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The Advantages of Wind Energy

17th July, 2012

Here are the 3 main advantages of wind energy:

Reduction of the Consumption of Fossil Fuels

Humans as a species consume gargantuan amounts of natural resources. However, for the most part, these resources are finite. This means that when they have been used up, that’s it. Sources of energy such as crude oil occur naturally due to the fossilisation a subsequent breaking down of organisms on the sea bed. This process takes millions of years however, thus demonstrating the finite nature of the material. Burning these fossil fuels to produce electricity produces pollution in various forms. For example the emission of carbon dioxide and monoxide, methane and many other gases which contribute to global warming by added to the greenhouse effect or damaging the ozone layer. Soot particulates also cause global dimming which has been proved to be of as much concern as global warming. Wind power is infinite as it were and thus is inexhaustible. Harnessing the power of the wind carries very low emissions (just the carbon released during manufacture and installation) and provides a long lasting clean energy source).

 

The Creation of Employment

The commitment to swapping from so called ‘dirty’ energy sources to ‘clean’ ones which was sealed in the 90’s at the Kyoto Protocol has led to a huge growth in the market for the provision of renewable energy sources. Countless firms have been set up providing the necessary means of installation, maintenance and infrastructure for wind turbines. Needless to say, this has created a huge number of jobs in both the public and private sectors. In a time of austerity and relatively high unemployment, this thriving industry has become an important source of employment. This is especially so in the more rural or coastal areas where jobs may be scarce. Specialist training is required to carry out maintenance or supervise the installation of a turbine but this is now often being provided at a subsidised cost by the firms involved, making jobs in this industry ever more attractive.

 

The Financial Return

Wind energy makes environmental as well as financial sense. This is especially the case for farmers or land owners who are looking into the installation of a single unit. You can expect a return on your investment if you were to cover the cost of installation yourself within 4 – 8 years. When this upfront cost has been recouped, you can begin to profit from the excess energy produced which can be sold back to the national grid at a reduced cost. This means that energy bills will be nil and you can begin to actually see a return on your investment. There are also various incentives in place to encourage the public to have a turbine installed on their land. For example you could rent your land to firms offering to build and maintain their own turbines. Alternatively you could offer the usage of your land for no cost but receive significant reductions in your energy bill in return.