essay on wind energy

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Wind energy.

Scientists and engineers are using energy from the wind to generate electricity. Wind energy, or wind power, is created using a wind turbine.

Earth Science, Climatology

As renewable energy technology continues to advance and grow in popularity, wind farms like this one have become an increasingly common sight along hills, fields, or even offshore in the ocean.

Photograph by inga spence / Alamy Stock Photo

Anything that moves has kinetic energy , and scientists and engineers are using the wind’s kinetic energy to generate electricity. Wind energy , or wind power , is created using a wind turbine , a device that channels the power of the wind to generate electricity.

The wind blows the blades of the turbine , which are attached to a rotor. The rotor then spins a generator to create electricity. There are two types of wind turbines : the horizontal - axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical - axis wind turbines (VAWTs). HAWTs are the most common type of wind turbine . They usually have two or three long, thin blades that look like an airplane propeller. The blades are positioned so that they face directly into the wind. VAWTs have shorter, wider curved blades that resemble the beaters used in an electric mixer.

Small, individual wind turbines can produce 100 kilowatts of power, enough to power a home. Small wind turbines are also used for places like water pumping stations. Slightly larger wind turbines sit on towers that are as tall as 80 meters (260 feet) and have rotor blades that extend approximately 40 meters (130 feet) long. These turbines can generate 1.8 megawatts of power. Even larger wind turbines can be found perched on towers that stand 240 meters (787 feet) tall have rotor blades more than 162 meters (531 feet) long. These large turbines can generate anywhere from 4.8 to 9.5 megawatts of power.

Once the electricity is generated, it can be used, connected to the electrical grid, or stored for future use. The United States Department of Energy is working with the National Laboratories to develop and improve technologies, such as batteries and pumped-storage hydropower so that they can be used to store excess wind energy. Companies like General Electric install batteries along with their wind turbines so that as the electricity is generated from wind energy, it can be stored right away.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are 57,000 wind turbines in the United States, both on land and offshore. Wind turbines can be standalone structures, or they can be clustered together in what is known as a wind farm . While one turbine can generate enough electricity to support the energy needs of a single home, a wind farm can generate far more electricity, enough to power thousands of homes. Wind farms are usually located on top of a mountain or in an otherwise windy place in order to take advantage of natural winds.

The largest offshore wind farm in the world is called the Walney Extension. This wind farm is located in the Irish Sea approximately 19 kilometers (11 miles) west of the northwest coast of England. The Walney Extension covers a massive area of 149 square kilometers (56 square miles), which makes the wind farm bigger than the city of San Francisco, California, or the island of Manhattan in New York. The grid of 87 wind turbines stands 195 meters (640 feet) tall, making these offshore wind turbines some of the largest wind turbines in the world. The Walney Extension has the potential to generate 659 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply 600,000 homes in the United Kingdom with electricity.

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What Is the Future of Wind Energy?

This article was reviewed by a member of Caltech's Faculty .

Humans have used windmills to capture the force of the wind as mechanical energy for more than 1,300 years . Unlike early windmills, however, modern wind turbines use generators and other components to convert energy from the spinning blades into a smooth flow of AC electricity.

In the video below, Resnick Sustainability Institute researcher John Dabiri discusses the future of wind energy technology.

How much of global electricity demand is met by wind energy?

Wind energy is a small but fast-growing fraction of electricity production. It accounts for 5 percent of global electricity production and 8 percent of the U.S. electricity supply.

Globally, wind energy capacity surpasses 743 gigawatts , which is more than is available from grid-connected solar energy and about half as much as hydropower can provide. Nearly three-quarters of that 651 gigawatts comes from wind farms in five countries: China, the U.S., Germany, India, and Spain. Wind energy capacity in the Americas has tripled over the past decade.

In the U.S., wind is now a dominant renewable energy source , with enough wind turbines to generate more than 100 million watts, or megawatts, of electricity, equivalent to the consumption of about 29 million average homes.

The cost of wind energy has plummeted over the past decade. In the U.S., it is cost-competitive with natural gas and solar power.

Wind energy and solar energy complement each other, because wind is often strongest after the sun has heated the ground for a time. Warm air rises from the most heated areas, leaving a void where other air can rush in, which produces horizontal wind currents . We can draw on solar energy during the earlier parts of the day and turn to wind energy in the evening and night. Wind energy has added value in areas that are too cloudy or dark for strong solar energy production, especially at higher latitudes.

