Wind, like all renewable energy sources, is ultimately powered from the sun. As the sun heats the earth, the warm air rises and the cool air descents to fill in the gap. This unequal redistribution of heat creates the wind. So as long there is sun there will be wind. Moreover, during the power generation there is no pollution to the environment (so called green energy). As a result there are practically unlimited potentials in power generation from wind renewable sources. This is Wind Energy’s major advantage.

Wind power is mainly harnessed throughout the world via the use of wind farms. In most places of the world there is plenty of wind allowing for the efficient generation of electricity from wind farms. However, due to the variation of the speed of the wind the location of the wind farm must be carefully selected. Even though it’s difficult to generate constant level of electricity from a single wind farm throughout the year, with proper planning at a national level, the wind farms can be placed in such locations so that the overall power generation if the country is less variable. The constant power generation levels can be much more accurate if employ a diversified energy mix strategy that combines power generation from other renewable energy sources as well (solar energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy etc). The last few years there is also a lot of development in energy storage capabilities that will allow the extra power generation from renewable energy sources (usually in off peak hours) to be stored for later use.

Another advantage of using wind energy, is the fact that the last 2-3 years investment opportunities in wind energy are a lot more viable first because of the lowered cost of wind turbines (5 times less) and second due to the increase of the efficiency of wind turbines (100 times more efficient). Moreover, investment opportunities are increased due to the aggressive roadmaps of various countries (particularly US, EU and China) in renewable energy investments. US for example, has a roadmap to cover 20% of its power needs by 2030 from wind energy. As a result many countries provide subsidize programs which on some occasions reach 50%.

Most countries now realize the impact power generation from wind energy is the most common source of renewable energy (together with solar energy). It is very important to understand its advantages in order to be able to fully exploit its potentials. Wind, like all renewable energy sources, is ultimately powered from the sun. As the sun heats the earth, the warm air rises and the cool air descents to fill in the gap. This unequal redistribution of heat creates the wind. So as long there is sun there will be wind. Moreover, during the power generation there is no pollution to the environment (so called green energy). As a result there are practically unlimited potentials in power generation from wind renewable sources. This is Wind Energy’s major advantage. Wind power is mainly harnessed throughout the world via the use of wind farms. In most places of the world there is plenty of wind allowing for the efficient generation of electricity from wind farms. However, due to the variation of the speed of the wind the location of the wind farm must be carefully selected. Even though it’s difficult to generate constant level of electricity from a single wind farm throughout the year, with proper planning at a national level, the wind farms can be placed in such locations so that the overall power generation if the country is less variable. The constant power generation levels can be much more accurate if employ a diversified energy mix strategy that combines power generation from other renewable energy sources as well (solar energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy etc). The last few years there is also a lot of development in energy storage capabilities that will allow the extra power generation from renewable energy sources (usually in off peak hours) to be stored for later use. Another advantage of using wind energy, is the fact that the last 2-3 years investment opportunities in wind energy are a lot more viable first because of the lowered cost of wind turbines (5 times less) and second due to the increase of the efficiency of wind turbines (100 times more efficient). Moreover, investment opportunities are increased due to the aggressive roadmaps of various countries (particularly US, EU and China) in renewable energy investments. US for example, has a roadmap to cover 20% of its power needs by 2030 from wind energy. As a result many countries provide subsidize programs which on some occasions reach 50%. Most countries now realize the impact power generation from wind energy will have on their economies. First of all, it provides many new job opportunities, but most importantly it allows countries to maintain price stability and become self sufficient as it eliminates the dependency on primary fuels (oil, gas). Wind power generation does not “suffer” from price fluctuations and with proper planning, is practically risk free. You can find more information on Wind Energy and other renewable energy sources at www.renewablegreenenergypower.com”>wind energy will have on their economies. First of all, it provides many new job opportunities, but most importantly it allows countries to maintain price stability and become self sufficient as it eliminates the dependency on primary fuels (oil, gas). Wind power generation does not “suffer” from price fluctuations and with proper planning, is practically risk free.

You can find more information on Wind Energy and other renewable energy sources at www.renewablegreenenergypower.com

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These renewable energy sources do however bring some potential complications to the table, storage of energy being one of them. Since the renewable energy sources (especially wind and solar) are not what we call “base load” energy source such as fossil fuels and nuclear power, and the generation of electricity is highly fluctuating, we need ways to store the energy. This is to deliver a stable stream of energy, and save the excess from windy or sunny times, for use where we actually need it. More about these phenomena can be read up on Wind Energy Pros and Cons.

There are several ways we can utilize the store the energy and we are going to look at the three most relevant ones for a renewable energy system.

First one out are the flywheels. By using flywheel energy storage we can efficiently. Some of them are as much as 90%, meaning 90% of the energy input can be outputted for later use. We are simply just manipulating the timeline of when we are going to use this energy.

They are built up in a rather simple manner and the technology behind is well-known and explored. By using a carbon frame, and spinning it around with electricity and magnets (induction), we are able to convert the electricity into kinetic energy. Some of them are built up with vacuum, allowing for lower air resistance and virtually no friction.

Batteries are also highly applicable to these purposes, but we need them large enough to store the massive quantities of energy we are talking about in these systems. The downsides of batteries, is the fact that they wear out over time relatively quickly, as well as the maintenance costs can be quite high.

