wind turbine - image source www.nrel.gov (14931)
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| Wind farm Scotland, UK | Meyersdale Wind Project southern Pennsylvania |
Wind Energy
Wind energy has been used over the years to perform useful work; such as grinding grain crops or pumping water. The emphasis in these modern days is to utilise the energy in the wind to generate electricity using a wind turbine.
Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 158 gigawatts in 2009 (Lars Kroldrup).
The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) report that 16 Gigawatt of new capacity was installed in the first six months of 2010. This is approximately 2% of electricity generated worldwide (Lars Kroldrup). In some countries wind generated electricity supplies a significant percentage of their electricity demand.
For centuries wind energy has propelled sailing ships around the world. It has been used to pump water and to grind grain. Now wind farms are now seen as an essential part of the UK energy plan.
Wind farms are situated both offshore and on land. In a few years time with smart meters installed in homes, it will be much easier for people with their own generating capacity to feed electricity back into the grid (and be paid for it!).
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| Wind farm Scotland, UK | Peace Wind offshore |
In the context of global warming, wind energy is an important means of producing renewable electricity. Wind energy is of course derived from solar energy, the power of the sun heating our atmosphere and causing our global wind patterns. Wind power can be converted into energy to perform useful work, for example using a wind turbine to generate electricity.
Because wind power is a renewable resource, it is mostly a clean, green energy source which does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) or other gases which harm the atmosphere.
Of course wind power is not 100% free of these gases! The process of manufacture and transport generates a certain amount of greenhouse gases, but these average out over the years of operation of the turbine.
More and more businesses and private homes are now generating electricity from wind turbines on their own land. There is the opportunity to sell unused electricity back to the electricity companies.
In practice the capital costs of generating your own electricity is high. It is only over time as the equipment is paid for that it actually saves money. I would expect this to change over the next ten years as financial incentives are used to encourage people to generate electricity for themselves!
The Global Wind Energy Council predicts that by 2014 global wind capacity will stand at 409 GW, up from 158 GW at the end of 2008. (GWEC)
Wind turbine noise levels
The noise volume from a typical wind turbine (EWEA, 1991) at specified distances from the turbine is as follows:
| metres | dB(A) |
| 150 | 45.3 |
| 160 | 44.7 |
| 120 | 42.9 |
| 300 | 39.4 |
| 400 | 36.9 |
Click here for videos and resources on wind energy
References
Lars Kroldrup Gains in Global Wind Capacity Reported Green Inc., February 15, 2010.
GWEC - GLOBAL WIND 2009 REPORT
Wind farm Scotland - author: Vincent van Zeijst - Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported
Meyersdale Wind Project Pennsylvania - User: Dhaluza - Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported
Peace wind offshore - Source Wikmedia Commons- User: Syrek69
- GNU Free Documentation License 1.2