Advantages of Wind Energy as a Renewable Power Source

Introduction: The Case for Wind Energy

The exploitation of nonrenewable energy sources by the global population, notably by modern technological societies, has contributed to hostile political, economic, and environmental climates. The most notable nonrenewable energy sources — fossil fuels, which include the burning of coal, petroleum, and natural gas — have induced concern over global warming, soaring oil prices, national energy security, and are depriving the earth of natural resources (Conner 130). Awareness of the detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels, combined with the fact that fossil fuels are a limited, nonrenewable resource, prompts the exploration and use of clean, low-emission, and renewable energy sources. One solution to the energy crisis is the implementation of wind energy to harvest wind currents and convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy (Etherington 15). Improvements in wind energy technology over the last thirty years have made wind energy an efficient and credible source of renewable energy.

Advantages and improvements to wind energy include advances in wind turbine technology, an increased number of turbine manufacturers around the world, plummeting capital costs, zero emissions, and energy self-sufficiency (Thresher, Robinson, and Veers 340). The efficiency of wind energy and its significance for the future has been studied by several researchers. One example is the United States Department of Energy projecting that 20% of the nation's electricity could be powered by wind energy by 2030 (Conner 130). The use of wind energy has positive implications for the environment, economy, and political relations, but is also met with opposition. Arguments against wind energy question its initial investment requirements, avian mortality rates, and even the noise level produced by wind turbines ("HealthLink"). Despite these objections, wind energy remains a clean, renewable energy source that is economical, abundant, produces limited harmful byproducts, and will reduce fossil fuel dependency — making wind power one of the most realistic and valuable energy alternatives available.

Historically, wind energy is not a new concept. Over the past 3,000 years, wind energy was used to grind grain and pump water, and this same concept has been given new relevance with modern industrialization to convert wind into a power source (Burton 1). The first oil price shock in the early 1970s renewed interest in wind energy technology. The following three decades became a testament to growing investment in wind energy, with wind energy becoming the fastest-growing energy technology during the 1990s. By 2002, 70% of worldwide wind energy capacity was installed in Europe, 19% in North America, and 10% in Asia and the Pacific (Kaygusuz 96). The installation of wind energy infrastructure is vital to reducing fossil fuel dependency and carries notable environmental, economic, and social benefits.

Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy

The environmental benefits of wind energy arise primarily from the reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Combustion engines and other forms of burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil cause the emission of pollutants. Gaseous emissions including carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur compounds contribute to the greenhouse effect and ultimately drive global warming. Wind energy does not emit CO2 and therefore does not enhance the greenhouse gas effect (Kaygusuz 102). The majority of fossil fuel generating stations emit sulfur and nitrogenous byproducts that contribute to acid rain, which is also responsible for severe environmental damage. Wind power, by contrast, produces zero operational emissions. The absence of gaseous emissions, particles, trace metals, solid waste, acid rain, and pollution are all positive environmental factors supporting the use of wind energy ("HealthLink").

Although the use of wind itself does not create harmful emissions, the same cannot be said for the production of wind turbines and the generation of the plant for the power system to which the wind farm is connected. However, the consequent emissions from manufacturing a wind turbine do not outweigh the lifetime benefits of using wind energy as a power source. The emissions caused during the manufacturing process are offset after only a few months of emission-free wind power operation, and the energy expended to manufacture a wind turbine is fully recovered after one year of operation (Kaygusuz 103). The emissions associated with the initial assembly of a wind power system are therefore insignificant when compared to the years of clean, renewable energy returned in exchange.

Addressing Environmental Concerns

The environmental arguments against wind energy include visual impact, land use, intrusion on local ecology, noise, and avian mortality. The visual disturbance of wind turbines is a commonly cited objection, since the sites that experience the highest winds are often among the most scenic landscapes, typically free of human intrusion (Kaygusuz 103). In most cases, this visual impact can be mitigated through design factors such as turbine size, wind farm configuration, and the use of natural landscape backgrounds to reduce sightlines. Given that the global environment is in jeopardy as a result of burning fossil fuels, hesitation about wind power for purely aesthetic reasons is not a particularly compelling argument.

Another environmental concern is land use by wind farms. Wind turbines are spread over a large area to capture wind currents, but a modern wind farm uses only 1% of the total land area it occupies, with the turbines themselves occupying just 0.2% of that area (Kaygusuz 103). The remaining land within the wind farm footprint can be cultivated for agricultural purposes, effectively resolving concerns about unused territory.

Noise produced by wind turbines is another misconception. Advances in turbine technology have allowed more wind energy to be converted into rotational torque, which inherently reduces noise output. The noise level produced by modern turbines is approximately 45 decibels, while typical background noise inside a home is roughly 50 decibels ("HealthLink"). Wind turbine noise is therefore comparable to — or quieter than — everyday ambient sound levels.

Avian mortality and the effects on bird life are natural concerns for ecologists, as birds can be injured or killed following collisions with turbine blades or towers. Ecologists also raise concerns about disruption to breeding, nesting, or feeding habits. Avian mortality ranges from zero to a few hundred birds per turbine per year in the most severe circumstances (Kaygusuz 104). This figure, however, is lower than the number of bird fatalities caused by high-voltage power lines. A study in Denmark showed that 20,000–25,000 birds died yearly in a region containing 3,500 wind turbines, while in the same year over a million birds were killed by vehicular traffic (Kaygusuz 104). One of the highest recorded avian mortality rates was found near wind facilities in Altamont, where more than 7,000 wind turbines were operating and a total of 182 avian deaths were recorded over two years ("HealthLink"). Disturbances in avian breeding appear to be negligible; however, there is greater concern for migratory bird populations. The construction of wind farms must account for any potential interference with migration patterns to minimize these risks.

Conclusion

Lessening the global dependence on nonrenewable energy sources by implementing clean energy practices will better serve the environment, economies, and governments. Harvesting electricity from wind currents is the driving force behind wind energy, and has the potential to decrease — if not eliminate — the need for fossil fuels to generate power. The initial construction of wind farms produces some harmful emissions during manufacturing; however, these emissions are effectively "paid for" within only one year of clean operation. This is a modest environmental cost in exchange for a lifetime of renewable, unlimited energy. Wind energy is the fastest-growing renewable energy source, leading to expansions in business activity and job creation. Social acceptance and awareness about wind energy will ultimately help individuals embrace it as both a source of environmental health — by lowering dependence on fossil fuels — and as a support for healthy economies and stable political relations. The continued exploitation of wind energy is one of the most realistic and valuable paths toward ensuring global environmental well-being.