subject: Energy From Wind - How Viable Is It? [print this page] Alternative energy sources are very much a topical issue nowadays, given how costly fuel has gotten. Wind energy is one such source, and the public eye has settled on the efficiency of wind farms. Making use of wind as an energy source means having a renewable power that is unbelievably clean. Wind is caused by differences in the temperature on the ground, which comes from the heat of the sun, so in essence wind power could be said to come from solar power. An electric current is thus derived from transforming the power of the wind.
Many nations are now employing wind farms as a way to fully use what power can be created by the wind. Similar to the propellers on an airplane, the blades of wind turbines, set up in large numbers in one spot, are used to capture the power of the wind. These farms are able to generate electricity in large amounts, when the wind turbines work unitedly. The promise of wind farms will become clear when you comprehend how they work. The way wind turbines operate is, the propeller turns a shaft when the gusts of wind turn the propeller blades. The turning of the shaft cranks a generator from which action electrical energy is produced. It utilizes the same principles as hydropower generation, except that wind power instead of flowing water is used.
One turbine by itself will not make energy for more than a household or farm, so it takes more than one to produce energy for a big area. When there is a huge grouping of wind turbines, such as a wind farm, working in concert, much electric power can be produced. The electrical energy made is adequate for running a whole town when you store it on an existing utility grid or in special large-scale battery cells. Nowadays wind turbines are so modernized that they can use wind coming from any direction, even when it is from inconsistent, variable angles.
The efficiency is enhanced also when the turbines are taller, or if the blades are larger. Because there are so many factors that must be analyzed, it is tough to figure out the exact efficiency of wind turbines. There is no constant, when it comes to wind farms, since they deviate so much in terrain, size of turbines, and the amount of wind. Nevertheless, the standard turbine converts about 20% of the power in wind to electricity. Prime production efficiency is achieved when the wind blows at no less than 5 mph, and not more than 20 miles per hour.
While it is not as constant as solar, wind power is more efficient, being rated as 20% efficient versus solar at approximately 14%. Wind technology is advancing, and when put side by side with other renewable energy sources, it is favorable. As a kind of alternative energy, it is regarded as increasingly vital, but is not yet employed worldwide. Among the leading governments in the use of wind power is Germany.
