Wind energy

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Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of the wind in order to generate electricity through wind turbines. The generated electricity can be used to power various greenhouse operations, including heating, cooling, lighting, and irrigation. The power generation depends on the wind speed - thus there is a heavy dependence on the geographical location and local wind patterns. The potential generation of wind power can further have daily and seasonal variation. For instance, coastal and mountainous areas tend to have higher wind speeds. Local topology, vegetation, and building structures can also significantly affect the average wind speed, hence local wind speeds should be used to determine the feasibility of wind power for any region.

Contribution to energy balance and resource use of greenhouses:

Electricity generated from wind turbines can supply power to climate-conditioning equipment such as heat pumps, forced ventilation, mechanical dehumidification, as well as for artificial illumination, which contribute to the internal climate of the greenhouse and its energy and resource use.

Possible steps towards sustainable, energy-efficient greenhouses

Similar to solar power, wind is also intermittently available. One consideration to keep in mind is that the variation in availability of wind power is more unpredictable than that of solar power (which predictably varies over the day and across seasons). Also, on cloudy days, electric power generation by solar panel may be reduced, but on days without wind the turbine will not generate electricity at all. Thus, it is essential to combine wind-power generation with other electricity sources such as solar PV panels or electrical storage in form of batteries to achieve more reliable availability of renewable power.

Possible strategies to address this problem are:

• Grid Integration by using energy storage (such as batteries) and/or smart grids

• Forecasting of accurate wind energy for better alignment of supply with demand.

• Using demand Response programs which can encourage consumers to shift their electricity usage to times when wind energy production is higher and prices are low. For instance, an e-boiler can be used to heat up the heat buffer or boiler.

Addressing the mismatch between wind energy generation and electricity demand is an ongoing challenge, and solutions may vary depending on geographic location, grid infrastructure, and policy decisions. A combination of grid improvements, energy storage, forecasting, and demand-side strategies is typically employed to make the best use of wind energy while ensuring a reliable and stable electricity supply.