The interest in wind energy as a renewable energy supply in the U.S. has risen substantially over the last few years. The completed capacity in the U.S. installed capacity was over 40,000 megawatts at the end of 2010, which puts it at number 2 behind China. Currently, 3 percent of the total electricity generated in the U.S. is derived from wind power.

The benefits of wind farms
Wind power is a renewable resource that is very clean, is available domestically, and this  can substantially help the United States meet its economic and energy needs. The wind industry in the U.S. generates billions of dollars through economic activity, as well as tens of thousands of jobs. Local taxes are boosted via wind energy projects in the U.S..  Rural community local economies are revitalized, since farmers get a steady stream of income just by putting turbines on their land. The largest turbine manufacturer that works domestically is GE Energy. (To read more about the benefits of wind power click here).
Wind farms in the United States are spreading. For 2011 there wer 5,600 megawatts worth of projects implemented. The US Department of Energy claims that wind energy in the U.S. will supply as much as 20 percent of the country’s electricity needs by 2030. (To read about alternative energy finding in the US click here).
The largest wind farm in the US
There are many wind farms in the United States. The world’s largest is in Texas – the Roscoe Wind Farm – and it has a capacity of 781.5 megawatts. It consists of 627 Mitsubishi, General Electric, and Siemens powered wind turbines. In 2009 this wind farm surpassed the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center. Four Texas counties are involved in this wind project, which covers an area roughly the size of Manhattan.

More approved wind farms in the U.S.
Another wind farm in the US that was approved is located 5 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, a project that faced years of opposition from local Native American tribes. This is considered by supporters to be an enormous step for alternative energy in the U.S.. Although its production is considered rather small, the facility is projected to generate enough electricity for 400,000 houses. The fact that this got approved is quite encouraging for other offshore wind projects awaiting approval for the Great Lakes, and more for the East Coast.

Lake Erie is the next one to host one of the initial US wind farms. Plans have been underway for a long time now to build a wind power site somewhere on the Great Lakes. It all started with the MOU – the Memorandum of Understanding – which was signed by the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation and GE Energy.

In the last few years the wind energy generation in the United States increased by 27 percent, which is about 2 percent of the total supplied electricity in the country. 85,000 jobs in the U.S. are supported by wind power. So, renewable energy projects like wind farms not only helps combat climate change, but they also play a key role in economic recovery by creating more jobs.
The U.S. states that are showing the greatest growth in wind power are: Texas, Iowa, California, Minnesota and Illinois. The U.S. states that are benefiting the most through use of current wind power productions are: Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Kansas.

The offshore wind sector in Scotland is taking off. Recent reports by the European Commission show that, as of February 2011, the Scotland wind farms industry has been given a huge boost thanks to a promise of $45 billion in green investments over the next ten years.

This could well turn this industry into a major part of Scotland’s economy. The government has given its commitment to the industry, and the next ten years the technology Scotland wind farms is going to develop, and the installed capacity is set to increase dramatically. In the next decade, it is estimated that 26,000 jobs good be created in Scotland in the green energy sector.

So who are the major players in the wind farm investment sector in Scotland?

Gamesa is one of the big companies with grand plans for Scotland. It has announced that in Glasgow it will construct an offshore wind technology center, and in Dundee it will begin manufacturing turbines.

Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe is another company with big green investment plans for Scotland. It will invest more than $150 million into an offshore wind research and development center, with the intention of creating a mass production facility for low-cost offshore wind technology.

Scotland is set to play a key role in the development of green energy production in Europe, and this has been recognized by the report by the European Commission, in which it praised Scotland’s desire to become a major force in the offshore wind farm industry. The report highlighted that Europe needs an integrated grid so that it will be easier for countries to purchase renewable energy from each other. In fact Scotland is working to create a North Sea grid, along with 9 other countries, so that it can export excess power.

Scotland is a perfect example of how offshore wind farms, wave, tidal and onshore potentials can be combined to produce a large amount of power. Experts have calculated that by 2050, the offshore capacities in Scotland will reach an impressive 68 gigawatts. Green investors will do well to research further into the companies such as Gamesa and Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe, as their prospects look very bright indeed.

