After Trump Comments on Wind Turbines: Reality and Overview
An overview of wind power: its place in the global market, CO2 emissions, recycling rates, potential, challenges, and emerging solutions.
“The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.”
— Bob Dylan
This song line makes me think: you're not going to find the answers to life's pressing questions by staying home or staring out a window. The answers are out there—elusive and hidden within the world itself, waiting to be discovered by those actively seeking them. Please be seekers of truth, not followers of distractions or influencers.
Wind Power
It is easy to understand why wind power remains one of the most popular methods of energy generation.
Wind turbines can be installed almost anywhere with sufficient wind—from fields and mountain ranges to offshore locations—making them versatile for both large economies aiming to decarbonize and remote communities seeking a reliable energy source.
Global Impact in 2023
Wind power became the second-largest renewable energy source, contributing approximately 10% of global electricity.
The total installed capacity surpassed 1,047 GW, driven by rapid growth in China (adding 75 GW) and the United States (total capacity: 137.5 GW).
Second-largest leading U.S. states: Texas (27% of national total), Oklahoma, Iowa, and Kansas.
For a detailed overview: Annual Report 2023
Want the latest stats, forecast quickly?
2030 Targets
Despite significant progress, the onshore wind forecast reveals a gap between current growth and governmental targets.
By 2030, governments aim for 140 GW of installed capacity, but more robust measures will be needed to close this gap. (Source: Global Wind Report 2024)
How Wind Turbines Work Basically
Wind turbines harness the power of the wind to generate electricity through a fascinating interplay of physics and engineering. Here’s how:
Rotor Blades: The blades function similarly to airplane wings, creating a pressure difference as wind flows over them. Air pressure decreases on one side of the blade while remaining higher on the other, generating lift and drag.
Lift and Rotation: The lift force, stronger than the drag, propels the blades into a spinning motion. This rotation is key to converting wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
Generator Connection: The rotating blades drive a generator via a shaft. Depending on the turbine design, this connection can be direct or include a gearbox to increase rotational speed, allowing for a more compact generator.
Electricity Generation: The generator transforms the mechanical energy into electricity, ready to power homes, businesses, and industries.
For a deeper understanding:
Carbon Footprint of Wind Power vs. Other Sources
Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are the best measure of energy sources’ carbon footprints. Wind energy emits ~11 grams of CO2 per kWh, compared to:
Coal: ~980 g CO2/kWh
Natural Gas: ~465 g CO2/kWh
Thus, coal’s carbon footprint is nearly 90 times larger than wind’s, and natural gas is over 40 times larger.
For a detailed comparison:
Okay, it seems so promising.
But what are the problems with wind turbines?
I will discuss three key technical issues that need resolution.
For instance, concerns like visual pollution are much more subjective.
Challenges and Innovations
Recycling Limitations
On average, 85% of a wind turbine is recyclable. However, the blades pose a significant challenge due to the complexity of their materials, especially the epoxy resin that strengthens them. Currently, these components are often buried or burned after decommissioning.
Emerging Solutions
Recyclable Materials: Siemens Gamesa has developed the RecyclableBlade, committing to 100% recyclable turbines by 2040.
Innovative Recycling Methods:
Ørsted’s Vindeby Wind Farm: Achieved 98% recycling of composite materials.
Global Fiberglass Solutions: Repurposes blade composites into pellets for construction and manufacturing.
Netherlands Projects: Decommissioned blades are repurposed for playgrounds, bus stops, and public seating.
Sustainable Design: Sweden’s Modvion built the world’s first wooden turbine tower, offering a carbon-negative alternative
Noise Pollution
In the pursuit of a sustainable future, social consensus and public support for the energy transition are imperative.
Noise is one of the main complaints of people. Building turbines away from living spaces seems to be the best approach, but innovative efforts are also being made to develop silent turbines.
One such effort comes from Biome Renewables, which created the FeatherEdge Design after studying how owls fly silently.
Owls employ various strategies for noise reduction, but Biome Renewables focused on mimicking the fringe shape on the trailing edge of some owl feathers. The FeatherEdge Design applies the same principles of physics to minimize noise. Engineers customize these flexible attachments for specific turbines, optimizing how air mixes around the blades.
The results are promising. Standard serrations on turbine blades reduce noise by 1.5 to 2 decibels, while early tests of FeatherEdge achieved an additional reduction of 3.4 decibels.
For an in-depth view:
Wildlife Impacts
Wind turbines inadvertently harm certain species, including:
Marine Life
Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, are particularly sensitive to the increased noise and traffic brought about by offshore wind turbines. While a federal oversight agency, the Marine Mammal Commission, found no direct link between recent whale deaths in New Jersey (winter 2022-2023) and wind energy development, necropsies identified ship collisions as the primary cause.
Nevertheless, minimizing noise through innovations like silent turbine designs offers hope for reducing disruptions in marine ecosystems.
Birds and Bats
Birds and bats face significant risks from turbine collisions, which have led to noticeable declines in certain populations.
In the U.S. alone, turbines are estimated to cause approximately 500,000 bird deaths annually, a number that could surge to 1.5 million as capacity grows.
Vulnerable species, such as the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis), are disproportionately affected.
Despite this, wind turbines are far less harmful to bird populations compared to other human-related causes, like domestic cats and collisions with glass windows.
For a visual overview of potential solutions, see:
Closing Thoughts
At a time when lowering carbon emissions is critical, no energy source is entirely free from drawbacks. However, wind energy, with its current innovations in design, materials, and recycling, is one of the most sustainable options available. Imagine how much better it could become as we continue to innovate and solve these challenges.
Thanks :)
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Until then, take care!
A few points:
1) Calculating CO2 emissions should be the entire life cycle total. For example it takes thousands of tons of concrete for the base of the structure and they need replacing.
2) Wind turbines power drops exponentially as the wind drops; ie 50% wind drop, 80% power drop.
3) Using wood to make blades reduces the ability of the forest to absorb CO2 and produce oxygen.
4) Germany on shore wind power is a disaster with about 28,000 subsidized wind turbines. You need to maintain average load on a national grid and peak. The wind doesn't blow all the time. It is called Green Poverty.
5) Remember plants and oceans require CO2 to survive and in turn produces oxygen for the people and animals.