Introduction
Ecologist Stephen Pacala and Professor Robert Socolow have outlined a remarkably clear-cut method to approaching global warming known as stabilization wedges. This theory underlines the fact that global warming may be solved by implementing technologies that reduce the emission CO2 gas (Arnold 12). There is a long list of renewable energy sources including renewable energy power obtained in the form of heat, which is then converted into electricity in a power cycle. In addition, there are other sources of power derived from organized renewable energy sources. In the power obtained from renewable energy, it is possible for the heat to supplement the heat extracted from the combustion of fossil fuels. In the second type, organized renewable energy, which is capable of undergoing conversion into electricity without a thermal power cycle, may be in the form of wind, waves, photovoltaic (PV), hydropower and tides. Wind-energy is a renewable source of power which is easily available and relatively inexpensive to install (Arnold 12). A wedge of wind needs to replace 700 GW base load coal (5400 TWh/y). Alternatively, 2 million 1-MW-peak windmills, which area 50 times more than what is currently in use, occupying 3 X 106 ha would be required. This paper examines the wind power for coal power wedge and outlines various considerations and arguments why or why not this approach may achieve its objective of reduced emissions, when economic, societal, and technical factors are considered.
There are different considerations that should be made when replacing coal with wind energy. The first is related to the intermittency of wind energy. The difference in generation of energy (adding 2000 GWp of wind and reducing 700 GW coal) is as a result of taking into account the intermittent nature of wind energy (Princeton University 1). The capacity to displace fossil fuel using intermittent energy sources is determined by the availability of hybrid storage and stand-alone storage (Princeton University 1). The wedge is considerably large and requires the wind energy to be embedded in a system which has sufficient storage which compensates for the intermittency.
The second consideration is the demand for land. For example, in Denmark, there are wind turbines which have recently been installed. These produce 160 MW. The offshore farm comprises 80 turbines arranged in an 8 x 10 rectangular array. Each of the turbines produces 2MWp. The turbines are arranged such that they are seven blade-diameters apart in the positions that prevailing and transverse wind directions. This means that each of these 2 MWp turbines require 310,000 m2, with a power density of 6 MWp. A wedge producing 2000 GWpb wind for coal requires over 30 million hectares of land surface. If all these turbines were to be located on the earth’s surface, 30 million hectares, they would be the equivalent of 2% of the world’s surface (Davis, Long, Caldeira, and Hoffert 3).
There are different advantages arising as a result of the adoption of wind energy, which encourage the adoption of the wind-to-coal stabilization wedge. The first obvious advantage is that wind is renewable. Wind energy, unlike fossil fuels, does not have the disadvantage of having a limit in supply. Wind, which is moving air, is available freely.
Secondly, wind energy is clean. Wind energy does not result in emission of greenhouse gases. Unlike other fuels, the by-product of wind energy is purely emission-free. In agricultural land, farming may continue under the wind turbines because they do not obstruct sunlight. Thirdly, unlike other pollutant sources of fuel, wind turbines provide a good feature of the landscape. Fourth, remote areas which do not have access to electricity may use wind turbines for electricity production without relying on the costly process of installing connections for many miles.
There are several disadvantages of the wind-for-coal wedge. First, wind turbines take up large portions of land unless if used for farming. This means that installing the turbines may be very expensive. Secondly, wind energy is intermittent. This means that the energy levels fluctuate. Thirdly, engineers have not managed to develop a system in which wind energy is harnessed effectively and efficiently.
Conclusion
The idea of stabilization wedges was coined by Ecologist Stephen Pacala and Professor Robert Socolow. One of the major considerations to be made is getting the right storage as well as land. Acquiring the land on which the wind energy station should be located is an expensive. Overall, this stabilization wedge is a good idea.
Work Cited
Arnold, Denis Gordon. The ethics of global climate change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.
Davis, Steven J, Long Cao, Ken Caldeira, and Martin I Hoffert. "Rethinking wedges." Environmental Research Letters 8.1 (2013): 011001. Print.
Goffman, Ethan. "Capturing the Wind: Power for the 21st Century." Proquest Discovery Guides 6.8 (2008): 11-13. Print.
Princeton University. "Stabilization Wedges The Wedge from Substituting Wind Power for Coal Power." Carbon Mitigation Initiative:. Version 1. The Trustees of Princeton University, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 26 May 2014. <https://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/wind_power.php>.
