Questions and Answers
What is the record amount of electricity produced by the Näsudden 2 wind turbine in one year?
7.7 gigawatt hours
What material are the blades of the Näsudden 2 wind turbine made of?
Lightweight carbon fiber composite
At what wind speed does the Näsudden 2 wind turbine shut down to conserve power?
Less than five meters per second
What is the purpose of the flared shape of the pylon supporting the Näsudden 2 wind turbine?
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During which time does the Dinorwig hydroelectric pump storage power scheme pump water up to a reservoir?
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What is the purpose of the surge tank in the Dinorwig hydroelectric pump storage power scheme?
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Study Notes
- Wind energy is harnessed in Sweden on the island of Gotland with the Näsudden 2 wind turbine, which holds the record for producing 7.7 gigawatt hours of electricity in one year, enough for 1,500 homes.
- The Näsudden 2 wind turbine has rotor blades wider than a jumbo jet's wingspan, a 77-meter high concrete pylon, and 40-meter blades made of lightweight carbon fiber composite.
- The wind turbine operates at speeds of 14 and 21 revolutions per minute, with the ability to shut down at wind speeds lower than five meters per second to conserve power.
- The pylon supporting the wind turbine is designed with a flared shape to resist forces from wind and weight, with steel bars embedded in the foundation for stability.
- In Wales, the Dinorwig hydroelectric pump storage power scheme is hidden under a mountain and can power the whole of England and Wales during peak demand times.
- The system works by pumping water up to a reservoir at night when electricity is cheaper, then releasing it during the day to generate power through turbines.
- The Dinorwig facility required over 5 million tons of rock excavation, with a reservoir holding seven million tons of water for daily energy needs.
- The facility has a surge tank to control pressure and a network of tunnels leading to the turbines, providing 1800 megawatts of power in just ten seconds.
- The Odello solar furnace in France is the world's largest solar furnace, concentrating sunlight onto a small spot reaching temperatures of 3800 degrees Celsius.
- The furnace utilizes a parabolic reflector, 9,000 individual mirrors, and precision computer-controlled heliostats to focus sunlight onto an experimental heat shield material for space probes.
