Wind Power
ANGELA DE ASIS
JAMES DE GUIA
OWEN BERNARDO
A N A M A R I E L I Z A R DA
USING WIND TO
PRODUCE
ELECTRICITY:
AN IMPORTANT STEP
TOWARDS
SUSTAINABILITY
WHAT IS WIND?
It is the difference in the sun’s rays hitting
the earth between the equator and the
poles to create different amounts of solar
heating together with earth’s rotation.
WHAT IS WIND POWER?
Is a form of Energy conversion in
which turbines convert the wind into
mechanical or electrical energy that can
be used for power.
Such wind turbines are being used in large
numbers at some site to create wind
farms.
Wind Turbines today can be as tall as 22
stories and have blades as long as the
height of a 7-story building
These turbines could get a stronger and
more reliable winds that are found in
higher altitudes.
Wind power has been the 2nd fastest
growing source of energy.
The largest wind power producers in 2009
were:
- China
- United States of America
- Germany
- Spain
- India
In China, The use of wind power helps reduce
the use of coal and prevents the further
emission of Carbon Dioxide and other air
pollutants
In the year 2020, they plan to be the world’s
biggest manufacturer and seller of wind
turbines.
Denmark, the world’s most energy
efficient country gets 20% of their
electricity from wind and aims to raise it
up to 50%
Danish companies also control one-third of the
global wind turbine market around the world
and over 400,000 are employed in the
production, installation, and maintenance of
wind turbines.
Job numbers are most likely to increase and
rise rapidly over the years.
2009 – A study led by Xi Lu, a Harvard
university student estimated that wind
power has the potential to produce 40
times the world’s current use of
electricity.
This can happen with a series of large
wind farms.
Even though offshore wind farms (in
water wind turbines) are costly to install,
it is expected to increase the use of it.
A 2009 study published that the US Academy of
Sciences estimates that the world’s top Carbon
dioxide emitting countries have more than
enough land base and offshore wind potential
to more than meet their current electricity
needs.
U.S – 16 to 22 times
China – 15 times
Canada – 39 times
Russia – 170 times over
Advantages:
Wind is in-exhaustable and is widely
distributed.
It is also carbon and pollution free.
Wind energy is the cheapest way to
produce electricity.
Disadvantage/Draw backs:
In some location like the United States,
to use wind power , they need to
upgrade and expand their electrical grid
systems.
Winds die down and may require backup
source of power, such as natural gas to
generate electricity.
But scientist are
working on ways
to store wind
energy like:
Electricity produce
by wind to pass
through water to
produce hydrogen
fuel.
To use wind generated electricity
to pump pressurized air deep
underground into aquifers, caverns,
and abandoned natural gas wells.
This process is used in Germany
and in Alabama, U.S state.
Some people in populated areas are
oppose to wind farms due to it being
unsightly and noisy.
But in windy parts of the US Midwest
and in Canada, many farmers and
ranchers welcome wind farms and
became wind power producers
themselves.