AP Environmental Science 6.12 Wind Energy

[Maximum number: 9]

An offshore wind farm project using turbines to generate electricity is to be built along the Atlantic coast of the United States. It will be located about 13 km from the coast in water with an average depth of 10 m.

(a)

Describe one environmental benefit associated with an offshore wind project.

[ 1 ]

(l point for correct description of an environmental benefit associated with an offshore wind project)

- Reduced environmental damage from decreased reliance on fossil fuels, such as:

- Less habitat/ecosystem destruction due to less exploration and extraction (less mining or drilling, etc.)

- Less air/soil/water pollution (less exhaust emissions, pipeline leaks, tanker leaks) due to less transportation of fossil fuels

- Less air pollution (no/fewer particulates, $\mathrm{VOCs}, \mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}, \mathrm{SO}_{\mathrm{x}}, \mathrm{CO}_{2}$ , or greenhouse gases) due to less fossil fuel combustion

- Reduced environmental damage from decreased reliance on nuclear power, such as:

- No risk of radioactive releases with accidents

- No hazardous/radioactive wastes to store

- Less exploration/ extraction/processing for uranium ore

- Increased aquatic habitat/artificial reefs for barnacles, sponges, other invertebrates, fish

(b)

Identify and describe one potential economic effect of an offshore wind project.

[ 2 ]

(c)

Calculate how much electricity (in MWh) the wind project needs to generate per year in order to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.

[ 2 ]

Calculate how much electricity (in MWh) the wind project needs to generate per year in order to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.

(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)

(0.80) \times\left(2.0 \times 10^{6} M W h\right)=1.6 \times 10^{6} M W h

(d)

Customers in the service area pay $0.20/kWh for electricity. Calculate how much revenue will be produced if the wind turbines provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.

[ 2 ]

(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)

1.6 \times 10^{6} M W h \times \frac{\$\left(2 \times 10^{-1}\right)}{k W h} \times \frac{1 \times 10^{3} k W h}{1 M W h}=\$ 3.2 \times 10^{8}=\$ 320,000,000=\$ 320 \text { million }

(e)

Assuming all turbines are operating, calculate how many hours the wind turbines must operate to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.

[ 2 ]

(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)

1.6 \times 10^{6} M W h \times \frac{1 \text { turbine }}{4 M W} \times \frac{1}{2 \times 10^{2} \text { turbines }}=2 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{hr}=2,000 \text { hours }

AP Environmental Science 6.12: Wind Energy

Covered syllabus points

Covered syllabus points

6.12 Wind Energy question 1

Question (a)

Question (b)

Question (c)

Question (d)

Question (e)