Wind Power Potential Is Much Higher Than Current Estimates
According to a Harvard University study, global wind energy (wind power) potential is considerably higher than previous estimates by both wind industry groups and government agencies.
Using data from thousands of meteorological stations, the Harvard University team estimated that the world potential of wind power (wind energy) to be 40 times greater than total current power consumption. The interesting fact is that the previous study cited in the paper put that multiple at about 7 times.
Remote regions of Russia and Canada have the greatest theoretical potential. And also there are real gains to be made in high-emission nations, especially China, which has been rapidly constructing coal plants. “Large-scale development of wind power (wind energy) in China could allow for an 18-fold increase in electricity supply relative to consumption reported for 2005,” the Harvard University study shows.
The findings are “further validation of what we’ve been saying – that the United States is the Saudi Arabia of wind,” said Michael Goggin, an electricity industry analyst.
The authors based their calculations on the deployment of 2.5 to 3 megawatt wind turbines situated either in accessible rural areas that are neither frozen nor forested, or relatively shallow offshore locations. They also used a conservative 20 percent estimate for capacity factor, a measure of how much energy a given turbine actually produces.
In an example of how renewable energy (green energy, alternative energy) potential can be a moving target, Mr. Goggin explained that the growth in the forecasts can be attributed to the increasingly common use of very large wind turbines that rise to almost 100 meters.
Wind speeds are greater at higher elevations. But previous wind studies were based on the deployment of 50- to 80-meter turbines.
“As wind turbines start to get taller,” predicts Mr. Goggin, “we’ll see a lot more capitalization of the wind energy resource.”
