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Given that the use of non-renewable energy sources generates many environmental problems, it is intended to replace them with alternatives that are truly competitive. Some are new and others, as in the case of wind energy, not so much, but almost all of them are renewable. Mankind has been using wind energy for many centuries thanks to windmills, although an improved version of these devices is currently used in so-called wind turbines, which we will talk about shortly.
Are you curious to know what wind energy is and how it is harnessed? We will tell you everything in this short article by Green Ecologist about how we can harness the energy of the wind.
What is wind or wind energy
We start by counting what is wind or wind energy. Wind energy is that which is achieved thanks to the wind or, in other words, it is the use or exploitation of the kinetic energy that the air masses have and that can be transformed with the appropriate methods into mechanical energy and then into electricity or whatever. another useful form of energy intended for certain human activities.
How do we take advantage of the wind? For harness wind energy Properly it is essential to know about the seasonal variations, as well as night and day that the winds may have. It is also important to know how the wind speed varies with height and the maximum values that can be reached.
Here you can learn more about What is wind energy, how it works and examples.
How wind energy is generated
Wind energy is generated by using wind motors or wind machines that can transform the kinetic energy of the wind in mechanical energy that will later be used for the obtaining electrical energy. To do this, we need an electrical generator known as a wind turbine. The operating mechanism is as follows:
- The kinetic energy that the wind has moves the blades or blades of the wind turbine.
- Next, the rotor or wind turbine, which is made up of the blades and the shaft to which they are attached, begins to rotate and drives a generator (usually an alternator) with the help of a mechanical system.
- Through the use of magnets, the generator ultimately produces electrical energy.
So that the installation of wind turbines can be really profitable, these are gathered in large groups that we call wind farms. All the electricity produced in this way is evacuated through a power line. This power line goes to a substation from which it is distributed to each of the end users.
In addition, there is talk of different types of wind energy depending on the different types of wind turbines. The main ones are:
- Horizontal axis wind turbines: They are the most used and known, their axis of rotation is parallel to the ground.
- Vertical axis wind turbines: they are also known as VAWT and their axis of rotation is perpendicular to the ground.
- Bladeless wind turbines: With them we can get rid of the impacts produced by conventional wind turbines and, in addition, they are cheaper. Here you can know some Original alternatives to the typical wind turbines.
- Offshore wind turbines: are those located in the sea, near the coasts. Here wind energy is more stable and strong, although its maintenance has higher costs.
- Small wind and micro wind turbines: They are instruments with which we can see how wind energy is used in the house. They are placed in a place exposed to the wind, for example, on the roof of our homes. We recommend you read this other article about Windmills: how to make homemade wind energy.
How you can harness the energy of the wind
What is wind energy used for? We are going to answer this question by taking a look at history, as one of the biggest uses of wind energy was its use for centuries with windmills. They used to grind wheat to obtain flour, they were also used to extract water and were even used in sawmills and in the production of paper. It was from the year 1979 when the wind utilities began to change and began to be used for obtaining electrical energy. Therefore, today it is used mainly to achieve electric power or electricity and to this we give infinite uses in our day to day. We use it to charge batteries, to illuminate urban centers or homes and for heating, etc.
However, its energy production varies a lot, due to changes in the wind, except for areas such as Galicia, La Mancha or Tarifa. For this reason, it is still used only as a complement to other traditional sources of energy.
Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy
To finish, we indicate what are the advantages of wind energy and its drawbacks:
Advantages of wind energy
The advantages of wind power they are many with respect to other energy sources. Let's see some of them:
- It is a clean and safe energy. Or put another way, it does not emit any type of particles into our atmosphere or greenhouse gases, as do non-renewable energy sources that use fossil fuels. Wind energy does not pollute and helps us in the fight against climate change. We recommend you read these other posts about the Importance of clean energies for the environment and What are clean or green energies.
- It is an inexhaustible resource. Because of its status as a renewable resource, we know that it will never run out and it will always be at our disposal.
- Facilitates energy independence. It is an energy that we can exploit in our own country, in this way we avoid having to import it from other countries.
- Competitive prices. Series wind turbine production techniques and experience in choosing the best sites, among others, has allowed it to be an economically competitive source of energy today.
- It can be made compatible with other activities. Wind farms do not interfere with the development of agricultural or livestock activities. In addition, the occupied space is less than in a solar park with photovoltaic panels.
Disadvantages of wind energy
The environmental impact of this type of energy is generally less problematic than the impact generated by other energy sources. However, it is not without its drawbacks. Some drawbacks of wind power are:
- It has a visual impact on the landscape where it is located.
- Some birds die when they collide with the blades.
- There is an increase in erosion as the nearby soil surface dries up.
- Wind turbines cause noise and electromagnetic interference.
- The wind sometimes has important variations and does not have enough speed to drive the wind turbine.
- It can also happen that the speed is excessive, in which case the protocol is to disconnect them to avoid damage to the structure.
- At the moment, systems large enough to be able to store energy in considerable quantities and efficiently have not yet been designed.
If you want to find out more about this topic, here you can learn more about the Advantages and Disadvantages of wind energy.
If you want to read more articles similar to How we can harness the energy of the wind, we recommend that you enter our category of Renewable Energies.
