Using Wind Power to Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change

Using Wind Power to Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change

Introduction

Climate change has become one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats our planet has to deal with. Global warming is evident from observation: From 1995 to 2006, eleven years rank among the twelve warmest years since 1850; increase of sea level is consistent with global warming. Worldwide average sea level rose at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year over 1961 to 2003 and at an average rate of about 3.1 mm per year from 1993 to 2003; observed decreases in snow and ice extent are also consistent with warming; At continental, regional and ocean basin scales, numerous long term changes in other aspects of climate such as precipitation have also been observed. The action against climate change must be taken without hesitation(Milford, 2008). The final solution to the problem is to utilize renewable energies, including hydro-power, wind power, solar heat and biomass, etc. Due to the resource distribution, industry development and government, wind power has the advantage to occupy an important position in the future US electricity matrix as well as the energy construction.

Global dependence on fossil fuels has led to the release of over 1100 GtCO2 into the atmosphere since the mid-19th century. Currently, energy-related GHG emissions, mainly from fossil fuel combustion for heat supply, electricity generation and transport, account for around 70% of total emissions including carbon dioxide, methane and some traces of nitrous oxide. It is especially critical to lower the GHG emissions in power generation in US. The installed electricity generation capacity had been grown at an average of 14.6% annually from 2002 to 2005, and it is estimated that US itself will installed 30% of the worldwide new power generation capacity up to 2030(Li, 2008).

Literature review

Renewable energy can provide a major solution to mitigate global warming, and wind power can occupy an important position in the future power matrix due to wind resource distribution, wind power industry development and support from the US government. Expansion of wind energy installed capacity is poised to play a key role in climate change mitigation. However, wind energy is also susceptible to global climate change. Some changes associated with climate evolution will likely benefit the wind energy industry while other changes may negatively impact wind energy developments, with such 'gains and losses' depending on the region under consideration (Bosch, et al, 2010).

Renewable energy sources currently meet approximately 14% of energy demand world-wide and are poised to play an even greater role in future energy provision. These technologies provide a key component of efforts to mitigate climate change, and can contribute to the security of energy supply and environmental protection measures. Of the renewable energy technologies applied to electricity generation, wind energy ranks second only to hydroelectric in terms of installed capacity and is experiencing rapid growth. The European Union has set a binding target of a 20% renewable energy contribution by 2020, which equates to ...