The depleting natural resources and increasing negative impact of human-induced climate change have made energy a hot topic in environmental debates.
Environmentalists and experts alike believe it is time to switch to renewable energy sources that bring power but with minimal impact on the environment.
Wind energy is seen as an alternative with great potential. Since it is Global Wind Day (June 15), here are some facts about wind energy.
How wind energy is produced
According to energymatters, wind power is produced using wind turbines which convert wind energy into electricity. Wind towers are usually 20 meters high because winds above are stronger.
Wind energy equals longterm
Wind energy is a renewable resource that can be used as long as there is wind--meaning almost unlimited resource for different countries to tap into.
Wind energy is clean and environment-friendly
Wind turbines do not release harmful emissions such as greenhouse gases and toxic wastes because they create power without using fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
Wind energy is homegrown
The Union of Concerned Scientists notes that a typical wind turbine (750 kW) provides enough power for 328 typical (non-electric heating) homes. That means one wind turbine can be sufficient to generate energy for a household. It can be operated via single wind turbines or clusters
Wind energy has been tried and tested
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind has been the fastest-growing source of electricity generation in the world through the 1990s. Furthermore, windmills have been around for a long time: they were used in Persia (Iran) as far back as 200 B.C.
Wind energy is spatially practical
Most people do not like the way wind turbines appear but practically speaking wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. It takes up only a few square feet for the base! The turbines can even be placed in remote locations, such as offshore, mountains and deserts.
Wind energy helps agriculture and wildlife
Because it generally takes a little space, it would not affect crop production and livestock grazing. Instead of tearing down habitats to create power plants, wind turbines will allow ecosystems to fully flourish.
Wind energy is cost-efficient
The costs of sourcing fossil fuels and nuclear power are highly unpredictable, resulting in equally unpredictable prices, and rising and falling electricity rates. Wind energy cuts the cost because it uses wind, which is fixed and free, reference.com notes.
Wind energy can save lives
The American Wind Energy Association, through a report titled "Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States," said if we highly utilize wind energy, its pollution reductions would lead us to avoiding $400 billion in climate change damages by 2050. It could save an additional $108 billion in public health costs by cutting other air pollutants, including preventing 22,000 premature deaths.
What are your thoughts on Global Wind Day? Share them below!