Wind Farms
It is all about the wind. Wind farms are the most profitable, the most effective with a steady strong wind coming from one direction. But wind strength is variable and unpredictable. And how good the construction spot is chosen, the average operating level is on average only about 30% of its maximum yearly capacity.
Off-shore wind farms
In the middle of the ocean would be ideal, wind wise. And so Off-shore wind farms are being built at least 5 miles from shore. But obvious problems are appearing quickly from around the corner with this configuration. The construction costs are high so far out in the ocean, and maintenance costs are also considerable due to the remote location and the salty water will corrode away structures continuously.
The largest off-shore wind farm is Thanet, located 7 miles off the coast of the United Kingdom. The farm covers an area of 13.5 square miles and its 100 turbines have a total installed capacity of 300 MW.
The farm is located in the English Channel. With wind tunneling through between Continental Europe and the British Island, this area is a high wind area year round.
On-shore wind farms
An easier location is the construct the wind farm on land. Here access is no problem, but discontinues winds and winds from different directions are. Each wind turbine needs to have the ability to direct itself towards the wind. Land wind farms are created in high wind areas like passes and gorges.
Land wind
The largest on-shore wind farm is the Roscoe Wind farm in Texas, USA. The farm covers an area of 155 square miles and its 627 turbines have a total installed capacity of 780 MW.
Sea wind
Another on-shore wind farm is the Biglow Canyon Wind Farm near Portland, USA. This farm covers an area of 40 square miles and its 217 turbines have a capacity together of 450 MW.
The farm is located just in front of the Columbia River Gorge, the place where the Columbia River cuts through the Cascades Mountains. The average wind speed in the Columbia River Gorge, where the steep walls can act as a funnel, is 10 miles per hour. The place is also known as “one of the best kitesurfing and windsurfing mecca of the world”.
The world
The leading country when it comes to wind energy is Denmark, producing 21% of its stationary electricity via wind power. More than 70 countries have operating wind farms and total worldwide installed capacity is a soaring 194 GW. Currently humans use about 7 TW from all sources globally, so there is still a way to go. But wind farms are hot, and the USA and China are moving forward fast. The USA with the Alta Wind Energy center, an on-shore wind farm under construction, with an installed capacity of 800 MW. And China with the proposed off-shore Gansu Wind Farm, with an installed capacity of 20 GW. One day the world will be switched over to renewable power with conventional energy only as a back up.