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1.
Wind Turbines Whisper Quietly
Large, modern wind turbines have become very quiet. At distances
over 200 meters, the swishing sound of rotor blades is usually
masked completely by wind noise in the leaves of trees or shrubs.
2. Wind Energy is Clean, and Saves Energy
Can a wind turbine ever recover the energy spent in producing,
maintaining and servicing it? Wind turbines use only the energy
from the moving air to generate electricity. Wind energy leaves
no harmful emissions or residue in the environment. Compared
to a coal burning generator, a wind turbine can displace 1,900
tonnes of C02 (carbon dioxide) and five to eight tonnes of
NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SO2 (sulphur dioxide) per year. The
energy produced by a wind turbine throughout its 20-year lifetime
(in an average location) is 80 times larger than the amount
of energy used to build, maintain, operate, dismantle and scrap
it again. In other words, it takes only about three months
for a wind turbine to recover all the energy required to build
and operate it.
3. Wind Energy is Abundant
Wind resources are plentiful. Wind will not run out. In Denmark
(in 2002), wind energy is providing 18 per cent of Danish electricity
consumption, a figure which will increase to at least 21 per
cent this year. In Canada there are large wind farms in the
Pincher Creek area of Southern Alberta and the Gaspé region
of Quebec, but much more can be done.
4. Wind Energy Makes a Difference
Wind Turbines have grown dramatically in size and power output.
A modern wind turbine has a rotor diameter of 54 metres (177
feet) and a 1000 kW generator. It will produce between 2,000
and 3,000 megawatt hours in a year. This is equivalent to the
annual electricity consumption of 200 to 300 Canadian households.
Worldwide, over 30,000 MW capacity has been installed to date.
The W.A.C. Bennett Dam (G.M. Shrum Generator), in comparison,
has a capacity of 2,730 MW and floods 166,000 hectares (410,000
acres). In other words, worldwide power generated by wind turbines
already replaces the need for 11 dams the size of W.A.C. Bennet
Dam and the flooding of 1.8 million hectares of land.
5. Wind Energy is an Advancing Technology
Technological advances in aerodynamics, structural dynamics
and micro-meteorology have contributed to a five per cent annual
increase in the energy yield per square metre of rotor area
(1998-2001). New technology is continuously being introduced
in new wind turbines. The weight of Danish wind turbines has
halved in five years, the sound level has halved in three years,
and the annual energy output per turbine has increased 100-fold
in 15 years.
6. Wind Energy is Inexpensive
Wind energy has become the least expensive renewable energy
technology in existence. Since the energy contents of the wind
varies with the cube of the wind speed, the economics of wind
energy depends heavily on how windy the site is. There are
generally economies of scale when building wind parks of many
turbines. Current energy production costs are approximately
$0.07/kWh. This has been declining as technology improves.
7. Wind Turbines are Efficient
The maximum power that can be captured from the wind is 59%
of the kinetic energy in the wind (Betz law). Today's turbines
capture more than 50% of the available kinetic energy. The
speed of the wind, the temperature of the air, the sweep area
of the blades and the height of the tower all influence the
power generated.
8. Wind Energy is Safe
Wind energy has a proven safety record.
9. Wind Turbines are Reliable
High quality modern wind turbines are operational on average,
or ready to run, during more than 98 per cent of the time.
This is better than any other electricity generating technology.
10. Wind Energy Uses Land Resources Sparingly.
Wind turbines and access roads occupy less than one per cent
of the area in a typical wind park. The remaining 99 per cent
of the land can be used for farming or grazing, as usual.
11. Wind Turbines Coexist Peacefully with Wildlife
Deer and cattle habitually graze under wind turbines, and sheep
seek shelter around them. While birds tend to collide with
man-made structures such as electrical power lines, masts or
buildings, they are rarely affected directly by wind turbines.
The average modern wind turbine is responsible for no more
than two bird kills per year — less than the average cat or
car.
12. Wind Energy Integrates Well into the Electrical Grid
Wind power is variable, but wind tends to match consumers'
daytime peak demand for power. Also, it fits well into hydro-based
grids whereby dams store water. When the wind is not blowing,
stored water is used to produce power instead.
13. Wind Energy Provides Jobs
Wind energy (2001) provides more than 50,000 jobs worldwide.
The wind industry is becoming more multinational, as the industry
matures and more manufacturing is established in new markets.
For example, in Denmark alone, more than 20,000 people make
a living from wind energy, designing and manufacturing wind
turbines, components, or rendering consultancy and engineering
services and operating and maintaining turbines.
14. Wind Energy is Popular
Worldwide, wind energy capacity has tripled in the last five
years. It has become very important in Germany, Denmark, India
and the USA. In 2001, Germany had a generating capacity of
8,754 MW; Denmark 2,417 MW; India 1,340 MW and the USA 4,258
MW. In contrast, Canada's capacity was only 197 MW. Wind Turbines
tend to be good tourist attractions when they are new in an
area, and large wind developers often establish visitors' centres
at their wind farms. It is also generally popular with people
who hold environmental values. It will help to meet Kyoto targets
by reducing green house gases.
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