Underutilization of wind energy

Inadequate use of wind power

Nature

The total annual potential global wind energy is approximately 1200 million MW, but it can only be economically tapped at a limited number of sites, due as much to cost and public acceptance as to technology.

Background

Windmills have been in use for centuries pumping water and grinding flour. Sail have been driving ships for an equally long period of time. Modern wind generators are more efficient machines built on aerodynamic principles. Large wind-energy installations are now operating in California, USA and windmills are providing electricity for national electric supply systems in France, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK and several other countries. Thousands of small operations are supplying power to farms and rural areas.

Claim

Wind-energy machines can be used for water pumping, flour milling and electricity generation, thus supplying readily available energy vital to rural regions in developing and developed countries. Sailing ships can save millions of tonnes of fuel.