WIND Power

➡️ Wind Power - Turbines and Offshore Windfarms Harnessing the Power of the Wind

Wind power is a renewable, sustainable, and clean energy source which uses the wind's kinetic energy to drive turbines and generate electricity. It is now one of the fastest-growing energy sectors globally and contributes massively to reducing the production of greenhouse gases, combating climate change, and speeding up the energy transition.

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• Reliable news sources

• Essential resources and top wind energy companies

• Offshore Wind Farms

• Must-read articles

• Renewable Energy Guide

• The Green Energy Transition

Basic wind power technology was developed as early as the 11th century where it was used to help pump water and grind grains. Modern wind power to generate electricity began in the 1970s after the 1973 oil crisis when interest in alternative energy sources and investment increased.

• The cost of producing wind power has dropped by 90% since the 1980s.

• It takes just 3-6 months for wind turbines to produce the amount of energy needed to cover its manufacture, installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning! (EWEA).

• Global wind power capacity exceeded the 1-terawatt (TW) milestone in 2023, with year-on-year increases of 13%. A total capacity of 1,210 (gigawatt) GW is predicted by 2030.

• China is the world leader in wind energy. They produce more than a third of global wind power generation. The Gansu Wind Farm is the biggest in the world, featuring 7,000 wind turbines with a total capacity of 20 GW.

• By 2030, the wind energy sector will employ 4 million people.

• The average installed capacity of turbines in 2022 was 3.2 megawatts, enough to meet the electricity demand of around 1,500 households.

• Offshore wind has the potential to generate 18 times the current global electricity demand.

• Onshore turbines now stand as tall as 135m.

Pros and Cons of Wind Power

The wind is almost everywhere, day and night! The potential for the continued expansion of this clean, inexhaustible energy source is vast, especially as manufacturing costs continue to fall. Wind power is an excellent solution, even in remote areas where there is no connection to the energy grid. It is not limited by geographical factors or the need for expensive infrastructure.

The energy efficiency of wind power systems has massively increased in the last few decades. Average performance levels range between 40-50%. Solar power only manages a maximum of 25%. The land needed to produce high levels of wind energy is also minimal, especially in the case of offshore wind farms. Wind farms on land take up minimal space, which allows for multiple land uses such as animal grazing and crop cultivation.

The environmental impact of both on and offshore wind power is minimal. It has the lowest overall impact of all energy sources. They also, surprisingly, make very little noise, similar to the sound a refrigerator makes from 30 metres away.

Maintenance of turbines is low and they can run for years without intervention. Finally, once they reach their end of life the turbine materials can be repurposed. Denmark is leading the way in creative recycling, turning blades into bicycle shelters and utility poles. The land on which they are positioned can very easily be reused or restored to its original state.

The main disadvantages of wind turbines are their reliability and their impact on wildlife. Weather dependency affects the energy output of turbines and restricts their capacity to 40%. This means that the grid must be supplemented with storage technologies or alternative energy sources to cover the times when the wind simply isn't blowing.

Due to their tall vertical nature, the risk of rotor blade collision with birds and bats is increased. Direct mortality is only part of the problem. Due to habitat change and fragmentation, a study from Finland found that 63% of bird species, 72% of bats, and 67% of mammals are displaced from areas where wind turbines are installed.

For this reason, biodiversity assessments should be thoroughly carried out before site development begins. Land that has already been compromised, such as agricultural land, is ideal as we can produce food and energy from the same land without causing further disruption.

Although designed in an aesthetically neutral way, many people view wind farms as visually intrusive, especially if they are in an area of beauty, such as the countryside or on hills, which they often are.

Compared to other forms of energy production, especially from fossil fuels, wind power has minimal disadvantages. Wind power plays an important role in the push towards the energy transition. With careful planning and measures to minimise environmental and human impact, wind turbines are an excellent solution to low-carbon energy production.

Offshore Wind Farms

The biggest offshore wind farm in the world is Hornsea 2, located in the North Sea off the east coast of the UK. It covers an area of 462 square km and is enough to power 1.4 million UK homes.

Greater wind speeds, consistency, and unlimited restrictions make offshore wind power much more efficient. They also have a reduced visual impact, and the effects on local ecosystems are less.

The drawbacks of offshore wind power are mainly related to cost. They are costly to construct and maintain, up to 20% more than their land counterparts. They also tend to sustain more damage due to high wind and strong waves.

Offshore wind farms currently can only be built in water no deeper than 60 meters, which severely limits their viability in deep waters. Floating wind turbines are a potential solution but are still in the early stages of development.

Wind Power for a Better World

Wind power is already playing a key role in the green energy transition. Current trends project this to continue. In 2023, the global wind industry installed a record 117 GW of new capacity - a 50% increase from the previous year.

Wind turbines of the future are set to be larger, quieter, and more powerful, increasing their energy capacity and value to the market. Technological advancements will help further reduce the cost of their production and installation by 17-35% by 2035.

Airborne wind energy (AWE), which uses automatic tethered flying devices to convert wind energy into electricity, is a promising new technology that could transform the wind power industry. Still in its infancy, renewable advocates eagerly await the development of a commercially viable AWE product.

To meet the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure energy security, countries must continue to invest in the renewable energy industry. Supported by ambitious governmental clean energy targets, China is leading the way, adding substantial new capacity annually. The EU is also accelerating its wind energy deployment.

Under Biden in the U.S., federal incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act promoted wind energy investments, particularly offshore, which was poised for substantial growth. Trump's offshore energy freeze, however, has paused all new or renewed approvals for projects on federal land and suspended previously approved projects.

Increasing collaboration between governments and the private sector is essential to address the challenges related to infrastructure and investment in the wind power sector.

"When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills" – Ancient Chinese proverb

Author: Rachael Mellor, 07.02.25 licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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