How big are wind turbines and how much electricity can they generate?

Typical utility-scale land-based wind turbines are about 250 feet tall and have an average capacity of 2.55 megawatts, each producing enough electricity for hundreds of homes. While land-based wind farms may be remote, most are easy to access and connect to existing power grids.

Smaller turbines, often used in distributed systems that generate power for local use rather than for sale, average about 100 feet tall and produce between 5 and 100 kilowatts.

One type of offshore wind turbine currently in development stands 853 feet tall, four-fifths the height of the Eiffel Tower, and can produce 13 megawatts of power. Adjusted for variations in wind, that is enough to consistently power thousands of homes. While tall offshore turbines lack some of the advantages of land-based wind farms, use of them is burgeoning because they can capture the energy of powerful, reliable winds high in the air near coastlines, where most of the largest cities in the world are located.

What are some potential future wind technologies other than turbines?

Engineers are in the early stages of creating airborne wind turbines , in which the components are either floated by a gas like helium or use their own aerodynamics to stay high in the air, where wind is stronger. These systems are being considered for offshore use, where it is expensive and difficult to install conventional wind turbines on tall towers.

Trees, which can withstand gale forces and yet move in response to breezes from any direction, also are inspiring new ideas for wind energy technology. Engineers speculate about making artificial wind-harvesting trees . That would require new materials and devices that could convert energy from a tree's complex movements into the steady rotation that traditional generators need. The prize is wind energy harvested closer to the ground with smaller, less obtrusive technologies and in places with complex airflows, such as cities.

What are the challenges of using wind energy?

Extreme winds challenge turbine designers. Engineers have to create systems that will start generating energy at relatively low wind speeds and also can survive extremely strong winds. A strong gale contains 1,000 times more power than a light breeze, and engineers don't yet know how to design electrical generators or turbine blades that can efficiently capture such a broad range of input wind power. To be safe, turbines may be overbuilt to withstand winds they will not experience at many sites, driving up costs and material use. One potential solution is the use of long-term weather forecasting and AI to better predict the wind resources at individual locations and inform designs for turbines that suit those sites.

Climate change will bring more incidents of unusual weather, including potential changes in wind patterns . Wind farms may help mitigate some of the harmful effects of climate change. For example, turbines in cold regions are routinely winterized to keep working in icy weather when other systems may fail, and studies have demonstrated that offshore wind farms may reduce the damage caused by hurricanes . A more challenging situation will arise if wind patterns shift significantly. The financing for wind energy projects depends critically on the ability to predict wind resources at specific sites decades into the future. One potential way to mitigate unexpected, climate-change-related losses or gains of wind is to flexibly add and remove groups of smaller turbines, such as vertical-axis wind turbines , within existing large-scale wind farms.

Wind farms do have environmental impacts . The most well-known is harm to wildlife, including birds and bats . Studies are informing wind farm siting and management practices that minimize harm to wildlife , and Audubon, a bird conservation group, now supports well-planned wind farms. The construction and maintenance of wind farms involves energy-intensive activities such as trucking, road-building, concrete production, and steel construction. Also, while towers can be recycled, turbine blades are not easily recyclable. In hopes of developing low-to-zero-waste wind farms, scientists aim to design new reuse and disposal strategies , and recyclable plastic turbine blades. Studies show that wind energy's carbon footprint is quickly offset by the electricity it generates and is among the lowest of any energy source .

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Wind Energy — Essay On Wind Energy

Essay on Wind Energy

• Categories: Climate Change Renewable Energy Wind Energy

About this sample

Words: 1582 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 1582 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

I. introduction, a. definition and importance of wind energy, b. thesis statement, ii. history and development of wind energy, a. origins of wind energy usage, b. technological advancements in wind turbines, c. global adoption and growth of wind energy, iii. environmental benefits of wind energy, a. reduced greenhouse gas emissions, b. conservation of natural resources, c. impact on biodiversity, iv. economic benefits of wind energy, a. job creation in the wind energy sector, b. cost-effectiveness compared to fossil fuels, c. economic growth in regions with wind farms, v. challenges and limitations of wind energy, a. intermittency and variability of wind, b. land use and visual impact, c. impact on wildlife, vi. future prospects of wind energy, a. research and development in wind energy technology, b. integration of wind energy with other renewable sources, c. policy and government support for wind energy, vii. case studies of successful wind energy projects, a. offshore wind farms in europe, b. wind energy in developing countries, c. community-owned wind energy projects, viii. conclusion.

