| Given high fossil fuels prices and predictions of limited | | | | Here, the city has agreed to purchase wind energy |
| supplies in the future, wind energy is becoming a | | | | generated by a pilot project that is being formed in |
| popular energy platform. Here is a guide to African | | | | Darling, a spot that is 50 km outside Cape Town. This |
| wind energy. | | | | deal, valued at about $10 million, is the first fully funded |
| African Wind Energy | | | | wind project in the country of South Africa. A total of |
| Countries all over the world are looking for cheaper | | | | 10 turbines will be installed, and this wind farm should |
| and more ecologically friendly ways to supply their | | | | generate around 13,200 MW h of energy, about .2% of |
| population with energy. With the cost (and pollution | | | | the city's electricity needs. |
| levels) of traditional energy sources such as burning | | | | Most of the energy used in South Africa today is |
| coal and other combustible resources being extremely | | | | produced by coal burning energy plants. These plants |
| high, countries are forced to look at other, more | | | | are inefficient, expensive and polluting, so the country is |
| renewable energy sources to meet their needs. In | | | | looking for alternatives to energy their homes. |
| Africa, countries are looking at alternative sources | | | | Economic growth has also lead to increased demand |
| such as hydroenergy and solar energy. African wind | | | | for electricity in South Africa. Cape Town hopes to |
| energy is becoming especially important in this search. | | | | obtain at least 10% of their electricity from African |
| Wind energy is one of the cleanest and most | | | | wind energy sources by the year 2020. This city is |
| effective forms of harnessing a renewable form of | | | | currently dependent on coal energy as well as nuclear |
| energy. To obtain wind energy, large wind turbines, or | | | | energy, and was recently affected by problems in their |
| propellers, are put in areas that receive a lot of wind. | | | | nearby nuclear plant. |
| These turbines turn with the wind, and then this turning | | | | There are other countries on the continent of Africa |
| produces enough momentum to charge energy | | | | that are trying pilot wind energy projects, both on large |
| storage cells (such as batteries). This stored energy is | | | | scales and small, home based turbine scales. With the |
| then used to produce electricity for homes and entire | | | | need for electricity in Africa growing as both the |
| communities. | | | | economy and population of the continent expands, |
| One place where African wind energy is being used in | | | | African wind energy is fast becoming a perfect |
| large amounts is found in South Africa, in Cape Town. | | | | solution to their energy needs. |