Wind energy can deliver vital slash to global warming

Date:
September 22, 2021
Source:
Cornell University
Summary:
Implementing advance wind energy scenarios could achieve a
reduction in global warming atmospheric average temperatures of
0.3 to 0.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, according
to new research.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Implementing advance wind energy scenarios could achieve a reduction in
global warming atmospheric average temperatures of 0.3 to 0.8 degrees
Celsius by the end of the century, according to new research from
Cornell University.


========================================================================== "Early action will reap dividends," said Rebecca Barthelmie, professor in
the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. "In terms of averting the worst of climate change, our work confirms that accelerating wind-energy technology deployment is a logical and a cost-effective
part of the required strategy. Waiting longer will mean more drastic
action will be needed." Barthelmie and Sara C. Pryor, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, authored the research. It published in the journal Climate.

To avert environmental disaster, other greenhouse gas reduction strategies
will also need to be implemented, they said.

In early August, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Working Group I Sixth Assessment Report said that climate change is rapid
and intensifying, and that Earth's atmosphere could add 1.5 degrees C
of average warming by 2040. To avoid further warming, the IPCC report
said there must be transformational change.

"Our work shows that it is feasible for the United States to accelerate
its deployment of wind energy," Barthelmie said, "to substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions and that will make a real difference to the kind
of warming that the world endures." Global wind resources exceed current electricity demand, Pryor said, and the cost of energy from wind turbines
has declined sharply. "It makes perfect sense to rapidly deploy wind
energy as a key part of decarbonizing the electricity supply," she said.



==========================================================================
The global wind energy industry has been growing. Since 2005, the total installed capacity of global wind energy shows a 14% annualized growth
rate for Asia, Europe and North America. Global wind energy electricity production expanded from 104 terawatt-hours (one trillion watts for one
hour) in 2005 to 1,273 terawatt-hours in 2018, the paper said.

In 2019, wind energy generated approximately 6.5% of 26,600 terawatt-hours
of global electricity demand. Six countries are generating more than 20%
of their demand, while the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain are close to achieving 20% of electricity demand with wind energy. China has reported
about 5% of its electricity supply from wind energy.

The United States generates 8.4% of its electricity from wind, as of
2020, with six states (Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, Kansas and
Illinois) containing more than half of wind energy capacity, according
to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Wind turbines are now deployed in 90 countries, Barthelmie said,
generating about 7% of global electricity, and the expansion of installed capacity of wind energy continues.

Sectors like solar and wind have become less expensive than fossil
fuels. "So there really aren't any arguments anymore for not making this
kind of change," Barthelmie said. "Both technically and economically,
advanced deployment scenarios are feasible. It needs more political will."
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Cornell_University. Original written
by Blaine Friedlander, courtesy of the Cornell Chronicle. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Rebecca J. Barthelmie, Sara C. Pryor. Climate Change Mitigation
Potential
of Wind Energy. Climate, 2021; 9 (9): 136 DOI: 10.3390/cli9090136 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210922143300.htm

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