A REVIEW OF POWER GENERATION FROM WIND IN AUSTRALIA

With recent surge in fossil fuel prices, demands for cleaner renewable energy sources, wind turbines have become a viable technology for power generation. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emitted into our atmosphere have resulted on what many scientists believe is due to climate change. To tackle climate change, many of the world's developed countries have agreed on a policy to cute down on its carbon emission. Australia has agreed on a renewable energy target of 20 per cent by the year 2020. Twenty per cent of Australia's energy generation must come from renewable energy sources by this period. This paper will examine the importance wind energy as an alternative source of energy to fossil fuel based energy both globally and locally. Wind energy is fastest growing renewable energy in the world. It has the potential to rival the cost competitiveness of conventional energy sources. Wind energy is a reliable and sustainable with a mature technology and a proven track record.