Why wind energy?
A. Wind energy is the most proven form of renewable energy in the UK, and therefore provides the opportunity for the most immediate way of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the electricity generation sector. The need to reduce CO2 emissions is widely accepted due to the increasing changes in our climate and the impact it is already having on wildlife species, eco-systems, the weather and sea levels. Aside from this, within the next twenty years the indigenous fossil fuels which we currently use to provide our energy will become scarce and we will be reliant on imports from overseas. The UK has the best wind resource in Europe; capturing this to provide indigenous green energy whilst continuing research into other renewable sources is a logical step forward. Wind energy will never meet all our energy needs but is the first step in increasing the amount of renewable energy we produce in the UK. Banks is looking at a variety of renewable energy sources, which will eventually beco
1. We now live in an era of energy uncertainty. The days of cheap and abundantly available energy are over. 2. Europe is running out of indigenous energy resources in the form of fossil fuels at a time when a paradigm shift in energy prices is occurring. It is clear that this century will be characterised by intensified competition for energy which will inevitably push up prices, lead to periodic scarcity and precipitate a scramble for reserves among the worlds main economic blocks. 3. Europes dependency on imported fossil fuel has become a threat to economic stability because of the impact of increased fuel prices on the cost base, most notably on the price of electricity. It is essential that Europe develops its own internal energy resources to the maximum extent possible, as well as promoting energy efficiency. 4.
Wind is an abundant source of energy that will never run out. It’s also the world’s fastest growing energy source and in the UK we’re lucky enough to have around 40% of Europe’s wind resource, potentially enough to power the country 3 or 4 times over. Building new wind capacity is crucial in the fight against climate change At Ecotricity we’re building new turbines to make clean electricity to replace the conventional polluting sources that cause climate change. Every unit of green electricity from wind power replaces one unit of electricity normally generated from conventional polluting sources such as coal. Wind is a sustainable fuel source that doesn’t produce pollutants of any kind and its energy can be harnessed without causing any damage to the environment. The energy used in manufacturing and erecting a wind turbine is paid back in the first 3 to 6 months of operation.
In an age of constrained energy resources, rising energy prices, and mounting environmental concerns, electricity generated by wind is proving both economical and environmentally sound. While wind energy is not the sole answer to all of our energy and environmental concerns, wind energy can and should be a significant part of the overall solution. The expansion of wind energy will provide necessary electricity to meet growing demand, offset inefficient and polluting fossil-fired plants, and help stabilize and reduce long-term energy prices. The vast majority of electricity in North America is generated by burning fossil fuels. Coal and natural gas are by far the largest fuel sources in the North American electricity market. As recently as 2002, it was believed that the need for new power plants, driven by growing demand and an aging fleet of generating plants, would be answered almost entirely by a mass build-up of natural gas-burning plants.
Energy is a need to survive. Classic energy sources as coal, oil, gas and nuclear power pollute the environment and are not endless. Global enthusiasm for energy reduction and environmental preservation has led governments as well as commercial business organisations to seek ways to produce energy in both an environmentally sensitive and cost effective manner. Wind energy production has grown rapidly over the past decade and is expected to increase dramatically over the next years. Global leaders have identified the dramatic increase the energy demand; governmental investigations show an increase of 300% over the next 60 years. The persistent depletion of fossil fuels, coupled with historic high fuel costs and the damage inflicted on the environment by traditional non-renewable energy resources have communities driven to address these issues with both new technologies as well as environmental protocols and treaties of which the Kyoto Protocol is the most well known.
