The Journey of Wind Energy and its Impact on Global Sustainability

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Though wind power feels like a new, cutting edge form of energy generation, the truth is that humans have been leveraging wind power for a very, very long time. Of course, at no other point in history has wind power promised to play such a crucial role in achieving sustainable development initiatives or in contributing to our collecting energy security.

In times of conflict, political divisiveness, and climate change, it’s a comfort to know that wind power can and is being used to facilitate so much change for the betterment of all.  In this article, we’ll explore the history of wind energy, discuss the impacts wind energy has on sustainable development, and how it brings us closer to achieving energy security.

A Brief History of Wind Energy

Humans have been using wind energy in varying capacities for hundreds if not thousands of years. In fact, evidence suggests humans occupying the northeastern region of Africa first began harnessing wind power to propel boats roughly 7,000 years ago. In the 17th century BCE, early Middle Eastern civilizations built windmills to make lighter work of processing grain. Then, more than a thousand years later in China, wind power produced by windmills was used to pump water. These varying uses continued to manifest in different parts of the world throughout the middle ages.

Many years later, in 1887, James Blyth, a professor at what is now called Strathclyde University located in Glasgow, Scotland, harnessed wind energy with the purpose of converting it into electrical energy. To do this, Blyth designed and built the very first wind turbine which he promptly used to power the lights at his holiday home.

Between 1887 and 1888, the first automatically operated turbine generator was also built in the United States. This first North American iteration had an output of 12kW – a respectable amount of electricity for the period. Over the years, these relatively low-yield turbines popped up all over the U.S., particularly in rural areas, improving the quality of life for many communities located off the beaten path.

The popularity of wind turbines in the early days of the twentieth century would not last, however. As the mainstream power infrastructure expanded beyond city limits, unifying the country from sea to sea, many of the early wind turbines fell into disuse and disrepair.

Fast forward to the 1970’s and interest in wind energy begins to accelerate once again, due in part to the oil embargo imposed against the United States by some members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Necessity being the mother of invention (or in this case, innovation), many of the technological developments in wind power generation were at the behest of the United States government and NASA, the latter of which, in 1975,  began managing a research program for developing utility-scale wind turbines for electric power. The industry has steadily gained momentum over the decades, as it has become clear that the clean energy produced by wind turbines is the pathway to a sustainable future, meaning companies and governments around the world are increasingly turning their attention towards it.

The Impact of Wind Energy on Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations has developed a list of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that experts believe are crucial to achieve by the year 2030. These SDGs include the noble goals of reducing poverty, environmental conservation and sustainability, as well as access to clean and affordable sources of energy. While it is easy to see how the development of wind power generation is related to that last SDG, the UN believes that wind power, along with other clean renewable energy sources, can have a positive impact on five of their Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG 1 – Eradication of Poverty. The first SDG proposed by the UN is the “eradication of poverty in all its forms”. While this feat will require many legislative and societal changes, the widespread roll out of wind power can facilitate achieving this goal in that the energy produced is cheap. Wind farms can also easily supply remote communities that may not have access to traditional energy sources.

SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being.  This goal aims to promote healthy living for all people, regardless of their stage of life. Wind power can support this goal by offering an alternative to the fossil fuel-based energy sources that expunge countless tonnes of pollutants into the air annually. Fewer pollutants in the air means fewer respiratory illnesses that develop in the young and old.

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy. The purpose of this goal is to of course, ensure that everyone has access to a clean, reliable, and sustainable source of energy. Since wind energy production is one of the most cost effective and scalable sources of energy, it is perfectly suited for this goal.

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The goal of SDG-9 is the development of a power infrastructure that promotes sustainable industrialization and innovation into new clean technologies. Scaling wind power generation to a point where it is a widely used energy source will require significant capital spent on infrastructure including the wind turbines themselves, power lines, and energy storage facilities.

SDG 13- Climate Action. The adoption of wind power generation is a vital component to combat the adverse shifts in global climate. The process of converting wind power to electrical energy does not produce greenhouse gasses, making it ideal for helping to slow climate change.

The Role of Wind Generation in Securing our Energy Supply

For as long as society has relied on energy utilities for power, there has been concern associated with the vulnerability of the power supply. As far as society has come, these concerns continue to persist, particularly during times of war, political division, and scarcity. Conflict in Eastern Europe has caused these concerns to intensify, as instability in Europe could result in a massive disruption to the global energy supply. Perhaps now more than ever, wind power is important for ensuring access to energy remains reliable while also facilitating energy independence. According to the Accelerating Renewables to Achieve Energy Security, Affordability and Climate Action, a document produced by the Global Wind Energy Council, countries that are looking to expand their on-shore and off-shore wind energy infrastructure can benefit from following the five point plan described in the document. In simple terms this plan consists of:

• Accelerating the permitting process in order to produce vast on-shore and off-shore wind farms in the short term.
• Implement a plan to provide grid access to large volumes of renewable energy.
• Roll out a simple mechanism by which clean power can more easily be procured and priced as such to encourage investment.
• Avoid locking in to large scale fossil fuel projects.
• Commit to the timely transition to clean energy using achievable milestones, giving the supply chain a chance to develop.  

Wind Energy Means More than Simply Keeping the Lights On

As difficult as things may seem, there is cause for optimism; investment in sustainable energy infrastructure, like onshore and offshore wind farms, does more than provide an affordable source of renewable energy. Wind energy is also integral to reducing global poverty, slowing climate change, promoting health and well-being for people living in isolated regions, and so much more.

All else being equal, renewable energy sources, like wind, help foster energy independence and bolster domestic manufacturing. If you would like to know more about wind energy or to find out what it takes to develop a career in this growing sector, contact a Program Consultant at  George Brown College by dialing 1-888-553-5333.

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