Wind Power Renewable Energy *
The facts about residential wind power
Is there a future for wind power?
Wind power advantages
The disadvantages of wind power
Dispelling 5 wind power myths
The main renewable energy resources that you know about are sunlight (solar energy) and wind energy and perhaps to a lesser extent tidal energy systems and geothermal energy systems. All of these are in some way or another connected to the sun, which is the ultimate life giver on this planet.
The Earth-Atmosphere system is in equilibrium such that heat radiation into space is equal to incoming solar radiation, the resulting level of energy within the Earth-Atmosphere system can roughly be described as the Earth's "climate." The hydrosphere (water) absorbs a major fraction of the incoming radiation. Most radiation is absorbed at low latitudes around the equator, but this energy is dissipated around the globe in the form of winds and ocean currents.
Wave motion may play a role in the process of transferring mechanical energy between the atmosphere and the ocean through wind stress. Solar energy is also responsible for the distribution of precipitation which is tapped by hydroelectric projects, and for the growth of plants used to create biofuels.
The IEA explains it like this: "Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources."
* Let's first examine wind power as a source of green alternative energy.
A wind turbine needs air, lots of it. A modern wind turbine ranges from 600 KW to 5 MW of rated power, although for commercial use the output range is typically 1.5-3 MW.
Since wind speed is not constant, a wind farm's annual energy production is never as much as the sum of the generator nameplate ratings multiplied by the total hours in a year. The ratio of actual productivity in a year to this theoretical maximum is called the capacity factor. Typical capacity factors are 20-40%, with values at the upper end of the range in particularly favourable sites. For example, a 1 megawatt turbine with a capacity factor of 35% will not produce 8,760 megawatt-hours in a year, but only 0.35x24x365 = 3,066 MWh, averaging to 0.35 MW. Online data is available for some locations and the capacity factor can be calculated from the yearly output.
Globally, the long-term technical potential of wind energy is believed to be five times total current global energy production, or 40 times current electricity demand. This could require large amounts of land to be used for wind turbines, particularly in areas of higher wind resources. Offshore resources experience mean wind speeds of ~90% greater than that of land, so offshore resources could contribute substantially more energy. This number could also increase with higher altitude ground-based or airborne wind turbines.
Wind power is renewable and produces no greenhouse gases during operation, such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Wind Power Market
At the end of 2008, worldwide wind farm capacity was 120,791 megawatts (MW), representing an increase of 28.8 percent during the year, and wind power produced some 1.3% of global electricity consumption. Wind power accounts for approximately 19% of electricity use in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland. The United States is an important growth area and installed U.S. wind power capacity reached 25,170 MW at the end of 2008.
Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, in Texas, is the world's largest wind farm at 735.5 MW capacity. It consists of 291 GE Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines and 130 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines. A proposed 4,000 MW facility, called the Pampa Wind Project, is to be located near Pampa, Texas.
In the UK, a licence to build the world's largest offshore windfarm, in the Thames estuary, has been granted. The London Array Windfarm, 20 km off Kent and Essex, should eventually consist of 341 turbines, occupying an area of 230 km². This is a £1.5 billion, 1,000 megawatt project, which will power one-third of London homes. The windfarm will produce an amount of energy that, if generated by conventional means, would result in 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. It could also make up to 10% of the Government's 2010 renewables target.
Wind Farms
Wind power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy
A wind farm, when installed on agricultural land, has one of the lowest environmental impacts of all energy sources:
* It occupies less land area per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated than any other energy conversion system, apart from rooftop solar energy, and is compatible with grazing and crops.
* It generates the energy used in its construction in just 3 months of operation, yet its operational lifetime is 20–25 years.
* Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution produced by its construction are low and declining. There are no emissions or pollution produced by its operation.
* In substituting for base-load coal power, wind power produces a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and a net increase in biodiversity.
* Modern wind turbines are almost silent and rotate so slowly (in terms of revolutions per minute) that they are rarely a hazard to birds.
Studies of birds and offshore wind farms in Europe have found that there are very few bird collisions. Several offshore wind sites in Europe have been in areas heavily used by seabirds. Improvements in wind turbine design, including a much slower rate of rotation of the blades and a smooth tower base instead of perchable lattice towers, have helped reduce bird mortality at wind farms around the world. However older smaller wind turbines may be hazardous to flying birds. Birds are severely impacted by fossil fuel energy; examples include birds dying from exposure to oil spills, habitat loss from acid rain and mountaintop removal coal mining, and mercury poisoning.
What is wind power and how does it work?
The facts about residential wind power
Is there a future for wind power?
Wind power advantages
The disadvantages of wind power
Dispelling 5 wind power myths
Many people are interested and conscious of the need to convert to a cleaner more abundant form of energy sources such as wind power. And because of the many misconceptions regarding the current standards of wind power turbines and windmills facts are unclear.
This is not a system which someone living in an apartment or track housing neighborhood would benefit from. The facts about residential wind power are eye opening to the position of technological advancement and just how far we have come as well as how far we have to go.
