Wind Energy

wind turbines

wind technology

Wind energy means the process by which the wind generates mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used to convert mechanical power into electricity. A group of wind turbines can make electricity for the utility grid. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on.

sizes of wind turbines

Utility-scale turbines range from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts. Turbines may be grouped together into wind farms, which provide bulk power to the electrical grid.

Small turbines, below 100 kilowatts, are used for homes, telecommunications dishes, or water pumping. Small turbines are sometimes used in connection with diesel generators, batteries, and photovoltaic systems. These systems are called hybrid wind systems and are typically used in remote, off-grid locations, where a connection to the utility grid is not available. The photo shows the largest world wind turbine installed in UK.

types of wind turbines

Wind turbines can be horizontal-axisor vertical-axisdesign. Horizontal-axis wind turbines have typically two or three blades. Horizontal-axis wind turbines are most common today, constituting nearly all of the "utility-scale" (100 kilowatts, kW, capacity and larger) turbines in the global market.

| 01.01.2009 | Read more| Print |

advantages

Wind energy does not pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Wind turbines do not produce atmospheric CO2 emissions that cause acid rain or greenhouse gasses.
Wind energy is a domestic source of energy.
Wind energy relies on the renewable power of the wind, which cannot be used up.
Wind energy is one of the lowest-priced renewable energy technologies available today, costing between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending upon the wind resource and project financing of the particular project.
Wind turbines can be built in farms and ranches, benefiting the economy in rural areas. Farmers and ranchers can continue to work the land because the wind turbines use only a fraction of the land. Wind power plant owners make rent payments to farmer or rancher for the use of the land.

disadvantages

Depending on the wind site, the wind farm may or may not be cost competitive. The wind power technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators.
The major challenge is that the wind is intermittent and it does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind energy cannot be stored (unless batteries are used); and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. Good wind sites are often located in remote locations or offshore, far from cities where the electricity is needed.
Wind resource development may compete with other uses for the land and those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation.
There are concerns over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and sometimes birds have been killed by flying into the rotors. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly locating wind plants.