Wind Energy: the Costs and Benefits of Harnessing Power to Generate Electricity from Wind Energy - Coursework Example

Section/# Wind Energy: An Overview and Discussion of the Costs and Benefits of Harnessing Power to GenerateElectricity from Wind Energy Introduction: Recently, a high level of focus has been placed upon the means by which renewable energy can be affected within different regions the potential for developing societies to begin to reduce their dependence upon traditional forms of energy generation. For purposes of clarity and singularity, the energy that will be discussed within this particular paper will be with respect to electrical energy. Accordingly, prior method of electrical generation, and those that are still the most common with developed and developing societies around the globe are contingent upon the provision of electricity via coal plants, nuclear plants, hydro plants, and the less popular natural gas electrical plants. Naturally, the need and desire to integrate with alternative energy sources and more renewable means of electrical generation is contingent upon the fact that the current process for creating electricity is inherently dirty and non-renewable; releasing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and polluting other aspects of the environment in a litany of other ways. Whereas it is true that there is no truly clean source of electrical energy production, certain methodologies are better than others. Accordingly, the focus of this brief analysis will be on the relative merits and drawbacks of many of the “renewable” energy sources that are currently being considered around the globe, a closer analysis into wind energy, a discussion of how it is gathered, what issues with relation to wind energy generation contribute to lost efficiency, effective turbine designs, environmental impact, public opinion, and lastly government policy and future investment. Merits and Drawbacks of Other forms of Electrical Power Generation: One of the most talked about forms of renewable energy over the past several years has been solar. Due to the decreasing natural resources that the planet exhibits, coal and nuclear sources of electrical generation are in diminished supply and represent their own unique risks. As a function of discussing this alongside presenting an alternative approach, the following analysis will promote an understanding of some of the pros and cons of the utilization of solar energy (Williams, 2014). Firstly, it should be noted that a large majority of energy (electricity) is generated by coal plants. These coal plants are inherently a dirty way of creating electricity; due to the fact that they burn the fossil fuel coal as a means of generating that in turn drives turbines which produce electricity. Beyond the inefficiency of this process, coal is a limited and finite natural resource that once it is exhausted will be gone forever. Furthermore, the inherent damage to the environment that coal fumes and ash create has been proven by a litany of different medical researchers to be especially toxic. By means of comparison and contrast, many individuals argue for the more widespread use of nuclear energy; due to the fact that it is inherently “cleaner” than coal and less environmentally toxic to individuals that live in and around the nuclear stations that produce such energy. Solar energy has come to be a very attractive alternative. For instance, proponents of solar energy point to the fact that it is sustainable, widely available, reduces electricity costs, silent, abundant, renewable, and relatively low maintenance (Williams, 2014). All of these advantages encourage individuals throughout society to promote solar energy as the most effective way in which the dependent upon limited and finite resources can be reduced within the near future. However, the fact of the matter is that solar energy also exhibits a litany of drawbacks. First and most importantly, it is prohibitively expensive at the current juncture. This disadvantage in and of itself is not sufficient to discourage further development of solar resources and solar energy development (Chong et al., 2014). The underlying reason behind this has to do with the fact that any technology ultimately comes down in price as it is studied further and researchers/scientists are able to understand more effective and economical means of developing such a technology. For instance, only a decade ago, solar panels with the only way through which solar energy can be harvested. However, certain companies are now experimenting, to a great deal of success, with particular types of paint that can be utilized to collect solar energy and direct it towards electrodes that in turn collect energy within battery banks or other capacitive storage devices (Zhao et al., 2014). Although this might not be the ultimate direction in which solar energy develops, it does show the way in which promising new developments have a powerful impact with respect to changing the way in which society understands and integrates with this technology. A further issue that exists with respect to solar energy has to do with the fact that it is by its very nature and intermittent source of power. Whereas a coal or nuclear plant can operate 24 hours a day seven days a week and 365 days a year, solar generation can only occur during peak hours of solar activity (Otto & Leibenath, 2014). Moreover, in higher latitudes, solar energy is not sufficient due to the fact that the sun only remains in the sky a very brief period of time during the winter months. By means of comparison and contrast, the way in which solar energy is stored is invariably in the form of banks of batteries. As might be expected, this is a rather low-tech an extraordinarily expensive way in which energy can be retained. Furthermore, batteries eventually wear out and are highly toxic to recycle and/or dispose of/create. For this reason, many environmentalists have fundamentally shifted against solar power as a renewable form of energy altogether. Final drawback that exists with respect to solar energy has to do with the fact that require such a great deal of space as a means of power and even a single home. For instance, a standard residential house that intends on power and all of its electronic devices based upon solar energy