The benefits created by wind power can be divided into three main groups – economic, environmental, and strategic. The first factor may be the easiest to quantify – wind power is widely considered to be the most affordable form of energy, with prices for 1MW/h reaching as low as $20 in the US in 2018, which is lower than with fossil fuels. However, the expected economic impact of wind farms goes far beyond cheap electricity, as in the upcoming period wind farm building and operation will create plenty of new jobs. A lot has been said about the adverse impact of traditional energy sources on aerial pollution and global warming, and the mass adoption of wind power technology is perhaps the best safeguard against catastrophic climatic changes. Finally, for countries without sizeable coal and oil reserves, switching to renewable energy sources can reduce dependence on imports, with far-reaching political and strategic consequences.
Wind power looks like one of the most viable alternatives for obsolete fossil fuels, with very few valid arguments against it.
The location of a wind farm greatly impacts its output, as such, a great deal of planning should go into the selection of a suitable site. There are two competing approaches – land-based wind farms which are easier and cheaper to build, and offshore sites that typically offer better potential for energy production but require higher initial expenses. The latter category holds a lot of appeal, even if it’s currently less developed – for example, the UK currently has an active capacity for offshore wind power generation of just 8 GW, while its needs with respect to governmental targets exceed 29GW by the year 2020.
With this in mind, it’s reasonable to expect a shift of focus in the near future, as the best onshore locations are being taken and the value of offshore investments continues to rise. The technology for developing wind farms on both types of locations is already available, with new, more energy-efficient turbines providing a great opportunity to leverage even more of the natural power at our disposal.
EnviroTech can provide expert guidance and ensure that your investment in onshore or offshore wind farms has a very brief return on investment period.
We are witnessing a significant change when it comes to energy usage, with awareness about the dangers of unsustainable expenditure sharply rising. This is motivating a faster adoption of sustainable energy technologies, some of which ideally require battery storage to be more feasible. For example, battery storage complements solar installations and enables them to provide power during the night or on a cloudy day.
Solar power is probably one of the best-known forms of sustainable energy, and in recent years it is commonly deployed in residential and commercial properties. The main reason for the growing popularity of this technology is its beneficial impact on the environment – some case studies indicate that solar panels alone can reduce our carbon footprint by 5-10%.
Solar power is probably one of the best-known forms of sustainable energy, and in recent years it is commonly deployed in residential and commercial properties. The main reason for the growing popularity of this technology is its beneficial impact on the environment – some case studies indicate that solar panels alone can reduce our carbon footprint by 5-10%.
The idea here is to eliminate avoidable waste while ensuring that all energy needs are met, thus increasing the overall energy efficiency and staying within the planned expenditure range. In some cases, companies can slash their energy bills by up to 40% by implementing simple measures such as optimisation of the heating system.