subject: Wind Energy And Its Uses [print this page] The world is faced with many challenges and power is one of them. Most companies use electric power that is usually generated using HEP (hydroelectric power). This source is not always reliable and many governments and people around the world are looking for renewable sources. There are many uses of wind energy and windmills have been used for many purposes. One of them is to drive turbines that produce electricity.
The process starts with the construction of wide blades for windmills which trap wind as it blows. The large surface area provides the maximum pressure from it and generates the largest possible force to drive turbines that are attached to a shaft fixed on the blades.
Air will be available in unlimited supply forever. Air currents are responsible for the creation of the wind and therefore it will never run out as long as there is air. Water on the other hand is not unlimited since rivers can run dry.
For a long time windmills have been used to convert wind energy into a form that is usable for humans. They turned shafts that were used to grind cereals like maize wheat and barley for consumption by people. They saved themselves the trouble of using a mortar and crusher to grind them. This would otherwise be a very tiring and long process to carry out. The other alternative would have been to use crushing stones to grind them.
Areas that have water shortages are also ideal for the use of wind energy. Windmills are attached to pumps for drawing water out of boreholes. Desert areas are the some of the windiest areas. Construction of windmills is guaranteed to solve the water shortage problems that they face every year.
Windmills do not produce any exhaust and this makes them ideal for use in areas that need detoxification. The environmental friendliness of wind energy is one characteristic that many people find desirable.
Farming is also another area where natural power is suitable. It does not affect the ecology of the area where it is used and therefore will not affect plant life. Irrigation is an activity that is successfully carried out with wind power.
Hill tops are the perfect place to harvest this potential energy because the velocity is at its maximum here. A new phenomenon has come up with the establishment of wind farms. These are a series of power generating fans that are planted right in the path of the wind.
The places where it is most widely used are in England and North America where many farmers use it to support their farming equipment and power up their houses. This is greatly economical and saves them the high costs they would otherwise incur.
