Wind energy is electricity created from the naturally flowing air in the Earth's atmosphere.
As a renewable
resource that won't get depleted through use, its impact on the environment and climate crisis is significantly
smaller than burning fossil fuels.
Wind energy can be created by something as simple as a set of 8-foot sails positioned to capture prevailing
winds that then turn a stone and grind grain (a gristmill). Or it can be as complex as a 150-foot vane turning a
generator that produces electricity to be stored in a battery or deployed over a power distribution system. Wind
Turbine is the best example here.
Site Selection
The best locations to place a wind turbine are the tops of rounded hills, on open plains (or open water for
offshore wind), and on mountain passes where the wind is naturally funneled through (producing regular high
wind speeds). Generally, the higher the elevation the better, since higher elevations usually have more wind.
Wind energy forecasting is an important tool for siting a wind turbine. There are a variety of wind speed maps
and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the U.S. that provide these details.
Then, a site-specific survey should be done to assess the local wind conditions and to determine the best
direction to place the wind turbines for maximum efficiency. For at least a year, projects on land track wind
speed, turbulence, and direction, as well as air temperatures and humidity. Once that information is determined,
turbines that will deliver predictable results can be built.
The wind isn't the only factor for siting turbines. Developers for a wind farm must consider how close the farm
is to transmission lines (and cities that can utilize the power); possible interference to local airports and plane
traffic; underlying rock and faults; flight patterns of birds and bats; and local community impact (noise and
other possible effects).
Types of Wind Energy
Utility Scale Wind Energy
Offshore Wind Energy
Small Scale or Distributed Wind Energy
Wind energy works with the help of the wind turbines. Wind turbines work on a simple principle: instead of
using electricity to make wind—like a fan—wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the
propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity.
Wind is a form of solar energy caused by a combination of three concurrent events:
1. The sun unevenly heating the atmosphere
2. Irregularities of the earth's surface
3. The rotation of the earth.
Wind flow patterns and speeds - Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing,
flying a kite, and even generating electricity. The terms "wind energy" and "wind power" both describe the
process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. This mechanical power can be
used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical
power into electricity.
Types of Wind Turbines
HORIZONTAL-AXIS TURBINES - Horizontal-axis wind turbines are what many people picture when
thinking of wind turbines. Most commonly, they have three blades and operate "upwind," with the turbine
pivoting at the top of the tower so the blades face into the wind.
VERTICAL-AXIS TURBINES - Vertical-axis wind turbines come in several varieties, including the eggbeater-
style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor. These turbines are omnidirectional, meaning they don’t
need to be adjusted to point into the wind to operate.
The Power of Wind
Wind turbines harness the wind—a clean, free, and widely available renewable energy source—to generate
electric power. A wind turbine turns wind energy into electricity using the aerodynamic force from the rotor
blades, which work like an airplane wing or helicopter rotor blade. When wind flows across the blade, the air
pressure on one side of the blade decreases. The difference in air pressure across the two sides of the blade
creates both lift and drag. The force of the lift is stronger than the drag and this causes the rotor to spin. The
rotor connects to the generator, either directly (if it’s a direct drive turbine) or through a shaft and a series of
gears (a gearbox) that speed up the rotation and allow for a physically smaller generator. This translation of
aerodynamic force to the rotation of a generator creates electricity.