Wind energy is one that is obtained directly from the force of the wind. It is one of the most promising energies given its low environmental impact. On average, a wind mill avoids the broadcast of more than 6,300 tons of co2 to the atmosphere, which is invaluable help when fighting the greenhouse effect and the consequent climate change.
However, wind energy also has some disadvantages. In the following ecology article, we will put it in a balance and we will talk about the Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.
What is wind energy
As we have indicated before, wind energy is what is given Thanks to movement and Wind strength. Currently, it is one of the most future energies, since it has a very low environmental impact compared to other energies.
It is estimated that, in the coming years, wind energy could represent until the 20% of energy production in Spainwhich is a clear example of how this energy involves a niche of trust for both energy companies and public bodies.
However, despite the multiple advantages that this energy represents, it also raises a series of disadvantages that make it necessary to have to Continue investigating until it implement a wind technology that is even better and more efficient. In fact, today, we can even make homemade wind mills.
Discover more about wind mills: how to do homemade wind energy in this post that we suggest or look at the video that you have below about renewable and non -renewable energies.
How wind energy works
We know that wind energy works thanks to the wind, but how is all this energy generated? For everything to be put into operation, they are first needed electric turbines either wind turbinescommonly known as the huge 50 -meter mills that we find on secondary roads.
They are usually grouped into Winding parks And they are in places where it makes a lot of wind, since they would not work. Although, to the surprise of many, these mills can also be located under the sea. When the wind moves the blades, connected to a rotor that Multiply turn speed Thousands of revolutions per minute.
From here, the generated energy becomes electricity Thanks to a generator. It goes through the tower to the substation and continues until it reaches an electric grid that can distribute it.
Once we have already explained what this energy is and how it works, keep reading to discover the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.
Advantages of wind energy
Although it does not seem, wind energy has advantages and disadvantages that you might not know. Even so, a roughly We can summarize that wind energy has represented in 2021 near the 21.9% of electricity production Total in Spain, a fairly beneficial fact. Therefore, some of its advantages are:
It is a renewable energy that is not exhausted
One of the first advantages of wind energy is that it is one of the renewable energies because the wind is an inexhaustible resource. This means that you can always count on the original source that produces energy, which guarantees that its utility It has no expiration dateas it happens with fossil fuels.
Do renewable energy contaminate the environment? Discover the answer in this article that we suggest.
It is a 100% clean energy
It is a completely clean energy. In fact, this is perhaps its main advantage when compared to other types of energy. Wind energy does not produce any type of wastewhich means that its use does not contribute to the destruction of ecosystems or favor global warming.
It is a safe energy
Another of the advantages of wind energy is that it is one of the safest energies that exist. To the Do not produce polluting waste nor suppose a danger in case of accident, it is a completely safe energy.
It is an indigenous energy
This allows to favor energy independence, since, although there are countries that have a higher wind rate, you can find around the world. This allows a native energy market to be created and releases from the need to import energy from other economies.
It is an energy with ecological transportation
The necessary technology when implementing a wind farm allows them to be carried out simplely And quite effective. There is no need for many vehicles or pipes to transport it. In fact, if today it takes longer than desired to build them, it is usually due to bureaucratic and related issues.
It has little impact on the ground
Winding parks have a very small impact on the ground and erosion. This is due to the Absence of polluting waste as to the fact that they occupy little space compared to other types of energy facilities.
We leave you this article about the importance of Ecology Verde so that you can know more about the subject.
It is a respectful energy with aquifers
Due to the absence of any type of polluting residue, Does not alter the composition of water of the area, which is a fundamental element when protecting local water reserves and ecosystems linked to them.
If you want to know what the importance of ecosystems is, do not hesitate to read this post.
It is a very cheap energy
In fact, it is located in some cases at the same price as coal and even nuclear energy. When a wind turbine ends its useful life, it is disassembled without leaving a considerable impact on the environment due to the few square meters it occupies. Its production is flexible and the maintenance cost is practically non -existent.
It should also be noted that wind energy Create jobs. In fact, those places where wind farms are built experience a considerable reduction in local strike.
Is compatible with other activities
Wind energy is fully compatible with other activities Like agriculture and livestockwhich does not have a negative impact on the local economy by not requiring a labor specialization in the area. This allows the areas in which it is installed can continue to develop their traditional activity while increasing their activity thanks to wind energy.
More and more develops
In addition to all these benefits of wind energy, today we are working on the location of More wind turbines in the seawhere there is greater wind and where it does not entail such close visual impact, which will mean a new thrust to its development.
Likewise, they are allocating economic resources To the research and improvement of the efficiency of this type of energy, which will allow in the future to expand the advantages while solventing the disadvantages that they still present.
You can take a look at this other article on how we can take advantage of the wind energy, here.
Disadvantages of wind energy
In the previous section we have mentioned everything that are advantages of wind energy, except the following, which are its main disadvantages:
It depends on the weather
One of the first inconveniences of wind energy is that There is not always wind Or, if there is, it may be slower, so you need the support of other types of energies for those moments, whether pollutant energies or clean energies.
There are speed problems
Wind turbines only work properly with Wind bursts between 10 and 40 km/h. At minor speeds, energy is no longer profitable is a physical risk for the structure, since the turbine could not bear it and would cause damage to the structure. In this way, it would be necessary to modify the blades and disconnect the wind turbine.
It’s hard to plan
There is a degree of difficulty in planning Due to the unpredictable wind. Thanks to weather models, it has improved a lot in this aspect, although today it continues to be one of the inconveniences it poses.
In addition, given that wind farms are located far from the points of consumption, it requires a Energy transport infrastructurewhich entails loss of energy and the need to install the transport infrastructure.
It is not possible to store it
Another of the disadvantages of wind energy is that it is an energy that cannot be stored, but must be immediately consumed When it occurs. That means that it cannot offer a complete alternative to the use of other types of energy.
A high amount of wind turbines is required
Like the Wind energy density is lowthis requires that the amount of wind turbines be high to be useful. In other words, even if it is a cheap and easy to obtain energy, a large sum of wind turbines is needed at the same time so that it can be profitable.
It occupies large areas
The construction of wind farms entails a Aesthetic impact In the landscape that sometimes generates discomfort in the local population, since in addition, being so large, wind turbines have to be separated.
In addition, we also find that wind turbines emit sound. However, it is true that this disadvantage has minimized thanks to the advances in engineering that have been applied to new turbines.
It has environmental impact
Another inconvenience of wind energy that turns out to be serious is that, when they are in operation, the blades or the blades of the wind turbines suppose a Danger for bird fauna in the areathat if during the flight they collide with them they usually die due to the impact. The most affected species are bats.
Examples of wind energy
Since we have explained in detail what wind energy is, how it works and what are its advantages and disadvantages, we cannot forget to mention some of the most prominent examples of this type of renewable energy. Therefore, some examples of wind energy are:
- Sailboats to move through the water.
- Wind mills traditional
- Turbines of homemade wind energy to be able to supply a home with electricity.
- Wind turbines Terrestrial that produce electricity.
- Marine wind parks that generate electricity for an entire region.
If you want to read more articles similar to Advantages and disadvantages of wind energywe recommend that you enter our category of renewable energy.