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Essay on Wind Energy

Students are often asked to write an essay on Wind Energy in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Wind Energy

Introduction to wind energy.

Wind energy is a form of renewable energy produced by wind turbines. These are large structures that capture the wind’s power and convert it into electricity.

How Wind Energy Works

Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft connected to a generator, creating electricity.

Advantages of Wind Energy

Wind energy is sustainable and doesn’t release harmful emissions. It’s a great way to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, helping to combat climate change.

In conclusion, wind energy is a valuable, renewable source of power with many benefits for our planet.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Wind Energy
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy
• Paragraph on Wind Energy

250 Words Essay on Wind Energy

Wind energy, a renewable source of power, has been harnessed by humans for centuries. Today, it plays a pivotal role in the global energy landscape, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

The Science Behind Wind Energy

Wind energy is derived from the natural movement of air across the Earth’s surface. When heated by the sun, air rises and cooler air rushes in to replace it, creating wind. Wind turbines capture this kinetic energy and convert it into electricity. The larger the turbine and the faster the wind speed, the more electricity is produced.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Wind energy is a clean, renewable source of power that produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Moreover, wind turbines take up less space than the average power station, making them less detrimental to the environment. The sustainability of wind energy makes it a key player in the fight against climate change.

Economic Implications

The initial investment for wind energy infrastructure can be high. However, the long-term benefits include low operational costs and a stable power source not subject to fuel market fluctuations. As technology advances, the cost of wind energy continues to decrease, making it an increasingly viable economic choice.

Conclusion: The Future of Wind Energy

Wind energy is poised to play a significant role in the future of global energy production. As we strive for a more sustainable future, harnessing the power of the wind is a practical and necessary step. With advancements in technology and increased investment, the potential of wind energy is limitless.

500 Words Essay on Wind Energy

Wind energy, a form of renewable energy, harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity. It is an increasingly significant part of the global renewable energy landscape and plays a fundamental role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The science behind wind energy is simple yet powerful. Wind turbines capture the wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electrical power. The blades of a wind turbine rotate when hit by the wind, which then drives an electric generator to produce electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity is generated.

Wind energy offers a multitude of benefits. Firstly, it is a renewable resource, meaning it is inexhaustible and can be replenished naturally. This contrasts with fossil fuels, which are finite and harmful to the environment.

Secondly, wind energy is clean and does not emit any greenhouse gases during operation, contributing to the fight against climate change. It also requires no water for operation, thus conserving water resources.

Lastly, wind energy can be a significant job creator. The design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of wind turbines require a diverse range of skills, thus creating employment opportunities.

Challenges and Solutions

Despite its advantages, wind energy also faces challenges. Wind is an intermittent source of energy, and wind turbines produce electricity only when the wind blows. This intermittency can be mitigated by pairing wind farms with energy storage systems or other forms of renewable energy like solar power.

Another challenge is the environmental impact of wind turbines, including noise pollution and the potential harm to wildlife, particularly birds. However, advances in technology are mitigating these issues. For example, newer turbines are quieter and designed to minimize harm to birds.

The Future of Wind Energy

The future of wind energy is promising. With advancements in technology and increasing investment, wind energy’s efficiency and affordability continue to improve. Offshore wind farms, which can harness stronger and more consistent winds, are expected to play a significant role in the future energy mix.

Furthermore, the integration of wind energy with other renewable energy sources and storage technologies will enhance grid reliability and resilience. This will allow for a higher penetration of wind energy into the energy system, contributing to a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

In conclusion, wind energy is a crucial component of the global renewable energy portfolio, offering a clean, renewable, and increasingly cost-effective solution to our energy needs. While there are challenges to overcome, the future of wind energy is bright, promising a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy future.

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96 Wind Energy Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best wind energy topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting wind energy topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about wind energy, ❓ wind energy research questions.

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Wind Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages

Dallas lloyd december 11, 2014, submitted as coursework for ph240 , stanford university, fall 2014, wind energy: what is it.

