13 Benefits of Wind Energy Like solar energy, wind energy is the fastest-growing
energy source in the world, with the United States aiming to produce 20 percent of its
electricity by wind power by 2030. There is no doubt from the fact that wind energy is
going to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas in the coming decade,
but to which extent can only be speculated in.
It is a renewable and clean source of energy that doesn’t generate any greenhouse gases.
Wind doesn’t cost anything, and therefore operational costs are close to zero once a
turbine starts running. Research efforts in the field of technology are going on to address
the challenges to make wind power cheaper and viable alternative for individuals and
businesses to generate power. On the other hand, many governments offer tax incentives
to create growth for the wind energy sector. 1. Wind Energy is a Clean Source of Power
The production of wind energy is “clean.” Unlike using coal or oil, creating energy
from the wind doesn’t pollute the air or require any destructive chemicals. As a result,
wind energy lessens our reliance on fossil fuels from outside nations as well, which
boosts our national economy and offers a variety of other benefits as well.
2. Renewable Source The wind is free. In the event that you live
in a geological area that gets a lot of wind, it is ready and waiting. As a renewable asset,
wind can never be drained like other regular, non-renewable assets.
The expense of delivering wind energy has dropped fundamentally lately, and as it becomes
more popular with the general population, it will just continue to be cheaper. You will
recover the expense of obtaining and introducing your wind turbine over time.
Winds are caused by rotation of the earth, heating of the atmosphere by the sun, and
earth’s surface irregularities. We can harness wind energy and use it to generate power as
long as the sun shines and the wind blows. 3. Wind Energy has Low Operating Costs
The wind farms or individual turbines can be expensive to install. However, once it
is installed and running, operating costs are relatively low; fuel (wind) is free, and
the turbines don’t require too much maintenance over the course of their life.
4. Cost-Effective Wind turbines can give energy to numerous
homes. You don’t actually have to possess a wind turbine, keeping in mind the end goal
to harvest the profits; you can buy your power from a service organization that offers wind
energy for a specific area. That means you don’t even necessarily have to invest any
cash in order to reap the benefits of wind energy for your home or business.
5. Prices are Decreasing Prices have decreased by over 80% since 1980.
Thanks to technological advancements and increased demand, prices are expected to keep decreasing
in the foreseeable future. 6. Extra Savings for Land Owners
Landholders who rent area to wind homesteads can make a considerable amount of additional
cash, and wind energy likewise makes new employments in this developing engineering field.
Government organizations will also pay you if they can install wind turbines on your
land. Also, in some cases, the electric company may wind up owing to you.
If you produce more power than you require from wind power, it may go into the general
electric matrix, which in turn will make you some extra cash. A win all around!
7. Use of Modern Technology Wind turbines are considered by some to be
incredibly attractive. The newest models don’t look like the clunky, rustic windmills of
old times. Instead, they are white, slick, and modern looking. That way, you don’t
have to worry about them becoming an eyesore on your land.
The latest advances in technology have transformed preliminary wind turbine designs into extremely
efficient energy harvesters. Turbines are available in a wide range of sizes for farms,
factories, and large private residences, extending the market with many different types of businesses
and by individuals for use at home on larger plots and other plots of land.
Portable wind turbines are also available and can power small devices on the go. The
latest models will generate even more electricity, require less maintenance, and run more quietly
and safely. 8. Wind Power Has Seen Rapid Growth
Wind energy has seen enormous growth in the last decade. According to the U.S. Department
of Energy, cumulative wind power capacity increased by an average of 30% per year. Wind
energy accounts for about 2.5% of the total worldwide electricity production.
Wind turbines are available in various sizes, which means a vast range of people and businesses
can take advantage of it to produce power for their own use or sell it to the utility
to reap some profits. 9. Huge Market Potential
The potential for wind power is huge. Several independent research teams have reached the
same conclusions, and that is the worldwide potential of wind power is more than 400 TW
(terawatts). Harnessing wind energy can be done almost anywhere.
10. Great Potential for Residential Uses The wind energy is especially appealing to
the residential market. People are able to generate their own electricity with wind power
in very much the same manner as people do with the best solar panels (photovoltaic).
Wind is an independent energy source, and it’s great for powering homes. In addition
to this, wind-powered homeowners also gain access to something called net metering.Net
metering basically provides credit to electricity bills for any excess power generated in a
given month. Homeowners actually get paid for extra energy
production, and that can even protect them from blackouts as well as fluctuating energy
prices. 11. Wind Farms can be Built on Existing Farms
Wind turbines are incredibly space-efficient and can be installed on existing farms or
agricultural land in rural areas where it can be a source of earning for the farmers
as wind plant owners make payments to farmers for the use of their land for electricity
generation. It doesn’t occupy much space, and farmers can continue to work on the land.
At present, less than 1.5% of contiguous U.S. land area is used by wind power plants. However,
if all the plains and cattle land made available on the interior of the country, there’s
a lot of opportunity for expansion if landowners and government land managers are up for it.
12. Conserves and Keeps Water Clean Turbines produce no particulate emissions
that contribute to mercury contamination in our lakes and streams. Wind energy also conserves
water resources. For producing the same amount of electricity, nuclear power take about 600
times more water than wind, and coal takes about 500 times more water than wind.
13. The Wind Energy Industry Creates Jobs The wind energy industry has boomed since
wind turbines became commercially viable. As a result of this, the industry has created
jobs all over the world. Jobs now exist for the manufacturing, installation, maintenance
of wind turbines, and there are even jobs in wind energy consulting.
According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the renewable
energy industry employed over 10 million people worldwide in 2017. Of these jobs, 1.15 million
were in the wind power industry. China leads the way in providing over 500,000 of these
jobs. Germany is in second place with around 150,000 jobs, and the United States is a close
third with around 100,000 wind energy jobs.