From centralised electricity generation to small scale applications in the developing world, the potential of wind power is becoming recognised worldwide. Over 7000MW of wind energy has now been installed worldwide, making it. the fastest growing energy technology (see Figure 1). The reasons for this rapid growth are varied. Early interest in wind energy can be traced back to the oil crises of the 1970s, but more recent stimuli have included the urgent need for electricity in the Third World, and the need to find non-polluting energy sources. Wind energy is now a viable option for electricity generation. It is technically proven, enjoys public support, has huge resources and is rapidly becoming cost-competitive with the 'conventional' fossil sources of electricity generation.
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