Wind Power & Wind Energy
Wind power is a form of renewable energy that makes use of the movement of the wind in order to generate electricity. The wind is a hugely powerful resource that has the potential to produce large amounts of electricity, particularly in parts of the world where it is often very windy.
Wind is the movement of air that is caused by differences in temperature. Wind energy therefore derives originally from the energy of the sun, which heats up the atmosphere. The movement of the wind can be converted into electricity through the use of wind turbines. The wind turns the turbine, generating electricity. Large wind turbines can be set up in wind farms to produce energy on a commercial scale, but smaller wind turbines can also be set up to provide wind power to a single home or a small community.
Wind turbines are the most modern means through which wind power is used by people, but the wind has traditionally provided an important source of power. It has been used to move sailing ships around the world and it has powered windmills that have been used to grind grain into flour. It was the use of wind power to pump water up from the deep underground stores that enabled the colonization of large parts of the US and other dry regions of the world in countries such as Australia.
One of the problems with using the wind to produce renewable energy is that it is an intermittent source of power. Energy can only be produced from the wind on days when it is blowing, so it is only possible to make use of wind power in areas where there is plenty of wind. Even in these areas, no power can be produced when the wind is not blowing, so wind power cannot be relied upon as the sole source of energy. Wind power can be stored in another form, in order to provide a reliable source of power even when the wind is not blowing. For example, wind power can be used to produce hydrogen fuel from water. The hydrogen fuel can then store the energy until it is needed. Another option is to combine wind power with another form of renewable energy, rather than just relying on the wind along. For example, it can be used alongside hydroelectricity and solar power. A diversified renewable energy system can be far more reliable than one which depends only on a single intermittent source of energy. More information about these and other types of renewable energy can be found on the agenergy.com website.
Another issue that has arisen with the use of wind power is that many people find the wind turbines unsightly. This has led to complaints from local people when a new wind farm is being planned. Some people have even suggested that the low hum of the moving turbine may disturb the locals or that the presence of the turbines could upset the local wildlife. However, turbines can often be incorporated into a landscape with the minimum of disruption. They tend to be placed in windy, remote areas where there are few people to be upset by them. They can also be set up on farmland without disrupting the previous use of the land, so livestock can graze alongside the turbines and the wildlife does not appear to be disturbed by their presence either. Another option is to set up offshore wind farms. Offshore wind turbines can benefit from the strong ocean winds and they can also prevent problems with the locals since they do not get in the way of anyone's view.