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Wind energy calculator
How much electricity will a wind farm generate? Will this reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions? Find with the Wind Energy and Emissions Calculator.
Resources for teachers
Explore the way wind energy is generated, its benefits and impacts, and why we must make good decisions about using our natural resources.
Wind energy
Wind – a global, renewable energy sourceCurrently, 60 percent of total wind energy capacity is in Europe, with 20 percent in North America and 16 percent in Asia. Wind energy is one of the fastest growing... |
Global installed wind energy capacityAt the end of 2008 global wind energy capacity was 120,798 megawatts - which is nearly 13 times the total electricity generating capacity in New Zealand. Wind energy was the largest source of new electricity generation in Europe, and... |
What does wind energy cost?Estimates of the cost of wind-generated electricity vary from $60 to $120 per megawattt hour (MWh). The reason for this wide range in estimates is that many of the factors... |
Electricity pricesWind energy has an important role to play in reducing spot prices and checking increasing electricity prices by: displacing more expensive generation reducing risks associated with dry years reducing the... |
The need for reserve generationThe need for reserves, or back up generation, is not unique to wind generation. Electricity supply must be continually matched to demand. Reserves are required to meet fluctuations in demand and... |
Security of supply and wind energyMaintaining a secure, reliable supply of electricity at a reasonable cost is essential for New Zealand’s economy. Wind energy provides about 2.5% of New Zealand’s electricity. This proportion will grow... |
Visual effectsA wind farm on a hillside or ridge line is a visable feature in the landscape. How people feel about being able to see a wind farm is a matter of opinion,... |
Public opinion about wind energyOver the years, public opinion surveys have shown a consistently high level of support for the development of wind farms in New Zealand. The minority who do not like wind... |
Climate change and wind energy Wind energy plays an important, global role in addressing climate change. Wind-generated electricity is produced without emitting carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that is the major cause of global climate... |
Wind turbine technologyModern wind turbines are an evolution of traditional windmills. A collection of wind turbines in one location is referred to as a wind farm. There are four key parts to... |
Variable generationWind farms provide a variable supply of electricity because of the natural variability in wind speeds. However, wind speeds can be predicted days and hours ahead, meaning the output of... |
How much wind energy can be integrated into the grid?Technically it is feasible to run an electricity system with 100% wind energy, however this may not be the most cost effective solution. The amount of wind generation that can... |
Birds and batsWell designed, modern wind farms present a minimal risk to birds and bats. In the 1970s and 1980s wind farms were constructed with little or no understanding of their potential... |
Sound from wind turbinesLike everything that moves, wind turbines produce sound - but they are not as noisy as you might think. It is possible to stand underneath an operating turbine and have... |
Low frequency noise and infrasoundSound from modern wind turbines contains energy spread across the audible frequency range and, like most sounds in the environment, has some inaudible energy in the infrasound range. However, the... |
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