RENEWABLES
AS PERHAPS THE most inexpensive alternative energy with practical implications , wind power is an exciting concept for the future of how to utilise the earth ’ s resources . The transition away from fossil fuels and less efficient forms of energy has already begun . Here are some of the highlights of the current state of wind power technology and where it may go in the future .
The cost of wind energy Many obstacles in the transition to alternative energy sources are more political and economic than they are technical . The first hurdle the future of wind power must overcome is winning the discussion of cost . Although wind is the least expensive alternative energy source available , detractors of the technology argue that infrastructure is still more expensive than traditional energy sources . A large part of this cost comes from the massive wind turbines that most wind farms use to collect and harness the energy ; however , there are improvements in the technology that are reducing the cost and completely removing the need for the huge hardware .
From Japan comes the LoopWing , a type of turbine that incorporates looped blades into the turbine instead of traditional spinning blades . The looped version is also quieter and safer with less energy required initially to turn them on . The Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine ( MEWT ) is another improvement that creates a low pressure air space that draws wind into a traditional turbine , generating more energy than the
16 May 2016