would necessarily need the entire roof, as well as portions of the yard covered in solar panels as a means of achieving this goal. For this very reason, many individuals have not fully integrated with solar energy generation as a means of replacing the traditional energy that powers their homes. From the aforementioned information that has been described, it is clear and apparent that even as solar energy represents a noted benefit with respect to the traditional forms of electoral generation that currently exist within the system - it also references core drawbacks. For these very reasons, solar energy has not caught on to a higher degree. Whereas many individuals might point to a potential conspiracy by energy companies or government controls that she individuals addicted to the power grid, the fact of the matter is that solar energy is neither economically viable nor widely available. For this very reason, individuals are necessarily discouraged from using it and the level of research that takes place is limited with respect to the means by which this energy is stored after it is collected. However, with all that being said, it must also be understood that this is still a relatively new technology. Within these lines, it can further be expected that developments in solar energy could necessarily lead to a breakthrough in which it could reduce or entirely negate many of the negative drawbacks that have thus far been evidenced. Likewise, in certain areas of the world where solar energy is neither efficient nor cost-effective, individuals that promote renewable energy indicate that the energy is the most effective and efficient alternative to the traditional sources that have been discussed previously. However, it must be noted that even though wind energy is applicable within many parts of the world that experience a higher than average level of wind and have available land to build relevant infrastructures to support this particular scheme, wind energy itself as a means of gathering electrical power exhibits many key drawbacks. First and foremost among these has to do with the fact that only certain areas within certain regions can effectively be utilized as a means of gathering wind energy and converting it to electrical power. Obviously, these regions are invariably those that are positioned at a higher altitude and/or exposed to high levels of continual wind (Katsigiannis & Stavrakakis, 2014). In much the same way that solar energy fails due to the fact that it is unable to produce reliable energy each and every day, not to mention its complete inability to produce electricity for nearly half of each 24-hour period, wind energy is also subject to the whims of nature and oftentimes does not function as a continual or reliable form of electrical generation. In terms of more traditional forms of electrical generation, much of the world has developed and infrastructure that relies upon nuclear reactors and steam powered turbines as a means of providing energy resources for the nations or societies in question (Attya & Hartkopf, 2014). Although there has been great concerned with respect to the potential for nuclear proliferation and the means by which office of weaponry could ultimately be created via otherwise peaceful energy initiatives, most experts are in agreement that the types of domestic peaceful energy reactors that are exhibited around the globe are technically and realistically dissimilar to the processes that could produce office of weaponry from the refined types of fuel that are utilized within these reactors. Yet, aside from the fact that nuclear power is oftentimes Sean as a result of the fear that it could lead to further nuclear proliferation, perhaps the greater concerned with respect to nuclear power has to do with the fact that a series of nuclear disasters, that had been especially costly and horrific, have taken place over the past several decades and forever scarred the way in which individuals within society you this particular form of energy creation. For instance, the disaster of Chernobyl, the leak at 8 mile Island, the destruction of Fukushima, and a litany of other close calls have created a situation by which individuals realize that nuclear power provision comes at a distinct environmental and ecological cost. Yet, beyond merely the disasters that have been illustrated previously, nuclear energy also distinctive drawback of being one of the only forms of energy in which extraordinarily toxic waste is produced that must in turn be redefined or stored in sealed containment vessels within highly secure facility for thousands of years prior to the region being safe for human activities once again. Naturally, this particular process is the complete antithesis of what renewable energy seeks to provide (Tabrizi et al., 2014). Due to the fact that even an extraordinarily well-managed, effective, and “clean” nuclear energy facility will necessarily generate waste that must in turn be stored somewhere, this particular alternative is one that is quickly losing luster within the environmental community and those concerned with the future sustainability of energy production throughout the planet (Black et al., 2014). Individuals oftentimes misunderstand environmentalists in terms of the fact that they would ultimately support hydropower plants; incorrectly assuming that these particular plants do not impact heavily upon the environment and have no lasting negative ecological footprint. However, environmental study after environmental study has indicated fact that damning rivers and erecting hydro plants to generate electrical energy necessarily impede the way in which wildlife interacts with the environment and decreases the potential for certain endemic species to migrate from one place to another. Whereas it is true that coal production poisons the environment and increases the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, potentially contributing to global warming, and whereas it is true that nuclear energy creates toxic waste that must be stored for thousands of years (necessarily removing entire swaths of the countryside for human exploitation within the coming generations), erecting hydro plants on rivers necessarily impede the way in which species continue to evolve and develop. Lastly, it is necessary to analyze the