WIND | Energy Dream Map

Wind Energy

In classical applications, the wind was used to power rotating blades to obtain mechanical energy, later used to fulfill various purposes.

Nowadays, wind flow is used to generate mechanical energy in a turbine, which is converted into electric power. In 2015, Wind was the source of 3.442% of the World’s production of electricity. Electrical current is produced by electromagnetic induction (Faraday’s law of induction). The rotation of the turbine produces the movement of a magnet inside a coil, changing the orientation of the magnet field, which produces an electrical current in the coil.

These turbines can be categorized according to following categories:

Horizontal Turbines: Horizontal axis wind turbines are the most common. The supporting structure can go up to 160 m high, and the rotor has a radius up to 60 m. So, these turbines are seriously heavy and suitable for massive electric production. For this reason, they may be seen in large number in wind farms as a replacement for power plant energy.
Vertical Turbines: On the other hand, vertical axis turbines are used for home energy production, since their capacity is smaller. The main advantage of this technology is that its design allows it to rotate with winds coming from any direction. So, it is more suitable for places where the wind is turbulent and its direction may change.
Onshore or Offshore: Onshore technology is the most usual one since the engineering behind it is simpler and, consequently, it is less expensive. Offshore wind turbine's potential relies on sea winds, which are stronger and relatively constant. Besides that, offshore installations have a smaller visual impact on the landscape.

Advantages

Renewable and with zero emission.
Wind technology is reliable and in a constant development.
No fuel required. Wind is an abundant source in many countries, allowing energy production in remote areas.
Low cost of maintenance. Initial cost is decreasing with development of technology.
Space efficient, since the space in between wind turbines may be used for different purposes.
May be applied to particular houses, providing independence from the grid.

Disadvantages

Harm to animal life (particularly birds which hit the turbines) and considerable visual impact on natural sights.
Energy storage must be applied to the system (usually batteries, which are costly and harmful to the environment).
Production in remote places requires transport across many kilometers, with consequent expenses and efficiency losses.
High initial investment.