The last few decades has witnessed the rapid development of renewable energy worldwide. Modern interest in renewable energy development is linked to concerns about the exhaustion and pollution of fossil fuels; environmental, social and political risks of extensive use of conventional energy, particularly of fossil fuels and nuclear energy; and rapidly increasing demand of developing countries due to the rise in their population and living standards. With its abundant sources and forms including solar PV, thermal energy, bio-energy, wind, tidal, hydro, wave and geothermal power, renewable energy offers countries across the world a chance to reduce carbon emissions, which plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation and improving energy security.
The majority of all types of renewable energy have been used for electricity generation. Among those, wind power has been the largest component of renewables generation capacity and one of the fastest growing power generation technologies. Recognising the great potential and the advantages of this form of energy, the global community has made a lot of effort in wind power development.
This article, therefore, seeks to highlight the advantage of wind power and outline current development status of this source of energy worldwide.
Wind power: Huge promises
Wind power has been recognised as a positive solution for the global crisis of energy supply and human-induced climate change because of its comparable characteristics.
Initially, wind power is one of the lowest environmental impacts of all energy forms. A wind power plant releases tiny greenhouse gas emissions and pollution by its construction and there no emissions and pollution generated by its operation. Indeed, a wind turbine (over its working life time) is about to generate 80 times the energy required to produce it (Diesendorf, 2004). In addition, an onshore wind farm occupies less land area per kWh of electricity generated than any other conversion system (except for rooftop solar energy) and thus is compatible with grazing and crops. It also does not require the consumption of water supplies.
Most noticeably, wind power is one of the fastest growing energy technologies in the world with the annual growth rate of about 30 per cent (GWEC [1] (2008), Diesendorf (2004)). According to the Renewables 2007: Global Status Report by REN21 [2], of the total investment flow of $71 billion in new renewable power in 2007 worldwide, the investment in wind power accounted for the largest proportion with 47 per cent, followed by solar PV with 30 per cent, solar hot water with 9 per cent and small shares of all the rest forms together. Furthermore, wind power was affirmed as the largest component of renewable generation capacity, which grew by 28 per cent worldwide in 2007 to reach an estimated 95 GW (GWEC, 2008).
Another advantage of wind power is its endless resource. A review by Stanford University (cited in Natta Newsletter 176) concluded that wind power alone could satisfy the world requirement for sufficient and clean energy: ‘Globally, about 13 per cent of all reporting stations experience annual mean wind speeds of 6.9 m/s at 80 m and can therefore be considered suitable for low-cost wind power generation. Even if only about 20 per cent of this power could be captured, it could satisfy 100 per cent of the world’s energy demand for all purposes (6995-10177Mtoe) and over seven times the world’s electricity needs (1.6-1.8TW)’ [3]. The capacity of wind power is also asserted by GWEC that ‘Resource depletion will never be a problem for wind power. We only just begun to scratch the surface of its potential.’ (GWEC, 2008).
Wind power development: The current state and expectations
Acknowledging to all these above recognised characteristics, wind power has been expected to play a key role in combating climate change, achieving security of energy supply and feeding increasing consumption of developing countries.
During the last decade, the world witnessed the boom of wind power market and industry. The US, China and Spain have lead world wind power market. In terms of installed capacity, the top five countries are Germany, the US, Spain, India and China (GWEC, 2008).
Even in a lag country as the UK, wind became the UK leading renewable energy in 2007 (NATTA, 2008). Ambitious targets of power generation from this renewable energy have been set up to achieve across the world. The US targets that 20 per cent of total electricity supply will be from wind power by 2030 (GWEC, 2008). The UK emphasises 10 per cent of the country electricity support to be provided by renewable energy by 2010 and wind power is expected to be the major contributor (GWEC, 2008).
The EU aims to increase the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources to 21 per cent by 2010 and wind power development is, again, expected to play a key role. China sets up the target to reach 30 GW of installed wind capacity by 2020 (GWEC, 2008).
Clearly, ambitious targets of power generation from this renewable energy have been set up to achieve across the world.
[1] GWEC refers to Global Wind Energy Council
[2] REN21 refers to Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (Official website: www.ren21.net)
[3] www.standford.edu/group/efmh/winds/globals_wind.html
Diesendorf, M. (2004). Why Australia Needs Wind Power? Dissent No. 13: 43-48
GWEC (2008). Global Wind 2007 Report. http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=90 (accessed on 20/05/2010)
REN21 (2008). Renewables 2007: Global Status Report. http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE2007_Global_Status_Report.pdf (accessed on 20/05/2010)
NATTA (2008). Natta Newsletter 176. Self-published.
Wind Farm Image http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/wind_farm.jpg
