Wind Energy Potential

Listen

06/26/2009

Jun. 26, 2009

Wind Energy Potential

Click

to enlarge images

A new report says wind turbines have the potential to supply all the world's energy needs. Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers describe using global estimates of local wind production to determine that a land-based network of 2.5 megawatt turbines installed in non-urban, non-forested, non-ice covered areas could supply all of the world’s electricity needs. We'll talk with the authors of the report about their findings, and the barriers to putting such a plan into practice.

Produced by Flora Lichtman, Correspondent and Managing Editor, Video

Guests

Revis James
Director,
Energy Technology Assessment Center

Electric Power Research Institute

Washington DC
Michael McElroy
Professor of Environmental Sciences

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Jun. 26, 2009