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countries in the next decade. Wind energy is a domestic<br />
source of energy and can improve a nations degree of<br />
self-sufficiency. Wind power plants of, for example, 50<br />
MW can be in operation in less than a year from signing<br />
the contract.<br />
Wind turbines can be used competitively as a dispersed<br />
energy production technology in areas with dispersed<br />
electricity consumption.<br />
Wind power has proved to be a reliable technology.<br />
It is modular, more power can be added quickly as the<br />
demand increases and it is a cost effective technology in<br />
many developing areas and nations. The most common<br />
ownership of wind turbines are through a co-operative<br />
or community.<br />
Besides the classical applications, electricity producing<br />
wind turbines are used in hybrid systems, together<br />
with for example solar cells and a backup diesel-driven<br />
generator system. These integrated systems are very<br />
suitable in thinly populated areas or areas where<br />
electrification is not yet fully implemented. The advantage<br />
is that the investment in the wind turbine and solar<br />
cells can be paid for by the fuel saved for the diesel<br />
generator.<br />
Example:<br />
The Mexican village of Xcalac (pronounced Sca-Lac) is<br />
a fishing and tourist village of 250 people. It has some of<br />
the best fishing and skin-diving in Mexico, but is<br />
relatively undeveloped.<br />
The closest power lines are 110 km away and the<br />
cost to extend the grid to Xcalac has been estimated to<br />
$3.2 million. The village has been powered by diesel<br />
generators, but reliability of the diesels has been very<br />
poor.<br />
In 1992, Xcalac was re-electrified, at a cost of<br />
~$450,000, with a wind and solar hybrid system. Until<br />
mid-1995, the system did not have a working backup<br />
diesel, so the electricity came solely from wind and sun.<br />
Even now, the backup generator is used infrequently<br />
due to high operating costs.<br />
SOLAR ENERGY<br />
The first solar cells were developed at Bells Laboratories<br />
in the 1950s. The cost of the electricity delivered by<br />
these cells were a thousand times higher than the<br />
normal price of electricity. Today, the price is much<br />
closer to the price of a traditional system. The price of<br />
This solar power unit suitable for export<br />
to the developing world was developed by<br />
the University of Sydney. It consists of a<br />
combination of solar cells for electricity<br />
and sun panels for heating of water.<br />
Photo: Bull/Greenpeace.<br />
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