Wind power is the world's fastest growing energy source today. In 1995, 4,900 megawatts of electricity was generated by wind current around the world. In 1994, 3,700 MW of electricity was generated from this source. During 1990 to 1995, additional capacity to generate electricity from wind power at the rate of 20 percent per year was created.
In comparison, nuclear energy production increased at a rate of 1 percent per year. Coal usage around the world has not increased at all in the last decade.
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Wind power generation first started in 1980 in Denmark where it received considerable patronage from the government. Although wind power is responsible for only 1 percent of the total electricity generated in the world today, wind power will be an important source of energy for many countries in the coming days. The main reason for this is that wind power is very clean environmentally.
Nowadays most of the electricity is generated by burning coal, which has created problems of air pollution and acid rain. Wind power is free from these problems. Nor does it produce carbon dioxide, which can change the climate of the Earth itself by having a greenhouse effect.
At an average wind speed of 6 meters per second (about 22 kilometers per hour), one kilowatt-hour of electricity costs, which is somewhat cheaper than the power of coal-fired power stations. This cost can be reduced further by improving the design of windmills.
With a view to reducing costs, larger plants are built today. For example in Germany in 1992, the average capacity of windmills was 180 kW. By 1995, it had increased to 450 kW. Soon mills with 1000-1500 kW capacity will start coming on the market. Their wingspan will be 65 meters or more.