10 interesting facts about wind energy

Growing global energy consumption, a passion for protecting the environment, and a steady increase in the price of non-renewable sources have forced countries across the globe to search for alternative methods to power homes and businesses. Among the alternative forms of power is wind energy.

Wind power possesses massive energy potential. It does not produce any pollutants or emissions, and its use has been increasing in recent years. In this article, TRS Staffing Solutions (TRS) list 10 interesting facts about wind energy and its potential in the world.

1. Wind energy is one of the alternative sources of energy that has been in use for thousands of years. Ancient mariners sailed to distant lands by making use of winds. Farmers used wind power to pump water and to grind grains.

2. Today’s wind turbines are much more complicated machines than the traditional windmill. A wind turbine has as many as 8,000 different components and requires skilled workers to maintain it.

3. Wind turbine blades average about 184 feet long, and turbine towers average almost 290 feet tall — as high as 20 storey buildings.

4. Since the wind is free, operational costs are nearly zero once a turbine is erected. Mass production and technology advances are making turbines cheaper, and many governments offer tax incentives to spur wind-energy development.

5. Approximately 1.2 million people were involved in various wind-related jobs at the end of 2019 across fields such as development, siting, construction, transportation, manufacturing, operations, and services.

6. Europe is not only a leader in domestic wind turbine installations but also holds a strong position in turbines and foundations exports. In Denmark, export sales support the majority of wind manufacturing jobs.

7. There are 500 wind-related manufacturing facilities located across 41 states, and the U.S. wind industry currently employs more than 114,000 people.

8. Wind power is the most significant generator of renewable energy in the UK. The onshore and offshore wind farms produced 14.8% of all electricity consumed by UK homes and businesses in 2017.

9. The wind energy industry is rapidly growing. Total global capacity for wind energy is now over 651 GW, an increase of 10% compared to 2018. A single GW would provide enough energy to power 700,000 homes.

10. Industry experts predict that if this pace of growth continues, by 2050 one third of the world's electricity needs will be fulfilled by wind power.

The use of wind energy across the globe looks to be continually growing at an impressive rate. The success of wind farms would not be possible without ensuring projects have a strong team filled with skilled workers who are passionate about their roles.

TRS has supplied skilled engineers, technical and professional staff, and contractors to the power and the renewable energy sectors for over a decade. Having established a leading reputation in the renewable energy jobs market, TRS hold unrivalled experience and success in recruiting individuals and teams for major projects around the world.

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