| Wind generators are one of the most reliable | | | | a few hundred watts. |
| forms of alternative power sources on the planet. | | | | On the high end of the spectrum, turbines can be |
| They manufacture power by transforming the | | | | as big as 300 feet in diameter and are capable of |
| kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy. | | | | generating two to five megawatts of power. |
| This energy is then either harnessed directly (in | | | | As with photovoltaic solar power generation, |
| the case of windmills, for example, which were | | | | there might be rebates available for construction |
| once used to change wheat into flour, or to pump | | | | of wind turbines, and excess energy can be sold |
| water for farming) or coupled to a generator that | | | | back to the power company. |
| creates a direct current that can be used in a | | | | Wind velocity is affected by topography and |
| more general sense. | | | | increases with height above the ground, so wind |
| In this article I will be talking about the type of | | | | turbines are generally installed on top of large |
| wind generators that produce electric energy, as | | | | towers. |
| this is more useful to us in our daily lives. | | | | In a typical application, the wind turbine sits on top |
| Wind turbines are basically large windmills, with | | | | of a tall tower and generates low voltage direct |
| gigantic blades that rotate in the wind and produce | | | | current, which is used to charge a battery store. |
| power from the conversion of the wind’s | | | | This stored potential energy is ultimately used by |
| force. Wind turbines are made of plastic, | | | | routing it through an inverter that changes the |
| aluminum, steel and numerous other space-age | | | | low voltage direct current power into an |
| metals. | | | | alternating current that can be used in household |
| Wind turbines do have a few negative effects on | | | | applications. |
| the environment. | | | | By concentrating a substantial number of turbines |
| One such negative effect is sight pollution. Wind | | | | into wind farms, a substantial amount of electricity |
| turbines are very visible and quite unsightly | | | | can be stored and used, perhaps, for an entire |
| because they must be put in proximity to windy, | | | | city. |
| open terrain to be useful. | | | | Because the wind doesn’t blow all of the time |
| Wind turbines also require a great deal of energy | | | | in many areas, wind turbines are used as adjuncts |
| in their manufacture. This energy is typically | | | | in hybrid configurations with many different |
| fossil-based, and it can take up to five years | | | | technologies – photovoltaic panels and diesel |
| before wind tunnels are positive in terms of total | | | | generators, to name two – to provide a |
| carbon emissions. | | | | consistent source of electricity. |
| Wind turbines also are linked to the mauling of | | | | Unlike fossil-fuel stations, wind turbines are clean |
| rare species of birds. Birds have been mutilated as | | | | and green. They don’t create the carbon |
| they passed through the turbine fans during | | | | dioxide emissions that are causing greenhouse |
| migration. | | | | gases or the acidic emissions that cause acid rain. |
| Despite all of the downsides, however, wind | | | | Today’s turbines are divided into 2 categories: |
| turbines should be a choice when talking about a | | | | horizontal turbines and vertical turbines. |
| broad plan for renewable energy. | | | | Horizontal axis wind turbines are actually far |
| Once erected, wind turbines are amazingly | | | | better at capturing the wind than vertical axis |
| efficient in a larger sense. They generate power | | | | turbines given the same amount of swept area |
| from a natural, eco-friendly renewable resource, | | | | (which is the diameter of the circle traced by the |
| without the hidden social or environmental | | | | outside tip of the rotor blades). |
| penalties that we incur with the use of fossil fuels. | | | | Although the public application of wind power has |
| There is no need to mine for fuel or to transport | | | | gotten widespread attention, there potentially is |
| it; there are no global warming pollutants created | | | | an even better use of this gift from Mother |
| and no need to store, process or dispose of toxic | | | | Nature, better than the massive wind farms you |
| wastes. | | | | see on TV. |
| At the low end of the scale, turbines can be as | | | | In fact, this alternate use of wind power could be |
| tiny as 5 feet in diameter and are capable of only | | | | a financial windfall for you. |