List of Pros and Cons of Wind Energy

Wind energy has grown in importance over recent years, as environmentalists warn against the continued reliance on non-renewable forms of energy. In order to learn more, one must understand the pros and cons. The following is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.

List of Pros of Wind Energy

1. Green Energy Source
Wind energy causes much less environmental pollution than all other forms of energy, including fossil fuels and nuclear power. Once a wind energy has been manufactured, transported and installed, the effect on the environment is minimal at most. The production of electricity through the use of wind energy does not cause any sort of harmful emissions.

2. Renewable Form Of Energy
Wind occurs naturally, which means that wind energy supplies are inexhaustible. What many do not know is that wind energy is directly into the presence of sun, since it originates from the nuclear fusion process that takes place there. Since the sun is not scheduled to burn out for another 6 billion years, we will always have the ability to harness wind energy.

3. Incredible Rates Of Growth
At the moment, wind energy accounts for a very small portion of the total energy that the planet uses, clocking in at just under 3 percent. But wind energy’s share of this pie is growing rather quickly. In the coming year, experts predict that wind power’s capacity will begin to grow in leaps and bounds, by as much as 25 percent per year.

List of Cons of Wind Energy

1. Lack Of Predictability
As you might expect, the comings and goings of the wind can be quite challenging to try and predict. Wind energy is simply not available on a constant basis, which makes relying upon it difficult. There are currently no truly cost effective ways to store wind energy, so it is not possible to use it as a base load energy source. At the present time, wind energy must be used in tandem with another source.

2. Cost Effectiveness
In order to give wind power the best opportunity to succeed in the long term, financial incentives must be provided. Establishing a utility scale farm for harnessing wind energy is quite costly, as is the construction of smaller scale turbines for residential usage. For the average homeowner, wind turbines just aren’t feasible, as they require a large initial investment and can take 10 or even 20 years to turn a profit or just break even.

3. Noise Pollution
Living in proximity to a wind turbine means being subjected to loud noises on a regular basis. This makes it nearly impossible to use wind turbines in urban environments or residential neighborhoods with a high population density. While newer designs generate less noise, they are also more expensive.