Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Role of Wind as a Renewable Energy
1.1 Renewable Energies and Their Application
1.1.1 Sources of Renewable Energy
It is commonly accepted that the earth's fossil energy resources are limited, and
the global oil, gas and coal production will come beyond their peak in the next
decades, and price rises will continue. At the same time there is strong political
opposition against strengthening nuclear power in many parts of the world. In this
scenario renewable energies will have to contribute more and more to the world's
ever rising need of energy in the future [Bul01]. Renewables are climate-friendly
forms of energy, due to the absence of emissions detrimental to the environment. The
savings especially in carbon-dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions are a significant
advantage over fossil power stations. Hence a main role is assigned to renewable
energy in the proclaimed fight against Climate Change.
The major source of renewable energies is the sun, with some forms also at-
tributed to the earth and the moon. Table 1.1 lists the primary sources, the natu-
ral ways of conversion and the technically used conversion methods. Notable for
their contribution to the current energy demand are water, wind, solar energy and
biomass. Utilization of renewables is mostly with conversion into electrical energy.
While water power has been used in electrical power stations and pumped storage
systems since many decades, the use of wind power conversion in larger ratings has
begun only in the 1980s. Backed by intense technical development, unit ratings have
grown fast into the MW range, and wind parks were erected in large numbers with
considerable increase rates.
Solar energy is applied both by direct conversion in photovoltaic generators, and
via thermal collectors and steam production. The energy from renewable sources
is partly already competitive in price, and partly supported by state legislative to
promote their share in the market. Wind energy systems are about to reach the com-
petitiveness before long, while photovoltaic energy production is still expensive and
will require further support on their way to market relevance.
