With wind energy becoming the fastest growing renewable electricity- generating technology in the world, it’s not unusual to spot an array of great wind turbines perched atop a hillside or dotting a coastline, using the most available source in the world to churn out energy.

Systems generally consist of an array of wind turbines, battery packs for energy storage and diesel generator backup to cover low-wind or maintenance periods. Some systems are successfully using solar power to augment wind power generation.

Global installations of wind energy sys- tems have grown dramatically —from a total capacity of 2, 8 gigawatts (GW) in 1993 to almost 45 GW at the close of 2004. Wind is projected to supply 3% of world electricity in 2030. In the EU, this figure could reach 10% or more.

The most remarkable evidence of wind power’s potential as a viable sustainable energy is its effectiveness in bringing electrical power to areas in the world that previously were without it. Many experiments are being conducted globally and results are positive.

One such experiment electrified Isla Tac, one of the Chiloe Islands off the Chilean coast. The island could not be reached by any electrical grid, and diesel generators were too expensive to operate.

The system currently includes two wind turbines, battery pack and a diesel generator backup. It was in October 2000 when it began power production for 82 island buildings, comprised of individual homes, a school and a community centre.

“During the first months of operation, the island load was approximately 50 kilowatt hours (kwh) a day, providing about 630 wh per family,” said Nelson Stevens, Director at Wireless Energy who maintain the equipment. “In 2005, that number has climbed to 130 kwh, which accounts for more families, larger refrigeration loads and boat repair and other workshop loads. Nelson says the village now has about 100 families, a health clinic, and a many new workshops in addition to the school and community centre.

The community would like to add one or two more wind turbines to allow them to power more workshops and new tourism facilities.

Just 266 residents occupy 25 house- holds in this village located in the Zardaloo Valley, Sibi District of Balochistan, Pakistan. After a year’s resource monitoring for wind and solar resources, it was determined that wind power would be the cheaper alternative on a cost per kilowatt basis than solar power at this site. This was critical since average household incomes barely exceeded €1000 per year and unemployment was rampant.

With the wind powered system, most households report that their expendi- ture is between half and two-thirds their previous kerosene bills, in spite of the fact that they are now operating radios and other appliances. Produc- tive uses include a tyre and vehicle repair shop that is saving residents eight-hour round trips to the nearest town to get a flat fixed. Also included is a burgeoning chicken-raising programme, made possible by electric incubators, designed to help women of the village contribute to their family support. A community telephone has been installed and a satellite dish is planned for the near future. A recent update on the village’s progress reported that two people were saved from snake bites, a mortal wound before electricity, because the village clinic had the anecdote in the refrig- erator.

On the heels of the successful Durgai demonstration, other valley communi- ties are applying for assistance to join the programme. The power of the wind will light the valley’s next genera- tion world.