Wind energy has much potential because it is a renewable resource that will never run out. The wind is a resource which can be more reliable than solar because the wind can blow day or night. In fact the wind is “most reliable during the coldest and darkest nights of winter when energy is needed most.” Another phenomenon which makes wind very reliable is the Sea-Breeze Cycle. The Sea Breeze Cycle is “an example of how the wind works.” During the day the sun heats up both the water and shore, however the land heats up faster than the water creating low pressure. This low pressure (hot air) will rise and consequently pulls the cooler air off the water and over the land creating a wind. During the evening and at night the exact opposite happens. The land will cool faster than the water and the wind will move offshore. When considering the highest potential for wind energy one must locate where the wind is in fact the strongest. According to Chapter 5 Renewable Energy Sources II: Alternatives Section 5.3 Wind Power the potential for wind energy is highest is at 300 meters. However; stable structures that high are impractical and too expensive to build. So most commercial turbines are constructed at about 50 meters, making them high enough to capture about 80% of the winds full potential. Wind turbines have been used for many years for practical use on farms because wind is quite readily available. If we were to invest more energy into the research and development of wind harvesting, we very well could reduce our energy on oil and other fossil fuels.
More Wind Potential
Advertisement
