ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES(ES)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Lesson 6: Energy resources

Wind Energy

Kinetic energy i.e. movement of atmospheric air is converted into more useful form of power by wind energy systems. Wind energy was used for sailing, irrigation and grinding grain for the past 100s of years. Wind mills are used for water pumping and electricity generation. Wind turbines transform the energy in the wind to mechanical power and to electric power. Wind turbines used in clusters called wind farms.

A wind farm, when installed on agricultural land, has one of the lowest environmental impacts of all energy sources: Wind power occupies less land area per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated than any other energy conversion system, apart from rooftop solar energy, and is compatible with grazing and crops. It generates the energy used in its construction in just 3 months of operation, yet its operational lifetime is 20–25 years. Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution produced by its construction are low and declining. There are no emissions or pollution produced by its operation. In substituting for base-load coal power, wind power produces a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and a net increase in biodiversity. Modern wind turbines are almost silent and rotate so slowly (in terms of revolutions per minute) that they are rarely a hazard to birds.