For more information on wind farms, go to:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_farm

Windmill energy has many benefits. The first and most obvious one is that windmill electricity generation does not create air or water pollution, so it does not make any contribution to global warming. It is also known to decrease the greenhouse effect. Windmill electricity is a source of renewable energy, so that means it can be used over and over again without depleting the resource, which is not the case with fossil fuel and gas. Windmill energy may be the world’s answer to rising prices of gas and petroleum.

A special benefit of windmill energy for the U.S. is that it decreases the country’s reliance on foreign imports of fossil fuels, which is a huge burden. On top of that, many new jobs can be created in areas that are located close to the turbines. Another advantage is that wind turbines do not take much space and their installation only takes a few months. The land under the turbines can still be used for agricultural purposes. Windmill energy is also something that is ample. Wind is free and it can be captured efficiently with modern technology. It is readily available around the world, so it eliminates dependence of any one nation on another. Windmill energy can be widely distributed and it has many advantages over traditional energy generation methods.

Another thing that is worth pointing out is that wind electricity generation is now a lot cheaper than it used to be. Windmill energy production costs have decreased by at least 80 percent since the eighties. This makes the market for windmill energy very competitive, not just in the environmental sense, but in the financial sense as well. It is possible that windmill energy will be the cheapest large scale way to produce energy in the future. Windmill energy is a more permanent kind as well. The wind will not cease to exist as long as we are here, so it is our job to take advantage of it. Theoretically, if we could capture all of the windmill energy available to us, we could have 10 times of the energy we actually use on a daily basis – and it would be readily available at all times.

Windmill electricity generation also plays a role in developing countries. There are many remote areas in the world, which are not connected to the main electricity grid. These areas can use the electricity generated by wind turbines to get a power supply of their own. There is a wide range of sizes that wind turbines are available in. This means that many businesses can use them to suit their own needs. Even whole villages and towns could make use of the turbines that are available.

For more information, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
eere.energy.gov

For the original article, click here

It is key to note, that the number of countries that use wind energy is increasing, and many countries already using wind energy are growing their wind turbine stock on an annual basis.  Here is some updated information on countries that are outstanding in their use of wind power.

China.  China is now considered the largest user for installed wind power capacity. They have embraced the wind power whole heartedly and are doubling their use on an every two year basis, with windpower representing one fifth of the overall supplier of power to the country.

India.  With an expanding population and power outages as a common problem, the government of India has invested more in wind turbines as a possible alternative energy source. The government set a target of an additional 78.7 gw of power by the year 2012, with a majority supplied by wind turbines.

South Korea. This country entered the wind power arena as a late bloomer, but, the South Korean government is taking the topic at full strength. The introduction of the Renewable Portfolio Standard established the goal of adding 2.5 gw of power using wind found offshore by the year 2020.  There are also some heavy hitting manufacturers that are backing this decision such as Daewoo, Hyundai and Samsung.

The Phillipines.  The Phillipine government has recognized the return on investment in using wind power and has set a target for three times their current use. This will reflect approximately 40 per cent of electricity that will be generated using renewable energy sources. The goal is set to be accomplished by the year 2020.

Mexico.  This country continues to add to their natural wind resource through the use of wind turbines. Mexico has increased their use of wind power six-fold and it looks like this will continue to expand in the next number of years.

Argentina.  If there is one country that has jumped into the wind power game, it’s Argentina. It has been estimated that with the existing plans, they will be able to offer the supply to the Latin American electrical demand. It might be worthy to note that thus far, only a small amount of development has been accomplished to date.

Egypt.  The country of Egypt has set a lofty goal for accomplishing 20 per cent of the electric power needs through the use of renewable energy. This includes 12 percent from wind turbine energy

Morocco.  The coastline of Morocco is one of the best natural sites for wind power. The government of Morocco has focused on using wind turbines as a key component of their national alternative energy focus. Plans will include government sites as well as private industrial investors in the production of wind energy.

