Potential Growth of Wind Energy
Wind Has Large Potential as an Alternative Source of Energy
Jul 1, 2008
Wind energy could supply up to 20% of world electricity generation. Despite problems, wind power has great potential as an alternative source of energy.
Although wind as a form of energy has been used from the earliest times as a means of transport with sails and a means of mechanical energy with windmills, its use as a means of electricity generation using wind turbines is not that widespread.
Low Use of Wind Energy
- The World Wind Energy Association, (WWEA) based in Bonn, Germany, and representing over 85 countries, stated in a press release on February 21, 2008 that, “The currently installed wind power capacity generates 200 TWh per year, equaling 1,3 % of the global electricity consumption.”
- China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases according to a report published in the International Herald Tribune on June 20, 2008. Yet according to figures from the “International Electricity Generation” fact sheet from the United States Energy Administration and the “China Wind Report” by Li Junfeng and Gao Hu, published in 2007, China uses wind to produce less than 1% of its electricity generation.
- The United States uses wind to produce just 1% of its electricity also. The Wind Energy Association fact sheet “Wind Power Today”, published in 2007, says, “The wind resource in the United States is vast. Using today’s technology, there is theoretically enough wind power flowing across the country to supply all of our electricity needs. However, less than 1% of the nation’s electricity is currently supplied by wind power.”
In contrast some countries in the world have shown just how high the potential for wind as an alternative energy source can be.
High Use of Wind Energy
- Denmark, which according to a study published by the EU Directorate General for Energy and Transport, entitled “Wind Energy in Denmark” published in April 2008, “has relatively modest average wind speeds in the range of 4.9 to 5.6 m/s measured at 10 m height.”, yet the Danish Energy Agency fact sheet, “Windturbines - Introduction and Basic Facts” states “In 2007, wind-power production accounted for 19.7% of domestic electricity supply.”
- Spain produced almost 9% of its electricity from wind energy in 2006. The “Global Wind 2006 Report” published by the Global Wind Energy Council states on page 27 that “During 2006, wind power plants generated 22,199 GWh, which is 6.48 % more than in 2005, and which represented almost 9 % coverage of demand.”
- Germany, according to the German Windenergy Association (BWE) “had 19,460 wind turbines with a total capacity of 22,247 MW installed altogether by the end of 2007. 39.5 TWh of wind electricity were generated during this year. This is over 7 % of Germany’s electricity consumption.”
Limits to Wind Energy
- Wind by its very nature is not constant. Output from wind farms cannot be guaranteed all the time so wind, as an alternative source of energy must have back up systems of energy to take over production when there is no wind or not enough to produce a regular supply of power. On page 15 of the Royal Society of Scotland report “Inquiry into Energy Issues for Scotland” it says “The inherent intermittency of wind power means that it cannot be relied on to deliver firm output at any given time.”
- “Tackling Climate Change”, a study by the American Solar Energy Society on page 106 stated that “20% of the total electrical energy consumption by wind may be incorporated with minimal difficulty.” This study goes on to show incorporation of more than 20% in a national grid can lead to higher costs and technical problems, especially with back up systems, due to the unreliable nature of wind power.
- The increasing use of wind as an alternative source of energy has led to an increase in the number of wind farms, both onshore and offshore. This in turn has led to resentment among the populations where such farms are situated.
- Wind turbines need to be situated on windy areas, and since such areas tend to be in scenic parts of the country or on mountain sides, people object to such ungainly turbines spoiling the natural beauty of the area. Even offshore wind farms get objected to. When the Cape Cod wind farm project was first mooted in 2003, the CBS news broadcast of June 29 2003 and also reported on their website, stated “The campaign to stop the wind farms was started by Cape Cod merchants and wealthy landowners. It's also opposed by almost every town government. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who has a home overlooking the proposed wind farm, also opposes the project.”
The copyright of the article Potential Growth of Wind Energy in Energy Conservation is owned by Laurence O'Sullivan. Permission to republish Potential Growth of Wind Energy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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