Wind Energy

Introduction

*Different ways to use wind power

*Theoretical possibilities

*Who uses wind power?

*A few pros

How is wind power generated?

*Wind

*Gas particles move quickly

*Motion = kinetic energy

*Wind-electric turbine

*Blades capture kinetic energy

*Move

*Spin shaft between hub and generator

*Generator turns rotational energy into electricity

Wind energy efficiency

*Is wind energy efficient enough?

*How much can be generated then?

*Powering houses

*Cost efficiency

Wind energy in Holland

*Wind as a renewable energy source in Holland

*Wind farms in Holland

*Offshore wind farms

Wind energy in other countries

*Wind energy in Europe

*Largest wind farms in the world

Are more windmills possible?

*Health issues

*Animals could be affected

*Wind directions

Can we make a difference ourselves?

*Different forms and sizes

*Very pricy

A few pros

* No pollution/radioactive waste. Construction + installation has less environmental impact.

* No need for supplies like fuel. When power lines break, wind power won’t lose supply of electricity.

* Can generate power for a large amount of households

* No use of non-renewable resources like coal, gas or oil. Won’t contribute to eventual thinning of these resources or environmental harm by using these.

* Renewableunlimited. Comes from nuclear fusion on the sunwhen sun keeps shining, we have wind energy on earth. Fossil fuels run out.

* Can be done on most places (some more preferable than others)

* Prices are decreasing and have decreased

* People can produce it themselves at home, and companies can do this too and some even sell it

* Works together easily with other renewable energy methods like solar panels and geothermal heating

A few cons

* Some people have the opinion that wind turbines are destroying the view because they are so tall and noticeable

*Wind turbines can be damaged in thunderstorms (lightning), because of their tall shape, and when they need to be repaired it costs a lot of money

*Birds can be killed when they fly between the blades of a wind turbine

*Wind turbines can make noise, especially when there isn’t much wind

*Wind is unpredictable, so wind energy is not reliable enough for a base load of energy. Therefore, wind energy must always be used together with other energy supplies

* The projects to set up wind farm cost very much money, is this worth it and does it pay back?

*Wind turbines do not (always) suit in the view/environment

Sources

* http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=180

* http://www.bwea.com/energy/europe.html

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_European_Union

* http://cleantechnica.com/2011/06/16/wind-power-in-europe-more-reliable-than-nuclear-power-in-japan/

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power#Wind_farms

* http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/04/10/9-of-the-worlds-most-amazing-wind-farms/

* http://www.thewindpower.net/statistics_world_en.php

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_Netherlands

* http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windturbine

* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1021714.stm

* http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2009/01/31/largest-offshore-wind-farm-planned-in-netherlands/

* http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_10_netherlands.php

* http://zperry.hubpages.com/hub/advantages-disadvantages-wind

* http://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/

* http://www.claverton-energy.com/how-much-wind-energy-is-there-brian-hurley-wind-site-evaluation-ltd.html

* http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/GSR2011_Master18.pdf

* http://www.bwea.com/ref/faq.html#how-long

* http://www.windenergyplanning.com/wind-turbine-efficiency/

* http://www.windustry.org/how-much-do-wind-turbines-cost

* http://www.energy.eu/

* http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/are-wind-farms-a-health-risk-us-scientist-identifies-wind-turbine-syndrome-1766254.html

* http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-placement-must-consider-vibration-effect-on-animals/

* http://www.reuk.co.uk/Wind-Turbines-on-Ebay.htm