Zephyr Electric Power
Important Facts
Wind power today could generate enough power to meet global energy needs. Global wind power potential is estimated to be 72 trillion watts…it would take 500 nuclear power stations to produce a single trillion watt. Harnessing only 20% of today's wind energy would produce 8 times more electricity than was consumed in 2000.
Europe and Wind Energy
- In 2003, Europe lead the world in wind power with 44,085 megawatts installed and by producing 83 billion kWh of electricity. This is equivalent to 40 large coal-fired power plants
- Eight countries in Europe have installed over 1,000 megawatts
- Wind power installed in Europe is saving over 55 million tons of CO2 every year
By 2010:
- Wind energy will save 110 million tons of CO2 every year
- More than 30% of the Europe’s total Kyoto protocol obligation with wind power
- Over 34 million European households will be powered by wind turbines
US and Wind Energy
- US wind energy growth rate – 24% annually over 5 years (1999 to 2004)
- Total wind energy generating capacity installed in US – 11,300 megawatts in 30 states
- Wind electric power serves more than 1,600,000 average US households
- The US wind power added in 2005 will offset the emission of 7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide – equivalent to keeping over 500,000 SUV’s off the road.
- Wind energy provides only 0.5% of the US electric power generation.
- US Wind energy growth goal – 6% of electricity by 2020
- US wind energy potential - 10 trillion kilowatt hours annually - more than twice the electricity generated in the US
- With only 4.6% of the world’s population, the United States consumes a full 25% of the world’s energy and emits more carbon dioxide than any other country. The United States consumes the most oil and natural gas in the world, and ranks second only to China in coal consumption.
- The United States imports about 59% of its gross total oil...23% of the imported oil comes from Persian Gulf countries.
North Carolina and Wind Energy
- According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, North Carolina has the capacity to produce 8 million MW of wind energy.
- As of 2005, there are only four installations in North Carolina (Carteret County) operating and providing power to 3 residences and a museum
- Except for a modest volume of hydro power, the energy consumed in North Carolina comes from outside sources.
- In 2002, North Carolina had three metropolitan areas listed in the 25 U.S. cities with the dirtiest air
- An American Lung Association report ranked Charlotte 9th, the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) 13th, and the Triad (Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem) 21st
- In North Carolina, 62% of electricity is generated by coal, 32% by nuclear power, and 1% by natural gas.
Our typical means of energy today, will continue to harm the world of tomorrow:
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