Friday, October 15, 2010

Wind power - The best option for clean energy future?

Wind power is regarded by many as the renewable energy source that should play key role in satisfying world's ever-increasing hunger for energy, while at the same time help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to strengthening of the climate change impact. Wind power is one of the most cost-competitive renewable energy sources, and so not only popular from environmental but also from economic point of view.

Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) predicts that world's wind power generation capacity will reach 1,000 gigawatt (GW) by 2020, and will further grow to 2,300 GW by 2030. United States, China and Germany should continue to be global leaders in installed wind power capacity.

If these predictions turn out to be true then wind power should meet around 12% of global energy demand by 2020 and around 22% by 2030. This would of course make wind power the most important renewable energy resource in the world.

In order for such scenario to happen the countries will continue to invest in wind power by building more wind farms (especially offshore) and more transmission lines. Wind power also needs to maintain popular among public because huge public support also means support from politics in form of supportive legislation.

The recent studies have calculated that 1,000 GW of installed capacity by 2020 would ensure savings of up to 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, which represents 50-75 per cent of the cumulative emissions reductions committed by industrialized nations.

Wind power certainly looks like one of the best renewable energy options to ensure this world a clean energy future.

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