How Wind Power Works

Wind turbines have blades designed like airplane wings.

They rotate due to a pressure differential caused by air
moving over the surface of the blade. The blades turn a
rotor which drives an electrical generator. Turbines are
designed to automatically face the wind either
mechanically or by computer-controlled drive systems.

Wind turbines can operate at variable speeds or at fixed

speeds. Variable speed designs are more complex but
convert wind power into electricity more efficiently. Most
new projects use variable speed design.

From: U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Program

How Do Wind Turbines Work?