, an understanding of the materials associated with historical demand for these materials. The U.S. Geological the construction, transportation, installation, operation, Survey developed estimates of future requirements for raw decommissioning, and disposal of large wind powerplants1 (and some recycled) materials based on the assumption that (also referred to as wind farms) is essential. The analyses wind energy will supply 20 percent of the electricity consumed in this report provide policymakers and the public with an in the United States by 2030. Economic, environmental, overview of factors currently and potentially affecting raw political, and technological considerations and trends reported material requirements for land-based wind turbines. As the for 2009 were used as a baseline. Estimates for the quantity of wind turbine industry modifies turbine designs, the demand materials in typical “current generation” and “next generation” for selected materials will also change. This study comple- wind turbines were developed. In addition, estimates for the ments ongoing work by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to annual and total material requirements were developed based evaluate the supply of raw materials available for established on the growth necessary for wind energy when converted in a and emerging renewable energy technologies being imple- wind powerplant to generate 20 percent of the U.S. supply of mented in the United States. electricity by 2030. The results of the study suggest that achieving the market Historical Perspective goal of 20 percent by 2030 would require an average annual consumption of about 6.8 million metric tons of concrete, 1.5 A wind-powered energy system transforms the kinetic million metric tons of steel, 310,000 metric tons of cast iron, energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy that 40,000 metric tons of copper, and 380 metric tons of the rare- is harnessed for practical use. Simple windmills were used earth element neodymium. With the exception of neodymium, to pump water in China before 200 B.C. By the 11th century these