Wind Power

Wind power is a form of kinetic (movement) energy, that is caused by moving air. The energy starts with the sun, which heats the air and, in such a way, creates a flow of air to colder areas. Wind power can be used to generate electricity. In fact, wind power is the world’s fastest growing source of green electricity.^{ResearchAndMarkets.com}

 

When generating electricity from wind power, wind-electric turbines are used to capture the energy of the wind. The blades of the rotors outside the structure are specially designed to catch the maximum amount of wind. When the wind blows, it causes the blades to turn (speed depends on amount of wind available). The blades are connected to a shaft that spins and sends the energy captured to a generator. The generator converts the kinetic energy into electricity.

 

 

Wind turbines don’t produce any greenhouse emissions that can harm the environment. There are a lot of places next to the coast where the wind (almost) permanently blows. A great advantage is that a wind turbine can be on a farm with cattle grazing next to it, as it's small in size and doesn't hold any danger to animals on the ground.

 

 

With wind energy, the costs and wind conditions have to be taken into account. When generating electricity, many turbines would be needed to produce the same amount of energy of the equivalent fossil fuel power plant, and turbines are expensive. Even then the amount produced isn't guaranteed, because the strength of the wind varies, so wind turbines cannot produce a constant amount of energy. Many people are against building wind turbines, as they feel that it ruins the natural landscapes. In some areas, many birds have reportedly been killed by wind turbines.