The Power of Wind Generators

Wind is everywhere, and it is pne of the planet's most widely available sources of sustainable, renewable energy. It is a growing part of long-term strategies for large-scale power production. Small-scale wind power generators cause minimal environmental damage. And as the wind generator increases in efficiency, wind will likely be responsible for more of the power that we use every day.

The process of generating power from wind is simple. Wind blows across a propeller, mounted high enough to be above obstacles. This causes the propeller to turn. That turns a turbine, which drives a generator. The generator produces power, and a good windmill can produce about 2,300 kilowatt-hours per year.

Similar to residential solar installations, small-scale wind generators are used to provide supplemental power, especially on farms. Other rural-industrial establishments that are set in flat areas where wind is consistent and plentiful also use smaller-scale windmill installations. Now, much larger installations called wind farms are becoming increasingly popular.

The largest land-based wind farm in the world was built between 2008 and 2009 near Roscoe, TX. It had a total construction cost of over $1 billion dollars, and with 627 turbines it now generates enough power for 250,000 households.

Off-shore, the world's largest wind farm is 7 miles off the English coast. This massive wind farm was beset by financial problems and changed hands multiple times before construction even began. Finally completed in 2010 at a cost of about $1.4 billion, it covers 13.5 miles of sea and pipes about 300 MW of power under water to a power station in Kent, England.

Even with its obvious advantages, wind power does receive its share of criticism. Much of that criticism has to do with its cost-effectiveness, given the unreliable nature of the wind itself. Windmills require consistent wind at high velocity in order to produce power, but wind is inconsistent enough in the natural world that it is used as a metaphor for unreliability in literature. Winds change from day to day and from year to year. Consequently, wind power projects are usually unjustifiable financially without government subsidies.

Wind power is also ironically criticized for causing environmental damage. Although the production process doesn't use any fossil fuels, large scale wind farms do take up an enormous amount of space. The areas that make good wind farms - rural zones with high average wind velocities -are often home to birds. Construction of the wind farm can upset their habitat, and once it is built the spinning blades can kill them. One company's recent application to kill golden eagles in order to build a massive wind farm has drawn strong criticism from animal rights activists.

Still, most people would argue that all power production has some cost and that a wind generator in the right location holds the promise of producing clean energy for a long time. Large-scale wind farms are on the rise, and there is no reason to expect that to change. On a smaller scale, those who care about the environment, and those who just want to be free from the energy grid, will continue to look to wind power as an option as well.

Maria is an electrical engineer who specializes in wind farm maintenance. You may also be interested in reading more information about electrical systems training.