Wind Energy
by : Jada Pridgen
What is it used for
- generate electricity
- power sailboats,
- water pumps
- power wind mills
- wind-powered vehicles
- lots more
Advantages
- Wind power is plentiful,
- renewable,
- widely distributed,
- clean,
- produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation
- and uses little land.
- Wind turbines are available in different sizes which means a vast range of people and businesses can use them.
- Any effects on the environment causes lees problems than those from other power sources.
Wind Turbines
- wind turbines use blades to capture the winds kinetic energy. they work because they slow down the speed of wind.
- the wind blows, and it pushes against the blades of the turbine, making them spin.
- they power a generator, this is how electricity is produced.
Wind Power Plants
- wind power plants are clusters of wind turbines used to produce electricity.
When was wind energy first used?
- We've used the wind as an energy source for a long time.
- The Babylonians and Chinese were using wind power to pump water for irrigating crops over 5,000 years ago and sailing boats were around before that.
- Wind power was used in the Middle Ages, in Europe, to grind corn.
where is it found
Wind is one of those resources we find all around us in nature.
- its in the air!
Where would you use it?
- choosing the location of a wind farm is known as siting a wind farm.
- wind direction and speed must be studied to decide where to put the turbines.
- turbines are built in rows facing the wind
- the area must have strong, steady winds.
- wind speeeds
- The best places for wind farms are in coastal areas, because wind blows stronger over water than land
- at the tops of rounded hills, open plains and gaps in mountains - places where the wind is strong and reliable.
- offshore turbines produce more electricity than ones on land, however they cost more.
disadvantages
- wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
- Wind turbines are noisy.
- Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at
- Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity.
- flying birds and bats could get hurt.