Wind turbines can turn the power of the wind into electricity that we all use. They can operate independently, supplying only one or a very small number of homes or businesses, or they can be grouped together to form part of a wind farm. This article explains how wind turbines work and why they are important to the future of energy.
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What is a wind turbine?
Wind turbines are modern versions of windmills. Simply put, turbines use the power of the wind to generate electricity.
Large wind turbines are the most visible, but a small wind turbine can be sold for personal use; for example to power a caravan train, or boat.
What is a wind farm?
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines. Electricity powers so many aspects of our lives, from charging our phones to making a cup of coffee or fueling our cars.
How do wind turbines work?
Let’s start with the most visible parts of the wind farm first: the towering white or light gray turbines. Each of these turbines consists of a set of propellers, a box next to them called an air basket, and a shaft. Even a breeze causes the blades to rotate, creating kinetic energy. The blades rotating in this way then also cause the shaft in the spokes to rotate, and a generator in the spokes converts this kinetic energy into electrical energy.
What happens to the current generated from the wind turbine next?
To connect to the national grid, electrical energy is then routed through a transformer on-site to boost the voltage on the national power system. At this stage, electricity is typically transferred to the National Grid Transmission Network, ready to be transmitted so that it can eventually be used in homes and businesses. In addition, a wind farm or a single wind turbine can generate electricity that is used exclusively by an individual or a small group of homes or businesses.
Why are wind turbines usually white or light gray?
Wind turbines tend to be white or very light gray – the idea is to make them as visible as possible. There is some discussion about whether they should be painted in other colors, especially green, in some contexts to help them better blend in with the environment.
How strong does the wind need to be for a wind turbine to work?
Wind turbines can operate in all conditions from very light to very strong wind speeds. Wind turbines generate electricity about 80% of the time, but not always at full capacity. When there is high wind, the wind turbine will close the door to prevent damage.
Where are wind farms located?
Wind farms tend to be located in the windiest places possible, to maximize the energy they can generate – this is why we will be more likely to see them on hillsides or coasts. Wind farms at sea are called offshore wind farms, while those on dry land are called onshore wind farms.
To understand more about onshore and offshore wind, join PC1EPC to follow the 5th Wind Power Summit event on July 7-8, 2022.
Summary, according to the National Grid site.
See more at: Energy storage solutions provided by PC1 Group
