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Can renewable energy sources power the world?
Can renewable energy sources power the world?

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11 Summary

This week you have:

  • described the atmospheric processes that give rise to winds on the planet and the power they contain
  • described the principal wind turbine types, the aerodynamic principles governing their operation, and various ways of calculating their power and energy production
  • discussed the environmental impacts of wind turbines: noise; electromagnetic interference; aviation-related issues; wildlife impacts; public attitudes; and planning considerations
  • looked at the economics of wind energy, and its projected future costs
  • discussed offshore wind power, likely to be an important area of progress in coming decades
  • concluded with a discussion of recent developments in wind energy and some projections of wind energy’s future potential, world-wide and in the EU.