Wind energy and its profits toward our Environment

NAME : MEET NAIK

ROLL NO. :115
CLASS :FYIT B
INTRODUCTION

 Wind energy is a form of solar energy Wind energy (or wind power)
describes the process by which wind is used to generate electricity. Wind
turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. A
generator can convert mechanical power into electricity. Mechanical power
can also be utilized directly for specific tasks such as pumping water. The us
deo developed a short wind power animation that provides an overview of
how a wind turbine works and describes the wind resources in the United
States.
 Wind Energy Basics
➢ Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the
atmosphere by the sun, variations in the ➢ Equation for Wind
earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Power
Mountains, bodies of water, and vegetation
all influence wind flow patterns. Wind
turbines convert the energy in wind to
electricity by rotating propeller-like blades
around a rotor. The rotor turns the drive
shaft, which turns an electric generator.
Three key factors affect the amount of energy
a turbine can harness from the wind: wind
speed, air density, and swept area.
 Working of wind turbines
• Wind turbines work on a simple principle: instead of using
electricity to make wind—like a fan—wind turbines use wind to
make electricity. Wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine
around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity.

Wind is a form of solar energy caused by a combination of three concurrent events:

1.The sun unevenly heating the atmosphere
2.Irregularities of the earth's surface
3.The rotation of the earth.
Wind flow patterns and speed vary greatly across the United States and are modified
by bodies of water, vegetation, and differences in terrain. Humans use this wind flow,
or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating
electricity.
The terms "wind energy" and "wind power" both describe the process by which the
wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. 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.
A wind turbine turns wind energy into electricity using the aerodynamic force from the
rotor blades, which work like an airplane wing or helicopter rotor blade. When wind
flows across the blade, the air pressure on one side of the blade decreases. The
difference in air pressure across the two sides of the blade creates both lift and drag.
The force of the lift is stronger than the drag and this causes the rotor to spin. The
rotor connects to the generator, either directly (if it’s a direct drive turbine) or through
a shaft and a series of gears (a gearbox) that speed up the rotation and allow for a
physically smaller generator. This translation of aerodynamic force to rotation of a
generator creates electricity.
 Model
•Power is generated through rotating wind turbines
that harness the kinetic energy of moving air, which is
converted into electricity. The basic idea is that wind
turbines use blades to collect wind's potential and
kinetic energy. Wind turns the blades, which spins a
rotor that is connected to a generator to create
electric energy.

Most wind turbines have four basic parts : Blades are

attached to a hub, which spins as the blades turn. The
blades and hub together make the rotor.
•The nacelle houses the gearbox, generator and
electrical components.
•The tower holds the rotor blades and generation
equipment high above the ground.
•A foundation holds the turbine in place on the
ground.
Types of Wind Turbines:
Big and small turbines fall into two basic categories, based on
the orientation of the rotor: horizontal-axis and vertical-axis
turbines.

Horizontal-axis turbines are by far the most commonly used

type of wind turbine today. This type of turbine comes to
mind when picturing wind power, with blades that look much
like an airplane propeller. Most of these turbines have three
blades, and the taller the turbine and the longer the blade,
typically the more electricity is generated.

Vertical-axis turbines look much more like an eggbeater than

an airplane propeller. The blades of these turbines are
attached at both the top and bottom of a vertical rotor.
Because vertical-axis turbines don't perform as well as their
horizontal counterparts, these are much less common today.
Advantages of Wind Power
•Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based utility-scale wind is one of
the lowest-priced energy sources available today, costing 1–2 cents per
kilowatt-hour after the production tax credit. Because the electricity
from wind farms is sold at a fixed price over a long period of time (e.g.
20+ years) and its fuel is free, wind energy mitigates the price
uncertainty that fuel costs add to traditional sources of energy.
•Wind creates jobs. The U.S. wind sector employs more than 10,000
workers, and wind turbine technician is one of the fastest growing
American job . According to the Wind Vision report, wind has the
potential to support more than 600,000 jobs in manufacturing,
installation, maintenance, and supporting services by 2050.
•Wind enables U.S. industry growth and U.S. competitiveness. New
wind projects account for annual investment of about 10 billion in the
U.S. economy. The United States has a vast domestic resources and a
highly-skilled workforce, and can compete globally in the clean energy
economy.
•It's a clean fuel source. Wind energy doesn't pollute the air like power
plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural
gas, which emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur
dioxide—causing human health problems and economic damages.
Wind turbines don't produce atmospheric emissions that cause acid
rain, smog, or greenhouse gasses.
•Wind is a domestic source of energy. The nation's wind supply is
abundant and inexhaustible. Over the past 10 years, U.S. wind power
capacity has grown 15% per year, and wind is now the largest source of
renewable power in the United States.
•It's sustainable. Wind is actually a form of solar energy. Winds are caused
by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the Earth,
and the Earth's surface irregularities. For as long as the sun shines and the
wind blows, the energy produced can be harnessed to send power across
the grid.
•Wind turbines can be built on existing farms or ranches. This greatly
benefits the economy in rural areas, where most of the best wind sites are
found. Farmers and ranchers can continue to work the land because the
wind turbines use only a fraction of the land. Wind power plant owners
make rent payments to the farmer or rancher for the use of the land,
providing landowners with additional income.
CHALLENGES OF WIND POWER
•Wind power must still compete with conventional generation sources on a cost
basis. Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past
several decades, wind projects must be able to compete economically with the lowest-
cost source of electricity, and some locations may not be windy enough to be cost
competitive.
•Good land-based wind sites are often located in remote locations, far from cities
where the electricity is needed. Transmission lines must be built to bring the
electricity from the wind farm to the city. However, building just a few already
proposed transition lines could significantly reduce the costs of expanding wind
energy.
•Wind resource development might not be the most profitable use of the land. Land
suitable for wind-turbine installation must compete with alternative uses for the land,
which might be more highly valued than electricity generation.
•Turbines might cause noise and aesthetic pollution. Although wind power plants
have relatively little impact on the environment compared to conventional power
plants, concern exists over the noise produced by the turbine blades and visual
impact to the landscape.
 Conclusion
Wind energy will be a main contributor to the implementation of the EU objectives on
renewable energy production. However, the current R&D efforts for wind energy are
insufficient – at all levels - to respond to the energy challenges faced by the EU. The risk is
therefore of failure in reaching the EU objectives for energy production from renewable
sources (and therefore on reduction of CO2 emissions), and in implementing the European
strategy for growth and jobs.

A critical component is the contribution of the EU, which, in order to achieve the objectives of
the Lisbon Strategy, should lead by example. A strong and clear signal from the EU would act
as catalyst at Member State level in strongly supporting renewables and wind in particular.
The problem Europe faces is not a lack of technical solutions but a lack of time.
2020 is tomorrow. The longer it takes to adapt the EU energy system, the more
difficult and costly it will be, with an unknown impact on the environment.

In 2007, the Strategic Energy Technology Plan set a new agenda for energy
research and innovation in Europe, with the core aim of speeding up the
deployment progress of energy technologies. One of the proposed key areas of
action is that of industrial initiatives, among which is the European Wind
Initiative. This initiative should be a major part of European research and
innovation in wind energy technology. It should lead to an adapted European
energy mix that is less reliant on imports, is zero-CO2-based and that creates
employment opportunities.