GLOBAL WIND ENERGY POTENTIAL

Potential and Outlook of Wind Power 

Global wind power is now two times over last three years. Wind power produces 2 percentages of world electricity production. Survey shows that 13 percentages of world land areas have wind speed more than 6.9 m/s at a height equal to commercial wind turbine height and if we calculate we came to know that wind power unit can produce forty times  of world current electricity production. 

There are some countries those are consider as leader in wind power production such as mentioned here.

1. Denmark
2. Germany
3. Spain

Also discuss Application of Solar Energy

In current condition, there are 68000 operational wind turbines.

In case of United States, in 2006, there are wind turbines those produces power 9000 MW or 25 billion KWh electricity .let’s see the power production in US in 2005

1. Coal = 5.2 %
2. Nuclear = 20 %
3. Natural gas = 16 %
4. Hydro power = 7%
5. Wind power production + Solar power production  + Geothermal power production+ Biomass power production = 5%

Ten largest wind firms in US

1. Alta wind energy center = 1020 MW
2. Shepherds flat wind farm=845 MW
3. Roscoe wind farm= 781 MW
4. Horse hollow wind energy center= 736 MW
5. Tehachapi pass wind farm = 705 MW
6. Capricorn ridge wind farm=662 MW
7. San gorgonian pass wind farm=619 MW
8. Fowler ridge wind farm=600 MW
9. Sweet water wind farm=585 MW
10. Altamont pass wind farm=576 MW 

Comparison between wind power versus fossil fuels

A.   Cost point of view

Here we can see the cost difference between wind power and fossil fuels

1. Wind energy is less expansive as compared to fossil fuel
2. In case of fossil fuel, the price of electricity will fluctuate greatly because there is variation in transportation cost and variable mining.

In case of wind power ,cost of wind is fixed and free.

B.   Emission during the electricity power production

Fuels	CO2 (emission per kilowatt- hour)
Coal	2.13
Natural gas	1.03
Oil	1.56
U.S average	1.52
Wind	0

C. If we compare wind energy as compared to other source of electricity production, Wind energy will provide 30 % more employment as compared to coal plant per unit of energy generated. Wind energy will provide 66 % more employment as compared to Nuclear power plant per unit of energy generated.

D.   Wind energy protects the water resources

E.   Wind energy does not promote to global warming, while fossil fuel burning lead to heating of earth and hence lead to global warming.

F.    Wind power unit also protect land.

G.   Wind power unit help to avoid the excessive use of fossil fuel and hence it can reduce the price of fossil fuels ,so we can consider it as social advantage point.

Comparison between wind power versus Solar electricity

We can see over here the comparison between above two

Sr. No	Wind power	Solar power
1	Wind power unit produces the power due to blowing of air on wind turbine	Solar power unit will produce electricity by sunlight
2	Low maintenance	Extremely low maintenance
3	Output power can’t be predicted	Output power can be predicted
4	Operation produces lot of noise	Silent operation
5	Requires more monitoring as compared to solar power unit	Require less monitoring for a long time
6	During erection ,wind power unit requires larger equipment and more consideration of safety as compared to solar power unit	Solar power unit installation is very easy and not require heavy equipments
7	Requires good density and speed of air	Requires good exposure of sunlight
8	Wind power unit can produce power day and night 24 hrs where wind is blowing sufficiently It’s does not depend on winter season and rainy season	Solar power can produce only In day time as it requires sunlight. Performance of solar power unit will be poor in rainy season and winter season
9	Wind power unit installation is low as compared to solar power unit installation	Solar panels are costly
10	Wind power is not suitable for every location as suitable resources will not be available everywhere	Can be used almost everywhere

Comparison between wind power versus hydroelectricity

We can see over here the comparison between above two

Sr. No	Wind power	Hydro Power
1	Wind power unit produces the power due to blowing of air on wind turbine	Power is produced due to falling of water. falling of water turns the turbine blade
2	Low maintenance	Extremely low maintenance
3	Moving components will weared out	Moving components will weared out
4	Operation produces lot of noise	Silent operation
5	Initial cost is less as compared to hydro power	Initial cost is high as compared to wind power
6	Wind power is not suitable for every location as suitable resources will not be available everywhere	Hydro power is not suitable for every location as suitable resources will not be available everywhere
7	Requires good density and speed of air	Requires good exposure of falling of water from dam
8	Does not depend on cooler climate	High maintenance in cooler climate due to freezing of pipes

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