Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
smaller nations such as Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and the
Netherlands, the contribution of nonhydro, renewable energy sources
to the national electricity mix is well below 5%. Given the justifications
outlined to this point for supporting wind energy development and
indications of the exigency of policies for catalyzing such a transition,
the phlegmatic results are perplexing. Simply put, what is preventing a
more robust diffusion of wind energy in the electricity sector?
1.8 OBJECTIVES AND OUTLINE OF THIS TOPIC
his book seeks to identify and explain forces that catalyze wind power
development and forces that prevent a more robust difusion of wind power
in the electricity sector.
he choice to focus on wind power difusion (as opposed to other renew-
able energy technologies) will serve the interests of a number of stake-
holders. First, wind power is a commercially competitive energy source.
herefore, understanding catalysts and barriers to wind power difusion
arguably represents the most important challenge that wind power devel-
opers face in terms of optimizing industry growth prospects. Second, wind
power is an egalitarian technology. Aside from geographic constraints that
limit capacity, wind power can be adopted by any nation, and in doing
so, yields many of the beneits outlined earlier in this chapter. herefore,
energy policymakers, who possess an understanding of the dos and don'ts
of efective wind power development policy, stand to add value to their
respective nations. hird, as was pointed out earlier, the need for an expedi-
ent transition to carbon-free forms of electricity generation is imperative if
humanity is to have any chance of avoiding severe ecological impacts asso-
ciated with global warming. As will be detailed in Chapter 2, wind power
could conceivably provide at least 20% of humanity's electricity demand
within months if the political will and economic commitment existed. In
short, understanding how to optimize wind power development can make
a strategic contribution to meeting the challenge of facilitating change
immediately, so as to stave of the need for more substantial economic sac-
riices in the future. In short, this topic should be of interest to wind power
developers, energy policymakers, and members of the general public who
are interested in exploring ways to avoid saddling future generations with
economic and environmental costs that no generation should have to bear.
his topic has been organized in three sections. he irst section
includes this introduction and two other chapters. Chapter 2 provides
the reader with an overview of wind power technology in order to
