About Renewable Energy and Wind Power

In this time of energy crisis and rapidly increasing costs, renewable energy sources are becoming more and more prominent. Renewable energy is defined as any source of energy that is naturally replenished. These sources include solar, geothermal, hydro, and tidal power. Biomass sources, such as wood, are also considered to be renewable.



A total of 18 percent of the electricity used around the world came from renewable sources. The vast majority of this electricity came from hydropower. These sources are growing rapidly thanks to consumer demand, government support, and increased incentives.



One of the fastest growing segments of the industry is wind power. It is increasing by more than 30 percent a year, and is already widely used in Europe, the United States, and parts of Asia. Currently, over 158 gigawatts of electricity worldwide come from this renewable resource. That is more than 7 times the amount of electricity that comes from solar sources, and is nearly 2 percent of all the electricity used in the world.

Wind power converts the energy of the wind into a usable form, usually by turning turbines to create electricity. There are also windmills and pumps available. These devices are used to produce mechanical energy or to pump water. This source of energy is 100 percent renewable, generates no greenhouse gases during operation, and is completely clean and ecologically friendly.



There are two main types of turbines: giant turbines used on wind farms, and smaller turbines used for small scale operations. The former are housed in giant installations designed to produce large amounts of electricity for commercial distribution. These giant farms exist in areas with large amounts of wind. There are currently farms in many areas around the U.S. Great Plains, and more are being constructed. Many farmers who have been hard-pressed to make a profit have discovered they can now make money by ‘farming’ the wind. There are also farms installed offshore near many countries, particularly those in Northern Europe.



Small scale operations involve smaller turbines designed to produce electricity for a single home. Sometimes they may power small communities which are too isolated to tie into the grid. They can have a generating capacity of up to 50 kW, compared to the 781.5 megawatts produced at the largest farm in the world.



The costs of wind power have now declined to the point where it is economical for the average homeowner to think about installing a system. There are also a number of tax credits available to help people in the U.S. This can only add to the popularity of this rapidly growing field.



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