Future of Wind Power - Assignment Example

WIND ENERGY By Location Introduction Energy sources exploitation is one of the key determiners of the rate ofgrowth and development of the world. In the past before the onset of industrialization, the energy requirements of the world were low. This meant that there was no need to exploit large energy sources as it would mean having a surplus of energy. However, with the start of industrialization and the establishment of large industrial centres, there developed a need to have energy production plants and sources that gave high-energy yields. This saw the development and exploitation of fossil fuel and nuclear energy. Nevertheless, these high yield energy sources proved to have downsides that resulted in people wanting to out faze them. Nuclear energy for example is full of controversy. Providing only 6 % of the total world energy supply, the core principle of energy production is to split atoms which releases energy in form of heat used in heating water to produced super heated steam that runs turbines generating electricity. This would be a feasible alternative to the world’s energy problems. However, it has major faults in terms of the high cost of the plants and the radioactivity of the nuclear wastes. Fossil fuels on the other hand are not a lesser evil. Consisting of oil supplying 41%, natural gas 22% and coal that provides 24% of the world’s energy supply, fossil fuels are the kings of the energy supply industry (McLamb 2011, n.p.). Their portability, diverse uses and their ability to be easily adapted for various uses has enabled their extensive application. The problem comes in the destruction of ecosystems because of mining them and using them with the emissions resulting being the largest contributors of the green house effect. Then there is the issue of the depletion of the sources (McLamb 2011, n.p.). It is these reasons that saw the research and development of alternative energy sources that are renewable like wind. Exploitation of wind as a source of energy involves use of 100- 150 meters high masts with propellers attached to turbines (Gipe 2003, p. 147). Wind turns the propellers attached to the turbine generating electricity (Griss 2014, n.p.). Although it is done on land, the exploitation is also possible in the sea with higher masts. The exploitation of the energy source has good efficiency with a one two-megawatt turbine capable of meeting the electric requirements of 1200 homes (Griss 2014, n.p.). However, the energy source is not without faults with opposition groups coming up nearly everywhere that the projects are established. The controversial aspect of the masts is the impact on the landscape, effect on wildlife and the noise they create. Antagonists claim that the projects take up a large portion of land to create if the yield is to be significant. Then there is the visual intrusion of the dense clusters of the high matt grey mast with Dr David Bellamy calling them “a blot on the landscape” (Griss 2014, n.p.). In terms of the effects on wildlife, the propellers are known to kill wildlife, especially birds when they fly into them (Miller and Sportsman 2009, p. 421). This has seen the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds recommend the establishment of projects should occur in areas deemed not sensitive to wildlife. Finally, there is the issue of the noise generated from the rotors. The propellers are associated with a whooshing sound that can be annoying (Murray 2014, n.p.). These are the major sources of controversy hindering establishment and development of wind turbine projects as sources of energy. Benefits of wind energy Due to the climate change stemming from the effects of using non-renewable energy sources in terms of carbonization of the atmosphere, Her Majesty’s Government has established statutory commitments to enable a rapid de-carbonization of the process of energy production. This means making a choice between the available renewable sources that are able to meet the energy requirements of the nation. However, in the UK wind energy seems to be the best option. This is because of the benefits of the energy source discussed below. One of the greatest strengths of wind energy as a source of electricity is the fact that the power of wind is directly used to generate electricity (Mearns 2014, n.p.). The benefit is that the production utilizes a highly efficient method to create energy. In other energy production methods like nuclear and fossil fuels utilization, a large portion of the energy yield is lost. In the case of coal for example, waste heat comprises around 60% the energy produced. The direct production in wind alleviates this large energy wastage. The energy yield estimations put the returns figure at 20 times the invested energy (Gipe 2003, p. 71). The only energy loss attributed to this form of production only stems from the production of the mast and turbines. This means that the production process has an efficiency of around 95%. This means that the adoption, expansion and development of wind energy is important if efficiency in the energy production industry is to be improved. The direct production also means that the production costs reduce. Other methods of energy production require constantly provision of fuel to facilitate energy production. This means that the process will be costly in the end due to the constant purchase of inputs as compared to wind energy where costs incurred are only due to starting the project and maintaining the production lines. The reduced costs also mean that the energy produced will be offered at a cheaper rate to the customers. The direct interpretation is that it is a cheaper energy production method as compared to other non-renewable sources of energy. Developing and increasing the level of production of wind energy in the UK and integrating the power into the grid means that the nation will have a cheaper, effective and sufficient energy source. This will mean a reduction in the over reliance on fossil fuels that are mostly imported. The indigenous production of energy through primary methods will therefore mean that the nation will have reduced energy imports. The impact is that the nation’s balance of trade will see improvements. The changeover also means that there will be a reduction in Carbon Dioxide emissions. The use of Fossil fuels is the major contributor to CO2 emissions in the world, which propagates climate change through global warming. Further exploitation of wind energy and reduction in FF use will therefore mean fewer emissions as well as reduced change in