Thesis (M.Env.Stud.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Little is known about the impact of marine renewable energy installations upon the marine environment and those who use it. Harnessing marine energy will involve the offshore siting of energy extraction devices and their associated infrastructure. This will alter the local environment and substantially modify use and access for a variety of marine stakeholders, potentially leading to conflict. Using the Ecosystem Approach (EA) as a conceptual framework, this thesis aimed to answer the question: What is the potential for conflict between the marine renewable energy industry and marine stakeholders, and how can this be mitigated? The research consisted of three components which used a variety of methods: i) stakeholder identification through a review of the literature and use of a novel interactive mapping method; ii) an investigation of the potential consequences for the priority stakeholder which used a mail survey and in-depth interviews; and iii) an exploration of potential mitigation which used ecosystem modelling. The stakeholder most likely to be affected by marine renewable energy device (MRED) deployment was the fishing industry. Potential consequences included: navigation and safety hazards, loss of access and alternative employment. Further exploration revealed that a loss of livelihood was the all-encompassing concern for fishers, and that skills shortages (transferable skills) may mean that should a loss of livelihood occur there may not be acceptable alternative employment. The modelling exercise indicated that it is not currently possible to definitively predict whether any opportunities which may be created by MRED installation will mitigate any negative effects, and that exclusion zones may actually decrease catches for most fleets. The findings of this study have implications for ‘conflict-free’ development of the marine renewable energy industry. To address this, several policy recommendations were offered as regards to operationalising the EA in terms of marine renewable energy.

This dissertation represents an effort to advance interdisciplinary research in issues relevant for energy and environmental policy, combining economics with applied engineering and ecology. It includes work that is informed by theoretical and empirical studies, and is conceptually centered in the notion that competitive markets lead to inefficient combinations of risk and yield. In the first two chapters of the dissertation, I study this in the context of wind energy capacity investments, where profit-maximizing developers choose the location and timing of the construction of wind farms. The final chapter of the dissertation is an empirical study on the effects of intensive aquaculture on water pollution.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The West Coast Region (WCR) of the Western Cape Province in South Africa is earmarked for at least 13 windfarm developments. These proposed developments represent an investment in and a movement towards cleaner and alternative ways of energy generation. All developments that will alter the environment or landscape are usually received with some sort of opposition. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the presence of wind turbines in the form of wind farms will have any affect on the sense of place of insiders of (residents) and outsiders (visitors) to the West Coast Region, the insiders’ attachment to their natural landscapes and the outsiders’ experiences of the region. In the context of multiple issues arising from a very complex discourse around the possible effects that the proposed windfarms are perceived to have in the WCR, this study approached the research topic from three perspectives of inquiry: (1) windfarms and people’s place attachment; (2) windfarms and landscape aesthetic and function interference; and (3) windfarms and its effect on tourism. The study area includes 15 towns of three subregions of the WCR, namely the Swartland, West Coast Peninsula and Bergrivier subregions. The research objectives are seven fold, namely (1) to establish a solid base and understanding of the concepts and constructs related to wind energy, landscape aesthetics and place attachment; (2) to review appropriate case studies reported in the international literature and apply relevant methodologies in this study; (3) investigate theories, types and models of public decision making to explore the degree to which these could be applied to windfarm support or objection in the WCR; (4) to critique current policies in windfarm establishment and discover whether and how these shape social objection to or support for windfarm development in the WCR; (5) to establish