Introduction of Wind Energy
Wind Energy is a form of renewable energy like solar energy, it means that wind power will always be available for us to harness and use. Wind power is one of our future fuels because an abundant supply of fossil fuels will come to an end someday, bringing down the economic order with it. So it will not be an exaggeration to say that clean energy such as wind power and solar energy are the future of our energy sources. In today’s article, we will talk about wind power, its uses, advantages, disadvantages, etc.
What Causes Wind?
To understand wind power energy, first, we should know what causes wind. As we all know Sun rays heat the earth’s surface unevenly, which means not all places are heated equally. Warm air always rises up, leaving a low-pressure area behind it, and cooler air moves slowly. The air moves from a high-pressure area to low pressure area. The bigger the difference between the pressures, the faster the air moves. This movement of air is known as wind.
So what is wind energy?
The Energy derived from harnessing the wind by using windmills or wind turbines is known as wind energy. Most commonly electrical energy is derived using wind energy. Basically, the wind is a form of solar energy. Humans use this wind motion for electricity generation. Wind power is our future fuel and one of the rising technologies. Wind power is inexhaustible, economical, and causes zero emissions.
History
Wind power was used to drive boats in the early five thousand BC. Then china came up with innovative technology of powered water pumps, following china, Persia also develops wind-powered machines. By the 11th century, new technologies start rising especially in the Middle East. People in the Middle East were using wind pumps and windmills to pump water and grind food grains. European merchants take these wind technologies to Europe and Dutch developed large wind pumps. These windpumps drain lakes and marshes. Then European immigrants shared these technologies with the western hemisphere. The first wind turbine in the world was invented by Prof James Blyth in Scotland in 1887; it was used for the production of electric power.
Uses of wind energy in modern times
Wind power has been in increasing demand due to its 0% emission and cost-effectiveness. If the situation is in favor of winds it can run a large turbine which is enough for a household to meet its basic energy needs. It serves many purposes to humans such as:
- The energy of wind is used to produce electricity from wind turbines. There are two types of wind turbines one has horizontal blades and the other has vertical blades. Most of the turbines in use today are horizontal blades because they work better than vertical types.
- The use of wind electricity for cryptocurrency mining is a new way of using this renewable resource in recent times.
- With new technological developments turbines have found their use on a smaller scale. Like in private houses lowering dependence on nonrenewable grid sources thus reducing energy consumption.
- In fields or large farms, farmers are using wind turbines to pump water.
- Further, Wind machines use wind power for heating and lighting purposes in buildings that do not use an electrical grid.
- Some turbines are connected to a grid which helps in constant power supply.
- The windmill is also used on farms to mill grains.
- Mini wind turbines for charging mobiles or laptops are also available.
- Wind power can be combined with other renewable energy sources such as solar energy to provide a 24/7 electricity supply, with the help of a battery-powered generator that will run for backup purposes during cloudy days and windless days.
- Power from wind is also used in sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, kiteboarding, and powering cargo ships.
Examples of wind energy
A wind farm is an example of wind energy, a plot of land where a group of windmills and wind turbines is producing electrical energy from wind power is known as a wind farm. Wind farms are situated in areas where the wind is strong and reliable. These turbines have a height of around 20 stories with 100 feet long blades.
- Alta Wind Energy Center is 2nd largest onshore wind power park in the world, it is situated in California USA, and consists of 600 wind turbines currently and is planned to be extended in the near future. Anta wind energy center currently has the capacity of generating 1500 megawatts of electricity.
- India ranks at the 4th position in the world for wind power generation, many wind farms are located in different parts of the country. Muppandal Wind Park is the largest onshore wind farm in India; it is situated in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. This Wind Park produces 1500 megawatts of electricity.
- Jaisalmer Wind Park is another wind farm in India that produces 1064 megawatts of electricity.
Advantages of Wind Energy
- One of the main advantages of wind power is that it is a clean fuel with 0% emission of harmful gasses.
- Wind power has provided job growth.
- Besides Wind power has unexpected sources of income.
- Wind energy has less impact on cost-effectiveness.
- It is the cheapest energy resource and creates wealth.
- Neither does it contaminate water nor does it produce toxic wastes.
- The wind is an inexhaustible source and is sustainable.
- Wind farm can be built on ranches where most of the best wind sites are found
Disadvantages of wind energy
The disadvantages of wind power are as follows-
- Wind power’s biggest disadvantage is that it cannot be produced consistently; It can only be produced when the wind blows.
- Wind sites are often far from cities. So in order to bring electricity from the wind farms to the city needs an infrastructure of transmission lines which is very costly.
- The wind- turbines cause noise pollution and its sound can be heard up to 500 meters away
- Windmills and wind turbines are a threat to flying creatures. Many birds and bats died after hitting into turbines blades.
- It is hard to recycle the blades of windmills, and they are piling up in landfills.
Future of Wind energy
Wind power is one of the most cost-effective sources of electrical power. New technologies such as Air born Wind turbines will be available in the future. They will be available above skyscrapers and buildings in the near future. Big companies such as Google, and Wal-Mart have already invested in wind energy bringing a more positive hope for these technologies in the coming future. Some agencies in the U.S. claim turbine technicians are now the fastest-growing profession in the country as a result there will be more jobs in the future in wind production centers.
The Wind Vision Statistics, says that wind energy is anticipated to save consumers $300 billion by 2050. By relying on wind energy we have a better pollution-free atmosphere, reducing the risk of Global warming to a large extent. Power from wind preserves water resources thus in the future can save billions of gallons of water that might be used in the non-renewable power generation departments.
- To visit the official website of the Indian Ministry of Power- Click Here
- To visit Ministry of New and Renewable Energy- Click Here