Energy that is produced by the wind is converted into kinetic energy. Then it is diverted in two directions. If the kinetic energy is used directly, it is called a windmill. If it is converted to electricity, it is called a wind generator or a wind turbine. When used directly, wind energy can pump water or cut lumber. When used indirectly (as electricity) it can do a multitude of things.
The power of the wind has been used by sailors for as long as two-thousand years. Machines powered by the wind have ground grain and pumped water for livestock in arid regions. The advantage of wind power is that it doesn’t rely on running water or any fuel source. Pumps have been used to drain water from lands as well as bringing water to them. Wind-powered generators provide electricity on a small to large scale.
There are records of wind machines being used in Persia (now Iran) back in 200 B. C. In modern times, Charles F. Brush built the first automatically operated wind turbine in 1888. By 1908 there were 72 wind-driven electric generators in various kilowatt capacities. By the time World War One began windmills were being made in America. Each year 100,000 were made for farms. They were commonly used for pumping water.
The term wind power refers to the conversion of wind energy into useful energy. There are specific terms used when talking about power. Intermittency usually means how frequently a power source becomes unavailable. Variability refers to the uncontrollable changes in output. Dispatchability is the ability of the source to increase or decrease as it is needed. Nameplate capacity is the maximum output of a power source expressed in megawatts. The load factor is the expected output of a generator for a one-year period.
Then there is the capacity credit, which is the output from a power source that is statistically reliable. Reliability means the total future output that can be expected from a series of wind farms or solar power stations. Viewing these sources as a group, the end users can be sure of continuous power since all sources cannot fail at once.
The last few decades have been spent perfecting the wind turbine. Taking the free energy of the wind, it converts it into electricity which can run household appliance and light the homes. Industries can harness enough power to run without using non-renewable sources. In addition to being an easily renewable source of power, it does not produce dangerous emissions such as coal does for example.
Improvement in design of small turbines makes them popular for bringing a renewable source of power production to remote areas. Any home or farm that wants to avoid burning fossil fuels can use them. The maintenance that was once cost-prohibitive is now easier with parts no longer difficult to obtain.
The power of the wind energy combined with the grid systems that collect solar energy is being used not only to power homes, small farms and villages, but also industrial use. Some of the industries that currently make use of this renewable source are telecommunications, air-traffic control, weather stations and navigational aids. The wind energy powered machines utilized for industry must be designed to be sturdier than those used on a small scale. They need to be designed to require less maintenance and last longer to be cost-effective for industrial purposes.
The author is a freelance writer for Wind Energy Companies.
