SUSTAINABLE ENERGY - WIND POWER
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines.Year 2008 was a record year for U.S. wind power installations. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 94.1 gigawatts. Although wind produces only about 1% of world-wide electricity use, it is growing rapidly. Wind power has increased more than fivefold globally between 2000 and 2007. In several countries it has achieved relatively high levels of penetration, accounting for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland in 2007.
Here off the coast of Maine where wind is abundant and optimal for wind turbines, it is not unusual to see a new wind turbine installed on a weekly basis. In fact, the largest wind power project (132 MW) in New England is currently under development in the Northwest mountains of Maine; http://www.transcanada.com/company/kibby.html.
ESD Southwest Harbor wind turbine producing power for CG Work Station computers
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