|
|
|
Wind power is actually another form of solar energy. As the sun heats
air, land and water on the surface of the earth, different areas absorb
heat at different rates; the resulting temperature differentials create
water and air movement, manifesting themselves as winds and ocean currents
that help to keep the world running with relatively stable climate and
precipitation conditions.
Wind power technologies are simply a
means of taking advantage of this natural force to do useful work, rather
than just watching it blow leaves around. Human kind has been making use
of wind power for millennia, from the vast sailing ships of old to the
large wooden windmills for grinding wheat and other grains (hence the name
windmill, as opposed to simply wind turbine).
A wind turbine simply
uses the mechanical energy captured in its spinning motion to produce
electricity, for charging a battery or powering an electrical device
directly.
The largest wind turbines are designed to be
self-contained power plants, outputting electricity directly to the
utility grid just like large coal, hydro or nuclear power plants. In some
cases, these wind machines are grouped together in 'wind farms' with a
nearby power substation to handle the electricity pumped out by the
machines. Wind power is the single fastest growing energy source
worldwide, although it currently comprises a very small portion of global
energy supply - 0.051% as of 2003 according to the International Energy
Association, but with growth rates of over 50% per year since then.
Small scale wind energy is an extremely viable option for
year-round homes where there is a nominal level of wind - generally, this
means annual average wind speeds of at least 12 miles per hour. The reason
that wind will make the most sense in such abodes is because the annual
availability of solar radiation complements that of wind; in the summer,
there is much sun and little wind, while in the winter wind picks up and
sun drops off. The Natural Energy Shop supply and
install a range of wind power systems. Including horizontal axis and vertical axis ( VAWT's ) suitable for: - Boats and Caravans - Urban Areas - Rural Areas - Grid-Connect Locations - Remote (Off-Grid) Locations. |
