Wind. It's clean, renewable and helps make the Pl
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Renewable electricity records are falling every day. In early October, Germany recently hit a 59 percent renewable peak, Colorado utility Xcel Energy peaked at 60 percent wind at the beginning of the year, and Spain got its top power supply from wind for three months leading into 2013.
But that’s chump change compared with Denmark. According to data from Energinet, the national grid operator, wind power has produced 30 percent of gross power consumption to date in 2013. This includes over 90 hours where wind produced more than all of Denmark’s electricity needs, peaking at 122 percent on October 28, at 2:00 a.m.
And Denmark has plans to get to 50 percent more wind by 2020, creating even bigger hourly peaks. Energinet predicts the country may hit as many as 1,000 hours per year of power surplus.
Third Quarter 2013 power data from Energinet.dk shows wind (red) and total demand (blue)
To champions of renewable's, this is validation that a clean energy future is possible and that the transition is already underway. These regions also give insight into what is to come in the U.S., and what needs to change to keep a reliable and affordable power system as clean energy grows.
Wind Power:
Wind. It's clean (wind power generates absolutely no greenhouse gases). It's renewable. And it involves no production decline curve. Hence, 30 years from now we won't be worrying about "Peak Wind" theories coming to fruition.
It also can't be hoarded by power hungry cartels. In fact, enough of it exists to satisfy global demand seven times over, according to a Stanford University study. North Dakota alone has enough of it to meet 25% of U.S. demand.
But perhaps most importantly, it's finally coming of age. Just consider:
From 2000 to 2007, the size of the wind power industry increased fivefold.
Last year, records were shattered with $36 billion in total global wind investments with the United States leading the way with $9 billion.
In the next 10 years, the wind industry is expected to quadruple in size.
Hands down, wind is the fastest growing source of power. But can such growth continue?
The Department of Energy and countless other studies and industry experts say it will. But are they being realistic? Absolutely - and here's why……
Wind Power Makes Economic Sense:
First and foremost, wind power makes economic sense. If the price of oil drops to $50 a barrel, the economics still work; even without government subsidies.
You see, wind can be used to generate electricity for 6 to 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
For comparison's sake, the cost of nuclear power runs about 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. Coal now costs north of 10 cents (without factoring in carbon capture and storage). And gas-fired power costs approximately 12 cents.
Keep in mind, too, that just a few years ago, wind costs rested north of 15 to 20 cents. But today, costs are low enough in some markets to compete with conventional power generation methods. And future advancements will make wind power even cheaper.
Look no further than Denmark. It already generates 20% of its total electrical output from wind. And Spain, Portugal and Germany boast similarly impressive penetration rates of roughly 12%, 10% and 7%, respectively.
The timing couldn't be more perfect, either. While wind energy costs are dropping, costs for competing technologies – coal, nuclear and gas - are headed in the opposite direction.
About Wind Works * Zero Emission People:
Wind Works (Otc: WWPW $.08) now operates 4.6 megawatts in Germany, in which it has a 49% ownership stake. In addition, Wind Works is developing 27 megawatts of near-term permitted projects in Germany; 90 megawatts of FIT contracted projects in Ontario; and 425 megawatts of projects in the United States.
Our mission is to provide the opportunity for people to participate in the development of renewable wind energy projects. We believe in making sound, environmentally conscious investments that are good for our shareholders and our planet. To eliminate one person`s carbon footprint of 10 tons each year (for Germany), it only takes a modern windmill 1 day by producing approx. 20,000 kilowatt hours of zero emission energy.
For more information, please visit: http://www.windworkspower.com