Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy: WHAT They Are?
Mike Walden
April 02, 2009
An immediate advantage of wind energy is that it does not pollute either when being generated or being used and once the initial infrastructure is set up, it is also free of cost. However this is not the only aspect to be taken into consideration before deciding on a wind energy generator.
With the wind being a natural as well as clean and renewable energy source, there is no contamination when wind is used to generate energy. Therefore in comparison to fossil fuel, which generates an immense amount of harmful and so-called greenhouse gases, wind turbines are an extremely attractive option. Further to this, current can be generated as long as the wind blows. New technology and computer-aided designs have produced orientable blades, which can adjust their slant to maximize output from any wind direction. This means that wind turbines can assure a maximum of power and use as much of the available wind as possible.
Because of these advantages, several large wind turbine centers have been created. One of these is in Texas and is called the Horse Hollow wind energy center. It contains 421 wind turbines and generates enough electricity to power more than 220,000 homes in the area. Off the coast of Cape Cod, the first offshore wind park is programmed for production and for testing of wind turbines and wind machines. It will be the first in the world of its kind.
In the United States, wind or airstreams are abundantly available in many parts of the country and this is a natural resource that the nation does not have to import to use. This again is a big difference with oil which as well as being naturally produced is also largely imported from foreign countries and therefore has a significant effect on the U.S., economy. Clearly any solution, which allows the country to reduce this dependency, is of interest.
Wind is generated by the effect of the sun´s rays on the earth and the continuous rotation of the earth on its axis. Wind energy is therefore entirely natural and not produced by any mechanical or artificial means. No tax or toll can be levied on wind, which can therefore be utilized by any person who decides to install a wind turbine.
Wind in conjunction with solar area energy is one of the least expensive forms of renewable energy that is currently available. The cost of energy can drop to as little as 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, when correct installation and project financing is used together with the appropriate selection of the site for installation.
Ranches and farms where wind blows abundantly are often excellent sites for wind turbines to be installed and also produce low cost electricity, which is always in demand. A wind turbine tower occupies a minimum of surface area on the ground, as the wind turbine simply needs to be raised sufficiently high to catch the wind. Farmers and ranchers are therefore not prevented from using their land while the turbines generate electricity. Another possibility is for individual power suppliers to install their wind turbines on the land of the farmer or rancher and to come to a business agreement for renting the land on which the towers stand.
Initial cost however for installing wind turbines is still relatively high compared to the cost of conventional generators. This means that as a financial calculation this factor must be taken into account when compared to the cost of conventional fuel fossil fuel generation.
Wind velocity and land price are not necessarily correlated but it is clear that wind powered turbines must be installed in the right place. To create a collection of wind turbines that can be profitably run, sizable land is required at appropriate sites. It is clear that these sites must also be selected to avoid any sudden cessation of wind and that natural calamities must also be taken into account.
As concentrations of people such as towns and cities are often in areas where there is less wind, then the good wind sites are often remote from these areas. This means that electric cables to carry the electricity from the wind park to the destination need to be laid down if towns and cities are to benefit from this clean power source.
There is also an ongoing debate with environmentalists concerning the noise of wind turbines as a disturbing factor in the natural ecosystem. It is also clear that these high tower are very obvious to the eye, and that they do have an effect on the beauty of the landscape around them.
This article is based on the book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy " by Jim Martin. Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor and home energy consultant who written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More about Jim Martinīs Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.
For further information visit: Residential Wind Energy Production: Can It WORK for You?
With the wind being a natural as well as clean and renewable energy source, there is no contamination when wind is used to generate energy. Therefore in comparison to fossil fuel, which generates an immense amount of harmful and so-called greenhouse gases, wind turbines are an extremely attractive option. Further to this, current can be generated as long as the wind blows. New technology and computer-aided designs have produced orientable blades, which can adjust their slant to maximize output from any wind direction. This means that wind turbines can assure a maximum of power and use as much of the available wind as possible.
Because of these advantages, several large wind turbine centers have been created. One of these is in Texas and is called the Horse Hollow wind energy center. It contains 421 wind turbines and generates enough electricity to power more than 220,000 homes in the area. Off the coast of Cape Cod, the first offshore wind park is programmed for production and for testing of wind turbines and wind machines. It will be the first in the world of its kind.
In the United States, wind or airstreams are abundantly available in many parts of the country and this is a natural resource that the nation does not have to import to use. This again is a big difference with oil which as well as being naturally produced is also largely imported from foreign countries and therefore has a significant effect on the U.S., economy. Clearly any solution, which allows the country to reduce this dependency, is of interest.
Wind is generated by the effect of the sun´s rays on the earth and the continuous rotation of the earth on its axis. Wind energy is therefore entirely natural and not produced by any mechanical or artificial means. No tax or toll can be levied on wind, which can therefore be utilized by any person who decides to install a wind turbine.
Wind in conjunction with solar area energy is one of the least expensive forms of renewable energy that is currently available. The cost of energy can drop to as little as 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, when correct installation and project financing is used together with the appropriate selection of the site for installation.
Ranches and farms where wind blows abundantly are often excellent sites for wind turbines to be installed and also produce low cost electricity, which is always in demand. A wind turbine tower occupies a minimum of surface area on the ground, as the wind turbine simply needs to be raised sufficiently high to catch the wind. Farmers and ranchers are therefore not prevented from using their land while the turbines generate electricity. Another possibility is for individual power suppliers to install their wind turbines on the land of the farmer or rancher and to come to a business agreement for renting the land on which the towers stand.
Initial cost however for installing wind turbines is still relatively high compared to the cost of conventional generators. This means that as a financial calculation this factor must be taken into account when compared to the cost of conventional fuel fossil fuel generation.
Wind velocity and land price are not necessarily correlated but it is clear that wind powered turbines must be installed in the right place. To create a collection of wind turbines that can be profitably run, sizable land is required at appropriate sites. It is clear that these sites must also be selected to avoid any sudden cessation of wind and that natural calamities must also be taken into account.
As concentrations of people such as towns and cities are often in areas where there is less wind, then the good wind sites are often remote from these areas. This means that electric cables to carry the electricity from the wind park to the destination need to be laid down if towns and cities are to benefit from this clean power source.
There is also an ongoing debate with environmentalists concerning the noise of wind turbines as a disturbing factor in the natural ecosystem. It is also clear that these high tower are very obvious to the eye, and that they do have an effect on the beauty of the landscape around them.
This article is based on the book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy " by Jim Martin. Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor and home energy consultant who written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More about Jim Martinīs Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity.
For further information visit: Residential Wind Energy Production: Can It WORK for You?
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