the perceptions and attitudes relating to wind turbines of three groups of actors (tourism industry, tourists and residents) in the WCR by conducting questionnaire surveys in 15 West Coast towns and villages and interpret these views in relation to the impacts of wind turbines on the local landscape; (6) to determine the insiders’ place attachments to the WCR, whether the presence of wind turbines will affect these attachments and whether their attachments influence decisions to support or oppose the proposed windfarm developments; and (7) to assess the extent to which the presence of wind turbines will affect the tourism value of the region. Primary data was further strengthened by semi-structured interviews, informal conversations and observation at public participation and specialized group meetings. Data was analysed using SPSS, Excel and ArcGIS. The findings indicate that respondents are concerned with issues related to the sustainability of the natural environment and that the residents of the WCR possess a strong sense of attachment to the region, but no clear indication was found that their place attachment serve as a reason for their opposition to the proposed windfarm developments. Although the support for windfarm development decreases from a national to a regional level and to the local level of in or close to the towns in which respondents reside, their opposition to windfarm development in the region cannot only be regarded as simple not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitudes. Seventy-five per cent of the respondents regard the physical landscape of the WCR as very special, but would still support the development of windfarms in the region indicating that the respondents do not believe the construction of wind turbines in the WCR landscapes will influence the special character of landscapes negatively. There is no indication presently that the tourism industry would be affected negatively by windfarm development in the region as both residents and visitors do not believe that windfarms deter tourists from visiting certain areas and more than 90% of visitors indicated they would return to the WCR after a number of windfarms have been developed. It is recommended that a post-development impact study be conducted to determine the attitudes toward windfarm development in the WCR following the deployment of wind turbines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Weskus-streek in die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika word geoormerk vir ten minste 13 windplaas ontwikkelinge. Hierdie voorgestelde ontwikkelinge verteenwoordig ‘n belegging in en ‘n beweging na skoner en alternatiewe maniere van energieopwekking. Alle ontwikkelinge wat die omgewing of landskap sal verander word gewoonlik ontvang deur ‘n mate van teenkanting. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of die teenwoordigheid van windturbines in die vorm van windplase enige invloed op die plekbewustheid van inwoners van en besoekers aan die Weskus-streek, hulle gehegdheid aan die streek se natuurlike landskappe en besoekers se ervarings van die streek sal uitoefen. Binne die konteks van verskeie kwessies met hul oorsprong vanuit ‘n baie komplekse diskoers rondom die moontlike effekte wat vermeen word die voorgestelde windplase op die Weskus-streek sal hê, benader hierdie studie die navorsingsonderwerp vanuit drie navraagsperspektiewe: (1) windplase en mense se plekgehegdheid; (2) windplase en landskap estetiese en funksie steuring; en (3) windplase en die effek daarvan op toerisme. Die studie area sluit 15 dorpe uit drie substreke van die Weskus-streek in, naamlik die Swartland, Weskus Skiereiland en Bergrivier substreke. Die navorsingsdoelwitte is sewevoudig, naamlik (1) om ‘n konseptuele basis en verstaan van konsepte en konstrukte geassosieerd met windenergie-opwekking, landskap estetika en plekgehegdheid te kweek; (2) om toepaslike gevallestudies te hersien en sommige relevante metodologie vir die studie aan te wend; (3) om teorieë, tipes en modelle van publieke besluitneming te ondersoek ten einde te bepaal tot watter graad dit aangewend kan word tot windplaasondersteuning of teenkanting in die Weskus-streek; (4) om kritiek te lewer op huidige beleide van windplaasontwikkeling en te ontdek tot watter mate en hoe dit sosiale teenkanting of ondersteuning van windplaasontwikkeling in die Weskus-streek vorm; (5) om die persepsies en houdings van drie groepe deelnemers (die toerisme industrie, toeriste en inwoners) in die Weskus-streek te bepaal deur vraelysopnames in 15 Weskus dorpe te doen en hierdie sienings in verhouding met die impakte van windturbines op die plaaslike landskap te interpreer; (6) om die inwoners se plekgehegdheid tot die