Wind turbines and their role in the future of energy systems Introduction

Abstract

As fossil energy supplies dwindle, the development of alternative energy sources has become a necessity. Simultaneously, global energy demand is increasingly rising, placing the planet on the brink of a global energy crisis. Furthermore, the widespread use of traditional energy sources pollutes the atmosphere and leads to global warming. Wind and other renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are feasible and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. Wind is one of the most cost effective and efficient renewable energy sources because of its low operating costs and broad availability. One of the fastest growing clean energy technologies is wind power. Globally, consumption is growing, partially due to lower prices.

Full text

Wind turbines and their role in the future of energy systems
Arian gholami
1
(Master of Energy Economy University of Kurdistan)
Nafiseh ghahremani naghmeh
2
(Master of Energy Economy University of Kurdistan)
Abstract:
As fossil energy supplies dwindle, the development of alternative energy sources has become a
necessity. Simultaneously, global energy demand is increasingly rising, placing the planet on the
brink of a global energy crisis. Furthermore, the widespread use of traditional energy sources
pollutes the atmosphere and leads to global warming. Wind and other renewable energy
sources, on the other hand, are feasible and clean alternatives to fossil fuels. Wind is one of the
most cost effective and efficient renewable energy sources because of its low operating costs
and broad availability. One of the fastest growing clean energy technologies is wind power.
Globally, consumption is growing, partially due to lower prices.
Keywords: wind Energy, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Non-Renewable Energy, Wind Energy
1
ec.arian.gholami@gmail.com
2
Nafisehghahremani71@gmail.com

Introduction:
wind energy
Wind power is a type of energy conversion in which turbines transform wind kinetic energy into
mechanical or electrical energy that may be utilized as commercial wind turbines generate
electricity by harnessing rotational energy to power a generator. They are composed of a blade
or rotor and an enclosure known as a nacelle, which houses a drive train atop a tall tower. The
biggest turbines can generate 4.8–9.5 megawatts of electricity, with rotor diameters that can
exceed 162 meters (531 feet), and are mounted to towers that may reach 240 meters (787
feet). Wind energy is the most established and mature renewable energy source. It creates
electricity by using the kinetic energy created by the influence of air currents. It is a clean and
renewable energy source that decreases greenhouse gas emissions and protects the
environment.
Wind turbines:
Wind power has been utilized since antiquity to propel sail-powered vessels or to power mill
gear that moves mill blades. Wind turbines have been used to generate electricity since the
early twentieth century. The wind propels a propeller, which turns the rotor of a generator,
which generates power, via a mechanical system. Wind turbines are frequently clustered
together in wind farms to maximize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The
machines have a twenty-year lifetime. Wind energy, also known as wind power, is generated by
employing a wind turbine, which is a device that harnesses the strength of the wind to generate
electricity.
The wind blows the turbine's blades, which are linked to a rotor that further rotates a
generator. Wind turbines are classified into two types: horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs)
and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) (VAWTs). The most prevalent form of the wind turbine
is the HAWT. They often feature two or three long, thin blades, similar to an airplane propeller.
The blades are oriented to face straight towards the wind. VAWTs feature shorter, broader
curved blades that resemble electric mixer beaters.
Individual wind turbines may generate 100 kilowatts of power, which is enough to power a
house. Small wind turbines are also employed in locations such as water pumping facilities.
Wind turbines that are slightly bigger perch on towers that can reach 80 meters (260 feet) in
height and have rotor blades that can reach 40 meters (130 feet) in length. Wind turbines with

