By Jim E. Martin
What is exactly meant by wind power?
Solar radiations emit a type of energy, which result in creation of wind. The sun heats up the earth's terrains in uneven amounts. Such unequal heating is caused by the rotational motions of earth, the unevenness of earth's surface, the varying propensities of heat absorption at different levels of the atmosphere, the vegetation types as well as the presence of the water bodies of the earth. As a consequence, some parts of earth remain naturally hotter than certain other regions. An easy example in this context is the large and fixed temperature difference that exists between the equatorial areas and the freezing polar regions.
In the warmer parts of earth, the air is less dense, and as such, it starts to rise. This results in the creation of an empty space in their place. This space soon gets occupied by the cooler air that rushes in from the cold regions that lie nearby. This motion of air, called wind, generates a form of energy (kinetic energy). Modern methods are used to tap and harness this kinetic energy, in order to convert the latter into wind energy. Wind power refers to the techniques of the practical usage of wind energy for the production of electricity and such other reusable forms of output. Since wind power is extensively being use today, let us look into the issue of wind power cost in greater detail.
What are the expenses of using wind power?
The rate of growth of the wind energy systems has indeed been very rapid over the last few years. As a result, the wind power cost levels have fallen by around 80 per cent since the days when utility-grade wind energy units were used. This huge reduction in costs has been achieved within the past couple of decades. The current level of wind power cost, which currently stands at five cents per kilowatt-hour, used to be as high as thirty cents per kilowatt-hour in the 1980s, when wind power systems made their initial appearance. The more suitably designed machines, the advanced levels of technologies, and the overall ideal nature of the sites chosen for setting up the large-scale wind energy units have all contributed to this magical fall in the wind power cost amounts.
Wind energy systems are likely to sustain over the long run as well. Unlike the previously used fossil fuel plants, which frequently faced bottlenecks in fuel supply, wind based units make us of an abundantly available fuel resource (viz., the wind itself). Thus, more and more countries are shifting from conventional power generation plants to using wind energy systems, since wind is free to obtain, and is always readily available. The wind energy units are extremely environment-friendly in nature as well, much more so than the fossil fuel systems.
As a result, air pollution goes down by a significant amount, making the choice of wind energy resources indeed a wise decision. Immense economic advantages can also accrue from the usage wind energy plants. The plants take up only a little of the total land area that is taken on lease for their installation, by farmers. Thus, farming activities can be continued without any problems on the remainder of the land. Hence, farmers ensure two simultaneous source of long term income for themselves - from farming and from the sale proceeds of the produced electrical power on their lands.
How much wind energy the system would be able to generate depends crucially on the velocity of wind in that area. Hence, choosing a proper site for these wind energy systems is of the essence. In particular, places that have wind flowing at speeds in excess of 5 to 7 peters per second are considered to be ideal for the installation of these units.
Slashing the cost of wind power
Wind power plant costs can be slashed by large amounts, if proper financial management is done for them. Cost of wind power falls heavily in cases where a gas power plant and a wind power unit are acquired on identical terms. The ownership of the wind energy system by a utility service, as opposed to individual ownership, can also pull down costs by large amounts. Let us consider an example: A 50 MW wind power plant, when owned by individuals (like wind developers) can yield power at the cost of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, reduction of wind power cost, to the tune of 30 per cent (lowering it to around 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour) is possible by using the same wind power plant, if the latter is in the hands of investor-owned utilities (IOUs)
Sustaining the earth: The easy way
Wind energy systems are way more eco-friendly than a conventional power plant, like a coal plant. The latter releases harmful global-warming gases (with greenhouse effects) that considerably pollute the atmosphere. Visibility degradation is an important disadvantage as well. Extremely miniscule dust matter is also emitted in the air.
These particles can result in cardiovascular problems, asthma attacks and respiratory failure in human beings. Wind power systems, on the other hand, do no involve the emission of any such poisonous material. Hence, it scores over traditional power plants on this count. The wind power units also have a negligible total cost over their entire life span. This is chiefly due to two factors: i) the costs of operating the system are rather negligible, and ii) the fuel required (wind, in this case) is plentiful in supply, completely free, and renewed any number of times.
Unnecessary wastage of power is also cut down on by wind energy systems. No contractual agreements need to be entered into with the domain of power generation either. Such contracts are for reducing the risk levels in the market and bringing the finance costs down. Since the usage of wind power plants started comparatively recently, these guarantees are not required.
Wind energy cost is indeed a low amount. Using wind energy, you can also pay less for the consumption of electricity. However, before installing your own wind energy system, it is advisable to browse through a manual. Such a training manual would help you zero in on the best spot in your home for installing the system, and provide step-by-step guidance for installing the unit. Other aspects, like the wiring of the system, the availability of relatively cheap parts of the system (along with free batteries), and the prescribed precautionary safeguards are all discussed in the manual. Hence, it helps a lot in the process of installation of a wind energy system.
Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". Jim has written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. To Learn More about Jim Martinīs Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Wind Energy