positive and negative externalities of coal electrical generation. In terms of the positives, coal is one of the cheapest forms of producing electricity that has yet been developed. One of the major underlying reasons for this has to do with the fact that coal power has been utilized to create steam since the Dawn of the industrial era. As such, the technology for creating electricity from burning coal has reached higher than at any time previously (Blackledge et al., 2013). Furthermore, due to the fact that coal is relatively cheap, and establishing the technology and plant that can provide electricity from coal also be seen, this particular power sources utilized around many parts of the world that do not have the discretionary funding to power more efficient or environmentally friendly forms of electrical energy production. With this being stated, it must also be understood that coal exhibits a litany of key drawbacks. First and most obviously has to do with the fact that utilizing coal power as a means of electrical generation releases cons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. As the primary emphasis of global warming has indicated that human activity is primarily responsible for the changes in climate that had been witnessed over the past several decades, and are fully expected within the next several years, as well as centuries, the continued use of coal as a means of generating electricity has a profound and lasting ecological and environmental impact that truly cannot be ignored. Aside from the production of CO2, even clean coal technology creates tons of suet that impedes upon the overall human health of individuals that live in or around the regions that generate electricity via the use of coal-fired plants. How electricity is made from wind and entropy of harnessing the power of the wind to create electricity: At the most basic level of understanding, energy is gathered from wind via the use of a rotor that in turn rotates a turbine producing electricity. This simplistic process and technology has of course been in existence far before humans began using electricity. For instance, the windmills of Holland and elsewhere throughout the world were utilized as a means of grinding grain and/or powering rudimentary sawmills or other forms of early industrial technology (Živkovic et al. ,2014). However, as technology has increased and humans have been able to develop, positive materials that are lighter and more effective as compared to their earlier counterparts, the efficiency and productivity of windmills as a valuable source of electrical generation has increased exponentially. Although there is a great complexity with regard to the internal schematics of each individual windmill design, the rotor, shaft, and turbine connected to an electrical grid of some sort is a universal similarity that all wind mills that are utilized to generate electricity share. As with any form of energy production, entropy is unavoidable. However, it must not be understood that wind turbines/windmills are the only form of electrical energy generation in which entropy is exhibited. From a basic definition, entropy can be defined as energy that is lost or otherwise not gathered by the process in question (Carrillo et al., 2014). Accordingly, entropy exists within solar powered due to the sense that much of the solar energy that is intended to be captured by the solar panels are oftentimes reflected back into the earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, with respect to solar - rather than the direct gathering of the sun’s photons, much of the potential energy from the process is lost as a function of the fact that many of the sun’s rays are refracted or reflected back into the atmosphere without the solar panel being able to convert these to usable energy (Yang et al., 2014). Entropy is also exhibited with regard to nuclear power generation or coal power generation; as a percentage of the energy that is generated by these processes produce heat instead of directly turning turbines. Likewise, with respect to wind energy, the core aspects of entropy are concentric upon the following: aerodynamic loss, friction causing heat, obstacles to gathering the energy from the wind, height of the rotors, rotor design, and the directional focus and lag time that effect the shifts in response to changing wind directions can be accomplished. Firstly, aerodynamic loss is with relation to the actual design of the wind rotors themselves and the way in which they harness the energy that flows past them (Abdelhamid & Bahmed, 2014). In much the same way that the aerodynamic properties of an airplane or are determine whether or not it is fuel efficient, the aerodynamic properties of a wind mill determine whether or not the particular structure is able to harness the maximal amount of energy without causing an unnecessary obstruction and decreasing its efficiency. For this very reason, a primary focus has recently been placed upon seeking to enhance the aerodynamic properties of rotors and subsequent technology that is represented on the exterior of the structure; as a means of producing increased efficiency and decreased drag. Another relevant cause of entropy has to do with the same properties that were discussed previously concerning solar, coal, and nuclear forms of electrical generation (Ahmmad, 2014). Invariably, almost each and every form of electrical generation loses some of its efficiency and potential based upon the fact that a portion of the energy that is gathered is transitioned into rather than electricity. The same is true with respect to windmills; due to the fact that the turning of the turbine, which is accomplished by the rotating rotors, creates friction within the internal mechanism of the instrument itself; thereby leading to a situation in which heat is generated without the ability to directly harness all of the potential energy at hand. A similar loss in efficiency is of course realized within a situation in which obstacles to the wind powering the turbine is noted. For instance, windmills are the most effective in areas that generally experienced high levels of wind and do not have any impeded access to the wind. As such, placing windmills in low elevation areas or allowing trees or other natural obstacles to exist in and around