 Wind Energy
Table of Contents
Life Expectancy: 20-30 years.
Pro: Turbines can be places in wide open places, or out at sea. Some companies have found ways to make wind energy quiet and with
Con: Can be noisy, some designs can harm birds, intermittent energy as wind speeds and durations fluctuate, can be damaged by storms.
Solution: Bubble curtains can help reduce or even eliminate marine noise pollution during the construction process.Â
Fuel/Materials: Wind
Introduction
"Wind energy has the potential to provide 10 to 15 percent of future world energy requirements, according to Paul Dimotakis, chief technologist at JPL. If ocean areas with high winds were tapped for wind energy, they could potentially harvest up to 500 to 800 watts of wind power per square meter, according to Liu's research. Dimotakis notes that while this is less than peak solar power, which is about 1000 watts per square meter on Earth's surface when the sky is clear and the sun is overhead at equatorial locations, the average solar power at Earth's mid-latitudes under clear-sky conditions is less than a third of that. Wind power can be converted to electricity more efficiently than solar power and at a lower cost per watt of electricity produced." - https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ocean-wind-power-maps-reveal-possible-wind-energy-sourcesÂ
Job Opportunities
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wind Turbine Technicians by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that "The median annual wage for wind turbine technicians was $56,260 in May 2021." and "Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 44 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 1,900 openings for wind turbine technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire."
Types of Wind Power
The Drawdown Project's "mission is to help the world reach “drawdown”—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby stopping catastrophic climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible." The following links explore how different types of wind power will support our transition to renewable grids while reducing atmospheric GHG emissions. Their main focus is carbon, but with the methane, small particle pollution, and other dangerous leaks from the fossil fuel industry, there will be additional benefits from making this switch.
Utility-Scale
This type of wind energy capture requires technical knowledge, industrialization, factories for parts, legislative and monitoring requirements, not to mention large investments of money, however they benefit entire communities giving them massive potential against climate change.
Emerging Wind Technology
Roof top wind turbines present a few problems according to the link to the right. For example, "The smaller devices do not produce enough energy to be cost-effective. Plus, their quickly spinning blades create noisy vibrations, and their many moving parts are more prone to breakage. Compared with passive rooftop solar panels, wind turbines have the potential to be quite high-maintenance. " However new technology may make roof-top wind a better choice than with previous models.
Passive Cooling for BuildingsÂ
Using ancient (eco-friendly) technology such as stone or plant-based building materials, and modern technological advances such as aerodynamics modeling with computers before committing to a building design is making this option more appealing than ever. This passive cooling opportunity is suddenly seeing a resurgence of use around the world, after it's historical decline of jaali and windcatchers in Asia and the Middle East after the introduction of glass windows.Â
Modern A/C systems work by pushing hot air outside, ironically heating the outside area, which both increases global warming, while making their communities more dangerous for people and animals who don't have the luxury of inside cooling. By switching to passive cooling, we cut our energy bills, and stop creating inhospitable temperatures for those without access to A/C.
Romans and many other cultures have found incredible ways to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, and in the Mediterranean today you can still see white painted homes designed to reflect sunlight. This section explores both historical solutions as well as modern advancements and data.
Jali / Jaali
Wind Towers
Passive Laundry Drying
We often think of line drying laundry to be a solar-powered technique, but it's good to know that this method still works at night and indoors. Sunlight will speed the drying process and has antibacterial benefits, it'll help with bleaching too! However on rainy days or nights you can bring laundry in and dry it on a rack or line. A window cracked open to encourage air movement will help speed up the drying process compared to an enclosed space with no air movement.
Resources for Line Drying Laundry
The Science of Drying - How to be a Clothes Line Ninja "A June 2017 Canstar Blue survey showed that 75% of New Zealanders have a clothes line, yet 20% of those admit to using a drier even when it was sunny outside. The benefits of hanging washing outdoors are well known, so the reason for this is presumably uncertainty in the weather. In this blog post we explain the science of drying clothes, and how to feel confident in your free and natural laundry service."
Wind Powered Transport: Sails
"Around 90 per cent of world trade is carried by sea, and the French Association of Shipowners has predicted that five per cent of this could be carried by wind-powered ships in future. Clearly, sail ships cannot match the speed of modern cargo vessels, but there are many types of goods which are not perishable and where speedy delivery could be of secondary importance." - https://sustainablebuild.co.uk/sail-power-for-ships/Â
"Airseas projects the kite could cut fuel costs up to 20%, depending (of course) on the winds. And popular shipping routes already take advantage of the prevailing winds (which coincide with currents) to help push the ship along. Adding a kite would help significantly more." - https://www.freethink.com/environment/the-return-of-sail-powerÂ
We mostly think of boats when we think of sails, but the link to the left describes a variety of land-based transport designs. We have included some fun but simple, DIY, wind-powered car projects for students on our For Teachers page under "Engineering" and "Technology & Biotechnology".
Marine Noise Pollution
Noise pollution under water is a growing threat to the entire food web, from plankton to whales. Changes to speed and propeller's can help, but wind power offers another solution to rapidly decrease noise pollution under the waves.
