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Tom Hamlin
Tom Hamlin
Topic: Wind Energy
Tom Hamlin moved to Nairobi, Kenya in 1998 and began consulting on energy efficiency and climate. In 1999 he joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the Climate Change Coordinator of...
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Number of questions: [4]
Posted on 20/08/2007 07:21:36
Two of the (numerous) difficult aspects of implementing wind energy on a large scale are inconsistent supply and resistance to siting. For the first point, I would be interested to know if energy storage technologies are being developed, such as compresing air or hydro storage (pumping water up a montain) to 'store' excess wind-generated electricity. For the latter point, is it economical to site wind farms off shore?
Kevin (from Switzerland)
Hi Kevin,

Pumped hydro storage is being utilised in Switzerland as far as I know although it is mostly off peak nuclear energy from France that is being stored. Excess wind energy from Denmark is being effectively stored in Norway with the most cost effective means being to hold back water in the dams rather than pump. We are finding that in many climates the wind is stronger in the dry season and therefore reinforces the hydro system quite effectively. As wind energy costs drop, pumped storage and compressed air will become cost effective while for the time being there is room in most electrical systems for wind to be simply a water or fuel saver. Wind turbine installations off shore are more expensive than on land but the wind is also stronger over water since there are fewer obstacles and lower surface roughness to slow the wind down. The cost effectiveness of wind energy is highly dependent on the cost of finance since there are no fuel costs. As fossil fuel becomes more expensive, investors are increasingly interested in renewable energy. Due to the curvature of the earth, turbines can be placed beyond the horizon at sea and is therefore a solution to resistance sometimes found in certain peoples' perception. Other people find wind turbines things of beauty and interest.

Posted on 20/08/2007 05:34:28
What strategies do you propose for educating policy-makers in your area of specialization?
Centre for Environment Education (from India)
UNEP has engaged policy makers through the Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment project. In 13 countries that participated, some have modified or promulgated policies in favour of increased wind energy. In China the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association credited the UNEP project with giving China the confidence to set a target of 30 gigawatts of wind energy by the year 2020. Nicaragua passed a wind energy law and many of the involved countries have gone on with similar actions to explore and exploit wind energy. UNEP is now engaging new countries for exploitation of wind energy where resource information is a barrier and partnering with the regional development banks to address financing barriers. In India, the wind energy market is relatively mature with established policies and finance available. India is often held up as an example to other countries in this regard.

Posted on 19/08/2007 15:56:02
I wanted to know if wind energy is a source of energy without polluting the environment, then why nations donīt use it ? I mean... in my country we are having serious problem whit gas.. so our energy is limited. What I dont understand then is why this type of clean energy isnot being use ?
nataly Glade (from Chile)
Hello Nataly,
It is my understanding that Chile has started using wind power and that there are some 20 or more wind parks at various stages of development. This recent interest is because natural gas is in short supply and diesel for electricity production is very expensive. UNEP supports the inclusion of wind energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution. There are various reasons why wind energy has not been adopted more quickly. One being unfamiliarity with the technology. Some feel that because wind energy is only produced when the wind is blowing hard enough that it is therefore unreliable. In fact we have seen that wind energy often is highest in the dry season when hydro dams are running low on water. In this case wind therefore reinforces the hydro system. Another way to look at wind energy is that it is a cost effective way to reduce the fuel costs for the diesel power plants. Another technology that Chile is looking to is solar water heaters. UNEP is in discussion with the National Energy Commission on ways to stimulate the solar water heating market which would also reduce dependence on natural gas.

Posted on 19/08/2007 11:55:27
I would like to more about the wind power.How do we achieve it? And what are the setbacks of this alternative power source?
Adrian (from Indonesia)
Hi Adrian,

Wind power is site specific, you need to know whether you have good wind in order to use it and depending on how good it is it may be less expensive than other energy sources. In Indonesia there are many islands some of which are using diesel fuel for electricity. On the http://swera.unep.net website you will find a global ocean wind map that shows how much wind there is around the islands. Some have very good wind and provided you have a site that is well exposed to the wind you would have good opportunity to save diesel by having wind turbines installed. The setback is that you will still need diesel for the times when there is not enough wind but overall you can save. To calculate your savings you can use a program like RETScreen (www.RETScreen.net).

    
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