Environment Ethics And Technology

By Author: Anthony W Bills
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Environment Ethics and Technology
Wind Turbine
Introduction
A wind turbine is a device that rotates by the help of wind to convert the kinetic energy in the moving air or wind into mechanical energy. When out put of mechanical energy is used directly by the machinery like the water pumps and the grinding stones are referred to as wind mill. When the wind energy is converted to electricity, the wind machine can either be referred as wind generator or wind power unit. In some other cases, the wind machine is also referred to as aero generator. Wind turbine is used for various activities in homes, factories, schools and in other places for power generation to perform various activities. In most cases the wind turbine is used to pump water, generate electricity and grain-grinding. The wind turbine has been used for a long time to generate power to perform different activities for the public. Wind turbines are made in different designs and power out put depending with its need. These designs are affected by the need of the turbine and the strength of the wind in a given area. They have different number of blades ...
... that face the direction of the wind and are shaped aerodynamically to allow the wind to rotate the dynamos or mortar that is responsible for power production. (Farrell, 1996)
History of wind turbine
Wind Turbines were long used in Persia in the early 200 BC. The wind turbines were introduced in to the Roman Empire by 250 A.D. By the 7th century, the first practical wind mill was introduced and build in Sistan and Iran. They had rectangular blades which were mainly between six and twelve sails and long drive vertical shafts. During those times, the wind mills were used to grind corn in gristmill and sugarcane industries and to draw water from the bore holes. By the 14th century, the wind mills were used in Europe. Dutch wind mills had gained fame and were used to drain water from areas of Rhine river delta. There were more than 2000 wind mills in Denmark by 1900 that were doing most of the mechanical load that were producing approximate 30MW.In 1887, James Blyth operated the first electricity generating wind mill in Scotland, UK. He used his wind mill to charge batteries. This was followed by the Brush Charles in 1888 in Ohio in the United States. This was the first electricity producing wind mill in the US. By the year 1908, there were approximately 70 wind driven electric generators from 5-25KW. (Cuyahoga Regional Energy Development Task Force, 2007)
The largest wind machine that was made was standing on a 24 meters high tower and had four blades that were 11.5 meters long each. This was created around the time of WW1. By then, the American wind mill producers were producing more than 100,000 wind mills in each year that were mostly used for water pumping and other domestic use.
As the population allover the worlds increased putting pressure to available resources, the need to initiate and augment became an issue of major concern. People needed to develop new techniques both locally and in urban areas so as to cater for challenges posed by increasing world’s population. One of the most far reached solutions which emerged from numerous thinking of various categories of people such scientists, philosophers and politician of the early times was industrialization. At the point when the dreams and thoughts of industrialization were being borne in minds of a few elites especially from those individuals from the western countries, little was known about environmental impact as result of industrialization. Until recently, the globe has been able to realize that modern technologies have adversely affected the lives of the entire world. Botanical and zoological exists has been threatened through the endeavors to have sufficient electrical power which is a core requirement to increased production of goods and services.
The enormous energy supply to the modernized plants has been attributed to an array of sources. These sources more fully form fossils which highly emits toxic substances to the environment. Such energy sources Includes petroleum products likes diesel, petrol gasoline and coal. All these substances normally would provide energy required by plants in the Industrial department, automobile as well as lighting in domestic use. While man tries to satisfy his needs in the above various ways, he has always found himself running short of energy supply, hence, alternatives sources other than those from fossils and biological ones have often profoundly been put forward for use. Radio active materials, water and wind are some of the few modern ‘sources which most prominent leaders and experts have advocated as the worlds solution to energy problem. However, it is now noted with high concern that the energy sources and the manufacturers of the plants must be environmentally friendly. This simply implies that more benefits should be reaped from the sources with minimal effects to the environment. (Beder, 1994)
Generally, it is said that everything that exist on earth has both advantages and disadvantages. This is true to a certain degree and therefore modern technologies which have led to usages of large amount of energy are not exceptional. This may raise alarm to low profile elite especially when it comes to the paramount debate on the issues which disadvantages of wind turbines. While many biological and biomass sources such firewood, charcoal, coal, petroleum products likes diesel and other fossils product are viewed to be the major threats to pour environments, it is vivid that some of the natural others energy sources are much disastrous and catastrophic than most can imagine indeed. For instances, nuclear power which is a highly technically produced energy can be of immeasurable economic is benefits. Being one of the sources of energy which requires small raw materials but produced for long period can really save those industries which would needed continuous energy supply. However, it should not be forgotten that while there consistence in the supply, in case of any leakages and failures of the operation of the energy production plant, it effects may be felt in the environment for decades and centuries before they cease. A very vivid example is that one which occurred in the Japan state many years ago. This does not diminish the important role played by the natural sources of energy beginning with solar energy, water and winds. (Farrell, 1996)
The world today is in dire need of electricity energy supply which is being generated in great percentage through the burning of fossils fuels. These in turn are used to produce steam for the driving of turbines which are further incorporated the propulsion of electrical generators. Despite the finite sources of such raw material, however in large supply, such substances have always founds greater acceptance in the economic use more than wind turbines or any other elelectrical energy sources. Perhaps, the main reason which resulted to this is the fact that such systems would always allow the power supply to be generated wherever it is needed. This is opposed to certain situation such al those of hydro-electricity power generation and wind turbine. Therefore, wind turbines have not taken to preferences in the commercial market due several inevitable drawbacks which are not limited to minimum confinement to particular areas of operations. This implies that there is lack of large infrastructure designed for it usages. This is widely supported by information and reports which indicates that less than two percent of global population uses wind turbines. (Mabee, 2005)

