Between 2005 and 2008, the use of this form of energy doubled, with some countries basing up to 19% of its electricity production on Wind power (19% Denmark, 11 % Spain and 7 % in Ireland). Wind power really is exactly that, the use of wind turbines to harness the power of the wind and converting it in to useful energy.
Power transmission networks are generally connected to larger scale wind farms and use small turbines to provide isolated areas with electricity. These farms, where situated on agricultural land have one of the lowest impacts on the environment in comparison to other energy sources, but only produce approx 1.5% of the world electricity use despite its positive influence on the above listed countries.
From Grains to Plains…
Though its historical uses included grinding grain, pumping water and propel sailing ships, its primary modern use is electricity production. From 2008 Europe came first in off shore wind power development. This is down to a number of reasons such as strong wind energy, the shallow waters of the Baltic & North Sea’s and suitable location.
It comes as no surprise looking at the figures then that Denmark was the first installer of the off shore wind farm and up until 2008 held leading position in such development. It was then that the U.K followed suit and subsequently gained leadership. Of course other large markets like China and the U.S decided to initially develop on-land wind resources in areas of lower cost construction, and example being the Great Plains of the U.S. but where there are populations along coastlines close to off-shore wind resources, transmission costs would also be reduced!
You might also like
|
|
|
|
|
