The state of Nebraska has huge potential as a major producer of clean energy. Wind power – a sustainable energy source – can be of great economic benefit to Nebraska communities, according to Jerry Hudgins, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr Hudgins spoke to PES and explained why Nebraska is the perfect fit for wind energy, and what’s needed to turn this potential into reality.
Hudgins said the wind resource, coupled with the agricultural use of the land in Nebraska, makes it possible to install wind farms – power plants that use wind turbines to generate electricity – in the rural areas without causing much disturbance in land use. Large amounts of electrical energy can be generated through these wind farms, he added.
Theoretically, these wind farms can generate enough energy to even meet the electrical demand for the state, he said. However, it will be practical only if scientists are able to find an efficient way to store large amounts of energy – something his research team is working on through the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR), of which Hudgins is interim director.
The research is looking at improving the energy density and response speed of intermediate energy storage components or looking at mixed generation systems, such as wind and wind energy photovoltaic, to minimize the storage needs, Hudgins said.
Economic and Environmental Benefits for Nebraskans
Hudgins said there is willingness among developers to do wind energy projects and it will be an economic benefit for the local communities to provide their land for production of wind energy. “I see a long-term market here,” he added.
He explained that besides the blades, wind turbines have many other parts – both mechanical and electrical – which are supplied by secondary manufacturers. Once there is a more extensive transmission infrastructure for the wind farms, Nebraska will become attractive as a location for developers and manufacturers, bringing investments worth millions of dollars.
In addition to attracting those manufacturing businesses, wind energy projects can also provide large amounts of electricity for residential consumption.
