WIND ENERGY

Wind Energy

A wind farm requires roughly 17 acres of land to produce 1 megawatt of electricity.

Wind Turbine Basics

• Wind power is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy

• Basic principle is the conversion of the kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy

• Use large, specially shaped blades to "catch" moving air

• The wind causes the blades to rotate• Their motion spins an attached electrical

generator, producing electricity

Cont…

• the faster the wind is blowing• the more energy is transferred to the

blades• and generator and converted into electrical

power

TYPES

Types

• Horizontal wind turbine

• Vertical wind turbine

Types: horizontal

• the blades rotate on an axis that is parallel to the ground

• fixed at the top of a support tower• three-blade design seen at large-scale

wind farms uses the horizontal-axis design

Types: Vertical

• Vertical-axis turbines fix the blades to the sides of a pole running perpendicular to the ground

• with the electrical generator placed at the support base

• The blades can be placed at any desired height on the pole

CAPACITY

Capacity

• A single wind turbine can be small enough to provide partial power to a single home

• large enough to power a small town • The larger the rotor, the more wind• and therefore energy is captured by the

assembly• residential turbines are rated for a

maximum capacity below 30 kilowatts• the largest turbines can generate almost

five megawatts

PROS & CONS

Pros:

• do not require the burning of fuel to operate and generate

• Landowners can also receive rent payments

• this can prove to be a valuable year-round supplement to a farmer's income

• excess power can also sell to the power company.

Cons:

• an inadequate energy source to fulfill requirements

• Residents may be bothered by turbines' noise

• horizontal-axis rotating blades pose an inherent threat to birds

ARTICLE

How to choose a wind turbine

Introduction

• Wind is an enormously potent source of clean energy

• the wind resources in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions

• potentially meet up to 25 percent of the power needs of state

• Wind turbines aren't just for farmers • a home wind energy system can be

relatively unobtrusive

STEP 1:

• to ensure you're allowed to install a wind turbine on your property.

• Be sure to get a full rundown on height restrictions.

• make sure you check with your homeowners association to avoid complaints from your neighbors

STEP 2:

• Conduct an energy audit of your house • as well as where your home may be

wasting energy• Add up the watts you use for all your

energy needs on a monthly basis• consider whether you're over-consuming

energy by using brighter light bulbs, an old heating system or a higher thermostat setting than necessary, for instance.

STEP 3:

• Reducing your consumption may allow you to install a less expensive and smaller wind energy system.

STEP 4

• Decide where you'll install your turbine and how it will be mounted

• Avoid placing the turbine on your rooftop• Determine the typical direction of wind at

your location• and locate a spot upwind from buildings and

trees to ensure maximum wind flow• Your turbine will also need to be at least 30

feet above any wind barriers sitting within 300 feet

• These location specifics will help to determine the size of your turbine.

STEP 5

• Contact a nearby airport, weather station or university to learn the average wind speed in your area

• Keep in mind that wind speed increases with the height of the tower as well

• consider whether wind may slow or speed up in your specific location

• AEO = 0.01328 x D [to the second power] x V [to the third power],

• Complete this equation for several rotor sizes to determine which may work best.

STEP 6

• Ask the dealer to calculate how each model would perform in your specific location

• confirm they have at least a five-year warranty and strong testimonials

• Also, make sure they come with all necessary component parts

• so they'll be ready to install and use.