To obtain wind power, the kinetic energy of wind is used to create mechanical power. A generator converts this power into electricity so that it may be used for the benefit of mankind. Recently, different types of electricity generation have been a frequent topic of debate amongst experts. Surely, wind energy is one of the frontrunners of the technological breakthroughs that might lead to more efficient energy production. At a glance, the future of wind energy seems promising. This may be the case, but there are also some disadvantages that must be considered.

The advantages of wind energy are more apparent than the disadvantages. The main advantages include an unlimited, free, renewable resource (the wind itself), economic value, maintenance cost, and placement of wind harvesting facilities. First and foremost, wind is an unlimited, free, renewable resource. Wind is a natural occurrence and harvesting the kinetic energy of wind doesn't affect currents or wind cycles in any way. Next, harvesting wind power is a clean, non-polluting way to generate electricity. Unlike other types of power plants, it emits no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. The wind turbines harmlessly generate electricity from wind passing by. Wind energy is far more ecofriendly than the burning of fossil fuels for electricity. Currently, the United States, along with other countries, remains dependent on fossil fuels imported from unstable and unreliable nations. [1] Strains on supply (of fossil fuels) are likely to increase the prices of fossil fuel resources and leave the US economy exposed to international market volatility. Wind power has the ability to free the US from the figurative economic bondage of fossil fuels. Once turbines and energy centers have been installed, the cost of maintaining turbines and generating wind power is next to nothing. Another advantage of wind power is the ability to place turbines wherever necessary. After performing research and finding areas that have adequate wind, experts may place the turbines in desired areas. These areas are usually unpopulated (offshore wind turbines, for example). [1] In fact, offshore winds tend to blow harder and more uniformly than on land, providing the potential for increased electricity generation and smoother, steadier operation than land-based wind power systems. Fig. 1 shows offshore wind turbines harvesting energy.

Disadvantages

The two major disadvantages of wind power include initial cost and technology immaturity. Firstly, constructing turbines and wind facilities is extremely expensive. The second disadvantage is technology immaturity. [1] High cost of energy can, in part, be addressed directly with technology innovations that increase reliability and energy output and lower system capital expenses. Offshore wind energy produces more energy than onshore wind energy, but costs much more to establish. The primary costs of wind turbines include construction and maintenance. [1] New technology is needed to lower costs, increase reliability and energy production, solve regional deployment issues, expand the resource area, develop infrastructure and manufacturing facilities, and mitigate known environmental impacts. Therefore, one may argue that implementation of wind energy must be delayed until technological advancements are made. Other disadvantages include:

Aesthetic impact: Many people are concerned with the visual effects that wind turbines have on the beautiful scenery of nature. They believe that giant wind turbines distract viewers from the beautiful surroundings. Fig. 2 shows just how big wind turbines can be.

Wildlife: Wind turbines may be dangerous to flying animals. Many birds and bats have been killed by flying into the rotors. Experts are now conducting research to learn more about the effects that wind turbines have on marine habitats.

Remoteness of location: Although this may be an advantage (placing wind turbines in desolate areas, far away from people), it may also be a disadvantage. The cost of travel and maintenance on the turbines increases and is time consuming. Offshore wind turbines require boats and can be dangerous to manage.

Noise: Some wind turbines tend to generate a lot of noise which can be unpleasant

Safety at Sea: In the darkness/at night it may be difficult for incoming boats to see wind turbines thus leading to collisions.

© Dallas Lloyd. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.

[1] W. Musial and B. Ram, "Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States," U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-500-40745 , September 2010.

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• Wind Energy

Introduction to Wind Energy

As fossil energy supplies dwindle, the development of alternative energy sources has become a necessity. Simultaneously, global energy demand is increasingly rising, placing the planet on the brink of a global energy crisis. Furthermore, the widespread use of traditional energy sources pollutes the atmosphere and leads to global warming. Wind and other renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are feasible and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. Wind is one of the most cost-effective and efficient renewable energy sources because of its low operating costs and broad availability. One of the fastest-growing clean energy technologies is wind power. Globally, consumption is growing, partially due to lower prices.

According to IRENA's latest statistics, global installed wind-generation capacity onshore and offshore has increased by nearly 75 times in the last two decades, from 7.5 gigawatts (GW) in 1997 to 564 GW in 2018. Wind energy production more than doubled between 2009 and 2013, accounting for 16 per cent of all renewable energy generation in 2016. Wind speeds are high in many parts of the world, but the best locations for producing wind power are often remote. Offshore wind power has a lot of promise.

