Wind Turbines along highways

Abstract

The Netherlands has the goal to have 14% of the total energy production in 2020 generated in a sustainable way. In order to achieve this goal, onshore wind turbines need to have a combined capacity of 6000 MW and the offshore capacity needs to be increased to 4450 MW. The onshore wind industry is however quite saturated. Experts forecast that the onshore energy target will not be achieved due to the lack of space and heavy conflicts with local residents. Even if the target can be achieved, there is little to no space left for more large wind farms. Fully dedicating and shifting the wind energy development to the offshore sector is not without risk. Social cost benefit analyses show a wide array of different outcomes for the construction of large offshore wind farms. The net results range from losses of 5 billion euros to profits of 12 billion Euros. The Dutch government has decided to continue research and development of Dutch offshore wind projects. However, instead of completely focusing on the offshore sector, new potential onshore wind solutions could be investigated as well. The small wind turbine industry is also part of the onshore wind sector and has been well developed over the past decades. Over millions of small- and micro turbines are part of the onshore wind industry across the world. Small wind turbines are integrated into buildings or used as wind batteries. One new potential application could be to use the space along highways to install small wind turbines. Both the natural wind as the turbulence created by traffic could feed the generators to provide electricity to the grid or local applications such as street lighting or electric charging stations in the future. The report investigates the feasibility of this new concept by using the Prins Bernardweg Zaandam to Bolswarderbaan highway in the Netherlands as a virtual case study. The case study analyzes how and if the concept can be constructed and explores the impact of possible implementation. A combined technical-, stakeholder-and social cost benefit approach comprise the most essential components to make a careful assessment and recommendations. Multiple experts and stakeholders participated in interviews to provide expertise and validate information used in the analyses. The technical analysis showed that using the conventional vertical axis wind turbines from Windside grant accurate, reliable data to be used in the study and no inescapable technolocial barriers to turn up. An important unknown factor remains how the windside turbines affect the air resistance for ongoing traffic. Even though experts indicated that the effect is most likely in the favor of the traffic participants, if the project turns out to increase fuel usage the project cannot be launched. This was the main outcome from the stakeholder analysis, where both representatives from Rijkswaterstaat as the ANWB indicate a no go when drivers face additional travelling costs by driving on a highway filled with wind turbines. When this is not the case, the stakeholder analysis showed that there are no stakeholders who are likely to seriously threaten or influence the project in a negative way. All critical stakeholders can be convinced to support the project or stay neutral. These outcomes would have paved the way for the concept of wind turbines along the highway, if it was not for the social cost benefit analysis showing excessive negative social costs. Even in a best case scenario the net value of the project over the course of time touches a negative amount of over 700 million euros, with costs of over 3600 euro per Mwh. The preceeding answers the research question: To what extent can the concept of converting traffic turbulence and regular wind to useful energy be implemented in the Netherlands? The answer is that the concept can be fully implemented, but at as for now excessive costs. It should not be implemented yet on a medium- or large scale. Implementing the concept on a small scale could be worthwhile to investigate several matters. First, the effect of traffic passing wind turbines should be investigated. This knowledge can be used to inspire highly customized wind turbines which could potentially be cheaper and more efficient. The research is also needed to replace the assumptions made by the report with empirical evidence. Secondly, the potential reduction of both noise pollution and blinding effects by a row of wind turbines need to be researched. When these effects are substantially positive the use of wind turbines along highways might yet become interesting again. Third, the complete potential of wind capacity along all the highways in the Netherlands needs to be mapped. This provides an indication of the extra capacity that could be installed onshore using this method. In the future this capacity could be called upon when other options turn out to have a more negative net value, or the net value of this concept changes to an acceptable value. The last recommendation is to expand the concept to researching the installment of wind turbines along railroads. The electrical infrastructure is in place and trains come and go when it is not winter time in the Netherlands.