South Africa.  The country of South Africa has become the hotbed of investment over the last few years. While they have not been able to keep up with the electrical demand, they do have locations and plans that are being made for wind power generation. This will offer twenty per cent of the electrical power demand being accommodated with wind turbines.

Iran.  Many of the Middle Eastern countries are researching into wind power, however, Iran may be the only country that has actually followed through with larger scale wind turbine installations.  They also have plans to expand the actual capacity to a potential 40MW.
For the original story, and further information on wind turbines, click here

While most of the countries using wind energy have up to now focused on wind generation on-land, some of these countries using wind power are now looking at establishing off-shore wind farms. The advantages of these are obvious, with land acquisition for wind farms difficult and expensive, and with wind blowing more regularly out in the sea.

Overall, wind energy holds great promise, and if the countries that use and develop wind energy stay committed to the cause, it could become a significant source of energy generation by the year 2050. In conjunction with other alternative means of energy production, there is still a chance that we can keep global warming in check, and significantly reduce the amount of pollutants that we emit into the atmosphere.

The Wind Lens is similar in function to a magnifying glass, which focuses and intensifies the sun’s rays, only in this wind turbine technology, the lens intensifies the flow of wind. The design doesn’t have a lot of parts that are moving, only a brimmed diffuser (a hoop), which “magnifies” the power of wind, and a turbine, which is then rotated by the wind that was captured by the hoop. Each Lens is 112 meters in diameter and can provide an average household with enough energy.

Ohya still does not know whether the Wind Lens will actually be commercially produced. He said that despite its benefits, even if this wind turbine technology does enter the Japanese market, it will probably not be quickly accepted by other countries, because of different wind conditions and intensities. At the very least, the Wind Lens acts as a more aesthetically appealing option, because they have unique floating hexagonal bases. In comparison, the traditional offshore turbines, which some claim to be an ugly atrocity compared with the surrounding landscape, are technologically way less advanced.

For more information, go to:
trendhunter.com,
en.wikipedia.org

There are more and more wind turbines appearing all around the world, so it was just a matter of time before a creation like the Wind Lens would make its debut. This type of wind turbine technology can bring the production of energy offshore. It also expands the reach of eco-power and can create much more efficient energy. The new creation made its debut in summer 2010 at the Yokohama renewable Energy International Exhibition.

Designed by Yuji Ohya, the Wind Lens is a row of floating hexagonal hoops that interlock together, and have turbines on the edges. The wind is focused by the turbines into the center of each hoop, which generates a larger amount of energy. The Japanese government has conducted a feasibility study combining the offshore wind patterns and the ability to built cost effective electricity generators. The Japanese inventors took into consideration various disaster possibilities, such as giant sea waves, tsunamis, and typhoons, when designing the Wind Lens. The Wind Lens is projected to be installed by the government near to Japan’s shoreline within the next few years.

Thanks to Japan’s abundance of hot springs and volcanoes, in the past the country was able to derive a lot of its renewable energy by geothermal means. Currently, Japan has 18 power plants, which supply 0.2 percent of the country’s electricity. The annual report of the World Wind Energy Association states that wind power is now supplying 2 percent of the total energy worldwide. So, the Wind Lens technology is projected to have significant benefits.
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Do-it-yourselfers all over the country are turning their creative and innovative minds to the alternative energy industry by creating DIY wind energy power plants for use at home. Now, you may be asking yourself why and how would someone want to build a small wind power plant? The answer is that there are many wind energy advantages compared to traditional sources of energy, like oil and gas. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to build an actual working wind turbine at home.

Some wind energy facts, as reported by the American Wind Energy Association, include that wind energy is the least expensive of all renewable energy sources, it doesn't pollute the air, it is local and free, and it is the fastest growing energy source in the world.

