Why is it a Global Issue?

The awareness and interest in alternative sources of energy has never been more felt than in this generation, with the unprecedented growth of the urban population. This year alone, more people will be living in and around cities than in rural areas, which translates to an ever-growing demand for energy. The rise of energy consumption and environmental awareness calls for a sustainable resource that does not create more pollution and waste for future generations. Global demand for energy is expected to grow by 30% annually. Our growing world is estimated to balloon to 9 billion people by 2050. The fact that it takes large amounts of energy to develop a modern society makes renewable energy more relevant each passing day.

Why Wind Energy?

There are several reasons why wind is an important source of energy: wind power is a renewable, predictable and clean source of energy. It has no CO2 emissions, no H2O consumption, generates no waste, is not limited by geographical borders and best of all, wind is an unlimited resource. Wind energy contributes to a higher degree of self-sufficiency, offering energy independence, which is demanded by the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. Currently, wind power accounts for 1% of the world's power production but is projected to increase its share by 10% in 2020. The electrical output of a V90-3.0 MW turbine, in just two to three hours, can generate enough power to cover the annual electricity consumption of an average household.

Offshore Wind Energy

The direction to expand wind turbine installations from onshore to offshore is driven by the massive resources that are available offshore, enabling for the establishment of much larger projects than usually possible on land.

Capital expenditure to be spent offshore is forecasted to increase ten-fold in the coming five years. Indeed, offshore wind benefits from growing concerns about energy supply. It offers large-scale renewable energy generation assets. 40-storey tall rotating wind turbines harness wind energy. They then convert the power generated by the moving blades into electricity. Offshore wind projects are wind turbines which foundations are positioned on offshore water.