Given high fossil fuels prices and predictions of limited supplies in the future, wind energy is becoming a popular energy platform. Here is a guide to African wind energy.

African Wind Energy

Countries all over the world are looking for cheaper and more ecologically friendly ways to supply their population with energy. With the cost (and pollution levels) of traditional energy sources such as burning coal and other combustible resources being extremely high, countries are forced to look at other, more renewable energy sources to meet their needs. In Africa, countries are looking at alternative sources such as hydroenergy and solar energy. African wind energy is becoming especially important in this search.

Wind energy is one of the cleanest and most effective forms of harnessing a renewable form of energy. To obtain wind energy, large wind turbines, or propellers, are put in areas that receive a lot of wind. These turbines turn with the wind, and then this turning produces enough momentum to charge energy storage cells (such as batteries). This stored energy is then used to produce electricity for homes and entire communities.

One place where African wind energy is being used in large amounts is found in South Africa, in Cape Town. Here, the city has agreed to purchase wind energy generated by a pilot project that is being formed in Darling, a spot that is 50 km outside Cape Town. This deal, valued at about $10 million, is the first fully funded wind project in the country of South Africa. A total of 10 turbines will be installed, and this wind farm should generate around 13,200 MW h of energy, about .2% of the city's electricity needs.

Most of the energy used in South Africa today is produced by coal burning energy plants. These plants are inefficient, expensive and polluting, so the country is looking for alternatives to energy their homes. Economic growth has also lead to increased demand for electricity in South Africa. Cape Town hopes to obtain at least 10% of their electricity from African wind energy sources by the year 2020. This city is currently dependent on coal energy as well as nuclear energy, and was recently affected by problems in their nearby nuclear plant.

There are other countries on the continent of Africa that are trying pilot wind energy projects, both on large scales and small, home based turbine scales. With the need for electricity in Africa growing as both the economy and population of the continent expands, African wind energy is fast becoming a perfect solution to their energy needs.