WIND is the movement of air from one place to another. It has been harnessed by human civilizations for thousands of years, e.g. in sailing, windmills.
Recently, wind power has been used to generate electric power and become a new renewable energy source. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), wind energy is the 2nd largest source of renewable energy after hydro power.
Wind energy is growing fast. From 2000 to 2006, wind generation increased more than 4-fold, in 2012 nearly 50 gigawatts (GW) were added in the world, and the cumulative installed capacity in 2013 reached more than 300,000 megawatts (MW) (Global Wind Energy Council Report 2013). It supplies about 4% of world's electricity demand. There are more than 100 countries that are producing wind energy on a commercial scale, and China is currently the world's largest market. (1MW of electricity can power 250 houses in the US, 1GW = 1,000MW)
Recently, wind power has been used to generate electric power and become a new renewable energy source. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), wind energy is the 2nd largest source of renewable energy after hydro power.
Wind energy is growing fast. From 2000 to 2006, wind generation increased more than 4-fold, in 2012 nearly 50 gigawatts (GW) were added in the world, and the cumulative installed capacity in 2013 reached more than 300,000 megawatts (MW) (Global Wind Energy Council Report 2013). It supplies about 4% of world's electricity demand. There are more than 100 countries that are producing wind energy on a commercial scale, and China is currently the world's largest market. (1MW of electricity can power 250 houses in the US, 1GW = 1,000MW)
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Wind energy, or wind-generated power or simply wind power, refers to the conversion of kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy or electricity.
On a commercial scale, wind power is converted by large wind turbines. People refer to a group of wind turbines located on the same site as a wind farm.
Wind energy, or wind-generated power or simply wind power, refers to the conversion of kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy or electricity.
On a commercial scale, wind power is converted by large wind turbines. People refer to a group of wind turbines located on the same site as a wind farm.
- How do wind turbines work?
- Grid system
COSTS OF GENERATION
key parameters that determine wind energy cost (European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) Report 2013)
Capital costs
key parameters that determine wind energy cost (European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) Report 2013)
Capital costs
- 75-80% of the total cost; upfront, fixed costs that a producer needs in order to start a wind project
- They include costs of turbines, grid connection, civil work, and others.
- costs of turbines--the largest portion, comprised of costs of different sub-components, transportation to site, and installation on site
- Producers usually have to pay for new generators and connection lines in order to integrate wind-generated electricity into the grid.
- Wind energy has zero fuel cost and is capital intensive.
Variable costs
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Wind resource/capacity
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(The above chart that illustrates main costs of wind generation was taken from the EWEA Report March 2009.)
CHALLENGES & IMPACTS
Challenges
Impacts
Challenges
- As wind energy production is capital intensive, producers and investors need to have at hand a large amount of capital resources. This poses as a greater challenge for developing countries where such an amount of resources might not be available.
- The existing grid systems are configured to accommodate the transformation and transmission of energy of conventional sources. Producers of wind energy might have to bear higher costs in order to bring it into the grid.
- The cost of turbines increases as the price of raw materials that are used to produce turbines' sub-components increases.
- The current market regulations are not in favor of renewable energy.
Impacts
- Production of wind energy can help create more and "greener" jobs.
- Wind farms take up a large area of land and tend to decrease the property value of neighboring land.
- Wind energy is not dependent on oil and natural gas, so it can help lower geopolitical risks related to these fossil fuels.