2004 FRQ *
Assuming that the existing power plant can operate at full capacity for 8,000 hrs/yr ,how many kWh of electricity an be produced by the plant in a year?
-12MW * 1000 kW/MW * 8000 hrs/yr = 96,000,000 kWh/yr 9.6x10^7Kwh/yr
At the current rate of electrical energy use per household , how many kWh of electrical energy does that community consume in one year?
3,000 homes * (8000 kWh/home)/year = 24,000,000 kWh/year 2.4x10^7 kWh/year
Identify and explain TWO environmental benefits to West Fremont of switching from coal to wind power and TWO environmental cost to West Fremont of switching from coal to wind power.
BENEFITS: -Reduced CO2 emissions which causes a decline in global warming and global climate change. -Reduces acid mine drainage from coal mine which changes the pH in aquatic ecosystems. COST: -Ecosystem fragmentation therefore producing a decline in animal populations. -Harmful to birds/migration , for example birds die when they fly into a spinning blade
Compare your answers in (a) and (b) and explain why you would or would not expect the numbers to be the same.
They are different because of consumption can be more/less during different times of the day/week/year causing a certain amount of energy to go unaccounted for in the calculations.
