What is wind energy?

- Wind energy (or wind

power) refers to the process
of creating electricity using
the wind, or air flows that
occur naturally in the earth’s
atmosphere. Modern wind
turbines are used to capture
kinetic energy from the wind
and generate electricity.
3 main types of wind energy:
1. Utility-scale wind: Wind
turbines that range in size
from 100 kilowatts to
several megawatts, where
the electricity is delivered to
the power grid and
distributed to the end user
by electric utilities or power
system operators.

2. Distributed or "small" wind:

Single small wind turbines
below 100 kilowatts that are
used to directly power a
 home, farm or small
business and are not
connected to the grid.

3. Offshore Wind: Wind

turbines that are erected in
large bodies of water,
usually on the continental
shelf. Offshore wind
turbines are larger than
land-based turbines and can
generate more power.
Advantages of Wind Energy
1. It's a clean fuel source.
Wind energy doesn't
pollute the air like power
plants that rely on
combustion of fossil fuels,
such as coal or natural
gas.
2. Wind turbines don't
produce atmospheric
emissions that cause acid
rain or greenhouse
gasses.
3.Wind energy is far more
ecofriendly than the burning
of fossil fuels for electricity.

Disadvantages of Wind
Energy

-Rotor blades, visual impacts,

and death of birds that fly
into the rotors (avian/bat
mortality).
Aesthetic impact: Many
people are concerned with
the visual effects that wind
turbines have on the
beautiful scenery of nature.
They believe that giant wind
turbines distract viewers
from the beautiful
surroundings. Fig. 2 shows
just how big wind turbines
can be.
Wildlife: Wind turbines may
be dangerous to flying
animals. Many birds and bats
have been killed by flying
into the rotors. Experts are
now conducting research to
learn more about the effects
that wind turbines have on
marine habitats.
Remoteness of location:
Although this may be an
advantage (placing wind
turbines in desolate areas, far
away from people), it may
also be a disadvantage. The
cost of travel and
maintenance on the turbines
increases and is time
consuming. Offshore wind
turbines require boats and
can be dangerous to manage.
Noise: Some wind turbines
tend to generate a lot of noise
which can be unpleasant
Safety at Sea: In the darkness
at night, it may be difficult for
incoming boats to see wind
turbines thus leading to
collisions.
Wind Energy and Its Uses
1. Generation of Electricity -
Windmills harness wind
energy to create electricity.
Its a clean & green form of
energy.
2. Transportation – The
power of the wind is used
for propulsion in sailing
vessels and sail boats
3. Pumping water - Similar to
windmills the energy from
the wind is used to drive a
pump.
4. Milling Grain - Grain
milling is certain locations
are done using wind
energy.
5. Sports - A number of sports
use wind energy as their
source like Wind Surfing,
Land Surfing, Kite
boarding
How wind turbines work:
When the wind blows past a
wind turbine, its blades capture
the wind’s kinetic energy and
rotate, turning it into
mechanical energy. This
rotation turns an internal shaft
connected to a gearbox, which
increases the speed of rotation
by a factor of 100. That spins a
generator that produces
electricity.
How wind energy gets to you
The turbines in a wind farm are
connected so the electricity they
generate can travel from the
wind farm to the power grid.
Once wind energy is on the
main power grid, electric
utilities or power operators will
send the electricity to where
people need it.
Smaller transmission lines,
called distribution lines, collect
electricity generated at the wind
project and transport it to larger
"network" transmission lines,
where the electricity can travel
across long distances to the
locations where it is needed.
Finally, smaller distribution
lines deliver electricity directly
to your town, home or business.