Project Number RWT-1304 Feasibility of Converting New York State’s Energy Production to Wind, Water and Sunlight 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 ____________________ Sean Callaghan ___________________ John Goddard __________________ Charles Mendes Date: March 11, 2013 Approved: _________________ Robert W. Thompson, PhD Project Advisor _________________ Aaron N Deskins, PhD Project Advisor Project Number RWT-1304 Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3 Section 2: Energy Source Background ......................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Wind Power ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2.1.1 History of Wind Power ................................................................................................................ 4 2.1.2 Maturity of the Technology ......................................................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Near Future Technology .............................................................................................................. 8 2.1.4 Cost .............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.5 Experiences ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.1.5.1 Princeton Lighting Commission ......................................................................................... 10 2.1.5.2 Hull Windmill Project ......................................................................................................... 12 2.1.6 Feasibility (Pros and Cons) ........................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Hydropower ...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 History of Hydropower .............................................................................................................. 15 2.2.2 Maturity of Hydropower ............................................................................................................ 16 2.2.3 Cost of Hydropower ................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.4 Positives of Hydropower ............................................................................................................ 18 2.2.5 Negatives of Hydro Power ......................................................................................................... 19 2.2.6 Experiences using Hydropower ................................................................................................. 20 2.2.6.1 Niagara Falls ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.6.2 Hoover Dam ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.2.6.3 Niagara Mohawk Company ................................................................................................ 21 2.3 Solar Power ....................................................................................................................................... 22 2.3.1 History of Solar Power ............................................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Maturity of Solar Power ............................................................................................................. 23 2.3.3 How Solar Panels are made ....................................................................................................... 27 2.3.4 Cost of Solar Panels ................................................................................................................... 29 2.3.5 Major Issues ............................................................................................................................... 30 2.3.6 Experiences with Solar Power ................................................................................................... 31 2.3.6.1 Mann Orchards .................................................................................................................... 31 2.3.6.2 Princeton House .................................................................................................................. 33 2.3.6.3 Hardwick House .................................................................................................................. 34 1 Section 3: Implementation Issues ............................................................................................................... 35 3.1 Stability ............................................................................................................................................. 35 3.2 Transmission ..................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Economic .......................................................................................................................................... 39 Section 4: Mark Jacobson ........................................................................................................................... 43 4.1 Jacobson’s Background & Education ............................................................................................... 43 4.2 Jacobson’s Works ............................................................................................................................. 46 4.3 Opposition & Criticism to Jacobson’s Work .................................................................................... 49 4.4 Supporters of Jacobson’s Work ........................................................................................................ 50 Section 5: The Plan ..................................................................................................................................... 55 5.1 Jacobson’s World Plan ...................................................................................................................... 55 5.2 The California Plan ........................................................................................................................... 59 5.3 Jacobson’s New York State Plan ...................................................................................................... 60 5.4 Resources not desired for WWS ....................................................................................................... 62 Section 6: Evaluation of the Plan ................................................................................................................ 63 6.1 Stability of Jacobson’s Plan .............................................................................................................. 63 6.2 Transmission ..................................................................................................................................... 69 6.3 Economic Evaluation ........................................................................................................................ 71 6.4 Social ................................................................................................................................................ 74 Section 7: Suggestions for Plan Improvement ............................................................................................ 77 Section 8: Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 80 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 85 Princeton Lighting Commission ............................................................................................................. 85 Hull ......................................................................................................................................................... 86 Mann’s Orchards ..................................................................................................................................... 89 Princeton Household ............................................................................................................................... 90 Hardwick Household .............................................................................................................................. 91 2 Section 1: Introduction In the present day renewable resources like solar power, wind power, and hydropower have been gaining popularity among the masses. Many see them as the replacements of the coal and oil resource that are used today. A civil and environmental professor from Stanford University, Mark Z. Jacobson, has come up with multiple plans