Harnessing Wind and Wave Energy: Benefits and Challenges
Wind Energy: A Central Enclosure
A central wind enclosure leverages the power of wind to produce electricity. When the wind turns the blades of the turbine, it sets in motion the turbine that generates electricity. The energetic use of this resource requires a minimum wind speed continuously between 5 and 10 m/s. Wind farms are installed, of course, in geographical areas where there tends to be wind.
Advantages of Wind Energy
- Uses a secure and renewable source that never ends.
- Does not produce emissions (CO2, SO2…) in the atmosphere or waste (except during the manufacturing of equipment and gears).
- Wind farms are easily dismantled, and the area can be retrieved quickly.
- Facilities are compatible with other land uses.
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
- The inability to secure a permanent and regular supply due to variations in wind speed.
- The visual impact: the installation generates a modification of the landscape.
- Impact sound: the rotation of the blades with the wind produces a low but constant noise.
- Impact on wildlife: presence of wind modifies the normal migration and nesting behavior of birds in the area.
Wave Energy: A Central Wave System
In a central wave system, a barrier separates a bay or estuary from the open sea. As the tide rises, the floodgates open, and water enters the interior of the dike. At low tide, the floodgates open again, and the water returns to the sea, making the turbines operate the electrical generators centrally.
To get good performance, this kind of plant can only be built in areas where tides are sufficiently intense, with an amplitude between low tide and high tide of at least 5 m. The world’s largest tidal power plant is La Rance, located in Saint Malo (France), with an output of 240 MW.
Advantages of Wave Energy
- Uses a renewable energy source.
- Does not produce waste or pollute.
- Maintenance is simple.
Disadvantages of Wave Energy
- Produces a significant environmental impact.
- Modifies the natural ecosystem of the area.
Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Future
Renewable energy meters are used in solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, biomass energy, and tidal energy. All of them come from energy sources that do not deplete but are used consistently. In addition to preserving the environment, renewable energy sources like wind, waves, or the sun are inexhaustible (as bright as the sun will continue for at least the next 5,000 million years!).
In contrast, non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium are highly polluting and finite. Currently, in Spain, the production of energy from renewable sources accounts for only 12% of the total. Lately, the use of renewable energy is encouraging, especially in countries like ours, which are suitable for harnessing solar energy or wind energy.
However, for the exploitation of renewable energy production, further investigation should be conducted to increase the performance of generators (solar panels, windmills) and reduce the cost of the facilities. This will make it possible to extend the use of renewable energy, especially in areas where the mains lead causes high costs and serious environmental problems, such as high mountain villages or inhabited places very distant from other urban centers.