Weskus-streek te bepaal en of die teenwoordigheid van wind turbines hierdie gehegdheid sal affekteer en of hul gehegdheid besluitneming rakende die ondersteuning vir, of teenkanting teen, windplaasontwkkeling beïnvloed; en (7) om te bepaal tot watter mate die teenwoordigheid van windturbines die toerisme waarde van die streek sal affekteer. Primêre data is verder versterk deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, informele gesprekke en waarneming by publieke deelname sessies en gespesialiseerde groepsvergaderings. Data is ontleed deur middel van SPSS, Excel en ArcGIS. Daar is bevind dat respondente besorg is oor kwessies rondom die volhoubaarheid van die natuurlike omgewing en dat die inwoners van die Weskus-streek ‘n sterk gehegtheid aan die streek het, maar geen definitiewe aanduiding is gevind dat hulle gehegdheid aan die streek as ‘n behoorlike rede vir hul teenstand teen die voorgestelde windplase aangevoer kan word nie. Alhoewel ondersteuning vir windplase afneem vanaf nasionaal na streeksvlak en die plaaslike vlak van binne of naby die dorp waar respondente woon, kan teenkanting teen die ontwikkeling van windplase in die streek nie slegs eenvoudig as ‘n nie-in-my-agterplaas houding (NIMAP) beskou word nie. Vyf-en-sewentig persent van die respondente ag die fisiese landskap van die Weskus-streek as baie spesiaal, maar ondersteun steeds windplaasontwikkeling in die streek wat aandui dat die respondente nie van mening is dat die oprigting van windturbines in die Weskus-streek landskappe die spesiale karakter van hierdie landskappe negatief sal beïnvloed nie. Daar is tans geen aanduiding dat die toerismebedryf negatief deur windplaasontwikkeling beïnvloed sal word nie aangesien beide inwoners en besoekers aangedui het dat hul nie van mening is dat windplase toeriste sal verhinder om sekere areas te besoek nie. Negentig persent van besoekers het aangedui dat hul steeds sal terugkeer na die Weskus-streek ná die ontwikkeling van ‘n aantal windplase. Dit word aanbeveel dat ‘n ná-ontwikkeling impakstudie onderneem word om die houdings jeens windplaasontwikkeling in die Weskus-streek ná oprigting van die turbines te ondersoek.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / In this study the focus is on the implementation of a coreless axial ux permanent magnet (AFPM) generator for use in a wind generator application with direct battery charging. The wind generator power system is analysed and discussed. The common concerns with AFPM wind generators in recti er-fed direct battery charging applications, such as maximum power point matching and acoustic noise emission, are discussed. In this study the AFPM wind generator is theoretically analysed and the different winding topologies for this type of machine are evaluated. This evaluation is based on a theoretical analysis and con rmed by nite element analysis and practical measurements. It is shown that an AFPM machine equipped with nonoverlapping windings can give a similar performance to that of normal overlapping windings, while using less copper. It is shown in this thesis that the coreless AFPM generator has a relatively low internal phase synchronous inductance resulting in severe problems with regard to maximum power matching and noise. A method is proposed and in detail analysed in this thesis whereby better power point matching is achieved and near-sinusoidal current is obtained using AFPM generators in direct battery charging wind energy systems. The wind generator system's performance is verified with a SimplorerTM simulation package and practical measurements. The calculations from theoretically derived equations are in good agreement with finite element and measured results.

Hintergrund "Die ersten in Serie produzierten und kommerziell relevanten Windkraftanlagen (WKA) wurden in den frühen 1990er Jahren aufgestellt. In Deutschland, wie auch in anderen Ländern, wurden in dieser Zeit Förderprogramme wie das Stromeinspeisegesetz aufgelegt und ein zügiger Ausbau der Windenergienutzung setzte ein. So wurden zu Beginn der 1990er Jahre ca. 200 Anlagen mit je bis zu 300 kW pro Jahr installiert und Ende der 1990er Jahre waren es schon bis zu 1500 Anlagen pro Jahr mit je mehr als 1500 kW Leistung. In den 2000ern stieg die Durchschnittsleitung der jährlich installierten Anlagen auf über 2 MW auch wenn sich die Anzahl der Installationen verringerte, siehe Abbildung 1 bei Ender (Ender 2015). Insgesamt sind ca. 3000 Altanlagen entweder schon ca. 20 Jahre im Betrieb und haben damit ihre Konstruktionslebenszeit erreicht oder sind kurz davor. Wie in Abbildung 1 bei Ender (Ender 2015) deutlich zu sehen, steht damit ein rapider Anstieg der von Abriss oder Weiterbetrieb betroffenen Anlagen in den nächsten 5 Jahren bevor. ..."

