Renewable Wind Energy - Literature review Example

RENEWABLE WIND ENERGY Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Investment in Wind Turbine Infrastructure in United Kingdom 2 2.1 Social and Economic Impacts of Investment in Wind Turbine Infrastructure 4 3. Technical Issues in Association with Wind Turbines on UK’s Energy Supply and the Environment 4 3.1 Environmental Impacts of Wind Turbines Infrastructure in UK 5 3.2 The Impacts of Wind Turbines Infrastructure on Energy Supply Chain in UK 6 4. Political Issue Associated with Wind Turbine Investment in United Kingdom 7 5. Conclusion 8 1. Introduction A larger number of various countries worldwide have emerged with the development of projects such as development of renewable energy source. Lea (2012) explains that wind power has been the leading renewable energy source technology in the UK. The benefits of wind power as a renewable energy supply in United Kingdom is expected to increase in the next coming years. Ladenburg (2009) opines that the development of wind power is commonly integrated into a broader set of electricity network, and this contributes to significant impacts on social, economic and political issues within the nation. The cost of wind power variability decreases with improvement in the utilization of wind power forecasting systems. Ladenburg (2009) argues that use of nuclear generators and gas supply led to a vast bulk of UK’s demand for consistent electricity supply. As such, UK is undertaking the establishment of renewable electricity generating systems in order to reduce gas emissions from fossil fuel electricity supply. High demand for reliable source of energy in UK results in the establishment of wind power systems to serve as the key component of renewable energy strategy (Ladenburg 2009). Therefore, focusing on the wind power systems as a reliable source of energy in United Kingdom, this essay provides a review of literature in wind turbines infrastructure in the United Kingdom with respect to social, economic, and political issues. 2. Investment in Wind Turbine Infrastructure in United Kingdom United Kingdom has a higher percentage of offshore wind worldwide. Due to such characteristics, UK becomes an ideal location for all the offshore wind business (Bowen 2011). Bergmann, Hanley and Wright (2006) state that in order to provide a low cost offshore wind, the supply chain in United Kingdom increases its capacity and capability of providing offshore wind. There is also high rate of inward investment in the region, and highly expertises are present from overseas. The availability of expertise in the region makes it possible for UK to attract more investments in the region (Bergmann, Hanley & Wright 2006). Besides, United Kingdom is the largest wind market worldwide because it has the best wind resource in different nations such as Europe (Sinden 2007). As such, UK has become one of the leading markets for electricity supply since it has increased size of modern operations systems and secured modern investment. Bergmann, Hanley and Wright (2006) argue that the investment in wind turbines has made UK to be the strongest nation with strong business infrastructure and good environmental conditions, which enhance more expertise in the wind turbines manufacturing sectors. Due to high supply chain opportunities, support from the government and improved research strengths in commercial areas, investment in wind turbines have made UK the world’s largest investment region for wind power systems (Bergmann, Hanley & Wright 2006). The UK’s infrastructure and its improved business environment support the growth and development of wind works (Lea 2012). There are a number of different sites for wind turbines and supply chain manufacturing, operations and maintenance facilities in the region. Due to such improved infrastructure, the development of onshore wind supply for energy sources with the use of wind turbines is the major priority for the government and different organizations within UK. Ladenburg (2009) reports that there is high demand for supply chains in turbine components and foundations, high voltage electrical equipment, composite materials, and operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities. With such ethical considerations, UK has strong expertise and skills in the field of engineering, which presents the basis for onshore wind industries (Bergmann, Hanley & Wright 2006). All these characteristics have contributed to significant investment in wind energy infrastructure in UK. Investment in wind power supply is necessary and it is warranted due to a number of reasons. Use of onshore wind turbines is less costly compared to other low carbon energy sources, such as use of fossil fuels. Besides, use of wind power systems in UK has resulted in improved energy supply, reduction in gas emissions, and improved economic growth within the region. All these factors are described in following the social, economic and political issues of wind power investment in United Kingdom. 2.1 Social and Economic Impacts of Investment in Wind Turbine Infrastructure The cost of using wind turbine in UK is comparatively low than those of fossil fuels or coal supply. Hawkes (2010) explains that a major concern on wind turbines and use of other low carbon energy sources is that they are less costly compared to the fossil fuels for electricity generation. This cost burden of fossil fuels or coal energy supply may lead to an increase in electricity bills for businesses and households. In relation to the UK’s cost of wind power, a number of factors are considered. The cost of climate change is added to the cost of improved technologies that emit greenhouse gases (Farhat & Ugursal 2010). Besides, the comparison needs to the actual and future process of energy technology in UK is taken into considerations. This involves the expected prices of fossil fuels and reductions in costs for low carbon technology because of economy scales (Hawkes 2010). It is therefore important in UK to connect the new renewable generation sources with onshore wind turbines in order to facilitate the flexibility of addressing the issue of intermittency in the region. The investments in wind turbines infrastructure in United Kingdom have contributed to transmission and distribution of back- up capacities, networks, energy storage, as well as smart grid infrastructure (Lea 2012). 