Greenhouse Gases

We know electricity is a form of energy and energy is the ability to perform work or make things happen, we also know there are several sources of energy and “wind” happens to be one of those sources. Since “wind” is simply air in motion, what then is “wind energy” and how can we generate electricity from it? Well, based on my research, wind energy is the result of the sun’s energy interacting with the earth’s surfaces. It is also an ideal renewable energy source that is infinitely sustainable; pollution free; doesn’t use fuel; and doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, toxic or radioactive waste.
This type of energy is considered a green power technology because it has minor impacts on the environment. When using wind to generate electricity we use machines known as turbines and this turbines use blades that are connected to a drive shaft to collect the winds’ kinetic energy which creates a lift that causes them to turn and then produces electricity using an electric generator. Okay now we know basics, how does this energy source reduce greenhouse gases? First of all, what are these “greenhouse gases”?
Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range . The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide (the principal greenhouse gas), methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. From definition, we know that generating electricity for wind does not produce any of these GHG. Before analyzing how efficient wind energy is in reducing GHG, let us consider some other sources of energy. These other sources include: hydropower (water), solar (sun), geothermal (heat) and nuclear.