windmills creates a situation in which severely reduced efficiency of energy gathering could potentially take place. Naturally, this concern will be discussed to some degree later within the analysis; specifically with regard to the environmental impact of wind farms and need to clear-cut areas and/or ensure that the natural environment does not include such obstacles as have been previously discussed. Although the information that has thus far been presented is relevant with respect to understanding how energy efficiency and loss is indicated within wind powered electrical generation, perhaps the more salient potential for energy loss is concentric upon the shifting dynamics of wind and the means by which windmills are able to adapt to this and continue to harness high levels of energy as the wind continues to blow. Ultimately, even a cursory analysis of whether patterns reveals the fact that in all but a few places on earth, the wind is subject to incessant change. Because of this, windmills must not be solitary and focus upon one particular direction accordingly, the need to be ballasted and to face into the wind as it forever changes is an inherent necessity that all windmills find necessary to meet. Nevertheless, in the amount of time that it takes a windmill to shift direction and began gathering useful energy based upon a particular cost of wind, is oftentimes the case that the wind has once again shifted and the overall directional efficiency of the windmill was never achieved. This is the result of the fact that existing windmill technology uses ballast as a means of facing the angle of the wind based upon the directional focus and strength of the gust that is taking place at any one point in time. As this process itself is powered by the wind, the amount of time that it takes the windmill to ingest its angle and integrate with a particular directional force is oftentimes longer than the length of time that a particular directional wind current will exist prior to shifting once again (Chudinova & Goryunova, 2014). Although there are of course powered alternatives toward rapidly maneuvering the apparatus and positioning it within a particular gust of wind within a relatively short period of time, this dramatically takes away from the efficiency of the windmill as it requires energy itself to power the motors to facilitate this shift. Rotor Design: Although a great degree of variation has been exhibited over the past several decades, windmill design is ultimately concentric upon the means by which the rotors are arrayed and the hatch that these rotors have with relation to the wind. Accordingly, there are three distinct rotor designs that are oftentimes utilized to varying degrees throughout the world. The first and the least utilized of these designs is what is known as the VAWT Darrieus system. VAWT stands for vertical axis wind turbine and as such operates by articulating in a cylindrical motion when viewed from directly above or below. Figure 1 illustrates the way in which a VAWT Darrieus system would likely be represented in terms of rotor design and functionality. Figure 1.0 – VAWT Darrieus Design Wind Turbine Illustration As something somewhat more common than the previous design that has been illustrated above, a simple VAWT wind turbine is illustrated below in figure 2.0. Within this particular illustration, the individual can quickly ascertain that this particular design is efficient for gathering winds of varying speed at rather low altitudes (Juárez-Hernández & León, 2014). As such, rather than determining that any one particular design is better than another, it should be understood that the current differential between VAWT, VAWT Darrieus, and HAWT technology is mainly concentric upon the area that is to be harvested and the overall level wind, type of wind, elevation of the wind, and other environmental factors at play within such a situation (Chang-he & Jing-quan, 2014). Figure 2.0 VAWT Wind Turbine Illustration Lastly, figure 3.0 below indicates the most common design that is currently in production throughout the world; commonly referred to as the HAWT (horizontal axis wind turbine). As can be illustrated with the below figure, these wind turbines traditionally have three rotors that power the turbine that in turn produces the electricity generated from the wind (Ferdi et al., 2014). As has been denoted above, this particular design is particularly amenable to gathering types of wind that are oftentimes higher analyses and not solely concentric upon low level generation; something that the aforementioned VAWT design and its rotors are best at capturing (Fang, 2014). Figure 3.0 – Illustration of HAWT Wind Turbine Design Environmental Impact As with the construction of any man-made project, there are certain environmental impact that must be considered with respect to the creation of wind turbines throughout the nation. The first and most obvious of these has to do with the fact that the wind turbines require substantial concrete footings in order for them to be securely positioned to gather wind and to be immune to sudden gusts that might otherwise topple them. Accordingly, large holes must be dug, excavated, and filled with several metric tons of concrete as a function of ensuring the largest wind turbines remain in place (Diaz-Gonzalez, 2014). Not surprisingly, impacts to local wildlife, the quality of groundwater, and potential damage to extant flora is quite possible with the construction of such designs. An added concern that a few individuals consider has to do with the fact that even though wind turbines represent a clean alternative to many forms of electrical energy generation, they are still required to be connected to a global energy grid. For this very reason, wind turbines that are placed in relatively remote regions, hopefully at high altitudes and able to garner I high percentage of useful wind energy on any given day, find it necessary to have many miles of electrical wires extending from them to the electrical power station that in turn distributes it to individual houses. Likewise, recent scholarship within the United States has indicated that depending on the type of windmill design, certain species of birds often find themselves victims to the fast-moving rotors and can become maimed or killed as a result of