Depending upon your location you may not be able to reap the benefits of using wind power sources. Since the required lot size is no less than 1 acre this eliminates a great number of homes that can not benefit from this renewable source of energy. Although over the past 20 years the wind farms have increased to produce a broader range of electrical production, it is still confined to rural areas.
On average typical electrical usage for a single family home ranges from 750 k/w/h to 800k/w/h per month. Depending upon the residential lot size as well as the typical wind speeds the standard size of wind power turbine required to facilitate the necessary electrical output the standard type of wind power turbine would be a 5-15 kilowatt system on an 80-100 foot tower. Since it is recommended to use standard gird utility in addition to the wind power turbines because of the variations in wind speed, it may be more effective to utilize both systems rather than solely relying on the wind power system alone.
The production of residential wind powered energy is much like the standard utility grid system, wind powered electricity is delivered to surrounding homes from a wind farm by means of power lines which feed directly into a power support box, typically located on the outside of most homes. With the advancements of technology all services are automatically switched between wind power electricity and standard utility gird electricity. Therefore a full automated system operates the production of electricity to every home on the wind farms gird.
Understanding that over the years the transition and advancements of wind power energy has greatly grown from the first models used in the early 80’s. However this system has not upgraded to the point that wind power energy can be delivered to inter cities and/or small propertied residents. The facts about residential wind power, is a massive number of residents have yet to benefit from the technology advances.
Still utility companies are working on increasing the probability that this cleaner renewable form of wind power energy will be available to everyone. It just a matter of time before every home will be running on a duel form energy source.
While many people are well informed on the conversational and environmental features of wind power energy, there are a great number of misinformed utility consumers who are apprehensive and totally against global transitioning into wind powered energy. The majority of these misconceptions stem from rumored or mythological stories relating to harmful effects of wind power electricity and/or turbine towers.
There are at least 10 well-know myths about wind power energy, however this article dispelled 5 of the more common myths; in hopes of providing a profound understanding of the global implications and benefits of using wind power energy.
Wind Towers are harmful to the environment. You may have heard that the tall towers used on wind farms are dangerous to birds or that birds are drawn to the towers because of the high velocity of wind produced. The truth is statically there no more reported bird incidents which resulted in death by wind towers, than any other reports of bird’s deaths from other free standing building and/or apparatus. In fact most birds steer clear of this high powered wind radiating tower as much as possible.
Wind power turbines violate noise ordinances. Many people who buy into this myth typically received information from someone who is not abreast of current advancements with the wind turbines. This information is out dated, where this was a fact over 10-15 years ago, since then advancements to wind towers/turbines now produce very little low noise and are barely heard. Furthermore wind farms must conform to noise ordinances that are strictly adhered to and enforced.
Wind energy only works in high wind speeds. In the past 10 years wind power technology has refined the older model turbines and replaced them with more efficient working turbines. With the new automated features, wind towers adjust to the wind and most often work during a light breeze. Because these features are more modern the towers can also adjust to wind variances in different directions, so no longer do they rely on a minimal amount of wind speed to operate efficiently.
Wind Power is less cost effective for single homes. This is completely unfounded, with the advancements made in the wind power industry. They have become readily available for residential use and can be quite cost effective. Though homes will require a sufficient amount of lot space to accommodate wind power equipment, there are a number of cost incentives such as tax exemptions associated with this conversion. Plus utility companies offer additional incentives to wind power customers in the form of rebates. These companies will purchase unused electricity from wind power users including single home units.
Wind Towers depreciate property values. With the many national studies which have assess property values of wind power customers and property of non wind power customers, they have found no variation in the property value, therefore the claim of property depreciation is completed unsupported and holds no merit in the real estate industry.
Energy conservationists as well as natural scientist constantly inform the public about the numerous rewards of converting to wind power. These specialists revert to the commonality of the renewable aspects of wind powered energy and the abundance of resources.
Granted wind energy is one of the most widely used methods of emission control and reduction to hazardous emissions normally associated with carbon-containing resources. Yet what many people fail to disclose are the many disadvantages of wind fuel, however vast or minute these disadvantages may be the fact is they still exist.
Every ground-breaking discovery must face the question of how to effectively utilize natural forms of renewable energy. There will always be a number of pros and con’s to consider. While everyone will agree there are more pros than con’s when it comes to wind power, many people are realist and see the fine print of the many inconveniences associated with this energy source. There are at least 6 customary reasons for not converting to wind power energy sources.
Technology has not caught up to the practice of wind power energy. Basically the wind mills and wind power generator have not reached the technical state in which it can be used in inter cites and/or small suburban locations. Many people and business that elect conversion to wind power must live in zoned area specifically for this form of energy.
Cost for equipment and property to facilitate wind power practices are far too expensive for the common consumer to afford. Regardless of the amount of money saved per wattage usage through wind powered sources, most people can not afford the apparatus to harness this energy in the first place.
Unexpected changes in the weather and the various conditions associated with seasonal transactions. This is a major weakness of wind power because the wind and its strength can not be forecasted on a daily basis and for days which no wind is present the electrical surges are as equally low, thus forcing wind power dependant facilities to revert back to the standard form of electricity. This can become quite costly if there is a no wind season that last for long periods of time.