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science in Electrical Engineering June 2016 / Through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) the South African government has awarded opportunities for growth of renewable energy through bidding rounds. Round 1 saw a total capacity of 397 MW being awarded to independent power producers (IPP). Subsequently Rounds 2, 3 and 4 each had a total capacity of 333 MW auctioned. The advent of renewables on the market has brought upon its own associated problems with regards to power quality issues and failure of HV equipment. This thesis will address transformer failures that occurred at an onshore wind farm. The nature of the transformer failures suggest transient overvoltages are mainly to blame. A comparison between transformer failures in South African and Brazil suggest a common failure mechanism. The failure starts with an inter-turn insulation failure which propagates to an inter-layer insulation. In worst cases the failure mode results in a puncture through the LV-HV barrier and punctures through the LV winding. An extensive literature review was performed to find appropriate methods to predict and explain the failure mode in wind turbine LV-MV step-up transformers. Of the different models which were reviewed the most notable was the Multi-conductor Transmission Line (MTL) model which was chosen as the preferred model due to its ability to predict the inter-turn/inter-layer voltage stresses. Verification of the developed MTL model by the author was then compared to published results of an MTL model of a disc winding transformer. The results of the comparison revealed a relatively good agreement between the developed model and the published model. The application of the MTL model to represent the voltage stresses in transformer windings was then extended to two specially constructed wind turbine step-up transformer prototypes. The prototypes differed in the winding arrangement of the MV coil. The other used two separate MV coils separated by an oil gap whereas the other had a single MV coil. To validate the model accuracy, a comparison of measured results versus those obtained analytically was done for the two prototypes. The analytical and measured results also had a relatively good agreement for the two prototypes considered. Measurement of switching surges was done on-site at the wind farm to understand the nature of the transients. Using analysis tools such as FFT and frequency domain severity factor it was possible to understand the impact the nature of these transients would pose on the transformer insulation. Different mitigation techniques which can be used to alleviate the transient overvoltages to within safe levels were investigated. The most notable protection device considered was the RL choke device which offered a significant reduction of the pre-strikes and is virtually transparent under power frequency operation. / MT2017

The goal of this Thesis is to demonstrate, through experimentation, that ocean waves have a positive effect on the performance of an offshore wind turbine. A scale model wind turbine was placed into a wave tank that was completely covered and fitted with a variable speed fan to create different wind and wave conditions for testing. Through testing, different power coefficient vs. tip speed ratio graphs were created and a change in power coefficient was observed between steady operating conditions and operating conditions with waves. The results show a promising increase in power production for offshore wind turbines when allowed to operate with the induced motion caused by the amplitude and frequency of water waves created. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

This thesis presents investigations on the potential negative effects of wind turbine noise on the human ear from a sound point source (i.e. wind farm). In Chapter 2, the tectorial membrane, which is a crucial gelatinous structural matrix located within the cochlea of the inner ear, is considered to have a similar constitutive stress-strain relationship to that of an elastomer (rubber) in tension. The tectorial membrane appears to stretch when subjected to constant heavy sound stimulation. The tectorial membrane is modeled as a simply-supported beam with an external load Pext applied at midspan. A virtual work approach is used to balance the external work at midspan Pextδz of the tectorial membrane with the internal strain energy from its hysteresis loops. These hysteresis loops quantify the amount of damage that the tectorial membrane undergoes due to an applied external loading. Normalized damage tables are presented at the end of the chapter to suggest safe distances away from the wind turbines to limit damage to the tectorial membrane. Chapter 3 considers a hypothetical autonomous village constructed in South Pretoria, South Africa. This village accommodates approximately 2000 people (~500 families) and receives electricity for hot water from a nearby 2.5 MW wind farm. The design process for the village is discussed from an architectural and design standpoint. The wind farm specifications, specifically the number of 2.5 MW wind turbines needed to provide electricity for hot water, are established. Results from Chapter 2 are used to suggest minimum safe distances between the wind farm and the autonomous village in the context of limiting damage to the tectorial membrane.

D. Tech. Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Design / South Africa has limited reserve electricity resources and many parts of the country have limited access to electricity. Electricity production capacity is at maximum and almost each Giga watt is accounted for. Predictions suggest South Africa would have a serious electricity allocation problem in the very near future and current rolling blackout in many of our cities can attest to the looming problem. The energy crisis in South Africa has highlighted the need to increase electricity generation capacity and to search for alternative energy sources. Solar chimney plants could form part of the solution in the near future in South Africa to create additional power. This study aimed to develop a wind generation system in areas where wind is absent. A solar chimney power plant is expected to provide remote areas in South Africa with electric power, or to complement the current electricity grid. Solar energy and the psychometric state of the air are important to encourage the full development of a solar chimney power plant for the thermal and electrical production of energy for various uses. Research within the South African context and particularly on increasing the effectiveness of the solar chimney power plant technology is lacking; as such this study proposes the development of a solar chimney plant and associated technology to ensure the effectiveness of this plant.