Wind Energy: Pros and Cons

Electricity and Energy Sources

• The majority of electricity worldwide comes from burning non-renewable fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Fossil fuels are a cheap and readily available source of energy, but they also cause air pollution and greenhouse gases, contributing to global climate change.

Wind Energy

• Wind energy is a clean, renewable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gases or pollution.
• Wind turbines can supply energy to homes, businesses, and entire communities.
• Wind energy holds promise as a significant source of electricity for the future.

Harnessing the Wind

• Wind is created by the sun heating the Earth's surface unevenly, resulting in areas of high and low pressure.
• Wind turbines transform the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, then into electrical energy.

How Wind Turbines Work

• Wind blows across the blades of the turbine, causing them to turn.
• The spinning motion is converted into mechanical energy, then into electrical energy through a generator.
• The electrical energy is transferred to power lines as electricity.

Wind Turbine Design

• Wind speed for larger turbines needs to be about 7-9 miles per hour, while smaller turbines need less.
• The wind needs to be consistent and sustained, and turbines need to be tall enough to catch wind that has not been interrupted by obstacles.

Wind Farms

• Wind farms are collections of many wind turbines located in one area.
• They can produce a significant amount of electricity, with hundreds to thousands of turbines in one wind farm.
• Wind farms must be located in areas with consistent, predictable winds.

Off-Shore Wind Farms

• Off-shore wind farms are located in the ocean, where winds are more consistent, predictable, and stronger.
• They can produce more energy than on-shore wind farms, but are often more expensive to build.

Pros of Wind Energy

• Wind energy is a clean, renewable energy source.
• No greenhouse gases or pollution are produced during operation.
• Land surrounding turbines can still be used for farming.
• Low operating costs once turbines are installed.
• Many jobs are created in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining wind turbines.

Cons of Wind Energy

• Wind can be inconsistent and unpredictable, leading to inconsistent energy production.
• Geographic areas suitable for wind farms are limited and often in rural areas.
• Wind energy systems are expensive to make and install.
• Some people find wind turbines noisy and unattractive.
• Birds and bats can be killed by turbine blades.

Wind Turbine Pros and Cons

• Wind turbines produce renewable, clean energy.
• They require very little ground space.
• They create many job opportunities.
• They are cost-effective once operational.
• They can be noisy and unattractive.
• They can harm birds and bats.

Wind Farm Pros and Cons

• Wind farms can produce a great deal of clean, renewable energy.
• They reduce dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels.
• They provide income to farmers leasing land for turbines.
• They provide numerous job opportunities.
• They can be noisy and visually unappealing.
• Some people do not want wind farms located nearby.