The Future of Power:

12/4/01

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Table of Contents

The Future of Power:

Thesis Statement

ABSTRACT The first windmills were developed to grind grain and pump water in Persia about 500-900 A.D. (Dodge, 2001). By 1910, many European countries were using wind turbine generators to produce electricity. Since then technological advances, such as the Charles F Brush’s windmill in 1888 and the Gedser wind turbine in 1956, have made wind power a viable, commercial alternative (DWEA, 2001). Cost per kWh has dropped from 38 cents to four cents between 1980 and 2000 (Figure 1). During the 1990’s, wind has become the fastest growing energy technology in the world, with an annual growth rate of 22.6 percent. By 2000, total world-wide installed capacity was close to 17,000 MW, enough to produce 34 billion kWh of electricity each year (AWEA, 2001 a). As with any source of electrical generation there are some problems with wind turbine technologies, such as aesthetics, noise, and environmental impacts. However, these problems are minuscule compare to problems caused by other electrical generation processes, like the release of greenhouse gases. “Wind energy seems destined for dramatic growth around the world during the foreseeable future, as nations find it an attractive way to meet their demand for energy with low environmental impact and steadily increasing cost-effectiveness” (AWEA, 2001 b).

Economic Benefits

Reduces Dependence on Foreign Countries

Environmental Impacts

Curry and Kerlinger, 2001, Bird Facts:

Top causes of bird mortality in the US(annually)

Future of wind power

Author: macmullj