Wind energy is a type of renewable energy derived from the kinetic energy of air currents. For its part, winds arise on the planet due to pressure and temperature gradients, which in any case are caused indirectly by the sun’s influence on the earth.
The development of wind energy around the world, in recent years, is very rapid, comparable to the rate of growth of the gaming industry, in particular online casinos. Leaders at the moment are China and the U.S., but the rest of the world is gradually developing this promising direction “clean” energy, based on an inexhaustible natural resource – wind energy.
Every year more and more wind turbines are being installed all over the world, and the trend is for further expansion of the technology.
Wind power is playing an ever-increasing role worldwide as a renewable energy resource. Countries such as Spain, Germany and Denmark are close to reaching their goal of generating 30% of their electricity needs from wind power.
Although the United States currently generates only about 5% of its electricity from wind power, in relation to its total installed capacity, it ranks first in the world, recently surpassing Germany.
Scientists predict that by 2050, wind will cover more than 1/3 of the world’s electricity needs.
Wind power resources are so enormous that they cannot be fully exploited even in the long term. On the quantitative side there can only be a question of the possible degree of concentration of wind power plants in a particular limited area.
Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of using wind turbines.
Advantages:
- A completely renewable source of energy is used. As a result of the sun, air currents are constantly moving in the atmosphere, the creation of which does not require the extraction, transportation, and burning of any fuel. The source is fundamentally inexhaustible (wind is a free and easily accessible renewable energy source).
- During the operation of the wind power plant there are no harmful emissions. This means that there are no greenhouse gases and no production waste at all. That is, the technology is environmentally friendly.
- The wind farm does not use water for its work.
- The wind turbine and the main working parts of such generators are located at a considerable height above the ground. The mast, on which the wind turbine is installed, occupies a small area on the ground, so the surrounding space can be successfully used for household needs, various buildings and structures can be placed there, for example for agriculture.
- There is no need to prepare an area for the installation of installations.
- Wind energy is cost-effective in many parts of the world.
- Transmission losses are much lower due to the proximity to consumers, as wind turbines can be installed as early as 300 meters from settlements.
- The use of wind turbines is especially justified for isolated areas, where conventional methods cannot deliver electricity, and autonomous supply for such areas is probably the only way out.
- After a wind farm is put into operation, the cost of a kilowatt hour of electricity generated in this way decreases significantly. For example, in the USA they specially study the operation of newly installed plants, optimize these systems and thus manage to reduce the cost of electricity for consumers by up to 20 times of the original cost.
- Maintenance during operation is minimal. Repairs and maintenance of wind farms are much cheaper than other plants.
Disadvantages:
- Dependent on external conditions at a particular time. Wind can be strong, or it may not exist at all. In order to provide continuous power to the consumer under such changing conditions, a considerable amount of electricity storage is needed. In addition, the infrastructure for transmitting this energy is required.
- The construction of a wind farm requires material costs (high investment cost). In some cases, investments on a regional scale are involved, which is not always easy to secure. It is the start-up phase, the construction of the project itself is a very expensive undertaking. The aforementioned infrastructure is an important part of the project, which also costs money. Wind energy is more expensive than traditional methods of generating electricity. On average, the cost of 1 kW of installed capacity is $1000.
- Some experts believe that wind turbines distort the natural landscape, that their appearance violates the natural natural aesthetics. Therefore, large firms have to resort to the help of professionals in design and landscape architecture.
- Wind turbines produce aerodynamic noise, which can cause discomfort to people. For this reason, some countries in Europe have adopted a law according to which the distance from a wind turbine to residential buildings should not be less than 300 meters, and the noise level should not exceed 45 dB during the day and 35 dB at night.
- There is a small probability of collision of a bird with a wind turbine blade, but it is so small that it hardly needs serious consideration. Bats, on the other hand, are more vulnerable, because the structure of their lungs, unlike that of birds, contributes to fatal barotrauma, if the mammal hits the area of low pressure near the edge of the blade.
Despite the disadvantages, the advantages of wind turbines in terms of benefits to the environment are obvious. For clarity, it should be noted that the work of a 1 MW wind turbine generator can save about 29000 tons of coal or 92000 barrels of oil for 20 years.
Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies.
However, given the growing demand for wind energy, it is important to note that current wind energy technology is still far from optimal.
Because of its intermittent nature, wind energy poses serious new challenges before becoming a fully reliable technology. For example, on average, today’s wind turbines operate at only 35% of their capacity. They also operate at full capacity less than 10% of the time.
This is due in part to the variability of wind, but also to economic factors affecting the aerodynamic design of the wind turbine. Although it is possible to increase wind energy capture by increasing rotor diameter this approach has economic limitations.
The intermittent and unpredictable nature of wind energy makes energy storage systems a key element in renewable energy.
A renewable energy source such as wind is poised to play an important role in the world’s energy future. The next generation of wind turbines should improve their efficiency, reduce their acquisition cost, improve the reliability and cost of electricity generated and increase their competitiveness compared to the use of traditional fossil fuels.
The pros of wind power far outweigh the cons. Gradually, the myths around wind generation are being destroyed and, on the whole, one can prophesy a bright future for wind power.