Using Wind Speed to Make Energy

What Are the Benefits?

It has been said many times that dependence on fossil fuels must stop because they are not an unlimited supply. As a result of this sort of thinking, scientists have thought of ways in which to harness the wind and turn it into a source of power. Wind power is becoming increasingly popular in some parts of the United States because it serves multiple purposes. Though it's a multi-use source of energy, it's most commonly associated with generating electricity. Using wind as a source of power dates to ancient times, when the element was used to power windmills and propel ships as well as sailboats.

How it Works

Unlike using fossil fuels, wind power is a renewable energy and relatively easy to harness. In addition, there are no pollutants associated with the generation of this type of power. Wind energy can be used in a variety of ways. It's most commonly used for generating electricity--because not only is it environmentally friendly, it's also easy on consumers' pocketbooks. Windmills are commonly used in converting the kinetic energy contained in the wind into energy that is considered mechanical. The process seems to be simple enough: The wind rotates the turbines. The turbine is connected to a dynamo, through which electricity is produced.

How Much Can Be Harnessed?

There are a couple of factors that determine how much electricity can be produced through a turbine. The speed of the wind is the major player in this equation. The faster the rotation of the turbines, the more electricity is produced. Because the wind's speed is not consistent or constant, the amount of power that can be produced using this method varies. Because of the uptick in the use of wind as a renewable energy, wind farms have been set up in areas that are prone to high, constant winds. The process of harnessing wind power for the use of generating electrical power is pretty straightforward. Once the power is harnessed and the electricity is produced, the electricity gets fed into the national electric power transmission grid. The turbines or windmills communicate through an interconnected power collection system. This system is a medium-voltage system but can be turned to a higher voltage when electricity is transferred from a substation transformer.

Using wind power is not just something that big companies can do. Individuals who are interested in reducing their carbon footprint and becoming less dependent on fossil fuels can use wind power on a smaller scale. For example, homeowners can have small windmills or turbines that can help generate energy for their homes. Farmers can also benefit from wind power to help power their irrigation systems if they plant crops on a large scale.