The growth of the market for wind energy is being driven by a number of factors, including the wider context of energy supply and demand, the rising profile of environmental issues, especially climate change, and the impressive improvements in the technology itself. These factors have combined in many regions of the world to encourage political support for the industry’s development.

 

Security of supply

Global demand for energy is increasing at a breathtaking pace, which will require significant investment in new power generation capacity and grid infrastructure. Just as energy demand continues to soar, supplies of fossil fuels are dwindling and prices are at their most volatile.

Wind energy, however, is a massive indigenous power source with is available virtually everywhere in the world. There are no fuel costs, no geo-political risk and no supply import dependency.

More information on energy supply security.

Economic considerations

Wind energy makes sound economic sense . In contrast to other generation sources, the price for the fuel needed over the total lifetime of a wind turbine is well known: it is zero. This takes away a substantial part of the investor’s risk.

At many sites, wind power is already competitive with new-built conventional technologies and in some cases much cheaper. When taking into account the price of carbon, wind power is even more attractive.

Job creation and regional economic development are also key factors in economic considerations around wind power.

More information on the economics of wind.

 

Environmental concerns

Wind power is a clean, emissions-free power generation technology. Like all renewable sources it is based on capturing the energy from natural forces and has none of the polluting effects associated with ‘conventional’ fuels.   

Not only is wind energy the only power generation technology that can deliver the deep cuts in CO2 emissions the world needs to combat the worst effects of climate change, it also provides numerous other environmental benefits. It has a positive effect on air pollution, which is choking cities around the world, by not emitting dangerous air pollutants as other generation technologies. Wind energy does not produce any toxic waste. And, in addition, wind energy uses virtually no water, which, in an increasingly waterstressed world, is a major environmental consideration.

More information on the benefits and impacts of wind energy on the environment.