Wind Energy Information

Fossil Energy and Fossil Fuel Information

In technical terms, wind energy is the conversion of kinetic energy of the wind into electrical power. Wind is a source of energy that is firstly, non-polluting and renewable and secondly, it creates power with the help of turbines without using fossil fuels and thereby producing no greenhouse gases or any kind of radioactive and toxic waste.

The wind energy in India is far from being used to its fullest potential. India is fortunate to have a coastline of 7517 km, wherein wind flow in these areas can prove to be ideal for electricity generation.

You’d be happy to know that with from India’s production of energy from renewable sources, wind energy holds a major portion. By taking the necessary steps, implementation of wind energy could double by 2019, according to the latest estimates of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

India targets 60 GW installed wind energy capacity by 2022 and the government aims to push the wind power industry towards more efficient and larger capacity wind turbines.

Two of the plus points in setting up a windmill are:

It requires hardly any land. A windmill takes up less space compared to other power generating mediums.
It uses wind effectively without destroying vegetation on the ground.

Once electricity is generated, we can continue using it for our daily purposes- residential, commercial, transportation as we did before!

Generation Source

Wind energy information : Wind Power Is Generated The terms "wind energy" or "wind power" describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity to power homes, businesses, schools, and the like. Wind Turbines Wind turbines, like aircraft propeller blades, turn in the moving air and power an electric generator that supplies an electric current. Simply stated, a wind turbine is the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. Wind Turbine Types Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups; the horizontal-axis variety, like the traditional farm windmills used for pumping water, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor. Most large modern wind turbines are horizontal-axis turbines. Turbine Components Horizontal turbine components include: blade or rotor, which converts the energy in the wind to rotational shaft energy; a drive train, usually including a gearbox and a generator; a tower that supports the rotor and drive train; and other equipment, including controls, electrical cables, ground support equipment, and interconnection equipment.

Advantages

A Renewable Non-Polluting Resource Wind energy is a free, renewable resource, so no matter how much is used today, there will still be the same supply in the future. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity. Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 1990, California's wind power plants offset the emission of more than 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million pounds of other pollutants that would have otherwise been produced. It would take a forest of 90 million to 175 million trees to provide the same air quality. Cost Issues Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past 10 years, the technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. Roughly 80% of the cost is the machinery, with the balance being site preparation and installation. If wind generating systems are compared with fossil-fueled systems on a "life-cycle" cost basis (counting fuel and operating expenses for the life of the generator), however, wind costs are much more competitive with other generating technologies because there is no fuel to purchase and minimal operating expenses. Environmental Concerns Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, there is some concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and birds and bats having been killed (avian/bat mortality) by flying into the rotors. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants. Supply and Transport Issues The major challenge to using wind as a source of power is that it is intermittent and does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored (although wind-generated electricity can be stored, if batteries are used), and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. Further, good wind sites are often located in remote locations far from areas of electric power demand (such as cities). Finally, wind resource development may compete with other uses for the land, and those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation. However, wind turbines can be located on land that is also used for grazing or even farming.

Generation Source

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Wind Energy

Generation Source

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