Wind, the renewable energy source - over 2 years ago

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources and cannot be exhausted because it naturally replenishes itself.
Wind power is growing at the rate of 30 percent annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008, and is widely used in Europe and the United States
Some renewable-energy technologies are criticized for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the renewable-energy market continues to grow.
Renewable energy is important in the fight against adverse developments such as Climate Change (particularly the general rise ion global temperatures), rising oil prices and the need to ‘Go green’ and curb increasing global atmospheric pollution. Wind produces no greenhouse gases during operation, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Benefits of wind energy

Long turbine lifespan

The lifespan of a modern turbine is pegged at approximately 20-25 years, but they aren’t totally maintenance free.

Environmental impact

Wind turbines aren’t overly noisy – mechanical noise is minimal and you’ll mostly hear the swoosh of the blades passing the tower. Noise might be a problem if one lives at or close to a very large wind far, but many nations have, or are coming up with regulations regarding the placement of wind farms in relation to residential areas.

Recyclable

Many turbine parts are recyclable, thus it is more than a mere renewable energy source, but uses recyclable components too. The energy used in manufacture is expected to be balanced within less than a year after being commissioned.

Effects on the flight species

Wind farms do have an impact on birds – there have been recorded cases of birds being killed by rotor blades when they fly into them; but there’s a great deal of research being carried out to try and minimize the problem. It’s also an issue taken into consideration in most countries when choosing a location for a wind farm in relation to bird migratory patterns. Some projects have also come up with methods to generate sufficient energy while reducing the rotor speeds so the rotors do not kill birds.

Other renewable forms of energy

Solar: using photovoltaic cells to directly convert the sun’s energy into electricity

Hydro: converting the movement of water over a dam into electricity

Biomass: burning wood and waste chips from lumber factories, trash, etc.

Geothermal: tapping underground hot springs

Tidal: using the movement tidal currents to generate electricity

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