Another method, hydrogen storage, looks very promising, but still experimental. We believe that this is the way we are going to store energy in the future, because of its abilities for relatively easy storage, transport and the fact that the entire process is green and non-polluting. There has been successfully built cars and vehicles as well as other devices that run on hydrogen, and the results have been mind-blowing. It will be very interesting to see how hydrogen energy storage develops into the future.

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Short and Long-Term Costs

Both the installments and the price tag on the system itself are quite expensive. The wind turbine and the rest of the project could easily end up being one of your most valuable possessions, but the idea here is to think long term. This is not a short-term investment and you should not expect to see dramatic results very quickly.

It is first when you have paid down the installments and the devices that you actually have a stream of low-maintenance green electricity you could directly feed into your grid. It is actually quite possible to cover all your electricity needs by doing this, and some people even take the concept further: Sell the surplus of electricity back to the grid, making an income out of it.

Any Disadvantages of Generating Electricity With Wind?

There are several downsides by using residential wind turbines as well. Apart from being very expensive, wind energy is a fluctuating source, meaning you could not expect to see a stable electricity generation from these installments. It is absolutely essential to have a way of storing the surplus of energy on windy days for later use. This can be done with several methods, but probably most relevant in a residential situation are the flywheels and the battery.

In addition to this, wind turbines does not only generate electricity, but some of these models also produce a terrible noise. This can be a problem for both you and your neighbors, so you want to clear everything regarding this and also general aesthetics before any installments.

For a more comprehensive interpreting of these concepts go to Wind Energy Pros and Cons. All in all, wind energy is a good source with the ability to provide a good stream of green electricity, now also for residential situations. There is no doubt that wind power will be one of renewable power horses in the future.

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As we move forward into a world where “going green” is becoming a major movement, we need to be aware of our options for “greening” our own lives. Providing enough power for ourselves in order to be able to go about our daily lives is essential if we wish to preserve the environment and maintain our current comfort levels. There are many reasons why solar power is one of the most cost effective and efficient methods for doing this. Solar power can save us money in the long run and has major advantages over some of it’s rivals.

Here are the 5 biggest disadvantages of wind power.

1. The first disadvantage of wind power is simple. The wind doesn’t blow all the time. It can vary from storm force winds to weeks without anything more than a breeze.

2. Wind turbines are very noisy. They produce the same amount of noise pollution as a vehicle traveling at 70 mph.

3. Even though they save significantly on air pollution, with the exception of building them, very large areas of land and natural resources are destroyed in order to place the turbines where they can capture the most wind.

4. Huge wind farms are needed to produce enough electricity to keep up with demand. At the present time, the largest turbine available is only able to provide enough power for about 450 homes. Large cities would need hundreds of acres of these farms to sustain their current power levels.

5. There are many moving parts, and the more moving parts a piece of equipment has, the more likely it is to break down. This means costly repairs as well as regular maintenance costs are necessary to keep your house powered.

The disadvantages of wind power far out weigh the benefits, especially when looking at the other option that are available for powering your home and saving on your power bill or completely eliminating it all together. Solar power is the most cost effective methods for powering your home and ending your monthly power bill.

For very little money, usually less than $200, you can build and install your own solar power system in your home. The benefits significantly out weight the disadvantages of wind power.

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Finding alternate sources of energy in today’s society is becoming more important than ever before. The big players in alternate energy are wind and solar energy. Of the two, wind energy is perhaps the least well understood. If you’ve ever wondered what is wind energy, then this article will help you understand the basics of how it works and how it can be used.

The first thing you are probably wondering is, “What is wind energy”? The answer to this question seems obvious enough. When wind blows, that is energy from the wind. To understand it at a deeper level, you must understand where it comes from and its nature so that you can appreciate the benefits (and challenges) of using it. It is a form of kinetic energy, or energy in motion, and is created by the sun’s impact on the Earth’s atmosphere. As the sun warms the Earth’s surface, heated air over the land (which is formed by the sun’s rays) begins to rise. As this air begins to rise, colder air from lower lying regions fills the vacuum left by the escaping warm air. When this colder air rushes in, we feel this as wind.

After gaining a better understanding of what wind energy is, the next thing you’ll want to consider is how it can be used. Unlike stored energy, such as coal, which must be pulverized and combusted to extract the energy from within it, it is kinetic and therefore readily available. Another example of kinetic energy would be a rushing river. In the same way that water flows and is used to power hydroelectric dams, energy from the wind blows and is used to power wind mills and large wind turbines. The problem with wind is that unlike a river, which is constantly moving, it is intermittent.

Now that you understand what wind power is and how it can be used you are probably wondering what the pros and cons are of using it as a power source.

Put simply, the pros are:

• Free and abundant.
• Inexpensive in kilowatt-per-hour terms.
• Clean in its natural state.

Likewise, the cons are:

• Intermittent. It isn’t available all the time.
• Has higher transfer costs.
• Has high start up costs.

As you can see, wind energy holds great promise for powering our future. It’s virtually limitless supply combined with its cleanliness is only hampered by still burdensome operational costs. However, if these can be overcome through technology, it will become a viable power source for many more people.

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