What is wind energy?

Wind power is a type of energy conversion in which turbines transform wind kinetic energy into mechanical or electrical energy that may be utilized as commercial wind turbines generate electricity by harnessing rotational energy to power a generator. They are composed of a blade or rotor and an enclosure known as a nacelle, which houses a drive train atop a tall tower. The biggest turbines can generate 4.8–9.5 megawatts of electricity, with rotor diameters that can exceed 162 meters (531 feet), and are mounted to towers that may reach 240 meters (787 feet).

Wind energy is the most established and mature renewable energy source. It creates electricity by using the kinetic energy created by the influence of air currents. It is a clean and renewable energy source that decreases greenhouse gas emissions and protects the environment. 

Wind turbines

Wind power has been utilized since antiquity to propel sail-powered vessels or to power mill gear that moves mill blades. Wind turbines have been used to generate electricity since the early twentieth century. The wind propels a propeller, which turns the rotor of a generator, which generates power, via a mechanical system. Wind turbines are frequently clustered together in wind farms to maximize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The machines have a twenty-year lifetime.

Wind energy, also known as wind power, is generated by employing a wind turbine, which is a device that harnesses the strength of the wind to generate electricity. The wind blows the turbine's blades, which are linked to a rotor that further rotates a generator. Wind turbines are classified into two types: horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) (VAWTs). The most prevalent form of the wind turbine is the HAWT. They often feature two or three long, thin blades, similar to an airplane propeller. The blades are oriented to face straight towards the wind. VAWTs feature shorter, broader curved blades that resemble electric mixer beaters.

Individual wind turbines may generate 100 kilowatts of power, which is enough to power a house. Small wind turbines are also employed in locations such as water pumping facilities. Wind turbines that are slightly bigger perch on towers that can reach 80 meters (260 feet) in height and have rotor blades that can reach 40 meters (130 feet) in length.  Wind turbines with rotor blades that are more than 162 meters (531 feet) long can be seen sitting on towers that rise 240 meters (787 feet) tall. 

Uses of wind energy

Some of the uses of wind energy are mentioned below.

generating electricity.

milling grain.

pumping water.

powering cargo ships (via kites)

reducing carbon footprint.

windsurfing.

land surfing .

Once created, power can be utilized, linked to the electrical grid, or stored for later use.

Working principle of a turbine

Wind turbines operate on a simple principle: rather than using energy to create wind (like a fan does), wind turbines utilize the wind to create power. Wind moves a turbine's propeller-like blades around a rotor, which spins a generator, which generates energy.

The wind is a type of solar energy created by three simultaneous events:

The sun heats the atmosphere unevenly.

Surface irregularities of the Earth

The earth's rotation.

The words "wind energy" and "wind power" both refer to the act of harnessing wind energy to create mechanical power or electricity. This mechanical power can be employed for specific activities (such as grinding grain or pumping water), or it can be converted into energy via a generator.

Small wind turbines are commonly employed in scattered applications. Single tiny wind turbines with a capacity of fewer than 100 kilowatts are primarily utilized for residential, agricultural, and small commercial and industrial uses.

FAQs on Wind Energy

1. What is a Wind Turbine?

Wind energy is converted into electricity by a wind turbine, which can then be used to power electrical devices, stored in batteries, or distributed over power lines.

2. What is the Mechanism of a Windmill?

Windmills transform wind energy directly into mechanical energy for activities like milling grain—the term's origin—or pumping water, which is what most windmills on farms are used for. A windmill's spinning vanes turn a camshaft, which is connected to the work machinery through gears and rods. The job receives all of the force.

3. What is the Difference Between Wind Turbine and Windmill?

A wind turbine is not the same as a windmill or a wind generator. Windmills and wind pumps have existed for centuries. Windmills have been used to grind grain, and wind pumps have been used to pump water from the ground and drain it to make room for new growth. Wind turbines produce electricity in the same way as hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants do, and new wind turbine technology has put them in a class of their own. Aside from a few mechanical features, the only thing they have in common is that they're all driven by wind.

4. What is the cause of wind energy?

Wind is created by the sun's uneven heating of the earth's surface. Because the earth's surface is made up of various types of land and water, the sun's heat is absorbed at varying rates. The daily wind cycle is one example of this inconsistent warmth. Wind energy is now mostly utilized to create power. Windmills that pump water were historically common across the different nations, and some are still in use on farms and ranches, mostly to give water to cattle. Wind energy is an optimum replacement for hazardous fossil fuels.

