Evaluation of Wind Energy Potential, Essay Example

“Evaluation of Wind energy Potential alongside Motorways of Pakistan” is a study completed by Abid A. Khan, Zahid Mehmood, Asim Shahzad, Khalid A. Chughtai and Awais Javed, and its purpose is to study, measure and identify areas alongside motorways in Pakistan that would be ideal for placement of wind farms.

Summary

The research is conducted by calculating available power and uses measurable data to locate ideal sites for installation. This study is conducted in an effort to provide renewable energy solutions for a country that is facing an energy crisis, and as the authors describe as the worst electricity crisis Pakistan has seen to date. The cost associated with fossil fuel energy consumption is too high to sustain its use. It is also noted that the rapid use of non-renewable energy sources leads to severe pollution, and by implementing wind farms along heavily polluted ares, such as motorways, Pakistan would be reducing their carbon emissions. The authors therefore conduct research along the motorways to provide data to support their claim that certain sites are ideal for wind farm placement. Not only do they provide renewal, sustainable energy, but they also work together to suppress traffic noise and the noise from the wind farms along those roadways. The research was conducted using a wind map along the two major motorways in Pakistan- the M1 and M2. Research included measurements along the motorways over a 12 month period in order to collect wind speed data with an anemometer.  Also, traffic speed and congestion was measured to calculate whether it would increase the viability of wind farm placement. The research and calculations concluded that at least 400 wind turbines would be ideal for wind farm energy based on theoretical power potential.

Industry News and Trends

The authors have noted that Pakistan is experiencing an unprecedented electricity crisis. The implementing of renewal energy options to combat the crisis is of extreme importance. All around the world, nations are taking increased action to stop the over-consumption of fossil fuels. The electricity crisis Pakistan currently faces concerns the use of fossil fuels, both their own stored reserves and imported oil for other nations. Nations such as Pakistan rely heavily on importing fossil fuels from other nations, and this would decrease their reliance on those countries. Wind farms have been a major source of clean, renewable energy all over parts of Europe, North American, South America and Australian, and now more Asian countries are on board (Global Statistics, 2015). In China, where some of the world’s most populated cities and users of electricity are located, this is especially becoming a concern (Shukman, 2014). Recently, China has recognized its vast potential to use wind energy to combat the energy crisis and to make use of its ample coastal land mass to implement wind farms (Shukman, 2014). Wind power growth around the world is substantial and continues to increase (Global Statistics, 2015).

Response

The research conducted in the article submits concerns of non-renewable energy and provide data and measurement to help find areas to construct wind farms. This is important research as it addresses a fundamental, world-wide problem. In Pakistan, it has reached crisis-levels, resulting in such problems as rolling brown-outs and black outs in major cities, over-spending at an extreme level, and harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere (Shah & Bhatti, 2015). As it currently stands, renewable energy and the construction of wind farms is necessary to sustain proper standards of living all over the world.

References

Global statistics. (2015). Retrieved August 30, 2015, from http://www.gwec.net/global-figures/graphs/

Shah, S., & Bhatti, S. (2015, January 25). Parts of Pakistan still without electricity, following breakdown. Retrieved August 30, 2015, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1159248

Shukman, D. (2014, January 8). China on world’s ‘biggest push’ for wind power – BBC News Retrieved August 30, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25623400