Today’s Wind Turbines
Today’s Wind Turbines
Today's wind turbines are larger and more efficient than the turbines of the 1980s. They are much quieter, the blades move more slowly, and each turbine produces 10 times more energy than before.
Wind turbines work like windmills. The wind makes the blades spin, and this motion turns a generator to produce electricity, just as the water in a hydroelectric generator does. The minimum annual average wind speed required is approximately 7.0 metres per second or about 25 kilometres per hour.
Wind energy is intermittent, so people cannot rely on it alone for daily supply.
However, hydroelectricity is a good complement to wind, as it can provide power when wind energy is insufficient.
Wind Turbines and the EnvironmentWind turbines use no fuel. They do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases, but they can affect the environment in other ways.
If the wind farm is large and poorly designed, the turbines can be visually unappealing. However, with the increased efficiency of today's wind turbines, wind farms no longer need to be large. One well-known wind development in Palm Springs contains nearly 3,000 turbines.
In the past, some large wind farms killed large numbers of birds. However, new blade designs on wind turbines mean that birds can now fly over them more safely. Wind farms can also be located to avoid common flyways for birds.
At new wind power plants, wind turbines would usually be placed five blade widths apart, providing ample space for birds to pass through. Because each of the towers is 50 metres high, any recently replanted trees in the area can grow without disturbing the flow of wind to the turbine blades.
Today's wind turbines are larger and more efficient than the turbines of the 1980s. They are much quieter, the blades move more slowly, and each turbine produces 10 times more energy than before.
Wind turbines work like windmills. The wind makes the blades spin, and this motion turns a generator to produce electricity, just as the water in a hydroelectric generator does. The minimum annual average wind speed required is approximately 7.0 metres per second or about 25 kilometres per hour.
Wind energy is intermittent, so people cannot rely on it alone for daily supply.
However, hydroelectricity is a good complement to wind, as it can provide power when wind energy is insufficient.
Wind Turbines and the EnvironmentWind turbines use no fuel. They do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases, but they can affect the environment in other ways.
If the wind farm is large and poorly designed, the turbines can be visually unappealing. However, with the increased efficiency of today's wind turbines, wind farms no longer need to be large. One well-known wind development in Palm Springs contains nearly 3,000 turbines.
In the past, some large wind farms killed large numbers of birds. However, new blade designs on wind turbines mean that birds can now fly over them more safely. Wind farms can also be located to avoid common flyways for birds.
At new wind power plants, wind turbines would usually be placed five blade widths apart, providing ample space for birds to pass through. Because each of the towers is 50 metres high, any recently replanted trees in the area can grow without disturbing the flow of wind to the turbine blades.
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