Wind power/Geography
Background knowledge
From source: Factsheet - Wind energy - Center for sustainable systems - University of Michigan
Average annual wind speeds of 6.5m/s or greater at 80m [altitude] are generally considered commercially viable.
- If wind turbines were everywhere, we'd generate far more raw power than we need:
(...)( Global onshore and offshore wind power potential at commercial turbine hub heights could provide 840,000 TWh of electricity annually. Total global electricity consumption from all sources in 2018 was about 23,398 TWh. ... ... Similarly, the annual continental U.S. wind potential of 68,000 TWh greatly exceeds annual U.S. electricity consumption of 3,802 TWh.
)
But one question remains...
Do the people live near the places that get a lot of wind?
TO DO: For better visualization, this page needs a new map that superimposes the two - and also shows (for scale) the maximum viable distance that electricity can transmitted. [discussion needed]
Does it matter tho?
How important is it for people to live near wind power anyway?
- In a wind/hydrogen scenario, hydrogen gas can probably be shipped a long distance anyway.
- Maybe people could set up a lot of industries
(...)( like what? it should be something energy-intensive but not labor-intensive, since not a lot of people around ) "in the middle of nowhere" where the wind blows strongly?