Wind Energy is seen as an inexhaustible resource. It’s increasing use looks unstoppable. Technology advances in just 3 decades are phenomenal...!!!

Wind Power
by S. Sivathasan

Introduction.


In 1979, the installed capacity worldwide, to generate electricity from wind power was 5 Mega watts(Mw). By end 2009, the capacity had increased to 159,213 Mw. It was an increase of over 31,000 times in 31 years. Sri Lanka had by end 2008 an installed capacity of 3 Mw, when the world had 121,188 Mw by that year. The CEB’s wind monitoring programme covering an area of 1,500 square kilometers in South East Sri Lanka commenced in 1988. The potential was assessed at 200 Mw. Five wind turbines with an annual power generation capability of 4.5 Gwh were commissioned in1999. The total project cost was Rs. 260 million. Actual power delivery in 2008 was 3Gwh.


Brief History

Harnessing the power of wind for use by humans has a history of over 5,000 years. The first wind mill for generating electricity was established in1888 in Cleveland. A large unit on an experimental basis was established in Vermont in 1941. Modern wind power industry commenced in 1979. Since then growth has been exponential. Yet it has touched only the fringe of potential.


Potential

It is assessed that wind power available in the atmosphere is greater than current world energy consumption. A study of 2005 estimated the potential on land and near shore at 7.2 Tera Watts ie 7.2 million Mw. This quantum is the equivalent of 54 billion tons of oil. The potential of the market leader the U.S. is estimated at more than nine times the current total electricity consumption. Asia also has a high potential among the continents. China has a wind energy potential of 253,000 Mw.Regarding the potential of Sri Lanka, an year’s study made in 2002-03 resulted in wind resource maps showing the possibility of 24,000 Mw of wind electric production. Sri Lanka may be considered richer in wind resource compared to China and India.

On shore potential apart, are off shore prospects. In this sphere of development Denmark is pre eminent with creditable annual expansion. China’s off shore potential is assessed at 750,000 Mw.


Achievements

A survey of achievements would be instructive. U.S. has reached a cumulative total of 35,159 Mw by end 2009. The EU has installed wind power capacity at 74,767Mw. This constitutes 9.1% of all power in EU and is an increase from 2% in 1995. Annual average market growth in EU is now 23%. In 2009, Asia accounted for the largest share of new installations at 40.4%. World’s largest market in 2009 was China with new capacity addition of 13,000 Mw in that year.


Advantages

Technology advances stand out as the principal factor in making wind the most sought after source for energy. Compared to the eighties, wind energy costs a fifth now. Developed economies commanding the wherewithal to make a choice, opted for clean energy which is also renewable. In 2009 renewable power accounted for 61% of new installations in the E.U. More importantly, EU is moving away from coal, fuel oil and nuclear, each continuing to decommission more than it installs. This is a likely phenomenon to overtake the developing world in a few decades. Global wind energy sector had a turnover of $ 70 billion in 2009. Employment recorded 550,000 and it is forecast that a figure of 670,000 will be reached in 2010 and 1 million by end 2012.


Tamil Nadu

Land south of Madurai and north of Anuradhapura, are on the same latitude. Tamil Nadu with twice the land area of Sri Lanka, has an installed wind power capacity of 4,301 Mw. This is 40% of India’s total capacity. Tamil Nadu’s potential is 5,500 Mw, while Sri Lanka’s is 24,000 Mw. Muppandal is a village in Kannyakumari district in the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu. It is credited with the largest wind farm in Asia with a cluster of 3,600 wind turbines.

Manufacture

For the successful expansion of wind powered electricity generation, there needs to be an efficient industry to manufacture turbines, steel towers, blades and components. Around 8,000 components go into a modern wind turbine. Skilled manpower together with transport infrastructure too should be in place. What is striking about wind power development is that, it is within the competence of a developing country to manufacture all or most of the components. It is prudent however to collaborate with advanced countries. Direct employment is high, besides secondary and tertiary.

Reputed firms have entered the field of manufacture. Vestas is the market leader and operates from Europe. Suzlon of India, the sixth largest in the world is another concern a and is fast expanding to several countries. China is producing wind turbines for the domestic market. It is foreseen that 2010 may be the first year of China’s exports. Metal fabrication and turbine manufacture are set to be a dominant feature of economic development for the next few decades.


Prospects

In 2009, as many as 82 countries used wind energy on a commercial basis. Among them were 17 countries with more than 1000 Mw of installed capacity. Wind capacity is seen to double every three years. Last year, the growth rate was 31.7%, which was the highest since 2001. Global capacity to be delivered by 2020 is forecast at 1.9million Mw.

Advances in technology, economies of scale, reduction in capital costs and decline in wind power generation cost account for the surge in wind power expansion. It may be noted that wind power cost per Mw-h as estimated in 2006 was $55.8 while coal was $53.1 and natural gas $52.5. By last year unit cost has declined further.

Conclusion

Wind energy is seen as an inexhaustible resource. It’s increasing use looks unstoppable. Technology advances in just three decades are phenomenal. If ever on shore reaches it’s limits, off shore will make amends. Renewability of wind as an energy source will make it perennially relevant.


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