rotor blades that are more than 162 meters (531 feet) long can be seen sitting on towers that
rise 240 meters (787 feet) tall.
Uses of wind energy:
Some of the uses of wind energy are mentioned below;
generating electricity
milling grain
pumping water
powering cargo ships (via kites)
reducing carbon footprint
sailing
windsurfing.
land surfing
Once created, power can be utilized, linked to the electrical grid, or stored for later use.
How does a wind turbine generate electricity?
A turbine is a machine that rotates in a moving fluid (liquid or gas) and takes part of its energy.
All types of machines use some type of turbine; From the jet engine
The large rotor blades placed in front of the wind turbine have a curved shape similar to the
airfoil of an airplane wing. When the wind passes over these vanes, it will exert an upward force
on it, which is called "lift" force. Wind is part of kinetic energy
As you can probably guess, the amount of energy a turbine produces depends on the area
swept by the rotor blades. In other words, the longer the rotor blades, the more energy the
turbine produces. It is clear that the wind speed also has a great effect on the production of this
energy; So that if the wind speed doubles, the usable energy available for the turbine will be
eight times, because the wind energy is directly related to the cube of its speed.
Wind speed always changes, so the energy produced from it by a turbine also varies.
Connecting a large number of turbines to each other in wind farms, as well as connecting

several wind farms and forming a national energy grid, will lead to a more stable and reliable
source.
Onshore vs Offshore Wind: Which is Better?
1- Size of wind turbines
2- Energy production
3- Land use
4- Noise Pollution
5- Environment Impact
Cost
There has been a lot of debate about the advantages and disadvantages of onshore and
offshore wind farms. Which is better for the environment, cost-effective, and produces more
energy? This blog post will explore the pros and cons of both types of wind farms.
Offshore wind turbines are typically much larger than onshore turbines. The average offshore
turbine is about twice the height of an onshore turbine, with some even reaching heights of
over 600 feet! This is because offshore winds blow harder and steadier than onshore winds so
that larger turbines can take advantage of this. In the case of onshore wind turbines, there are
a lot of obstacles that can get in the way of the wind, such as trees, buildings, and hills, making
the wind comparatively weaker.
Energy production
Offshore wind farms generally produce more energy than onshore wind farms. This is because
offshore winds are stronger and steadier than onshore winds, allowing the turbines to spin
faster and generate more electricity. Offshore wind farms also have the potential to produce
more energy than onshore wind farms since they can take advantage of much larger turbines.
Land use
Offshore turbines need to be placed far away from shore to avoid interference from boats and
other objects, which means more space is required to install them.
However, this is not a problem since they are installed in the ocean or seas with plenty of
space!

On the other hand, onshore turbines need to be placed on land, sometimes relatively expensive
and difficult to find.
Visual Impact
Offshore wind farms are built far away from shore, so they are not as visible from land.
This means that they have minimal visual impact and do not spoil the landscape’s natural
beauty.
On the other hand, onshore wind farms are typically built near cities and towns.
While some people think that onshore wind farms are unsightly, others find them beautiful.
Some tourists spend money to visit onshore wind farms to see them!
Noise Pollution
Offshore wind turbines are built far away from shore, so the sound of their blades spinning
doesn’t affect people who live near the coast. However, they create underwater noise that can
be disruptive to marine life.
On the other hand, onshore turbines are often built near residential areas. As a result, the noise
from the blades can be noisy and disturb the peace of nearby residents.
Environment Impact
Offshore wind farms have less impact on the environment than onshore wind farms.
This is because they are built far away from shore, so they do not affect the wildlife or
ecosystems near the coast. However, they still have an impact on marine life.
On the other hand, onshore wind farms disturb the wildlife near them and affect the local
ecosystem.
Offshore wind farms are generally more expensive to build than onshore wind farms. This is
because they require specialized equipment and infrastructure that can withstand the harsh
conditions of the ocean, such as strong winds and waves. Additionally, you need to build a
transmission line to connect the offshore wind farm to the grid, which can be very costly On the
other hand, onshore wind farms are much cheaper to build. This is because they are often built
near you can use existing infrastructures, such as roads and transmission lines, to connect them
to the grid.

Advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines
Disadvantages of wind turbine
At first glance, it's hard to think of anything wrong with clean wind power, especially when
compared to polluting coal power or risky nuclear power. But wind energy also has
disadvantages. One of the characteristics of a wind turbine is that it does not produce more
energy than coal, gas or nuclear power plants. A typical new turbine has an output of
approximately 2 MW. This amount of energy is enough to run 1,000 2kW toasters at the same
time, or to power 1,000 homes if it runs 30% of the time.
Currently, the largest offshore turbine can generate around 6 to 8 megawatts of energy, as
turbines at sea are stronger and more continuous. In theory, we need 1000 2MW turbines to
generate power equivalent to a 2000MW nuclear or fossil power plant, but in practice, because
nuclear or fossil power plants produce energy continuously and the wind power is variable,
more wind turbines are needed to Let's reach this capacity.
Finally, wind power is variable and an efficient power grid requires predictable sources of
energy. In practice, this means that the network needs a combination of different resources to
meet the changing demand. Some of these sources operate continuously (such as nuclear
power plants), some supply shortages during peak demand (such as hydroelectric power
plants), and some produce energy only when possible (such as wind turbines). Therefore, wind
energy cannot be used as the only source of energy supply.
As we said, you can't install thousands of turbines close together and expect them to be
efficient. The turbines must have a suitable distance from each other; typically 3 to 5 times the
upwind rotor diameter between both turbines and about 8 to 10 times the downwind rotor
diameter between both turbines at the back and front. Put these two things together and you
get the biggest and most obvious drawback of a wind farm: taking up too much space. If you
want to make a country completely benefit from wind energy so that no other energy source is
needed, you have to cover a very large area with turbines.
Of course, you can still farm the space between the turbines, but each wind turbine takes up
about 5% of the farm space (for the turbine base, road access and grid connection). Many
farmers and landowners object to the new power lines, while others make good money by
renting out their land. In addition, turbines can be installed at sea level, but this itself brings
many problems and costs. Even in onshore turbines, the cost of connecting rows of turbines is
clearly higher than the cost of wiring a single turbine with the same power.

The need for economic subsidies to make wind energy accessible
The added cost of the complexity of the process of regulating the fluctuations of wind energy
with other forms of energy
Additional cost to upgrade the power grid and transmission lines, although the whole system is
profitable.
Variable output, although this problem is reduced by the construction of wind farms in different
areas.
Extensive land occupation, although 95% of the land can be used for agricultural purposes.
Inability to provide all the energy demand of a country throughout the year unlike fossil,
hydroelectric, nuclear and biomass power plants.
Loss of mining and drilling jobs
Advantages of wind turbines
On the positive side, we must say that wind turbines, unlike coal, are clean and green energy
sources. After the construction of wind turbines, there is no pollution caused by carbon dioxide
gas, which causes global warming, or sulfur dioxide, which produces acid rain. You pay once and
after that the energy they produce is endless and free for a lifetime of 25 years (except for
spare parts and maintenance costs). This is more of a bonus than it sounds, as the cost of
running a conventional power plant is highly dependent on high-risk factors such as major oil
and gas prices and energy market volatility.
In the construction of the wind turbine tower and nacelle, some metal and cement are used to
prevent it from falling (an average wind turbine has about 8000 parts), so the construction of
the turbine has environmental impacts. However, looking at their working life, we see that wind
turbines have one of the lowest carbon dioxide production among other sources of energy
production; Considerably much less than fossil plants, less than most solar or biomass plants.
In the meantime, nuclear power plants produce less carbon dioxide than wind power plants,
but wind power plants do not have the problems related to security, pollution, and waste
disposal that are attributed to nuclear power plants, and they are built more quickly and easily.
Also, according to Milligan's report in 2009, wind generated electricity is cheaper per kilowatt
hour; Almost half the price of nuclear power and two thirds of coal power plant. According to

