Harnessing Wind Power
February 29, 2008, FeedAccording to recent report of REN21, a global forum on renewable energy, the largest component of renewables generation capacity is wind power, which grew by 28 percent (with an estimated 21 GW added) worldwide in 2007 to reach an estimated 95 GW. Annual capacity additions increased even more: 40 percent higher in 2007 compared to 2006.
According to the forecast of the World Wind Energy organization, the worldwide capacity of wind power generation will reach 160 gigawatt by 2010.
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70% of global wind power additions in 2006 (15 GW total) were concentrated in five countries: the United States (2.5 GW), Germany (2.2 GW), India (1.8 GW), Spain (1.6 GW), and China (1.4 GW). Developing countries have been active in harnessing wind power - wind power in Brazil and Mexico combined increased 10-fold during 2006, from 30 megawatts (MW) to almost 300 MW.
Offshore wind power installations are emerging mostly in Europe, still hurdled by higher costs compared with booming on-shore installations. Belgium is building the largest wind farm in Europe, 300 MW offshore facility.
At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 95 gigawatts. Although wind currently produces just over 1% of world-wide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland (2007 data). Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007.
Appendices:
Wind Power, Economics and Feasibility
Wind Power Deployment
Installed Wind Power Capacity
Categories: Energy |