Alternative Energy Power - Wind

Now most of the gadgets we use being powered by gasoline and diesel. So, what will happen when conventional power sources like oil and coal will vanish! It is time we look towards alternative sources but which one is best? It is a difficult question but at least we have ‘Wind’ a potential power which is around us everywhere, is free to use if we have the technology and which is in abundance. Let us know more about it.

As the conventional oil resources approach depletion by the end of this century at the current rate of usage, there is an increasing need to look towards non-conventional sources of energy. Such alternative energy resources consist of harnessing – water, wind, geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen or solar energy. Production of hydroelectric power requires extensive infrastructure in form of huge dams, sea barriers or natural streams. Similarly, geothermal energy is also location based. While for nuclear and solar energy the infrastructure investment is potentially very huge.

Out of all the alternative forms of energy, ‘Wind’ provides a solution for obtaining power which is cost-effective and easily available. As generally all places be it at sea-level or on the top of a mountain have sufficient winds most of the time, production of power becomes much easier. At the same time cost of wind turbines has decreased to levels which are sustainable for future development too.

Initially, wind energy was used to power mills as in old England and Netherlands, to ground flour, pump water out of wells and so on. Gradually its power to act as a source of electricity began to be seen as a possibility with the invention and refining of turbines. The basic principle of wind-turbines be it for any purpose is simple, wind makes the blades or rotors of the wind-mill rotate by its kinetic energy and the rotors being connected to a turbine produce electricity. This can then either be stored or sent via power lines.

The amount of power generated depends to quite an extent on the length of blades and power-rating of turbines. The blades are made up of steel or nowadays of alloys mainly consisting of Aluminum. This makes them lighter and hence even low-velocity winds (measured in knots) can push them to turn faster and hence generate more electricity. By 2008, the total wind-power capacity installed globally has crossed 100,000 megawatts. According to a recent major survey, it is believed that demand for wind-power will grow at a phenomenal pace of almost 25% growth in the next five years.

Germany is the front-runner currently with regards to wind-power followed by France, United States, India and China. However, the growth of this alternative source still relies heavily on government subsidies. It will take many more years and a number of innovations before wind-power can really be more profitable than conventional energy sources, truly an Alternative Energy Power. Some issues like tearing of blades (as occurred recently in UK), excessive internal friction in turbines, damage due to birds and storms still need to be resolved. Let us hope that in the next few years the advent of super-conductors and better alloys will help us overcome these issues, paving the way to a clean and cheap energy-source which is available everywhere.