3. Technical Issues in Association with Wind Turbines on UK’s Energy Supply and the Environment Wind turbines, which are generated onshore, control the energy of moving air in order to generate electricity (Bergmann, Hanley & Wright 2006). United Kingdom has opportunities for both onshore and offshore turbines due to the presence of wind speeds in different regions such as in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Bowen (2011) indicates that use of wind turbines for reliable energy supply is one of the most technically mature energy renewable. Therefore, it currently performs significant roles in the generation of renewable energy source in United Kingdom. Lea (2012) opines that the wind electricity output implies that use of wind turbines is higher than the demands. There is some evidence that wind power in UK is on average and is more available in regions which are far from each other. This can reduce the variability of wind power averaged output across the regions in UK (Sinden 2007). 3.1 Environmental Impacts of Wind Turbines Infrastructure in UK Ladenburg (2009) explains that the local environmental costs of energy production with the use of wind turbines are applicable to the economic evaluation due to the global environmental costs, the investments, fuel cost and maintenance of wind power systems. All types of energy production including the fossil fuel electricity have environmental side-effects (Farhat & Ugursal 2010). Hawkes (2010) argues that unlike other electricity generation sources, wind power does not need significant amounts of water. Farhat and Ugursal (2010) state that wind turbines produces small amounts of waste and needs no drilling or mining to get the fuel. From the life-cycle view, use of wind turbines for energy generation is not a zero-carbon technology. As other greenhouse gas emissions are produced during manufacturing, installation, and operation of turbines, very limited gas emissions are produced in wind power systems and this indicates that the emissions in such system depend upon the intermittent renewable (Farhat & Ugursal 2010). Evidences show that use of wind power systems in UK reduces the amount of fuels used to generate electricity, and this assists in the displacement of fossil fuel plans, which contribute to environmental effects such as pollution (Lea 2012). Hawkes (2010) explains that investment in wind power systems reduces carbon emissions. Therefore, it is beneficial to indicate that wind turbines provide a definitive energy cost which reduces the electricity costs. Most estimates illustrate that wind turbine in UK is the cheapest form of low carbon electricity and it is currently the most effective form of investment in the region (Bergmann, Hanley & Wright 2006). Significant investment in United Kingdom is due to the fact that wind energy provides high capital costs and low running costs to the nation. The wind energy system use technologies and balances the required levels of investment with the required price of energy needed by the consumers Bergmann, Hanley and Wright (2006) further state that increased level of investment in the UK wind industry has assisted in the economic impact within the region. As such, UK government has provided policy towards future implementation of wind energy systems in order to attain the target of energy demand for business and in households. 3.2 The Impacts of Wind Turbines Infrastructure on Energy Supply Chain in UK Renewable wind energy in United Kingdom works with the purpose of maximizing the economic benefits as well as improve the potential job creation in wind supply chains (Lea 2012). This ensures that the wind industry, the stakeholders, and the government priorities are associated with maximum delivery of competitive energy supply within the nation. Bowen (2011) indicates that due to an increase in energy security, there is additional use of wind power which improves the energy supply in UK. This leads to improvement in the dependency and resilience across the nation. From this view, improved resilience and dependence in United Kingdom has resulted in reducing the costly transportation of fossils fuels into the country. Without wind energy, the demand for fossil fuels would have been greater within United Kingdom (Hawkes 2010). It is, therefore, practical to believe that the supply chain for energy in the region would be met through additional gas or coal-fired generation. Since the supply of energy through gas, especially the coal supply is heavily import-dependent; introduction of wind-powered electricity supply reduces the cost of importing gas and coal (Farhat & Ugursal 2010). 4. Political Issue Associated with Wind Turbine Investment in United Kingdom There have been ongoing politics on the use of wind turbines in order to meet the future electricity supply in United Kingdom. In 2010, majority of government officials expressed their interest and supported the concern of onshore wind subsidy (Lea 2012). Lea (2012) continues to demonstrate that the major aim of this commitment was to reduce greenhouse gas emission and improve energy proportion generated from renewable sources, which include wind and solar. In order to meet such objectives, the UK government and other officials undertook a shift in the energy supply by use of less carbon intensive sources. The renewable energy, which involves use of onshore wind turbines, is central to such ambitions (Lea 2012). Besides, solving the crisis of energy supply is taking a lot of social practices and government support (Farhat & Ugursal 2010). Bowen (2011) explains that the rise in the costs of energy starts to force the global leaders to evaluate other alternatives and present funding to make improved changes. Bergmann, Hanley and Wright (2006) states that major issues related to global warming are among the mainstream affecting energy costs worldwide, and this concerns have contributed to environmental pollution and energy consumption. Therefore, political achievements have been introduced to put more effort in order to reduce pollution and consumption of energy (Lea 2012). This involves providing policies on renewable energy and change. In United Kingdom, the wind turbines produce a higher percentage of electricity and the UK government is willing to increase the utilization of wind energy. Lea (2012) indicates that as the demand increases, more turbines are needed and the government is hoping to assist in funding the installation of wind towers. 5. Conclusion Since electricity is the cornerstone of the economy and living standard for United Kingdom, the presence of reliable electricity supply is important for modern economy. Generation of energy from wind power system shows a major contribution to conventional electricity technologies. It is important that the characteristics of wind power energy resource and its implications for reliable electricity are comprehended. Therefore, the value of wind power systems to electricity systems can be evaluated. 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