Wind Turbine Energy And Its Benefits

Wind Turbine Energy And Its Benefits

Wind Turbine Energy And Its Benefits

The harnessing of wind as a power source dates back centuries, beginning with sailboats. The first known windmill designs date to between the 6th and 10th centuries in Persia, and were believed to be used for pumping water. Windmills later evolved to perform other functions such as grinding grain and corn, or even drying clothes. There are many windmills today that still perform these functions, while the modern wind turbine has been developed specifically to generate electricity; these turbines are beneficial as a clean, renewable power source.

Wind is essentially a type of solar energy caused by the sun's irregular heating of the atmosphere, as well as the earth's rotation and surface features. A turbine's blades are connected to a shaft that rotates as these blades are spun by the wind. The spinning shaft, through a gear box, is connected to a generator which produces electricity. This electricity can then be routed into a regional power grid or directly into a residence or other building.

The two basic types of turbines are horizontal axis and vertical axis. Horizontal units usually have two or three blades and are set to either face into the breeze or run downwind, while a vertical unit, known as the Darrieus model, somewhat resembles an eggbeater.

The small wind turbines used for homes are usually less than 100 kilowatts. Some are hybrid units connected with photovoltaic systems, batteries, or diesel generators for use in remote areas too far from a power grid. A turbine for the home will work with an electric utility to provide power to the house, and during very windy periods may generate more electricity than is needed, effectively spinning the meter backwards; in this case ,the homeowner is then selling electricity back to the power company.

The benefits of wind turbine energy are numerous. In addition to being a clean power source that doesn't create pollution or use fossil fuels, the source itself is domestic and costs nothing to generate. In time, a turbine may eventually pay for itself while presently reducing dependence on the power grid. As a renewable energy source, wind can generate electricity at a competitive price to gas- or coal-fired power plants. Because they require little maintenance, these turbines are reliable and have low operating costs.

With newer technologies making wind turbines more efficient, and the American Recovery and Re-investment Act of 2009 providing a 30% tax credit for installation costs, the use of wind power is likely to see a significant increase in the coming years.

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