Wind turbines harness energy from the wind using mechanical power to spin a generator and create electricity. Not only is wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air. Contact online >>
Wind turbines harness energy from the wind using mechanical power to spin a generator and create electricity. Not only is wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air.
Wind energy is a job creator. Wind power is remote. On the pros side, wind is a clean, renewable energy source and is one of the most cost-effective sources of electricity. On the cons side, wind turbines can be noisy and unappealing aesthetically and can sometimes adversely impact the physical environment around them.
Studies show that wind energy''s carbon footprint is quickly offset by the electricity it generates and is among the lowest of any energy source. Learn the facts about renewable power produced by wind, and hear Caltech engineer John Dabiri discuss the pros and cons and the future of wind energy.
As with all forms of energy creation, there are specific advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines to consider. Some sources of power work better than others in different geographic locations, which is why it is essential to consider these crucial points before finalizing an installation effort.
The main pros of wind energy include sustainability, a low carbon footprint, air quality protection, the generation of few waste products, and energy independence. However, the main cons of wind energy include intermittency, high costs, noise and visual pollution, and impacts on wildlife.
Wind turbines provide us with a way to generate electricity and power when the breezes blow. The air movement occurs because of the differences in temperature that happen on our planet. When the mountains, valleys, and atmosphere all receive different levels of energy from the sun, the imbalances form wind that attempts to achieve homeostasis. Then the turbines have blades that capture this movement to generate the energy we need.
We have used the power from the wind to propel vessels for almost 7,500 years. The Chinese were using turbines to draw water from the ground around the year 200 B.C., while windmills became a useful tool for the grinding of grain in the Middle East. By the time we reached the Middle Ages, this technology was extensively used for food production. It wouldn''t be until the late 19th century before we realized this technology was useful in the creation of power and electricity.
1. Wind turbines provide us with one of the cleanest forms of energy available today.Wind turbines don''t rely on any fossil fuels to power the spinning of their blades. That means the power we create from this resource doesn''t contribute to the issue of climate change during its energy production cycle. The only emissions expense that we must consider with this renewable resource involves the release of carbon and other gases during the manufacturing, transportation, and installation of each unit.
Because wind turbines can produce an almost infinite source of energy we can use after installation, the low emissions profile creates net gains very quickly to reduce our impact on the environment.
2. Turbines don''t require fuel to operate.Large-scale wind farms don''t rely on combustion to create an energy resource for us to use. That means there is no need for fuel beyond the cost of inspecting each unit to ensure it functions correctly. That means the overall cost of operations is much less when compared to other sources of renewable energy since some of them require ongoing fossil fuel support to operate.
3. Wind turbines won''t disrupt agricultural activities.The modern wind turbine requires a minimal footprint during its installation. That means an energy supplier can build units almost anywhere that consistent breezes blow, including on existing farmland. Farmers receive money in return for the structures being built on their property through leases or contracts. These funds help to supplement their agricultural revenues while disruptions remain minimal at ground level.
The current rate of wind turbine adoption with the available land space is only 1.5% today, but this advantage could help us to quickly expand the amount of energy we''re producing with this resource.
4. This resource reduces our dependence on fossil fuels.The energy we generate from fossil fuels could be contributing to the issue of climate change. Those resources are also finite by definition, which means we could run out of them one day. When we have a series of wind turbines installed around the world, then we''ll continue to have a way to generate electricity. As long as the sun keeps shining, there will be temperature differences on our planet that will cause breezes to blow.
Proponents of wind energy also point out that the investments and development of technologies that only operate with fossil fuels is a waste of capital if the resource could be gone in our lifetime.
5. Supplemental technology can help to stop wildlife deaths from wind turbines.Wind farms can equip radar to their turbines to automatically detect when birds might be in the area. When there is an indication that wildlife is present, then the turbines automatically shut down until the animals leave the area. Although this technology isn''t perfect, a combination of cameras, GPS sensors, and similar technologies make it easy to detect the movement of animals while they are still miles away.
6. Wind turbines offer a low operating cost.Although the capital cost of a wind turbine is somewhat high when compared to other forms of renewable energy, some of that investment comes back because there are fewer maintenance needs with this technology. Once the blades start spinning, the technology doesn''t require a lot of attention over its 20-year lifetime. There aren''t any fuel costs to consider with this technology either, which reduces the bottom line even further.
7. This resource helps to revitalize the world''s rural economies.Most of today''s rural economies focus on agriculture as a sole source of revenue outside of the indirect support jobs that are available from this work. The addition of wind energy can add to the tax base, providing more income generation tools that can help to develop local infrastructure. When Southwest Minnesota made the installation of wind turbines a priority, they discovered that the installation of every 50 two-megawatt turbines generated about $1 million per year in new tax revenues and $250,000 to landowners.
8. Wind energy receives fewer subsidies than other forms of energy.Although there are some valid criticisms regarding who receives wind energy subsidies in the United States, the actual figure is quite low when compared to other forms of power generation. The traditional energy resources receive over $300 billion in assistance each year, while wind turbines have been given a total of $20 billion over 30 years of development.
When you add in the cost of health issues related to the pollution caused by fossil fuels, the power generated from a coal-fired power plant is equal to or higher than what the cost of wind energy is measured at a kilowatt-hour rate.
9. Wind turbines offer a higher level of price stability.The wind might not be an entirely reliable resource to use, but several geographic locations see consistent breezes blowing throughout the year. Installing turbines in these locations to create a utility resource creates a higher level of price stability than is possible with fossil fuels. Crude oil, coal, and other commodities go through the futures-trading process that can create variability in raw material pricing. The wind energy economy doesn''t experience this issue since it doesn''t require additional fuel.
10. Manufacturing and installing wind turbines creates numerous job opportunities.Wind energy projects create short- and long-term jobs that benefit local, state, and national economies. The employment opportunities range from land surveyors to structural engineers. Industry positions include assembly workers, turbine inspectors, meteorologists, and attorneys. When the installation of wind farms gets compared to a coal-fired power plant, about 30% more jobs get created because of the renewables sector.
11. Wind turbines encourage local ownership.A small cluster of wind turbines can provide a significant contribution to the global energy mix that we currently use. Even a single turbine can be a useful addition to a community. This equipment is often operated by small businesses, local utilities, or local landowners. When each community can develop its own electricity-generating infrastructure, then that means fewer imports are necessary to meet the needs of each household.
Local spending generates $1.78 of economic activity for every $1 that remains within a community. If that money goes to the import of energy, then it only generates $1.43 of activity for each $1 invested.
12. It preserves our water resources.Turbines don''t produce any particulate emissions. That means there isn''t the threat of mercury contamination reaching our streams or lakes. This technology also conserves our water resources, taking 500 times less water than coal and 600 times less than nuclear to create the electricity that we use each day.
13. Wind turbines offer us an incredible amount of potential.The potential of wind energy when we can fully utilize this resource is massive. There''s 20 times more power available through the use of turbines when the breezes blow than what we currently use right now. Since the largest units provide enough electricity to power 600 homes, it gives us expansion opportunities in many locations without a significant investment being necessary. Prices have decreased by 80% since 1980 in this sector as the efficiency rate continues to rise.
1. The movement of wind turbines could be dangerous to some wildlife.We know that the spinning blades from a wind turbine can pose a threat to some animals. Bats and birds who have migratory paths or habitats in proximity to this technology could get injured or killed with a blade strike. Conservation groups have brought up concerns about this issue by asking if the technology will ever be safe for birds.
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