Waste Management for Sailing
"Sailing is an activity which really celebrates resourcefulness and practical thinking; skills which future generations will need in order to recycle and reuse items that are currently destined for landfill. The latest data from the EPA shows that while recycling rates have improved over time, there is still more waste generated per person. Sailing calls for traditional practical skills such as repairing sails, maintaining the assistance motor and practicing tying knots competently, to keep your vessel safe and sea worthy. Millennials do have one advantage here; the prevalence of online tutorials means that while these skills may currently be lacking, it’s always possible to learn them." - https://ecoclub.com/blogs/smooth-sailing-the-environmental-benefits-of-boating-vacationsÂ
Windmills for Farms/Small Scale
Windmills were first used in places like Persia and China, with historical examples still found in Iran, Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere.Â
Today farmers can still use wind, but may need to check with their local authorities or deed restrictions about the legality and requirements for building or installing turbines. Turbine-free options are also available, but sound generation and repair/maintenance costs will generally be among the top concerns.
Impact of Wind Power
Benefits
Drawdown: Solutions Table Cost Per Tonne "* Gigatons CO2 Equivalent Reduced / Sequestered (2020–2050) " Click the tabs at the top of the chart to see the environmental solutions listed according cost or reduced/sequestered CO2 equivalent GHG emissions.
Sail powered boats are much quieter than boat engines, making them much more wildlife friendly. There is also no danger of whales, manatees or other endangered animals being sliced by rotating blades.
Wind can provide power even at night, when solar panels can't.
Solar is quickly becoming more affordable.
Neutral or Negative
Birds
Birds can be injured when flying between turbines, particularly when turbines are put in a migratory flight path, and when they above certain speeds. Scientists have been working on models that are less harmful to birds, or that are totally incapable of harming birds.
Noise
Turbines can create noise pollution, which is particularly noticeable in otherwise quiet locations. Some people find the noise annoying while others are not bothered.
Marine Noise Pollution
8:04 minute video explores the Fossil Fuel Industry's claims that wind turbines are killing whales.
Noise pollution from construction can massively impact aquatic species from glass sponges and the plankton their consume to marine mammals such as whales.Â
On solution for this is the use of bubble curtains which can dampen the noise to prevent harm to some species, though not all are benefited equally.
Click the Noise Pollution button to learn more.
1:09 minute video showing bubble curtains in use during marine construction and while measuring the effects on the area outside the dual-line bubble screen.
Storm Damage
The most common type of storm damage comes from lightning strikes which can damage the blades.
Infrastructural Needs & Solutions
Organizations
North America
USA
The Clean Energy States Alliance "is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy.
CESA works with state leaders, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to develop clean energy programs and inclusive renewable energy markets. CESA members—mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country."
Maps & Site Selection
International Map
Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Possible Wind Energy Sources "Ideally, offshore wind farms should be located in areas where winds blow continuously at high speeds. The new research identifies such areas and offers explanations for the physical mechanisms that produce the high winds.
An example of one such high-wind mechanism is located off the coast of Northern California near Cape Mendocino. The protruding land mass of the cape deflects northerly winds along the California coast, creating a local wind jet that blows year-round. Similar jets are formed from westerly winds blowing around Tasmania, New Zealand and Tierra del Fuego in South America, among other locations. Areas with large-scale, high wind power potential also can be found in regions of the mid-latitudes of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, where winter storms normally track."
Africa
The Wind Power: Maps for Africa Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
South Africa
Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA): Project Overview and Current Status (PDF) The primary focus of this resource is South Africa with a variety of maps, but also includes wind maps for Europe, Ireland, Egypt. Click here for the WASA High-Resolution Wind Resource Map.
Asia
The Wind Power: Maps for Asia Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
Philippines
Europe
European Offshore Wind Farms Map Public Interactive map
The Wind Power: Maps for Europe Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
The New European Wind Atlas This interface provides access to a broad selection of wind atlas datasets from the New European Wind Atlas project.
Wind Turbines in Europe Static map
North America
The Wind Power: Maps for South America Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
Wind Resource Maps and Data "Find and download wind resource map images and geospatial data for North America, the contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America."
Canada
USA
US Wind Turbine Database & Map includes onshore and offshore turbines in the US and it's territories.
Wind Energy Maps and Data Static maps
Wind Supply Curves "NREL has developed an interactive map and geospatial data showing wind supply curves, which characterize the quantity and quality of land-based and offshore wind resources."
Oceana
The Wind Power: Maps for Oceana Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
South America
The Wind Power: Maps for South America Select country by name to see an interactive map of wind farms, along with their statuses, including planned, approved, under construction, operational, and dismantled.
Financial & Funding
North America
USA
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."
Self-Help Credit Union "Our mission is creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities.
Self-Help Credit Union has branches in NC, SC, FL and VA, and we offer remote services like online and mobile banking to make joining us easy no matter where you live." "We're poised to use a major funding award from the EPA to help create a clean energy future for all."
Turbine Parts, Manufacturers & Installers
International
3SLift "Over the last 2 decades, 3S Lift has become a leading global supplier for tower internals and market leader in Asia. With a global presence of around 700 employees and locations in China, India, Europe and the US, 3S Lift provides a wide range of products to wind turbine manufacturers, tower manufacturers, service providers and wind farm owners across more than 40 countries." The company also offers retrofitting services for existing wind farms.