this. Although it is possible for any human construction to create such a potential, the need and necessity to represent many windmills in a particular location, as a means of maximizing efficiency and energy drawn from the wind, creates a dynamic in which entire swaths of the country could be uninhabitable too many types of migratory birds; or perhaps render these locations so dangerous that their numbers become inherently reduced or even endangered. Public Opinion: For the most part, public opinion concerning windmills is contingent upon whether or not the windmill or windmills within a particular region will impact upon these you or cycling this that a particular group of individuals will come to experience. Sadly, as with many environmental concerns, individuals that considered wind energy as a viable alternative to the other traditional forms of electrical generation that have already been discussed within this paper oftentimes promote wind energy up until the time in that wind turbines are slated for installation in or around the regions in which they live. Due to the fact that wind turbines are inherently more visible as compared to other forms of electrical energy generation, public opinion within many regions that have, or are due to have, a high percentage of wind turbines is quite negative. Some of the reasons behind this that individuals reference has to do with the fact that they feel wind turbines detract from the landscape, show an unnatural nature to that which would otherwise be considered as pristine, and detract from the overall value that their real estate homes might be able to receive on the market. Naturally, these public opinion concerns do not represent all individuals and are not indicative of the way in which many view the prospect of wind turbines and how they will impact upon the provision of electrical power in the foreseeable future (Badoud et al., 2014). Continued scholarship within the realm of engineering and science illustrates the fact that progression with composite materials, fiberglass, and the cost of production of these units that more and more experts are advocating that utilize as a means of generating power for future applications. In much the same way that solar energy has gained traction and come to represent an attractive alternative that many homeowners have been attracted to of their own volition, it is the expectation of this particular piece of research that very much the same case might be illustrated in the near future with regard to wind turbines and the manner through which the individual within society comes to appreciate the positive impact that this technology can have in meeting existing and future electrical needs that a burgeoning society will illustrate (Ahmed & Young-Chon, 2014). Government Policy: As wind turbines represent a dynamic shift away from the traditional forms of electrical generation that had been evidenced throughout the United Kingdom, government involvement in subsidizing their development and encouraging their use must necessarily be effected in order for this dynamic to be one that catches on in the near future. Furthermore, from the information that has been presented thus far, it must be realized that any and all forms of electrical generation pose unique drawbacks that inherently decrease their attractiveness in terms of overall implementation. Likewise, it should come as no surprise that the same can be said for wind turbines; as they have certain key drawbacks that must be addressed (Kalam Azad et al., 2014). Yet, with the case of the United Kingdom, a set of islands that regularly experiences a sustained level of wind on key portions virtually year-round, it is the interpretation of this particular analyst that wind turbines are a viable solution towards seeking to promote a further level of energy renewability within the United Kingdom and provide for the needs of coming generations. Whereas solar is a viable alternative within certain latitudes, the overall level of precipitation within the United Kingdom creates a dynamic through which solar energy is not ineffective solution for providing for the long-term electrical needs that the United Kingdom will necessarily illustrate (Rui et al., 2014). Likewise, for reasons that have already been listed above, the traditional means of electrical generation also indicate key drawbacks; as they are unable to facilitate clean and reliable creation of renewable energy well into the foreseeable future. As such, it must be the goal of the government to ensure that further research and development money is directed towards perfecting windmill designs that will be particularly useful and amenable to the geographic region of the United Kingdom (Higgins & Foley, 2014). Likewise, environmental impact statements must be conducted which consider the risks inherent to the region and seek to ameliorate the human footprint on otherwise natural areas in which these wind turbines will be installed. Conclusion: From the information that has been indicated within this research analysis, it is clear and apparent that wind power does not propose to be the final solution for all of the United Kingdom’s renewable energy needs (Satpathy et al., 2014). Yet, as the technology continues to improve, and as one weights the overall merits of wind energy, as compared to its alternatives, it is clear that this particular technology has great promise for promoting energy renewal and independence for the United Kingdom. As such, the prescriptive change that the analysis has indicated would be concentric on the need to continue to invest significant resources and research into this technology in the hopes that continued development would yield further productivity and reduce the inefficiencies of the process of utilizing wind energy as a means of generating electricity. Whereas it is unlikely that this process will outright replace the need for other traditional forms of energy generation in the near future, it is at least possible that developments within wind turbine technology and implementation within the United Kingdom could substantially reduce the reliance on other dirtier and more damaging forms of electrical generation that have defined electrical power generation for such a long period of time. 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