Harnessing Wind Energy for Off-Grid Rural Electrification. Technology Brief

摘要

Wind energy is a secondary form of solar energy. It is considered one of the safest and cleanest forms of renewables. Wind turbines do not generate greenhouse gases although there are concerns about their noise and harmful effects on bird life. Moreover, wind energy systems do not pose environment problems related to decommissioning of obsolete plants. Apart from low operating costs, wind energy system can be used for various applications in agriculture and industries. The system, however, is site-specific requiring areas with wind speed of at least 3-4 meters per second. It requires storage in terms of batteries or water reservoir due to considerable power supply variations. A back-up system is also recommended for areas where wind supply is low.