Latvia uses only 5% of wind power’s potential, current data suggests. Even though this type of energy is more efficient and has less of an impact on the environment. Lithuania and Estonia, on the other hand, produced five times of that.
Wind energy is the stepping stone that could potentially reduce Latvia’s energy dependence, reducing the hold of foreign importers, and allowing the industry to develop this environmentally friendly field of energy production, notes the Latvian Wind Power Producers Union (LWP).
Latvia is historically very serious about resources like water and wood, which are the country’s national treasure and therefore not looking at the wind resource. But the time has come to use this resource in manufacturing, 4 Energia Board member Toms Naburgs underlines.
10 facts in favour of wind energy: 1.The use of wind energy dates back seven thousand years in human history. 2.The first wind generators in Latvia were built in 1995. 3.The turbines of wind power plants produce energy if the speed of the wind is 2.5 to 25 m/sec. 4.Wind power plants become taller and taller over time. The average height nowadays reaches a 30-storey building.
5.The power output of wind turbines ranges from a few kW to more than 7 500 kW. 6.Wind turbines consist of approximately 8 000 mechanical parts. 7.Lithuania and Estonia each produce 45% of energy from wind power. Latvia only produces 10%. 8.The European Union supports the use of renewable energy sources. 9.Europe’s largest producers of wind energy are Germany and Finland. 10.It is expected that wind energy industry in Europe will employ 520 000 people by 2020.
Source: Baltic News Network
http://bnn-news.com/entrepreneurs-call-winds-unused-potential-97546