WIND POWERLisa ParkD Block

How wind is created

The Science

Wind energy converts kinetic energy in wind to more useful sources such as electricity

It is pollution-free, and does not run out

It doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, toxic or radioactive waste

how windmills work

1) The blades on a windmill are connected to a drive shaft

2) The wind blows over the blades, causing them to turn

3) The blades turn, thus turning the electric generator that produces electricity in the drive shaft

parts of a windmill

United Kingdom

The UK plans to build around 7000 wind turbines off the coast of Britain

According to John Hutton, the secretary of state for business, by 2020, the offshore wind farms, creating 33 gigawatts of electricity, could generate electricity for every single home in the UK

Currently, the offshore turbines create two gigawatts, which is enough electricity for 1.5 million homes

korea

According to the president of KWEA (Korea Wind Energy Association), Chung-Ryul Son (손충렬 ), there has hardly been any domestic funds invested for the development of wind energy

There are only three companies in South Korea that are working for the development of wind energy

The current situation concerning wind energy in Korea is not even close to taking a step for further development

There needs to be active meetings and interactions between the government as well as different organizations that support the development of wind energy

He has made efforts, along with other professors to gather the workforce, making sure that they will get a professional pool of experts for further growth

the good thingsIt is the ideal renewable energy

infinitely sustainable, pollution-free, green-house gases and radio active waste free

It does not present any significant harm to wildlife

When turbines are installed on farmland, it barely takes up any space

The ownership of turbines to civilians allows active participation of the general public in growing habits to preserve our environment

Each megawatt-hour of electricity that is generated by wind energy helps to reduce the 0.8 to 0.9 tons of greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by coal or diesel fuel generation each year

The cost for turbines is decreasing each year; becoming less expensive than other sources of renewable energy

The bad things

Property values decrease in areas that have visible wind turbines; it also brings loss on tourism (apparently, not a very pretty sight to see)

The turbines may kill birds or bats (anything that flies)

Noise pollution

When the wind does not blow, it generates less energy

the cost & reason for lack for development in Korea

The cost, as mentioned before, is decreasing every year

In good wind areas, electricity that is generated by the wind is clearly cost effective, whereas it might not necessarily be the same case for not-as-windy regions

Korea, as a newly developed nation, has not paid much attention to renewable resources, and if they have, certainly not to wind energy

Much of the public is not aware of the potential of wind energy, and the nation mostly relies on non-renewable resources such as coal or oil

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg9fiDUroo4