In the following you´ll get some wind energy facts that might surprise you. Although it is much less expensive to initially get hooked into the local electric company’s grid than it is to set up and hook into wind turbines.
In the long run one saves money by utilizing the wind for one’s energy needs, while also becoming more independent. Not receiving an electric bill while enjoying the advantages of the modern electrically-driven lifestyle would be a wonderful feeling.
Wind Energy Facts And Statistics
How does wind energy work?
This is very simple, the wind turns propeller-like blades around a rotor, the rotor spins a generator to create electricity.
5 important facts about wind energy:
- Wind energy is available nationwide and worldwide.
- The Wind energy sector supports a strong domestic supply chain.
- Wind is an affordable source of energy.
- Wind power reduces air pollution.
- Wind energy preserves water resources that would have been otherwise used by the conventional electric power sector.
In terms of total potential, wind has much lower potential compared to solar energy in many parts of the world.
Electric bills and fuel bills are rising steadily, but the cost of wind turbine energy is zero, and the cost of installing and hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down as demand rises and more commercial success is realized by various companies producing the turbines and researching technologies to make them ever more efficient.
One of the wind energy facts is that people are moving away from the traditional electric grids and the fossil fuels for personal reasons including desire for greater independence, the desire to live more rural without having to “go primitive”, political concerns such as fears of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power grids, or concerns about the environment.
Again, this motivation to get away from the traditional energy sources is the same one that causes people to seek the power of the wind for their energy, giving more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production and maintenance, which drives their costs down for the consumers.
The top 5 wind power countries (2016) in the world are:
- China, with a capacity of 168,732 Megawatts.
- U.S. with a capacity of 82,184 Megawatts.
- Germany had 50,018 MW of wind power capacity.
- India is a newcomer to the wind energy sector, but has a capacity of 28,700 MW
- Spain´s wind energy development stagnated in the last years, currently 23,074 MW
Let´t have a closer look to non-renewable vs wind energy cost comparison.
The cost of providing energy solar panels and wind turbines power has plummeted over the last couple of years. In some markets renewable power generation is now cheaper than conventional coal or natural gas. Although we should keep in mind that these low costs made possible by generous subsidies that could expire or soon diminish. But as recent analyses show, even without those subsidies, renewable energies can often compete with the traditional sources.
A cost comparison according to a study by Lazard Asset Management
- Solar energy: 5.6 cent/KWh (with subsidies) 7.2 cent/KWh (without subsidies)
- Wind energy: 1.4 cent/KWh (with subsidies) 3.7 cent/KWh (without subsidies)
- Natural gas: 6.1 cent/KWh
- Coal: 6.6 cent/KWh
What about renewable-energy tax credits and incentives?
In many U.S. states, homeowners who remain on the grid but who still choose to use wind energy (or other alternative forms) can benefit from rebates or tax breaks from the state governments, that end up paying for as much as 50% of their total “green” energy systems’ costs. If you want to qualify for the 30% investment tax credit, have a look at the new Tax Credit Guidance for Owners of Small Wind Turbines
In addition, many U.S. states allow homeowners net-metering, in other words to sell their excess energy back to the power company under what are called “net metering laws”. The rates that they are being paid by the local power companies for this energy are standard retail rates—in other words, the homeowners are actually profiting from their own energy production.
You will need to contact your local energy power provider directly to learn about their specific requirements, you need to carry liability insurance, plus you need to purchase some additional equipment in order to safely transmit the electricity.
If you want to know if a wind turbine or wind park makes sense in your area, visit WINDExchange. Here you are provided with wind maps and anemometer data in order to help communities and homeowners to learn more about their available wind resources and plan future wind energy projects.
How loud is a wind turbine?
Modern wind turbines have better insulation, lower rotation speeds, fewer moving parts and more efficient blades that make them much quieter than their ancestors. Wind turbines in residential areas are placed no closer than 300 meters from the nearest house. At 300 meters a turbine will have a sound pressure level of 43 decibels, but the average air conditioner can reach 50 decibels of noise, and most refrigerators run at around 40 decibels.
If you are 500 meters away than the sound pressure level drops to 38 decibels, means that a turbine’s noise would be lost among the background noise which ranges from 40 to 45 decibels. One more of the wind energy facts: A mile away wouldn’t be heard.
Production Tax Credit PTC and Investment Tax Credit ITC
In June 2015 the renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that incentivize the building of more U.S. wind farms was extended. Wind energy brings jobs, beneficial taxes and other revenues to rural communities. Especially private landowner can make good profits, with over 98% of all wind farms located on private land, wind energy projects deliver an additional $195 mill/year in lease payments.
Wind energy facts with stable policies: Wind companies could supply 10% of the U.S. electricity demand by 2020 and up to 35% by 2050. By 2030, the wind energy sector could support 380,000 jobs; while increasing tax payments to communities to $1.8 billion a year.
