Team: 41
School: Corona High
Area of Science: Wind Energy
Interim: Team Number: 041
School Name: Corona Public Schools
Area of Science: Renewable Energy
Project Title: An Investigation into Siting a Wind Farm
Project Description:
The movement toward the use of renewable energy has raised many questions when determining locations for these solar, wind, and tidal fields. Although wind turbines have a relatively small footprint, approximately a quarter of an acre per turbine, they require large open spaces (windustry.org). Considerations must be made for taking advantage of the best wind resources available while also making adjustments for existing land use, neighbors, aesthetics, property values, sound, public safety, liability prevention, construction impacts, and environmental concerns. The use of renewable energy is to protect and preserve the environment and this must be kept at the forefront when siting a wind farm.
Problem Solution:
The goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of why a location is chosen to site a wind farm. How can models produce viable data for helping to select productive sites with optimal wind resources? The ability to assess and characterize a location's wind resources is vital in the development, siting, and construction of a wind farm (nrel.gov). Once a location is chosen based on ideal wind resources, how do other land factors play into the final selection and distribution of towers throughout the area? Analyzing local and state policies also becomes a driving factor for determining the locations of wind farms (ncsl.org). Another area that can greatly impact is land ownership and current land uses.
Progress to Date:
To date, we have conducted background research to determine the varying aspects that must be considered when siting a Wind farm. This information is of great interest due to the current construction of Phase I of the Corona Wind Project. We realize that there are wide open spaces and ideal wind currents that travel through this area. However, we also want to know other data and areas of analysis that go into determining why an area is chosen for these types of projects and the magnitude of these projects. To produce and gather data we have received materials from Kid Wind that we will be utilizing to set and project wind siting (Kidwind.org). We have taken inventory of all pieces so that we can construct and begin collecting data. We are also working to finalize a meeting with some of the team from Pattern Energy that was responsible for siting the current project near Corona.
Expected Results:
After conducting simulations and analyzing multiple areas of data, we hope to have a better understanding of siting a wind farm. This knowledge and information can be valuable to analyze data for the siting of future wind, solar, and tidal energy projects. The use of these renewable resources can help to preserve our world for future generations and it starts with understanding how and why these sites are chosen to contribute to the creation of energy.
Team Members:
Hitch Dunlap, Humberto Fernandez, Hadley Lightfoot, Emma Mulnix, and Tripp Dunlap
Sponsoring Teachers:
Mrs. Amanda Dunlap and Mr. Samuel Hindi
Mentor:
David Janecky
Team Members:
Emma Mulnix
Humberto Fernandez
Hadley Lightfoot
Hitch Dunlap
Tripp Dunlap
Sponsoring Teacher: Amanda Dunlap