climate (European Wind Energy Association 2012, p. 24). Wind energy also means that the mining activities associated with explorations of FF will reduce which improves the conservation and maintenance of ecosystems on a global scale. It is relatively cheaper to own and erect a wind-powered turbine as compared to hydropower plants, nuclear power plants as well as other energy sources machinery. This means that individuals or communities can establish their own plants. As such, wind power will enable the increased distribution of power with the key generator of electricity (wind) being available everywhere in the nation (Mearns 2014, n.p.). It also enables communities and individuals to have cheaper energy as they set the price of their units of electricity. Demerits of wind energy The fact that wind directly produces electric energy serves as the major demerit of the method of energy production. This is because wind is highly unreliable. The turbines’ rating allows the production electricity within certain wind speeds (Sinden 2005, p. 8). At very low and very high wind speeds, the turbines do not generate. This means that the energy produced fluctuates and is therefore not stable (Ethington 2006, p. 11). As such, it is necessary for intermittency strategies to be in place to stabilize the power before the connection into power grids (European Wind Energy Association 2012, p. 10). In countries like Portugal that have extensive hydro power plants whose size is significantly big compared to the size of the country, can stabilize the power with low costs. However, the UK where there is little hydro, intermittency measures involve the incorporation of more storage facilities and fossil fuels. The effect is that there are increased costs of the infrastructure as well as the energy with the size of the infrastructure also escalating (Mearns 2014, n.p.). At the same time, the intermittency procedures result in the increase in CO2 emissions due to the use of FF (Ethington 2006, p. 7). Then there is the issue of storage. Demand for electricity in any state or grid connection fluctuates in different times of the day, week, month and year (Bassi, Bowen and Fankhauser 2012, p. 13). A good production line balances the demand and supply so that they are almost equal. In non-renewable energy production methods, this involves the establishment of systems that can surpass the demand and regulating the amount supplied through the switching different sectors on and off at varying times. In renewable energy production, this proves to be a challenge specifically in wind where there is great variability. As discussed above, the variability in production requires the establishment of systems that enable the meeting of the demand when production is low. Since the demand, also shifts to the lower side wind-energy production systems also require the creation of large storage facilities to store the power during off-peak hours, failure to which there will be a sizeable waste in energy. Noise is also another point stressed by those against the establishment of wind projects. Complainants have complained about noise produced from wind turbines that are over 4 Kilometers away (Murray 2014, n.p.). Although supporters of wind energy argue that the noise emitted is not harmful, research has shown the noise from the turbines has adverse health effects. These include; headaches, earache, psychological distress, tinnitus, cognitive impairments, nausea, balance difficulties, sleep disruption, fatigue and a general quality of life compromise (Murray 2014, n.p.). Then there are the environmental effects of the wind farms. For a good harvest on the power of the wind, the farms need to exist in an open area of vast space so that the wind is not subject to obstructions that reduce speeds (Ethington 2006, p. 16). This means that the area is free of the agents of nature, including winds that degrade the soil and general beauty of the landscape (Ethington 2006, p. 18). At the same time, the propellers kill birds that fly into them (Miller and Spoolsman 2009, p. 421). Conclusion The world has a large energy demand that continues to soar. This has seen the exploitation and application of different sources of energy to fossil fuels acting as the largest supplier. However, the effects on the environment associated with fossil fuels as well as other sources of energy have seen the development and exploitation of alternative sources. In the UK specifically, a lot of focus is being put on the use of wind energy. This source of energy has a lot of benefit that are concerned with environmental conservation, reduced energy costs as well as improvements in balance of trade. At the same time, it associated with controversies including damage to the environment, high starting costs, noise, instable power supply and CO2 emissions due to intermittency procedures. The result is a cocktail of complex issues that we need to address if the energy source is to see full incorporation as an alternative energy source that will reduce CO2 emissions in the UK and the world in general. Bibliography Bassi, S., Bowen, A. and Fankhauser, S. 2012, The case for and against onshore wind energy in the UK. Ethington, J. 2006, The case against wind farms. Available from: http://www.countryguardian.net/ [4 Nov. 2014]. European Wind Energy Association 2012, Wind Energy - The Facts: A Guide to the Technology, Economics and Future of Wind Power. Routledge. Gipe, P. 2003, Wind powe : renewable energy for home, farm, and business. Chelsea Green Pub, White River Junction, Vermontt. Griss, F. 2014, Renewable Energy. Northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk. Available from: http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/parklive/hottopics/renewableenergy [4 Nov. 2014]. McLamb, E. 2011, Fossils Fuels vs. Renewable Energy | Ecology Global Network. Ecology Global Network. Available from: http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-renewable-energy-resources/ [4 Nov. 2014]. Mearns, E. 2014, The Arguments For and Against Wind Power. Energy Matters. Available from: http://euanmearns.com/the-arguments-for-and-against-wind-power/ [4 Nov. 2014]. Miller, G. T. and Spoolsman, S. 2009, Living in the environment : concepts, connections, and solutions. Thomson Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA. Murray, M. 2014, Wind power controversy: Wind Energy Impacts and Issues. National Wind Watch. Available from: https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-power-controversy/ [4 Nov. 2014]. Sinden, G. (2005). Wind Power and the UK. Wind Resource. Read More