the report of the World Wind Energy Council, a turbine in 3 to 6 months produces and replaces
the energy spent in its entire lifetime (construction, operation and recovery).
The advantages of wind turbines are as follows:
Very low carbon dioxide emissions (only for construction)
No pollution to air and water Absence of environmental effects such as mining and drilling No
payment for fuel fully stable; Unlike fossil fuels, wind never runs out.
Turbines work wherever it is windy enough; Unlike fossil resources that are only found in
certain areas.
Unlike fossil energy sources, wind energy utilization rates are predictable for years.
Lack of dependence on political fluctuations related to oil and gas prices with the increase in
the price of oil and gas, the price of wind power will be competitive.
What are the advantages—and challenges—of wind power?
Wind power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world because of its many
advantages. Wind power also presents inherent challenges in some regions of the world, which
are being addressed through research and development (R&D) projects around the globe.
1. Wind power is cost-effective in many regions. In others, wind power needs to compete with
other energy sources, but global R&D efforts are working on solutions to reduce the
levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of both onshore and offshore wind power.
2. Another advantage to wind power is that it is a domestic source of energy, harnessing a
limitless local resource. Some viable locations for wind farms, however, are located remote
areas that would present challenges in construction and electricity transmission logistics.
Technology breakthrough such as two-piece blades and modular construction are helping
overcome such challenges.
3. An additional benefit of wind power is it is a sustainable source of energy, as wind turbine
operation does not directly emit any CO2 or greenhouse gases—helping countries meet
their emission reduction targets and combating climate change. Wind energy is plentiful,
readily available, and capturing its power does not deplete our valuable natural resources. In

fact, an environmental benefit to wind power is its ability to counter the detrimental effects
of climate change. The Global Wind Energy Outlook projects that by 2030 wind energy will
offset 2.5 billion tons per year of carbon
Clean wind energy storage
Dispatching and delivering clean energy when and where it is needed is important for wind
turbine operators. A battery energy storage solution offers new application flexibility and
unlocks new business value when combined with wind power generation. With clean wind
energy storage, you can help stabilize the electrical grid, control energy flow, optimize asset
operation and create new revenue.
1. Wind is almost everywhere
Not only is wind present almost everywhere on Earth, we also have precise information about
where it blows most frequently and powerfully. It’s a question of availability: since it’s well
known where the wind blows strongest, it’s possible to install wind plants based on our
considerable awareness of the local conditions. The windier an area, the more energy it can
produce, offsetting the costs of the initial investment.
2. Wind power is excellent in remote areas, wherever they may be
Like many other renewable energy sources, wind power is also advantageous because it can be
exploited using micro-grid solutions even in places where there is no connection to the
electricity grid. In more isolated areas far from towns or cities, this offers an important
opportunity because it can lead to significant savings from not having to build expensive
infrastructure. Unlike geothermal or hydroelectric power, wind can be exploited on a global
scale, with the exception of those few areas in which it is not beneficial to install wind turbines.
3. Wind is consistent in the medium and long-term

Often the intermittency of the wind from one moment to another or one day to the next is
brought up as one of the drawbacks of wind power. However, just as with solar power, there is
another side to this coin: wind does not generally depend on specific times of day or the
alternation of day and night, while it does have a seasonal or annual rhythm. So, on the whole,
it’s a resource that in the medium to long-term offers an excellent guarantee of regularity,
distinguishing itself with a variability that does not follow the same pattern as solar energy.
4. Excellent conversion efficiency
The transformation of wind power into electricity has already reached impressive performance
levels. Efficiency ranges from 40% to 50%: very close to the maximum theoretical level, which
according to Betz’s law is 59%.
5. Wind power occupies very little land
Even though they’re installed on land, wind turbines do not take up much space.
The blades extend vertically and the size at the base is almost negligible, especially compared
with photovoltaic plants, which makes wind power compatible with other uses of the land at
the same time.
6. The environmental impact is minimal
Although the visual aspect and the low level of noise pollution caused by the rotation of the
turbine blades are still a work in progress in order to make wind plants even more
environmentally friendly, it’s worth noting that the actual impact today is, nonetheless,
extremely limited. Wind power is, in fact, the green source with the lowest overall
impact because any emissions and consumption of resources is limited solely to the production,
transport and installation of the plant. Moreover, in many countries there are certifications that
must be obtained prior to beginning work on a wind power project, in order to ensure that any
collateral effects on flora and fauna are kept to a minimum. While in the majority of cases wind
turbines are installed on mountains, on hills or at sea, when they are located in fields or on
gentle inclines, the land can still be used for cultivating crops or as pasture for animals, without
creating any disturbance to either activity.
7. A green source that is truly economical

