The wind is a powerful source of energy. Air can move with incredible speed and force. Windmills and turbines are man-made structures designed to harness the wind and create energy. Their turning blades generate energy from the powerful force of moving air. However, although it helps to seize the power of wind energy, is a windmill a renewable resource?
On its own, a windmill is not a renewable resource, but it is instrumental in capturing the power found in rapidly moving air. Windmills and turbines are used to gather the strength of this valuable renewable resource, and the energy produced does not contribute to climate change.
You may be wondering why wind is a renewable resource and windmills, and wind turbines aren’t. Or how windmills and turbines can be used to generate energy from this naturally-occurring resource. This article looks at wind energy as a renewable resource and the essential (sometimes nonrenewable) tools needed to capture its power.
Wind Energy is a Renewable Resource
Any resource that naturally replaces itself regularly is renewable, making it a vital component of our lives. The energy generated from water, wind and the sun are examples of renewable resources.
The wind is a by-product of solar energy. The earth’s movement and the sun’s heat cause the atmosphere to move, which produces wind. As long as the sun produces heat, the wind blows. Since it is limitless, wind energy is a renewable resource.
In 2019, almost 7.2% of the electricity produced in the United States came from wind energy. As wind energy continues to expand as a source of electricity, it brings a lot of benefits. These include:
- Sustainable – Wind occurs naturally in our environment. The wind is limitless and quickly replenishes itself, making it sustainable. Nonrenewable resources, such as oil or coal, are used faster and cannot be readily replaced when they are gone.
- Green – Capturing wind energy doesn’t pollute the air. Traditional forms rely on combustion to produce energy; this releases dangerous emissions into the air, causing health problems and damaging the environment. Wind energy is clean as it doesn’t release hazardous carbon emissions into the air.
- Conserves Water – Power plants rely on water to produce electricity and to cool their equipment. Not only does this wastewater, but it can also pollute water with dangerous toxins. Water is unnecessary to produce electricity from the wind; this reduces water consumption and pollution.
- Creates Jobs – Wind energy becomes more widely used; therefore, it creates jobs. People are needed to install, maintain, and support windmills and turbines.
- Cost-Effective – When the right infrastructure is in place, wind produces a low-cost source of energy. Since it is not impacted by changing economic conditions that impact nonrenewable sources like oil or coal, the cost of producing electricity from wind energy remains consistent over time. Nonrenewable sources become scarce over time, which also drives up their cost.
- Domestic Source – Wind energy is created domestically; this eliminates reliance on other countries to supply energy resources. Not only does this help to improve a country’s economy, but they also don’t need to worry about regulations or political unrest interfering with their ability to supply energy to their population.
Nonrenewable Resources
On the flip side, nonrenewable resources naturally occur in the environment, but they take longer to replenish. Fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas are used up at speeds faster than they can be replaced.
Some nonrenewable resources are used to build windmills and wind turbines, structures designed to capture wind energy.
Windmills, Wind Turbines, and Nonrenewable Energy
Windmills and wind turbines capture wind energy. However, while both structures may resemble each other and their names are used interchangeably, windmills and wind turbines aren’t the same. They produce energy for different reasons.
But, although the two structures are built differently, one thing they do have in common is that they are often constructed using nonrenewable resources.
Windmills
The traditional windmill can look very different, based on where it is located. Tall structures with a circle of blades are often seen on farms. Those situated near the water or used to supply power to mills are often standalone buildings with four wide blades.
Windmills make mechanical energy from the wind. The power generated by a windmill is often used on farms to pump water and grind grain; it may also be used to drain swampy areas or in mills to the grindstone. As wind passes through a windmill’s sails, it rotates the drive shaft attached to a generator or pump. The drift shaft movement gives power to whatever it is connected to (Source: Energy.gov).
Windmill Construction
While the design and materials have changed over time, windmills operate as they did when first designed as early as 700 to 1200 A.D.
The materials used to build a windmill depend on where it is located. Early windmills were primarily wood-based and used a post that could rotate the blades toward the wind. The post could also be moved to windier locations. Balsa wood was typically used as it was lighter and easier to move.
Over time, windmills became standalone structures. The base of the windmill could reach several stories high. The inside of the building could be used for storage or even living quarters. Brick and stone were used to construct windmills as these are sturdier building materials. They can also withstand damage from fire and weather.
Today’s windmills often use steel for the base and blades, which often require burning fossil fuels—a nonrenewable resource—to mold them into their final shape and assemble them.
Wind Turbines
A wind turbine is a sleek modern structure; they are thin, tall, and typically have two or three large blades connected to a rotor. Wind turbines are designed to harness wind energy to create electricity. As the wind moves the blades, the rotor passes this along to a generator, producing electricity.
Wind Turbine Construction
Most materials used to construct a wind turbine’s base and components are not made using renewable energy.
- The tower of the turbine is typically made of steel or copper. Like with windmill blades, the steel pieces are constructed and molded using a process that requires burning fossil fuels. The created sections are then pieced together and bolted in place.
- Turbine blades are typically made from glass-fiber or carbon-fiber material. The fiberglass is created by taking raw materials, such as silica sand, limestone, and soda ash, and melting them in a furnace, which often requires burning fossil fuels.
Fiberglass blades can be time-consuming to make and uses more nonrenewable resources, so alternative raw materials, such as aluminum and wood, have been tested.
(Source: Azo Clean Tech)
Are Windmills Renewable Resources?
A renewable resource exists naturally in our environment. Since windmills and wind turbines are man-made structures, they are not renewable resources.
Additionally, as hinted above, how windmills and wind turbines are made usually do not involve using renewable resources, making them even less of an eco-friendly structure overall.
Final Thoughts
Renewable energy is practically limitless; wind energy is one such example. On the other hand, human-made items, such as windmills and wind turbines, are generally not considered renewable resources. Additionally, the resources used to make these structures are not always renewable.
While windmills and wind turbines are not renewable resources on their own, they are essential for capturing wind energy. Wind energy brings substantial benefits to the population as they provide a clean and sustainable source of power, generate new jobs, and create energy independence. Wind energy has less of an impact on the environment than other sources of electricity.
Yet without windmills and turbines, the incredible power found in wind energy could not be captured.