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Study identifies where wind is most reliable for generating power

About 6.5% of the world’s electricity is generated by wind. By 2050 this could rise to more than a third

W here in the world does the wind most reliably blow, and where is it fickle in nature? About 6.5% of the world’s electricity is now generated by wind, and by 2050 this could rise to more than a third. Knowing where the steadiest winds are to be found is crucial for keeping the lights on. A new study has identified the locations that are prone to “wind droughts” and those areas that are reliably windy.

Enrico Antonini, from the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, US, and colleagues analysed global climate data dating back to 1979, calculating wind power, seasonal and weather variability in each region. Their results, published in Nature , found that north-west Europe had high wind power capacity, but was also prone to wind droughts, such as the long period of low wind speed that occurred through the summer and autumn of 2021, which strained the European electricity system.

More steady and reliable locations included the American midwest, Australia, the Sahara, Argentina, central Asia and South Africa. Currently the potential wind power across these African and Asian regions is largely untapped.

However, droughts needn’t be a death knell for wind power. Instead, locations such as north-west Europe need to build resilience into the system by diversifying the power supply mix, creating grid interconnections over long distances and building energy storage.

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Clearing the air: Wind farms more land efficient than previously thought

Existing roads key to increasing efficiency of wind farms.

Wind power is a source of energy that is both affordable and renewable.

However, decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research led by McGill University and based on the assessment of the land-use of close to 320 wind farms in the U.S. (the largest study of its kind) paints a very different picture.

Misplaced preconceptions about the land use of gas-fuelled electricity

The study, which was published recently in Environmental Science and Technology , shows that, when calculations are made, the entire wind farm area is usually considered as land given over to wind development. However, the wind power infrastructure (such as the turbines and roads) typically only uses 5 per cent of the entire farmland -- the rest is often used for other purposes, such as agriculture.

The research also shows that if wind turbines are sited in areas with existing roads and infrastructure, such as on agricultural land, they can be approximately seven times more efficient, in terms of energy produced per square metre of land directly impacted by the infrastructure, than projects that are developed from scratch.

"The land use of wind farms has often been viewed as among the predominant challenges to wind development," explains Sarah Jordaan, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill and the senior author on the study . "But, by quantifying the land area used by nearly 16,000 wind turbines in the western U.S., we found that gas-fired generation offers no real benefits in terms of lesser land use when the infrastructures, including all the wells, pipelines, and roads associated with the natural gas supply chain, are considered."

A new approach to future energy technology assessments

It has been difficult to get a clear picture of the land use associated with wind power in the U.S. until now because earlier studies only looked at the infrastructure associated with wind energy and land use on a relatively small scale, making it difficult to extrapolate from their results. Other studies have relied on estimates of the entire wind farm, rather than the land directly impacted by the infrastructure.

By combining information gathered through GIS (geographic information systems) with machine learning models developed using nearly 2000 images of wind farms from the American portion of the Western Interconnection (which provides electricity to 14 states in the U.S. as well as to portions of Canada and Mexico), the researchers were able to train a deep learning model to analyze land use in wind farms. By doing so, they were able to assess a range of factors (placement of turbines, pre-existing roads, age of turbines, etc.) that contribute to the land directly impacted by wind infrastructure.

"The method we have developed is potentially useable for future assessments of various energy technologies, whether in terms of environmental impact analysis or energy systems planning for net zero emissions," adds Jordaan. "In fact, it sets the stage for the first consistent comparisons of environmental sustainability across different energy technologies in future."

The research was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

• Wind Energy
• Energy and Resources
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Story Source:

Materials provided by McGill University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal References :

• Tao Dai, Jeya Maria Jose Valanarasu, Yifan Zhao, Shuwen Zheng, Yinong Sun, Vishal M. Patel, Sarah M. Jordaan. Land Resources for Wind Energy Development Requires Regionalized Characterizations . Environmental Science & Technology , 2024; 58 (11): 5014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07908
• Tao Dai, Jeya Maria Jose Valanarasu, Vishal M. Patel, Sarah M. Jordaan. The life cycle land use of natural gas-fired electricity in the US Western interconnection . Environmental Science: Advances , 2023; 2 (5): 815 DOI: 10.1039/D3VA00038A

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