Wind power blasts ahead

A recent report by the World Wind Energy Association, WWEA, showed the number of wind turbines built in 2012 was the highest number ever recorded. Most of them were erected in Europe, Asia and North America. Now, the industry is picking up in Latin America and Eastern Europe as well. About a hundred countries use wind power, which now covers three percent of the world's electricity needs.

Supporters of wind energy say that the technology is envionmentally friendly and presents fewer safety risks than other energy options. In terms of energy security, wind power is considered an affordable option for countries that are trying to reduce their need for imported energy. One kilowatt hour costs between five and ten euro cents.

Wind turbines now come in many different sizes. Smaller wind turbines can be used to power a small village or just a few houses, like here in Peru. Demand is growing and new technologies in this sector are becoming more broadly available.

At the top end of the wind power industry things are really picking up. Commercial wind turbines are getting bigger and bigger. This device can produce 3.4 megawatts of power - enough to provide electricity for 1900 homes in Germany.

Inland wind energy use has experienced an upswing in Germany. The country is a leading producer of tall turbines, with larger blades, that even work in forests and areas with low-winds.

Offshore wind farms are still something of a rarity. Installation and maintenance is difficult, energy production costs are almost twice as high as those on land. So far British offshore wind farms are the most productive, generatng three gigawatts of power annually. But the industry is seeing growth here: half of the world's offshore wind turbines were built in 2012.

Denmark is one of the world's most prolific users of wind power. Some 30 percent of Denmark's electricity needs are covered by wind. That figure is expected to double by 2020. Experts believe that wind power coverage of 40 percent of the world's electricity needs should be possible by the year 2050.

New technology has made it possible to create hydrogen gas from wind-powered electricity. This gas can then be stored and used at a later stage. Being able to store renewable energy, so that demand can be accommodated even when there is no wind, is very important if Germany is going achieve the goals of its 'energy turnaround' (known in German as the 'Energiewende').

In Germany, many wind farms belong to locals. Here in the small village of Schlalach, residents share in the profits from the sale of the electricity produced by their turbines. Experts say these projects ensure a healthy future for wind power by improving the acceptance of wind turbines in local communities.

Some 100,000 people are employed in the German wind power industry. China and the United States have the most wind farms of any country worldwide. The most important meeting of wind power industry experts occurs at the 'Wind' trade fair in Husum.

About nine percent of electricity needs in Germany are covered by wind power. With new wind parks being planned across the country, that figure is expected to climb over 16 percent by 2020.