Electricity Generation from Wind

The picture shows a seven storey-high 17m wind turbine producing 60 KW of power from a wind with a velocity of 45 km/h.

Wind Turbine

Wind turbines are used to produce electricity. The machines that generate electricity are the most conventional type with airfoil propeller employing two to three tapered blades. Electricity can be produced by rotating an armature in between the poles of a strong magnet. The shaft of the armature of a generator is connected to the wind turbine by a connecting rod. When the wind rotates the blades of the wind turbine, the shaft rotates, rotating the armature in turn, thereby producing electricity.

Sub Topics

Advantages of Wind Energy
Limitations of Wind Energy

Advantages of Wind Energy

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One advantage of wind energy is that it is available everywhere and in plenty. We will never run out of wind power. It does not create any kind of pollution; like smoke and harmful gases or harmful radiations.

Limitations of Wind Energy

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Even though wind energy is available in plenty, wind is not available at all times. It is unpredictable and not dependable. Hence to produce maximum amount of energy from wind, wind energy maps are prepared, which give us an idea of the average wind speed throughout the year at different places. The maps give annual average, average for January (a typical low wind month) and an average for July (a typical windy month). The maps also provide information about energy available in one square meter of a wind stream at about 10m high above the ground level.

Wind Farm

For large scale production, a 'wind farm' with a hundred or more wind turbines is needed. The turbines must be sited in windy areas which are often the most attractive parts of the landscape.