First up, we have some top-level wind energy facts, to help you decide whether wind power is the best move for your business.
1. Wind energy has been utilised for centuries…
Although it’s often considered a modern form of green energy generation – especially when compared to the fossil fuel-based methods that have been widely used since the beginning of the industrial revolution – wind energy is actually one of human civilisation’s oldest forms of energy production. Windmills, which harness the power of the wind to grind grain and pump water, were first developed in China and Persia in around 2000 BC, while ancient sailors used wind power to sail ships and discover new lands for millennia.
2. Wind energy technology is still in its infancy…
Although the practice of using wind energy to generate electricity is becoming much more common, there is still plenty of work to be done. Technology designed to squeeze every last drop of wind energy potential is becoming more advanced each year; however, relatively speaking, the wind energy industry is still in its infancy and has a long way to go to ensure that the pollution-free power of the wind is fully utilised for homes and businesses.
3. It’s one of the cleanest forms of electricity production…
Currently around 60% of the UK’s electricity is generated using fossil fuels. These methods produce large amounts of carbon emissions, which in turn contribute to global climate change. Wind energy, on the other hand, is one of the cleanest forms of producing electricity and, once turbines have been installed, it is carbon-free and causes next to no pollution – one of the most important wind energy facts to consider when choosing your renewable energy source.
4. Wind energy does not require water to function…
Unlike practically every other form of energy production – from the mining and burning of fossil fuels and nuclear power to, of course, tidal power – wind power is unusual in the sense that it does not require a source of water to function. Although this may sound like one of the more obvious facts about wind power, this makes it more cost-effective than other forms of energy. By 2030, it is thought that the mass use of wind power in the US alone will save the equivalent of around 30 trillion bottles of water.
5. The wind energy industry could drive the UK’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery…
Following the havoc wreaked on the UK’s economy by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the green energy industry has been highlighted as a potential cause for optimism. In the wake of the 2009 financial crisis, the UK’s clean energy sector is thought to have contributed a least a third of the country’s economic growth the following year, with the value of offshore wind energy climbing by 17%. With the industry still growing, experts have suggested that the UK’s wind power industry could play a key role in kick-starting a similar recovery over the coming months and years.
6. Wind energy represents the fastest-growing mode of renewable electricity production…
According to Statista, global investments in wind energy technologies were calculated to reach around the US $130 billion mark in 2018 – more than was spent on any other renewable energy source.
7. It’s cheap to generate…
Wind power is one of the most cost-effective modes of generating clean energy. Although initial installation costs of turbines can be expensive, once a wind farm is fully operational, it can generate electricity at an incredibly low cost. Since 2015, the price of offshore wind power has reduced by 50% and now represents one of the cheapest methods of electricity generation in the UK. In turn, this can help reduce your business electricity prices.
8. The UK is in a great location to take advantage of wind power…
With around 40% of the total wind that moves across the continent blowing on and around the UK, it is certainly the windiest country in Europe. This makes the UK’s geographical location ideal when it comes to the making use of the advantages of wind energy.
