Advantages of Wind Power Will Even Have Doubters Breathing Easier

Wind power is recognized as clean and renewable, so why is there any political debate at all?

The three top advantages of wind power are:

• Unlimited and Rewable electricity production
• Greatly reduced carbon emissions
• Energy self reliance

Renewable energy means it replenishes itself. Wind power doesn't burn coal or gas. The wind is free and doesn’t use up any fuel consumption to get it to the wind generation plant. Wind speed and duration are the only constraining factors in generating electricity using wind turbines. Renewable energy means there is an unlimited supply. Fossil fuels are used once and forever gone, while the wind keeps blowing all the time.

Carbon emissions or the creation of greenhouse gasses has been at the top of political agendas for many years. No matter what side you take regarding the greenhouse gas effect on the earth, everyone can agree that reducing carbon emissions will not hurt the environment. I’m a optimist about global warming because humans are very insignificant compared to Natural Order and Mother Nature will take care of herself no matter what course man decides to pursue. Reducing carbon emissions will make the aireasier and safer to breathe.

One of the top advantages of wind energy is the significant “energy independence” it provides. This is true for developing or emerging nations, island nations, remote sites and even in mainstream society where wind energy will never suffer from an embargo, it will not have a price escalation and wind will not run out. Energy independence makes a country self-dependent and insulates it from external economics and politics.

The three chief advantages of wind energy make it attractive, but there are some negative aspects involved which must be considered in your planning;

• Wind variability
• Noise
• Size

Wind varies minute by minute but modern engineering provides for it. First, there is a wind speed index for various parts of the world. Proper engineering design utilizes the index to determine the feasibility of your project. If the index is not high enough then wind energy is out of the question; however, lower wind indices could just need more wind turbines to get the output desired. Local wind variation is not a limiting or negative factor.

Noise is a nuissance and a wind turbine is capable of making as much noise as the family car speeding at 60-70 miles per hour. Noise is a constraint and part of the design of the wind power system. Minimum distances to houses are required, along with wind studies, noise studies are provided too. This would not be a deterant if people got close enough to the run of the mill fossil fueled electrical plant. They are noisy, unsightly and often times smelly.

A wind farm requires a large parcel of land to be set aside. Every turbine requires enough room to allow for adequate wind flow. Spotting the turbines too close together degrades their performance because the blades create wind turbulence which reduces the capability of subsequent turbines if they are too close. Wind farms are established in thousands of acres to generate reliable and efficient electricity. Before you criticize the size drive by your local fossil fuel power plant and determine how many acres it sits on. There isn’t a lot of difference.

The advantages of wind energy surpass the disadvantages. The disadvantages currently exist with current fossil fuel plants and we didn’t even take a look at what the mining industry does to the environment with its noise, size and variable costs. Wind energy will play an important part in reducing carbon emissions which benefits those who are in favor of reducing greenhouse gasses and those who are not.

Jason Smith is a writer-advocate for advantages of wind power, solar power systems and more engineering topics (click the link to find out more). Smith helps small municipalities and island nations find the right fit for their basic needs in terms of water, electricity and renewable energy.