There are different ways to build a DIY wind energy turbine, but no matter what design you go with, they have things in common such as a generator, blades, a mount that keeps it turned into the wind, a tower and an electric control system. Many people who have built their own DIY wind energy turbines have done so for as little as $150. So, your local power company may not be switching to wind energy anytime soon, but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the many wind energy advantages and save some money while having fun. Wind energy facts and figures show us that it may be worth it to build your own home turbine and that it is possible to do at home.

There are several pros and cons of wind energy but wind energy advantages seem to outweigh the negative. To help sort out wind energy facts from fiction the following list of the top 5 wind energy facts has been provided.

1. Wind power can be used to provide power to individuals as well as large segments of the population.

One of the best wind energy advantages is that it can be harnessed on a small and large scale. Many people have learned to build their own wind turbines to power their homes. Wind energy is also usable on a large scale. In fact, California has mandated that by 2010 utility companies derive power from wind energy.

2. Wind energy does not contribute to environmental pollution.

Wind energy facts show that one of the biggest wind energy advantages is that it is a clean energy. Wind turbines are safe for the environment and do not emit any greenhouse gases.

3. Since this list is about pros and cons of wind energy the first con to be listed is that wind energy turbines are often damaged by lightning because of their steel makeup and vertical shape.

4. Wind is an unlimited and free natural resource

New technology has made it easier and more economical to harness the power of the wind to take advantage of this free natural resource.

5. One of the less talked about wind energy facts is that there must be sustained winds of at least ten miles per hour to properly harness the wind to create energy. Until new technology can be created areas of low to zero wind will not be able to harness the wind to create energy.

This list of pros and cons of wind energy shows that wind energy facts are advantageous to the environment and economy.

As with all technology there are the good things and the bad. There are certainly pros and cons of wind energy but the list of pros seem to be outnumbering the cons these days. Wind energy facts are beginning to bear witness to what proponents have said all along about wind energy being a viable option. Below is a list of the top 5 wind energy advantages.

1. One of the obvious wind energy advantages is that it is completely environmentally friendly. With the green agenda going full steam ahead solar energy is now coming back into focus as environmentally friendly technologies are at the forefront of everyone's mind. Wind energy emits no greenhouse gases and uses no non-renewable energy sources.

2. Wind is renewable and abundant. Unlike oil, coal, and other items, wind has always been around and it always will be. To properly harness wind and make it into power all a turbine needs are sustained winds of at least ten miles per hour.

3. Wind energy prices have fallen over 80% since the 1980's. While traditional forms of energy are increasing, wind energy is coming more competitive. It is now becoming a viable option for consumers who want to power their homes while protecting the environment.

4. Wind turbines take up less land than traditional power stations. The vertical design of the wind turbines allow for the land below to also be used for farming. Wind turbines only take up a few square meters of space.

5. Another of the wind energy advantages is that it can be used in remote locations that may not be connected to a power grid.

There are certainly pros and cons of wind energy but as technology increases the wind energy facts are showing its usage is going to continue to grow.

The Wind Energy Association was created as a national trade association. It represents the developers of wind developers, services providers, parts manufacturers, utilities, researchers, and so many more involved in the creation of wind energy advantages. The American Wind Energy Association provides up to date information and wind energy facts to the people of the United States as well as to the world.

Some of the current information that the Wind Energy Association makes public are the new projects being unleashed to promote wind energy advantages, technology developments, new companies and old working in the wind energy field and all wind energy projects. The American people count on information provided from the Wind Energy Association. The wind energy industry facts are provided as well as statistics and projected improvements.

There are currently about 2,400 members of the association and the WEA provides a membership directory that consists of the industry leaders as well as wind power developers and consultants. The association's website is hit around 5,000 times daily for those in search of wind energy facts. The wind energy advantages are plentiful and only by staying informed will the general population become more knowledgeable.

An annual wind energy association conference takes place and hosts Wind Power, which is the largest North American wind energy conference. The conference goes above and beyond to reveal the latest trends in wind energy technology and access to some of the world's greatest wind energy developers. Presentations and exhibits provide a wealth of information in the wind energy field.