More and More Wind turbines: Will the air ever stand still?

As part of the energy transition, we are switching from fossil fuels to methods with which we extract energy from our environment. This happens through both solar systems and wind power plants. This raises the appropriate question: Is this energy really renewable or have we at some point taken all the wind out of the atmosphere? We classify the situation and compare humanity's energy needs with the available solar and wind energy.

Wind farm
The number of wind turbines continues to increase: Has all the wind been sucked off at some point?

With the switch to renewable energies, the course is set for a safe and environmentally friendly energy supply. But are our energy sources really renewable? If we continue to withdraw wind from the atmosphere, isn't it logical that the atmosphere will stand still at some point? Where does the new wind come from?

The term maritime wind deceleration is often used by opponents of the energy transition in social networks. The tapping of the wind is supposed to stop existing circulation systems and even promote longer heat periods in summer. In order to understand the topic, it is worth taking a look at the energy balance of our earth system.

Wind is renewable

The important insight at the front: Yes, wind is actually renewable. Winds are created in our atmosphere by pressure and temperature contrasts, which in turn are caused by radiation differences. An example? Trade winds! They arise because the maximum solar radiation prevails at the equator, more precisely along the intratropical convergence zone. The air there warms up and rises upwards. So it has to draw air from the usual tropics and subtropics. Another example: thermal weds. They are caused by differential warming and cooling at mountain lakes.

So while we are able to convert wind to electrical energy, it is important to understand that the wind itself is already a converted form of solar energy. Our only (notable) external energy source is the sun.

Is the energy of the sun sufficient for all of us?

Of course, the facts have not yet been clarified, but only postponed. So in the end, we transform part of the solar energy into electrical energy to meet our needs. On the one hand directly through solar systems, on the other hand indirectly via wind turbines. But how much energy does the sun give us?

On the outside of the atmosphere, the solar radiation reaches us with a power density of approx. 1360 W/m². This number is called a solar constant, although it is actually not really constant, but is subject to certain fluctuations in terms of solar activity. However, not everything of this performance penetrates to the ground. On the one hand, of course, the sun does not shine everywhere at the same time, on the other hand, not always at right angles. In addition, there are clouds and aerosols that reflect part of the solar energy in the atmosphere.

On average, the energy contribution of the sun into the earth's system is about a quarter of the solar constant, i.e. 340 W/m². With a surface of the earth of 510 million km², the sun feeds on average with a power of 170 petawatts. The earth's population requires an average power of about 17 terawatts. So the sun provides us with 10000 times the amount of energy we need as an entire humanity.

So you can be unconcerned about the available amount of wind and solar energy. From a global point of view, the influence is far too small to have a noticeable influence.