| Wind power, or wind energy, is a renewable | | | | wind farm that provides energy to an |
| resource; it is from the sun. The advantages | | | | electrical grid. |
| of wind power are many, including practical, | | | | |
| environmental as well as economic. There are | | | | Vertical axis turbines are more efficient in |
| also disadvantages to using windpower, such | | | | areas with vast amount of lands and moderate |
| as the natural variability of wind, the | | | | wind speeds. Current technology is looking to |
| competition for other land uses, and bird | | | | develop different turbine types for different |
| deaths. | | | | areas of wind speed given the amount of land |
| | | | available for farms. |
| Wind power, or wind energy, is a renewable | | | | |
| resource; it is from the sun. The intensity | | | | The advantages of wind power are many, |
| of solar radiation differs across the globe. | | | | including practical, environmental as well as |
| Some areas receive intense amounts of | | | | economic. Worldwide, the total kinetic energy |
| sunlight, while others receive much less. The | | | | contained in wind is more than 80 times that |
| result is a temperature gradient; a gradient | | | | of human energy consumption. While only a |
| which is mediated by the flow of air to and | | | | fraction of this can be used for electricity |
| from areas of dissimilar temperatures and | | | | purposes, the potential-given future |
| pressure systems in our atmosphere. Uneven | | | | technological developments is great. |
| heating of the earth's atmosphere,in addition | | | | |
| to irregularities on the earth's surface and | | | | Environmental advantages include the fact |
| the rotation of the earth create wind. | | | | that a renewable source of clean, |
| Terrain, water bodies, and vegetation then | | | | nonpolluting energy curbs the demand and use |
| shape flow patterns. | | | | of fossil fuels and emit no air pollution of |
| | | | greenhouse gases, In the US, wind plants have |
| The recent history of wind power in the | | | | offset the emission of than 2.5 billion |
| United States has a similar impetus to that | | | | pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million |
| of alternative fuel sources in general - it | | | | pounds of other pollutants. Also, wind energy |
| was an idea borne from the 1970's Oil Crisis. | | | | is free: the cost of installation and |
| It does, however, have a more extensive | | | | maintenance has dramatically decreased in |
| history reaching back into to late 19th | | | | recent years and future technology ensures |
| century in the colonization of the American | | | | only a continual decrease in the prices. As a |
| West; millions of windmills were erected for | | | | result, the lifetime investment is much lower |
| irrigation and cattle purposes to facilitate | | | | than most fossil-fuel systems. |
| the growing number of farms and ranches. Many | | | | |
| soon feel into disrepair as inexpensive | | | | One of the primary disadvantages to wind |
| energy sources became more widespread and | | | | power is the natural variability of wind in |
| grid power extended its reach into rural | | | | any given locale. Indeed there are certain |
| areas used small electric wind systems. | | | | areas with extremely high average wind |
| | | | speeds, but in most places, wind exposure is |
| Outside of the US, however, wind power has a | | | | quite variable. Wind energy can only be |
| broader history. In fact, there was evidence | | | | stored with a battery, otherwise it is not. |
| that boats were propelled along the Nile as | | | | In the latter case, not all energy demands |
| early as 5000BC via wind energy. China used | | | | can be met through the natural timing of |
| wind for pumping water several millennium | | | | winds. For these reasons, it may not be a |
| ago. | | | | viable option for some. One other |
| | | | disadvantage is the competition for other - |
| Wind is harnessed to make mechanical power or | | | | more highly valued and profit generating - |
| electricity. The kinetic energy from the wind | | | | land uses. |
| is converted through various different | | | | |
| processes to create mechanical energy that | | | | Economic disadvantages include the fact that |
| can be used in lieu of fossil fuels. There | | | | the initial investment is often higher than |
| are two types of modern turbines - horizontal | | | | fossil fuel systems. The higher costs is |
| and vertical axis, both of which work similar | | | | mostly due to the machinery which is |
| to one another and as decried above. Between | | | | involves. Other costs include site |
| the two types, they come in an array of sizes | | | | preparation and installation. The primary |
| from small 100 watt units for single homes to | | | | environmental drawbacks to wind power are as |
| much larger or ones (with a blade diameter | | | | follows: Noise pollution via the rotor blades |
| greater than 50m). These larger turbines can | | | | Aesthetic impacts ("visual pollution"), and |
| generate 1 MW of electricity. | | | | bird deaths. |
| | | | |
| The most common used today are horizontal | | | | It is important to keep in mind that many of |
| axis turbines with three blades (15-30m in | | | | these problems have been resolved with |
| diameter) and produce approximately 50-350 kW | | | | increasing technology. Avian mortality, |
| of electricity. Often wind turbines are | | | | however, is still being studied. |
| grouped together; the arrangement in called a | | | | |