Environmental pollution and the emission of CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the use of fossil fuels constitute a threat to health, the environment and sustainable economic growth. Other major pollutants from conventional electricity, which are avoided through wind power, include SO2,NOx and PM10. The most serious threat comes from accelerating climate change, whose effects are already being seen around the world in rising temperatures, melting ice caps and volatile weather patterns. Climate change is a direct result of the greenhouse effect – the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere above the earth. Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, industry and the transport sector is by far the largest contributor. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions will lead to a substantial increase in global mean temperatures, which will rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees over the course of this century. As most renewable energy sources emit neither greenhouse gases nor other pollutants such as SO2 (sulphur dioxide) or NOx (nitrogen oxide) they will form the basis of any long-term sustainable energy supply system. The large-scale use of renewable energy sources is essential if the necessary reductions in CO2 and other emissions from electricity generation are to be met and if sustainable development and sustainable growth are to be achieved. Wind turbines cause virtually no emissions during their operation and very little during their manufacture, installation, maintenance and removal. Because the fuel is free, wind generated kilowatts should be used as often as possible in the electricity system to replace intermediate power loads, from coal and gas. Across Europe in 2003, wind power on average was responsible for the annual reduction of 27 million tonnes of CO2. Only 4 countries have any meaningful quantities of wind energy installed, and the situation changes quickly as more wind power is built. By 2020, taking EWEA projections that 180GW of wind energy would be generating 425 TWh per annum, wind power will provide…

Download WIND ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.Pdf