Wind Power

Wind power is one of the top sources of renewable energy. If you've ever been outside and have experienced a strong wind - that's wind power!

Wind turbines work like a toy pinwheel, (except that with a wind turbine, there is a generator connected, so it generates electricity).

In the following video, you can see inside a wind turbine, along with the ancestor of the wind turbine - a windmill from 1882, which is still pumping water. Windmills have been around for centuries, used originally for grinding grain, and then also for pumping water. The earliest recorded windmill was made in Persia in the 9th Century.

There has been a strong growth in the wind power industry throughout the world in the last few years, fueled in part by rising oil prices. Governments have introduced incentives that have supported the growth of wind power as a viable way to support a country's existing power grids.

Advantages of wind power include the strong availability of wind as a natural resource around the world, and the fact that it is an extremely "clean" form of energy. Resources are required to build a wind turbine, and in some cases, to enhance the electrical grid, but once it is in place, wind power can provide a significant amount of electricity.

Wind Farms

Wind farms are spreading rapidly in various parts of the world; a wind farm can be placed on uninhabited land, and in many cases, in Europe, North America and other areas, wind farms are created on existing farmland.

A wind farm is often a partnership where several companies get together, including an area utility company and a wind turbine manufacturer, and they approach land owners and local government officials to propose the creation of a wind farm. The process could be initiated by any of these kinds of parties, including communities themselves.

The process can take awhile, although in some cases, if there is little opposition, the drive towards renewable energy might provide a way to speed government approval, also known as "zoning".

Because of the rapid growth in wind power, there is a shortage of workers. One of the significant needs in the wind power industry around the world is for workforce redevelopment.

(A wind farm in Spain)

Offshore

In addition to land-based wind farms, there are a number of areas that have built offshore wind farms. It can be more tricky to install wind turbines in the water -- you have to sink pylons deep into into the ground beneath the ocean, but this kind of wind farm can have advantages for countries with limited land.

Small Scale

There's also small scale or "micro" wind power, which can be installed near a home, or on top of a house or building. Micro wind power does require wind, but some new designs have been tested that require relatively less wind.

Wind Maps

Whether you're building a wind farm or installing a single wind turbine on your farm or on top of the building where you live, it helps to know what the wind conditions are like, and there are wind maps available to give you an idea.

The map above shows wind power for the United States, and the color coding indicates "wind density". Wind power density tells you how much energy is available at a certain location, which could be converted by a wind turbine, and is measured in watts per square meter.

RELATED LINKS

For a directory of helpful green links, including free online videos on renewable energy, organizations and related books, see the LINKS section on www.rgbgreen.org

Windmills: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmills

Wind power: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power

Wind farms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_farms

Wind Density: http://www.awea.org/faq/basicwr.html

Suggested Topics/Questions to Explore/Discuss

Noise: Wind turbines create some sound, which has caused some residents to complain about noise pollution.

Safety: How safe are wind turbines? how close can they be put to places where people live?

Percentage: In your country, what percentage of the total required electricity is currently produced by wind power?

Grid: National electricity grids have times of the day when usage peaks, and seasonal variations, such as when people use air conditioners. How does the consistency of wind power relate to an electricity grid?


Learning Techniques

Try searching for more information using Google, YouTube or Wikipedia, by coming up with words and phrases for questions or concerns. You can also add depth to your learning by pursuing opposing viewpoints.

Ex: Try searching for "wind power" on YouTube, or "wind power" + "noise pollution" on Google