Global Wind Service (GWS) is a leading partner for wind turbine installation and service projects all around the globe.
Our skills base is highly specialised and focused on local knowledge and cross-cultural awareness – this means that we can meet your demands safely and efficiently, no matter where in the world you need us.
We offer a wide range of different services for both onshore and offshore wind installation and maintenance projects globally. Visit our Services page to learn more."NAZ Solar Electric: Wind & Accessories "We stock installation supplies, replacement parts, and accessories for wind generators and turbines. We carry replacement blades, replacement nose cones, pole sets, tower kits, and more."
Nordex "As one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, the Nordex Group offers high-yield, cost-efficient wind turbines that enable long-term and economical power generation from wind energy in all geographical and climatic conditions."
"Started in Denmark, Nordex Wind Power is a renewable energy company in Germany with its factories and subsidiaries around the globe including Spain, Brazil, USA, India, Argentina, and Mexico."NOV "With more than 50 years of experience discovering the offshore playing field, we’ve gained invaluable knowledge of how to best optimize solutions in the harshest environments around the world, from the entire construction process to the logistics supply chain and the field lifecycle. We are driven to utilize expertise and competences that accelerate the development of renewable energy sources, with a first focus on fixed and floating wind."
The Solar Store "We live off-grid with solar and wind power-so we know the products we sell. We want to help you achieve energy independence."Â
Africa
Renewables First "have considerable experience and full project capability, from initial feasibility studies through to system design and installation for hydro, wind and water source heat pump systems."
Asia
3SLift "Over the last 2 decades, 3S Lift has become a leading global supplier for tower internals and market leader in Asia. With a global presence of around 700 employees and locations in China, India, Europe and the US, 3S Lift provides a wide range of products to wind turbine manufacturers, tower manufacturers, service providers and wind farm owners across more than 40 countries." The company also offers retrofitting services for existing wind farms.
Europe
UK
Renewables First "have considerable experience and full project capability, from initial feasibility studies through to system design and installation for hydro, wind and water source heat pump systems."
North America
Vestas "is a market leader in the North American wind industry with 42,000 MW installed and 38,000+ MW under service in the U.S. and Canada. Vestas employs more than 6,000 people in the manufacturing, installation, and service of onshore and offshore wind turbines."
USA
Bleutec Industries "is a privately held company founded in 2019 with a strategic focus as the premier contractor of services to the offshore wind market, particularly in the US offshore renewables marketplace."
DaSolar "Request a wind turbine evaluation, and we will assess your wind speed and analyze your property for suitability for a wind turbine (we will email you the result). If your property qualifies, we will connect you with an installer to discuss your requirements and answer your questions about a wind turbine. Together, you can determine if wind is the right fit for you and your energy needs."
Vineyard Wind "is currently building the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind energy project over 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. The project will generate clean, renewable, affordable energy for over 400,000 homes and businesses across the Commonwealth, while reducing carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year."
Walter Payton Power Equipment "is your trusted equipment supplier for on-shore, horizontal-axis wind turbine construction equipment including lattice boom crawler cranes, all-terrain cranes, telescoping crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes and more. We have equipment to specialize in just about any type of wind job: New construction, maintenance, generator replacement, single blade replacement, inspections, and more. Whether you need equipment for installation or erection, assist or tailing, maintenance, or general support – it’s all available for sale, rental or RPO. Walter Payton Power Equipment is part of the largest Manitowoc, Grove and National Crane supply network in the world, and is trusted by construction contractors and crane rental houses in and throughout the Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Michigan, Central and Southern Indiana areas, and beyond."
Alaska
STG Incorporated "Our expertise supports work to address one of the greatest challenges facing rural Alaska—affordable energy.
Incorporating wind technology into Alaska’s energy mix can help off-set expensive energy costs, such as diesel fuel.
Wind is a clean source of renewable energy and STG Incorporated has installed more community-scale wind farms in Alaska than any other contractor, approximately 80 percent of those currently in operation."
California
BEI Construction "delivers wind projects, with our range of services providing broad support for wind turbine installation. The BEI team brings together the engineering, electrical, foundation, project management and implementation capabilities required to execute wind projects. This end-to-end approach helps us advance wind projects effectively—on schedule and on budget."
Indiana
Midwestern Electric "has the knowledge, equipment and manpower to construct any size or type of tower or wind turbine. Whether it is the installation of a monopole, wind turbine, guy tower, or self supporting tower, each project is completed by trained, safety oriented and skilled professionals. We have a diverse background when it comes to tower and wind turbine installations."
Ohio
Ohio Power Solutions "is a professional wind power team with over a decade of experience helping homes and businesses throughout Columbus, OH harness the power of wind energy. We work to make sure you get adequate and reliable energy that will help you protect the environment. Wind power installation may make you eligible for an array of energy tax credits and other incentives."
Oregon
The Solar Store "We live off-grid with solar and wind power-so we know the products we sell. We want to help you achieve energy independence."Â