One of the major questions that we must ask ourselves is “what are the major challenges which we are facing today and what is the possible solution? While pondering over such a puzzling quiz, the world currently cries foul both to the ever increasing demand of energy and to the pollution to the environments. It is therefore a dilemmatic situation for the current generation to combat these challenges which concurrently goes hand in hand. Thus, the most important way is to find ways which are amicable to preparation without adversely affecting each other. First and foremost, the use of renewable energy sources has been repeatedly been the opinion of many. Such renewable resources have been suggested to be wind and solar power. Nevertheless, this mechanically harnessed energy from speedy air blowing over the earth’s surface has recently received a wide acclaim in suggestion of its worthy to sustainable energy supply and environmental friendliness. Although scores of individual have support the move to embrace these particular energy sources, there are a number of other elite who thinks that this is not the bests way to the world. They are thus raising alarms on the finding of better ways for the problems concerning environmental care as well as economy of the energy production. The mixed blessed debates shows that wind turbine costs lack clearly cut figures as compared to the cost of turbines. For instance, in the United Kingdom, it is said that wind energy is more expensive than the combined cycle gas turbines. Furthermore, information sources indicated that this is less expensive than the hydroelectricity. While the initial cost of wind turbines is expensive, the running costs are estimated to be minimal as compared to other different forms of energy generation. This majority is the outcome of free resources such as wind. The wind turbines which can generate electricity also proved it difficult to be integrated to the major electricity grid of the state. This is because the initial set up of the grid was designed for just a few large power stations. Hence, there is also additional cost for the redesigning of the of old existing grid infrastructure leading to the upgrading of the grid. (Howe, 2002)
As far as the challenge of inadequacy of energy supply is concerned, wind turbines may not be much suitable as far as sustainability and reliability are considered. The fact that wind doesn’t blow consistently all the time, possibly moment will be experienced when there would be enough power or there is total lack of it all. This poses one of the biggest challenges to the operators of wind turbines as solution has to be sought to ensure the variable energy generation is avoided or minimized. (Beder, 1994)
The eminent problem with energy generation largely lies in areas which touch the environment. The fossil fuel sources of energy are of serious concern when it comes to the emissions of the combustions. Fossils fuels release large quantities of carbon dioxide and sometime carbon monoxide to the atmosphere. These gases together with other types of toxic one creates a threatening atmosphere to either plants or animals. In addition, these gases form basis of environment which enhances the greenhouse effects leading to global warming. Nuclear power plant and fossils especially those of coal indirectly emits carbon dioxide to the environment. This occurs through the several processes that occur as the outcome of high energy yield of the nuclear fuels, carbon dioxide from mining, enrichment process, fabrication and even transportation. However, the quantity of pollution through such means is minimal as compared to fossils fuels. The greatest interests of environmental concern comes in when the radioactive substances are being extracted from the ore and during the disposal of the spend fuel. (Fisk, 1999)
On the of wind turbines, there are common environmental impacts which are in the .energy generating categories. This commonness is depicted to noise pollutions. Since the birth of the wind turbines which are believed to have originated from parts of Altamont pass in California, there have been continuous and tremendous changes both in design and operation of the equipment. The early sets up of the wind turbine forming the predecessor turbines were regarded to have been small, noisy with high number of frequency. This noisy kind of Air pollution is say to caused permanent or partial hearing impairment or both to animals and human being. From the previous heated debate on this particular matter, the pro- wind turbines have precise argued on the ecological impacts. They have point out that such equipments would only occupy a minute percentage of surfaces. In reference to home ground, they show that only one percent of the ground would be preserved for it. By so doing, this occupancy of just small area is advantageous in that it give room to the natural wilderness. Besides this, crops and livestock farming can still be continued around the bases of the wind turbines. The wind turbines have often acted as trapping point to the flying animals such as bats. It has nevertheless been very s selective to the flying birds. Simply the high frequency and speed has yielded numerous birds death and led to constant turbines maintenance as result of birds’ damages. Virgin mountains w1hcichc are windy makes the best sites for wind turbines. These form unique and tempting sites for human habitation. Hence, wind farm are the foresight areas for beauty. (Mabee, 2005)
In finding well established solution to the above energy sustainability and pollution free environment, it is important for communities to embark on the investments in solar and wind energy sources. This is because they are the only natural sources of energy whish are free resources requiring less costs on harnessing them. I n mitigating the usages of the energy sources in the mutual amicable manner both for human benefit and for the benefits of others lives in the environment, appropriate planning and designing must be followed. This would not save the community from unnecessary costs of expensive electricity bills but it will also act as sources of income for some. It is said by Many that such areas are parts of heritages and landscapes of uniqueness Are parts of tourists attraction centre’s. Besides n the normal practices the operations of the various equipments as well as the augmentation of the conservation of the available energy should be initiated. The campaign to utilization of minimum energies is not voluntarily option in the field of wind turbines which are posed to often uncertain of their productions. (Costanti, 2006)

References

Alberts, J. (2005): Delphi Inquiries into Wind Turbine Siting Issues.
Cuyahoga Regional Energy Development Task Force(:2007): Building a New Energy Future:
Costanti, M. (2006): Wind Energy Guide for County Commissioners: U.S. Department of Energy.
Windustry,( 2004): A Wind Energy Handbook for Illinois. Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
Osborn, R. (1998): Bird flight characteristics near wind turbines in Minnesota. American Midland Naturalist
Mabee, T. (2005): A Radar and Visual Study of Nocturnal Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Flat Rock Wind Power Project: New York
Howe, R. (2002): Effects of wind turbines on birds and bats in northeastern Wisconsin: Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. 105pp.

Beder, S. (1994): The role of technology in sustainable development: IEEE Technology and Society
Farrell, A. (1996): Sustainability and the design of knowledge tools: IEEE Technology and Society
Fisk, D. (1999): The environmental impact of nuclear power: Nuclear Energy Society.
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