A drive in the country will often provide motorists with a panoramic view of fields filled with giant windmills. This isn’t Holland, these are fields built to harvest wind energy right here in the UK. Although the UK’s climate has created challenges for some renewable energy sources, such as solar power, overall this country is an excellent candidate for alternative energy. In fact, according to the BBC’s investigation into renewable energy, the UK has the most suitable climate for alternative energy sources in Europe.

Wind energy is harnessed with the use of giant windmills that stand on wind farms. Wind farms have become more advanced in both environmental and technological developments. First embraced by the UK in 1991, wind farms were initially seen as potentially beneficial, but still too expensive to be immediately practical. Fortunately, advancements in the past decade have led to a decrease in costs, improving the standing of this alternative energy source.

From 1991 to 2005, the number of wind farms increased steadily, reaching 84 sites with a combined 1,043 turbines. Although primarily on land, there are two offshore wind farms at Blyth and North Hoyle. While wind energy still represents a very small amount (less than 1%) of the total energy produced in the UK, environmentalists are hopeful that this figure will continue to increase in coming years.

The Basics of Wind Energy

From an engineer’s perspective, wind turbines are technically quite simple. First, wind turbines usually have three large blades and can rotate at 10-30 revolutions per minute. These blades are forced to rotate by natural wind, which in turn spins an internal shaft. Finally, this shaft is connected to a generator that conducts the electricity.

The Advantages of Wind Energy

First and foremost, wind power is a natural, clean, and environmentally sound method for producing energy. Wind turbines never produce chemical or radioactive by products, so they are not significant contributors to pollution. Moreover, if ever a wind farm has to be torn down, it does not leave any lasting damage or contamination at its site.

Why Isn’t Wind Power Our Primary Power Source?

In a word – Money. The main obstacle in making wind energy more mainstream is cost, since the initial costs of establishing wind farms too high for many to undertake. There is hope, however, that as technology continues to make advancements these costs will continue to decrease making wind farms a more viable solution.

What is the future of Wind Energy?

The UK government is working hard to ensure that there is a future for wind energy in this country. Recent legislation, both in the UK and elsewhere around the world, has introduced initiatives and proposals to ensure more energy comes from wind energy. In fact, according to the British Wind Energy Association, current legislation will ensure that 15% of the UK’s renewable energy will come from the wind.