Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
German governments did many things right when cobbling together policy
to support wind power development, the success of the programs engendered
public dissatisfaction as large wind farms began to impair the aesthetics of
certain communities. Failure to respond to this emergent problem would have
stopped the wind power programs in these nations dead in their tracks had
these two nations not adjusted policy to address these concerns.
In brief, wind power policy is not a static activity where policymakers
simply have to apply a prescribed set of best practice principles and sit back
while the program successfully unfolds.
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Policy must evolve in response
to the ever-evolving nature of the STEP environment that impacts wind
power development. his does not mean that policymakers should always
be adjusting policy. One aspect of efective wind power development policy
is consistency, because consistency attenuates market risk. Market momen-
tum can be maintained if market players can anticipate the direction and
the magnitude of government support for wind power development.
Consequently, policymakers must seek balance by responding to emergent
challenges to wind power development through policy adjustment while
being cognizant of the fact that extreme policy adjustments could have
adverse consequences on market momentum.
11.2.4 First Mover Advantages Exist
he future of wind power development is still obscure. he energy sector
is one of the most lucrative industrial sectors in the world. Trillions of US
dollars are at stake and there are inancial motives across the spectrum of
technological platforms to invest in technological R&D in order to generate
carbon-free electricity at the lowest cost. A groundbreaking technological
development in any electricity generation platform is not outside the realm
of possibility. Nuclear power technologies have been improving both in terms
of operational safety and waste reduction. Carbon capture and sequestration
research breakthroughs could allow the coal-ired power sector to maintain
short-term dominance in electricity generation. Geothermal power and
advanced solar thermal electricity generation technologies are already com-
mercially viable in certain contexts. What transpires in all these areas signii-
cantly impacts the fortunes of wind power. Moreover, the potential of wind
power is inextricably linked to innovations in a complementary technologi-
cal area—energy storage. If the stochastic lows of wind power systems can
be attenuated at low cost, the future of wind power will be positively afected.
Yet despite the uncertainties of technological evolution intrinsic to the
global energy sector, one has reason for optimism over the prospects of wind