Sound pollution is yet another nuisance to using wind power. The sounds that radiate from the spinning mills and the turbines can be loud and cumbersome, which presents long term problems.
Ecological hazards can be a big problem for many naturalists who see the spinning mills as a huge danger to local wildlife such as birds which run a high risk of flying into the windmills and being killed. Plus high producing wind power farms can also cause interference with television and cable signal for neighboring residents.
Manufacturing energy emissions are low. Wind power farms depending on the total number of operating mills will only produce a finite amount of electricity and for residents outside the wind farms radius they will have to rely on traditional means of electrical support.
While the disadvantages of wind power resources may seem overwhelming, the most important factor to remember is that eventually with advances in modern technology, many of these disadvantages will be eliminated and more people will have an option of converting to wind power despite the disadvantages.
Every one has experienced the drastic hike in fuel cost as well as the increases in energy over the past two years. A global hardship was felt as many people tried to keep up the highest fuel cost since the depression.
This situation has enlightened millions of consumers to practice energy conversing methods, from using energy efficient light bulbs to ride sharing. More importantly the news and various nature channels have warned the public of unsafe and damaging effects to the earth’s atmosphere through the continual usage of carbon containing resource such as fossil fuel.
The world is quickly going green. Just being consciences of the finite resources of naturally hazardous fossil burning fuel to include coal and other forms of eco-damaging elements, is not enough. The populous is now getting more involved with natural forms of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power energy, however most people are uninformed of the various advantages and disadvantages of renewable power sources. Most commonly used forms of renewable natural power is wind power.
Many people already know the most common advantage to wind power energy, such as the abundance of this source and how easily obtain, because air is free the cost for wind powered energy only contributes to the equipment needed to convert wind to electricity. Another well know fact about wind power is the renewable factors. Plus this form of energy is eco-friendly and doesn’t pose an eminent threat to the earth atmosphere, which is a popular advantage to those who are dedicated to going green. More importantly everyone knows wind power energy cost is significantly less than the conventional methods of energy.
Nowadays thousands of homes and businesses including the agricultural industry world wide have converted to wind power sources. The purpose for this ecological reason is to assistant in the reduction of cost for manufacturing products cost , which can make the cost of living a little easier during the times inflation and high fuel cost. And because it is a non polluting producing element, many people have access to this abundant source of energy globally.
Although there are many disadvantages to wind power such some are natural disadvantages such as the weather and the unpredictability of the changes in wind force and/or lack of wind. The conversion from the conventional fossil fuel burning method can greatly reduce the emissions of hazardous fumes as well as reduce the cost of utilities annually.
Moreover if more people begin converting to this natural renewable source of wind energy the advantages will soon out weigh the disadvantages by a wide margin, not to mention reduction of damaging the earth atmosphere and eliminating pollution that cause health conditions associated with the release of Co2 into the ozone.
With recent studies and findings, the earth’s atmosphere is quickly deteriorating right in front of our eyes. Polar ice caps and glaciers are melting at an astonishing rate and over the past 100 years the earth ozone defenses have broken down and are allowing harmful Ultra Violet rays from the sun to penetrate the earth, which has contributed to long term effects on the climate and seasonal changes.
Many scientists believe the damage to the earth atmosphere is a direct result of negligent practices of over use of carbon-containing fuel such as fossil fuel, coal and nuclear energy sources. There are also health issues that are closely related to the usage of this form of energy such as breathing and allergic properties found in a number of people.
Since these elements have been the primary source of power for centuries, many consumers and governments have grown dependant upon its energy and disregard the long term effects that are bluntly obvious today.
With our growing populations and the era of electrical operated devices the demand for alternative energy sources has become the rave in the naturalist and earths science circles. Wind power energy is now a very real option to the renewable energy source.
Wind power has endured 2 decades of technology, scrutiny, and praise. More importantly the fact that wind power energy is clean and non lethal to the earths ecosystem has made it one of the more popular choices among energy conservationists.
Although wind power technology has advanced from the earlier versions of wind turbines and towers, more and more wind farms are developing a wider range of wind power electricity that distributed over a larger radius. Even with the latest automated additions to the wind power technology it is still only offered in rural and farm regions of the country.
Many farm states are quickly adapting to the wind power and solar power alternatives, however it is still not available in the more dense populated regions.
As more and more consumers are becoming aware of the drastic changes to the earths ecosystem, future generations will have less to appreciate because the atmosphere will be a harsher environment to endure, if the continued usage of polluted elements persist. The awareness has grown for cleaner less harmful alternative methods of energy; however the technology is still years behind the demand.
Is there a future for wind power? The answer is yes without a doubt; wind power technology will gain more recognition within the next 5-10 years as the demand for alternative energy methods increase. Once this demand for wind power energy is in full force, consumers will begin converting from the carbon based forms to wind power and solar power as an alternative energy source.
Yet wind power technology will only grow at a rate based upon the customer’s options and until this technology is available in the intercity and dense populated regions, you won’t see a significant transition.
