WIND

POWER

Wind is generated by the difference of temperature between two air masses. It is therefore an indirect solar energy which is getting widely used in many countries following the example of Denmark.

Wind power is harnessed by modern windmills, suitable for both small and large scales operations. Small windmills are suited to individual houses and small buildings. Large turbines are commercial operations located in windy areas.

MEDIUM  TO LARGE SIZE TURBINES
Wind turbines are getting ever larger. While 150 to 400KW turbines were common in the eighties, we now see multi-megawatt turbines, including huge offshore machines.

EUROPEAN WIND POWER OUTPUT

The figures at the end of 2003 are as follow:

EUROPEAN UNION (25 countries): 28,542 MW
GERMANY: 14,609
SPAIN: 6,202
DENMARK: 3,110
ITALY: 904
UK: 649
FRANCE: 239

New EU regulations will force all member countries to increase the share of renewables dramatically before 2010.

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