Wind Energy Essay

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The wind is an incredibly valuable renewable energy source and is in the forefront of renewable energy developments. It is used to convert wind energy into energy that can be harnessed and used via a variety of methods, including; wind turbines, windmills, sails and windpumps. For a renewable energy source, however, it is wind turbines that are used to generate electricity (see figure 1). Wind power has been used for this since the end of the nineteenth century, after Professor James Blyth of the Royal College of Science and Technology first attempted it (Boyle, 2012). However, It wasn’t until the 1980s that using wind power technology was sufficient enough to experience a rapid growth of the technology. Wind power is one of the most sustainable ways of generating electricity as no toxic emissions are produced; it does not add to global warming and is one of the most available sources of renewable energy and theoretically it is an infinite source of energy. On sufficiently windy areas, wind turbines are one of the most economical methods of generating electricity, which makes it appealing to many individuals, governments and organizations. Due to this it is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014) with a 10% increase in yearly additions installed in 2012 compared with 2011 (Global Wind Energy Council, 2012). However the proportion of energy that can be harnessed through wind power is restricted by the cost of the infrastructure needed, construction, the amount of wind that occurs and that there are only a narrow number of sites within the UK that are windy enough for the wind turbines to be worth installing. 1.1.0. How wind turbines work The wind’s kinetic energy can be u... ... middle of paper ... ...ioxide emissions. With advances in modern technology becoming bigger and more complex and progressively competitive pricing, The Global Wind Energy Council predicts that by 2017 the global wind capacity will extend to 536,000 megawatts, which is nearly double than that currently. However, to achieve this a substantial investment in infrastructure, electricity grids and interconnection will be needed (Boyle, 2012). Even though development is slowing down due to factors such as, environmental concerns, public concern about aesthetics and health issues, along with the financial crisis slowing down financing for new wind energy projects, the wind is still a significant source of renewable energy for the future. With the correct management and more resources being cultivated to educate the public about the benefits of wind power, the future for wind energy looks bright.

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