Wind power is the wind energy, or the kinetic energy of a moving air mass. It is possible to exploit this energy through the use of electric power generators, windmills that produce mechanical energy, wind pumps pumping water, or sails that propel ships. Wind energy is not something new, it is one of the oldest energies together with thermal energy. Using wind as a driving force has been around since ancient times. But is it possible for wind power to maintain a larger role in powering the US and potentially giving us independence from using fossil fuels? Many people think so, and I agree.
Large wind farms are made up of hundreds of individual wind turbines connected to the power transmission grid. Offshore wind is more stable, provides more energy and has less visual impact, however, the cost of construction and maintenance offshore is considerably higher. Small on-shore wind farms provide electricity to isolated places. Electric companies are increasingly buying excess electricity produced by small domestic wind turbines.
Solar radiation, which penetrates irregularly in the atmosphere, gives rise to air with different temperatures that also have different densities and pressures. The condensed air that moves from the high to the low pressures, creates the wind that moves the wind turbines, which can reach 50 meters high with propellers up to 23 meters in length. The force of the wind moves the propellers of the wind turbine that, thanks to a rotor of a generator, converts the force of the wind into electrical energy. On the back, it has a “small” wind vane that indicates where the wind is going, in order to take full advantage of the force of the wind. From there, the electric power created is distributed to the different companies that distribute it to all the houses and businesses.
Wind energy is an alternative to fossil fuels, abundant, renewable and green economy, widely distributed, clean, does not produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation and requires a high ground area. The effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other sources of energy. In addition, wind energy is an indigenous energy, available in almost the entire planet, which helps to reduce energy imports and create wealth and employment locally. As of 2011, Denmark generates more than a quarter of its wind power and 83 countries around the world use commercially wind energy. Wind energy production in 2010 was over 2.5% of world-wide electricity consumption, with an estimated 25% annual growth. The cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost that can be related to new natural gas and coal plants.
Wind energy is a stable source year after year but has a significant variation on shorter time scales. Wind intermittence rarely creates problems when it is used to supply up to 20% of total electricity demand, but if demand is higher there is a need for a particular distribution network. Some methods for managing power produced, such as having storage systems (such as pumping stations), geographically distributed turbines, alternative sources, export and energy import arrangements for neighboring areas, or the reduction of demand when the wind production is low, can greatly reduce these problems. In addition, weather forecasts allow the power grid to be timely prepared, depending on the variations in production.
Wind energy, despite not being too implemented today and still having many deficiencies in its development, is one of the alternative energies that is predicted to end up being an alternative of the human being when fossil fuels are exhausted. The fossil fuels that we now extract and consume without control. Why do many say that, sooner or later, energies such as wind energy will eventually be imposed? First of all because they are always there, it does not need complicated production processes and, in addition, it is totally renewable. Of course, another of the great advantages of wind energy is that it is a much cleaner alternative to coal, oil or natural gas, and also nuclear energy. Only solar energy, another renewable source, can compete with wind energy in terms of respect for the environment. In this way it could help to curb some of the great environmental evils that plague the planet, such as global warming. On the other hand, it is also an energy that could lead to self-sufficiency in certain areas and it can contribute to bring development to less fortunate areas.
The points in favor of wind energy are so important that they seem weigh much more than their drawbacks, but, to be fair, it can be said that there are some aspects of wind energy that still do not fully convince. To begin with, specific meteorological conditions are needed so that it can operate at full capacity. Wind turbines cannot be placed anywhere; their location must be well studied. On the other hand, these wind turbines cause an important landscape impact in the area and can also affect the life of the animals in the area, especially birds. However, it is worth mentioning that this is still an underdeveloped energy technology, in which there is not enough investment in yet, neither by the government nor by the large corporations.
At a global level, it is the European continent that produces most of the wind energy, reaching 72% of total production in the world. The initiatives that have encouraged the installation of wind turbines come from governments; for example, in Germany the law obliged electricity companies to pay renewable producers 90% of the price paid by the consumer. Right now, wind energy provides us with only roughly 2% of the total US power, so it still has a relatively low energy production rate compared to other energy sources that are used, but in the inevitable path that we are headed through overusing fossil fuels many (including I) are trusting that there will be increasingly more efficient wind turbines capable of higher production. In any case, it is an energy with a lot of room for improvement, and that is always good news. Hopefully one day it might help us reach independence from fossil fuels.