Compared to other energy sources, wind power has very low installation and operating costs.
Construction times are short: from two to twenty-four months depending on the size of the
plant. Moreover, technological advances are driving costs down even further, with a cost per
kilowatt hour of energy produced that has become negligible. Finally, wind power is
increasingly accessible thanks in part to national incentives, which have reduced the cost to the
end user and reduced costs more generally, thanks to the increasingly low cost of this
technology.
8. Maintenance is simple and only occasionally necessary
Keeping a wind plant running is very simple. Unless there are breakages or exceptional events,
which are nonetheless increasingly rare thanks to models that are more and more reliable and
digital monitoring systems that are enabling ever higher performance levels, maintenance is
minimal and inexpensive. In fact, towers and turbines can stay in operation for years without
needing any interventions; with small adjustments they can continue to operate for periods in
excess of twenty years.
9. Excellent circularity in the end-of-life phase
It can be said that wind plants are almost perfectly reversible. At the end of their working lives,
it’s possible to recover practically everything: the land on which they are positioned can be
completely returned to its former state, the plant itself can be dismantled into its basic
components and the materials can then be recycled in the future. In fact, the same raw
materials can be used to create a new latest generation plant, in line with the circular
economy model.
10. The opportunities for domestic wind power
Even on a significantly reduced scale, for example for an individual home, wind power can offer
numerous advantages. Thanks to mini-wind power and micro-wind power (systems of up to 200
kilowatts and 20 kilowatts, respectively), the power of the wind can be exploited at the
domestic level to cover the energy needs of a building or a family. Typically, domestic wind
power is used in combination with other green sources like solar or geothermal to take
advantage of the benefits offered by each.

The prospects for the future
Compared to other energy sources, whether green or not, wind power is already
a mature technology, perhaps because it has been harnessed in various forms for millennia.
There are some aspects that we’re still working on, however: especially to improve some
specific characteristics of how this technology functions. For example, solutions are being
developed to counter the accumulation of ice on turbine blades, which can reduce efficiency
and increase wear and tear.
Another issue that is a focus of innovation is the question of installing plants in a way that is
harmonious with the surrounding landscape. In addition, for the future, there is increasing
interest in floating offshore wind plants, where neither people nor fish will be disturbed by their
existence. All of this makes wind power an even more perfect technology on the road
to decarburization and sustainability.
Conclusion:
Many of the benefits of wind power are common to other renewables. First of all is its role in
combatting climate change: exploiting wind power means reducing the use of fossil fuels,
thereby cutting emissions of carbon dioxide, fine particles and other climate altering substances
responsible for the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, wind power can also help achieve energy
self-sufficiency, offering undeniable economic benefits for the countries that adopt it while also
being a step in the direction of sustainable development because it is essentially free once the
wind turbine has been installed. Moreover, wind is an abundant source of energy that is both
inexhaustible and unlimited over time, available on most parts of the Earth’s surface.
Among the particular features of wind power that make it such a promising form of green
energy is the possibility to use it in combination with solar power. In addition to coexisting at
the same plant, the two forms of energy also have several features that are complementary.
There are, however, some aspects of wind power that distinguish it from other renewables like
hydroelectric, geothermal and solar power. We’ve organized these into 10 points to

demonstrate how, moving forward, wind power can become the second most important green
energy source worldwide and the protagonist of a sustainable future for many countries.
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