The Challenge

^Energyⁱⁿ^Synergy^with ^Nature

^{The Challenge...}

The challenges facing wind power electrical energy development today are numerous and multi-faceted. Real problems and folk misconceptions dominate the debate:

Inappropriate Electrical Transmission Infrastructure - Frequently the best wind resources exist where electrical transmission lines are weakest. Often large wind resources cannot be developed simply because there are insufficient electrical transmission facilities to bring the electricity of market.

Inadequate Public Sector Knowledge of Renewable Wind Energy - Some folks wrongly believe that modern wind turbines are not only noisy but a cause of high avian mortality. Some also wrongly believe that the lights go out when the wind stops blowing. These misconceptions are not true.

Disparities in Government Tax and Subsidy Policies - A lack of consistency exists in the way governments tax and/or subsidize fossil verses renewable forms of electrical energy production. Provincial and State governments, along with the Federal Governments of both the United States and Canada, are now beginning to review policies with a view toward supporting renewable forms of energy production.

Wind Resources can only supply a small fraction of the power needed today - Many believe that wind power can realistically provide only a small fraction of today's North American energy demands. Modern wind farms today supply energy sufficient to power large segments of the market demand in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

Wind Power Projects are expensive - It is widely believed that commercial grid-connected wind farms are very expensive to build and operate. Improvements in design and manufacturing technologies have combined to make wind power more competitive than some traditional forms of electric power generation.

Until now only huge mega-projects were considered practical and economic. Thus, today most electrical transmission systems are founded in "Bigger is Better" roots. The electrical "grid" (distribution system) throughout North America and much of the world is based on a very few, very large generators supplying a grid that has not been designed for "embedded generation" such as rural wind farms. The challenge is thus: "How do we restructure our electrical distribution 'grid' and generation system to allow for the addition of thousands of 'embedded' generators like wind turbines and commercial wind farms?"

There is enough wind resource in North America to power many thousands of wind turbines like the thousands already in sustained use throughout Europe and elsewhere. North America also has another advantage - enough land mass to support the installation of thousands of large, grid-connected wind turbines.

In today's world 'bigger' often only means more 'vulnerable.' Energy supplies around the world are less secure today than ever before. This, coupled with a finite fossil fuel resource and the increasing impact of 'greenhouse' emissions and the possibility of global warming, signals a need to adopt renewable, modular, emission-free forms of energy generation like wind power generation.

Communities are asking for more information and discussion about Wind Power Generation. Helix Synergy welcomes inquiries and wishes to promote higher levels of discussion and understanding about a renewable resource that is not only both clean and sustainable, but secure for the benefit of present and future generations.