Wind Farms in the UK, How Successful are They?
Friday, October 12th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Wind is seen by many as the great untapped alternative power source in the world. Over the years, though, the wind has been harvested with mixed amounts of success. There are, though, more and more wind power experiments that are taking shape and working with better results than many have in the past. One of the best examples of success in the wind power movement are the wind farms of the UK. These alternative fuel sources have, in fact, been successful enough that currently there are new wind farms being erected in the country and offshore.
What Success Has Done
Because of the success of UK wind farms, there are new ones being erected offshore and across the country. Scientists and engineers believe that eventually wind could power most of the country completely. The best part is that the energy would be from a clean and renewable source.
Offshore Wind Farms
Today, there are even offshore wind farms being built in the UK. These are great wind farms because of the windy nature of the ocean. There are no hills, no buildings, and no trees to slow down the wind. That means there is more wind and it is at a higher velocity than you would find inland.
In the UK, the first large scale offshore wind farm in the UK was built in North Hole off the coast of Rhyl. Currently, it produces a large volume of electricity, which makes it a huge success. In fact, this offshore wind farm is meeting the annual electrical needs of around 50,000 homes in the UK.
The way it works is that the wind blows turbines, just like inland. These turn on towers that stretch to the ocean floor. However, the rest of the process is very much like wind turbines that are use on land.
Downside
Not every wind farm in the UK has had the best success. There have been those who question the success of the land based wind farms in the UK. In fact, some independents studies have shows that the UK government was wrong in their estimation of how much energy would be produced by certain wind farms. The estimates, in fact, came in fairly low. Some studies have found that considering the cost of erecting the farms, that there is just not enough wind in some parts of England and Wales to support a wind farm enough to make it worth the cost.
The Measure
Wind farms are generally measured by not just the overall power produced, but also by how close to capacity they operate. While offshore wind farms in the UK seem to do pretty well, many of the inland wind farms in the UK were running at around only 25% of their capacity.
Overall
Overall, though, many would tab the use of wind power in the UK a success. While the estimates may have been off, the UK is starting to lead the way around the world in the use of wind as a clean and renewable energy source. For many, that is all that success really means. For others, there is a desire for more efficiency, which will likely come with time and improved technology.
As you can tell from the information above, there is a lot to be said for the wind farms of the UK. Both on land and offshore, they are there as a way to produce power in a way that moves away from the fossil fuels used in most countries. That is why the wind farms of the UK really can be tabbed a complete success. If you want to learn more about how you can help with global warming have a look at 200 Ways to Fight global warming, a ebook and audio program that will help you fight global warming today.
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