In the race to reach net-zero emissions, countries around the world are looking to scale up renewable energy to substitute polluting fossil fuels. Wind power is among the most popular sources of renewable energy, and continued improvements in technology are contributing to its rapid expansion. What makes wind so popular right now and what are some of the main advantages of wind energy?
Thanks to research and improvements in technology, wind power is on the rise around the world and on track to become one of the most widely-used renewable energy sources. In 2020, onshore wind electricity generation experienced an 11% growth from the prior year. Wind capacity additions almost doubled, owing to a construction boom in China and the US, which combined accounted for nearly 80% of global wind deployment.
Despite the rapid and unprecedented growth, experts argue that more efforts are required. Under the net-zero emission by 2050 scenario, generation must increase an average of 18% per year within the current decade.
While wind has long served as a power source for humans, from sailors relying on it to power their ships across the sea to farmers using windmills to grind their grains and pump water. Today, smaller turbines erected in a backyard can power a single home or business, while large-scale wind farms can generate electricity to cover an entire country''s demand.
Wind energy comes from huge wind turbines that are sometimes as tall as the Statue of Liberty and have three 200-foot (60-metre)-long blades. When these spin with the force of the wind, they turn a shaft that is connected to a generator, producing electricity.
Currently, onshore is the most popular and widespread type of wind energy. Onshore refers to the power that is generated by wind turbines located on land driven by the natural movement of air. In 2020, its capacity additions almost tripled in China and doubled in the US.
When onshore was taking off in the 1980s, Denmark started exploring the idea of offshore wind farms – where turbines are installed in bodies of water to take advantage of the strong force of winds out at sea – and in 1991, the government built the world''s first offshore wind farm.
Despite being less widespread, offshore is rapidly gaining traction as it is considered by many as a much more efficient type of wind power thanks to the higher speed of winds, greater consistency, and lack of physical interference that land-based farms can present. The UK is recognised as the world leader in this technology. In 2020, offshore wind generated enough electricity to supply the needs of nearly 40% of the country''s homes and the government is now betting on this technology to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
As the name suggests, wind power is a resource that never runs out. Unlike fossil fuels, the production of which requires huge efforts, time, and expensive heavy machinery, renewables convert a natural resource – in this case, wind – directly into electricity without the need for fuel to power the turbines.
Because of the huge role they can play in the race to reach net-zero emissions in the coming decades and mitigate the devastating impact of global warming, governments around the world are now investing in renewables as never before. Currently, these clean sources of energy make up 26% of the world''s electricity today, but according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), their share is expected to reach 30% by 2024.
Another big factor that makes renewable energy much more attractive than coal, oil, and natural gas is the significant difference in emissions. Contrary to fossil fuels – which are the world''s largest emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases – renewables are clean energy sources.
As a 2015 study by the US Department of Energy found, if 35% of the country''s electricity was wind-generated by 2050, electric sector greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 23%, eliminating 510 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Thanks to advancements in technology, wind turbines – especially offshore ones – are extremely efficient energy harvesters. This is because higher wind speeds and consistency in direction make energy production possible with far fewer turbines compared to the amount onshore farms would require to generate the same amount of electricity. Based on current technology and market growth, the IEA projects that offshore wind energy has the potential to generate 425,000 TWh of electricity in a year worldwide, more than 18 times the current global demand.
Moreover, while their size and noise have always been among the biggest downsides of this type of renewable, as technology improves, so do the functionalities of the turbines themselves. Nowadays, they can generate more electricity than ever before and because of the advancements in design, they often require less maintenance and can run more quietly and safely.
The surge in growth of wind energy around the world, with generation capacity increasing by 75% since the early 2000s, has contributed to a 70% drop in overall costs over the last decade. While wind turbines come with a hefty upfront price tag, they are still some of the most cost-effective sources of electricity available today. Indeed, once erected, operational costs are close to zero. Furthermore, thanks to advancements in design and technology, they rarely require maintenance.
Along with solar panels, onshore wind is one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy. Offshore, on the contrary, remains almost 20% more expensive and more costly to maintain given their more remote location. However, since it can generate more electricity than onshore with fewer turbines, it still remains a more convenient option.
Wind power certainly comes with its downsides. While the advantages of wind power far outweigh them, it is still worth mentioning the main negative aspects of this renewable source.
Boost this articleBy donating us $100, $50 or subscribe to Boosting $10/month – we can get this article and others in front of tens of thousands of specially targeted readers. This targeted Boosting – helps us to reach wider audiences – aiming to convince the unconvinced, to inform the uninformed, to enlighten the dogmatic.
As many countries and companies around the world set off on their journeys to become more sustainable and transition to the use of clean energy, many countries and companies are considering the use of a wind farm – but is it the best choice for everyone?
About Pros of wind farms
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Pros of wind farms have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Pros of wind farms for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Pros of wind farms featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
