Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. What are the main types of turbines?
- The main types are horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). The ones most commonly seen is the Modern HAWT. Two other common types are the Savonius VAWT and the Giromill/Darrieus VAWT. Click here to see an animated image.
2. What is wind energy?- Wind energy is the conversion of kinetic energy from the wind into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, and wind pumps for water pumping.
3. Where is it found? - Wind is found in the air, all around us!
4. What is a wind farm? - A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electricity. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes. A wind farm may also be located offshore.
5. How is it extracted, processed, and transported?- Wind is extracted when blowing winds cause the blades on a turbine to spin. The blades are attached to a hub this is mounted on a turning shaft, which goes through a gear transmission box, where the turning speed is increased. The transmission is attached to a high speed shaft which turns a generator that processes the wind into electricity. A substation increases the voltage and transports this to the power lines which transmit it to the grid.
6. What is its net energy ratio? - Wind net energy ratio is virtually endless, because we will always have wind.
7. Why should wind be used over other energy sources?- It should be used over other energy sources because it has many advantages. Wind has a moderate to high net energy, a high efficiency, a moderate capital cost, a low electricity cost (which continues to fall), a very low environmental impact, no carbon dioxide emissions, is quickly constructed and can be easily expanded, can be located on land AND at sea, and the land below turbines can be used to grow crops or graze livestock.