{"id":11986,"date":"2021-01-28T00:34:46","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T14:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atlanstormwater.com\/au\/2021\/01\/28\/wind-farms-and-our-clean-energy-future\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T04:14:10","slug":"wind-farms-and-our-clean-energy-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlanstormwater.com\/au\/wind-farms-and-our-clean-energy-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Wind Farms and Our Clean Energy Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA sweeping landscape dominated by towering three-armed windmills. This\u00a0somewhat\u00a0futuristic scene is included at least\u00a0once\u00a0in every ad\u00a0for\u00a0renewable energy,\u00a0reminding us of\u00a0the immediate need to\u00a0move away from\u00a0fossil fuels\u00a0and its damaging effects on our climate and environment.\r\n\r\nWith over 350,000 wind\u00a0turbines in the world today, these clean energy giants are slowing becoming a permanent fixture on our horizon. According to\u00a0The International Renewable Energy Agency, wind power will\u00a0cover\u00a035% of\u00a0our\u00a0global energy needs by 2050<\/a>. If\u00a0achieved, this\u00a0would mean a drastic reduction in total CO2\u00a0emissions, setting the world on\u00a0track\u00a0to meet the\u00a0Paris Agreement<\/a>\u00a0goal of a\u00a02\u00b0c\u00a0limit\u00a0in\u00a0global warming.\u00a0<\/b>\r\n

Which way is the wind blowing?<\/h3>\r\nFor more than a century\u00a0the world\u2019s\u00a0energy needs have been\u00a0met\u00a0by burning fossil fuels,\u00a0with oil, coal and gas\u00a0providing\u00a0for about 80%<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0consumption.\u00a0Sadly,\u00a0this dependence cannot continue.\u00a0With their\u00a0high carbon content\u00a0combined with\u00a0our increasing demand,\u00a0fossil fuels\u00a0are causing a detrimental long-term effect on our climate.\r\n\r\nNaturally, our\u00a0push for\u00a0alternative energy sources like wind, solar, nuclear and hydro\u00a0has been\u00a0integral in\u00a0our fight to reverse\u00a0the effects of global warming.\u00a0So, given such high\u00a0stakes,\u00a0why\u00a0is\u00a0our\r\n\r\ndependence<\/a>\u00a0on carbon-fuelled electricity is still\u00a0such\u00a0a formidable roadblock?\r\n\r\nAccording to the\u00a0University of Arkansas<\/a>\u00a0our reluctance\u00a0is\u00a0due to\u00a0its\u00a0efficiency as an energy source.\u00a0The dense nature of\u00a0fossil fuel\u00a0means\u00a0\u2018a\u00a0little goes\u00a0a long way\u2019\u00a0making it a convenient\u00a0habit that\u2019s hard to break. Fortunately,\u00a0the introduction of an Australian\u00a0Carbon tax\u00a0in 2012,\u00a0combined with\u00a0the growth of renewable\u00a0alternatives\u00a0is helping us see\u00a0a future beyond\u00a0this dependence.\r\n

What\u2019s so great about wind farms?<\/h3>\r\nWind farms are\u00a0a\u00a0clean source of energy, so unlike\u00a0conventional power plants running on carbon-based fuels, they don\u2019t contribute to air pollution.\u00a0They\u00a0require little ongoing maintenance,\u00a0are sustainable,\u00a0and\u00a0extremely\u00a0cost effective to run.\r\n\r\nAdvancements in modern design have\u00a0also made\u00a0operating wind\u00a0turbines\u00a0more efficient and affordable.\u00a0With a smaller footprint, turbines\u00a0are now being installed\u00a0on farms and\u00a0residential development sites with\u00a0no\u00a0significant\u00a0economic impact.\r\n\r\nAbove all,\u00a0windfarms are a majestic and serene edition to our landscape. Towering far about the day-to-day hustle of life, they are an\u00a0eerie,\u00a0yet promising reminder that there is hope for\u00a0our future<\/a>.\r\n

The Future of Wind Power in Australia<\/h3>\r\nBy world standards,\u00a0Australia has\u00a0exceptional wind resources<\/a>. For\u00a0the first time in 2019\u00a0wind farms\u00a0overtook\u00a0hydro<\/a>\u00a0as\u00a0our\u00a0leading source of clean energy,\u00a0with\u00a0101\u00a0farms<\/a>\u00a0generating enough electricity to meet\u00a08.5% of the nation\u2019s total demand\u00a0–\u00a0and these numbers are rising. Australia has another 30\u00a0wind farm\u00a0projects\u00a0due to start or under current construction.\r\n

SPEL Puraceptor\u00a0Installed at Dundonnell Wind Farm<\/h3>\r\nRecently, SPEL installed a\u00a0Puraceptor<\/a>\u00a0at the Dundonnell Wind Farm near Mortlake, Victoria.\u00a0Dundonnell<\/a>\u00a0is the state\u2019s largest wind farm project, designed to provide enough electricity for 245,000\u00a0homes.\u00a0Another, soon\u00a0for completion\u00a0in 2021,\u00a0is\u00a0Stockyard Hill<\/a>, 35km west of Ballarat.\u00a0These large-scale wind farm projects\u00a0will\u00a0help Victoria achieve\u00a0a\u00a0net-zero carbon emission<\/a>\u00a0by 2050.\r\n\r\n