Description
Wind power refers to energy that is created through the conversion of the wind's kinetic energy into meachanical or electrical energy. Mechanical energy is the energy that causes a machanism to operate and electrical energy referes to electicity. Both of these types of energy may be used for a multitude of purposes, such as operating mills of providing electricity for a building. The considered to be a renewable energy source due to the fact that it is something that cannot be depleted, and instead is the result of the climate. Wind is created by a disparity in the heating of the Earth, so as long as there is that disparity, wind can always be used as a resource. The way in which the wind's kinetic energy is converted into other types of energy is through the use of wind turbines.
How it Works
The way in which most modern wind turbines work is through the use of large blades and electrical generators. The blades on a a wind turbine are created in a way that allows them to be turned by the wind. This turning, rotational energy that is derived from teh wind's kinteic energy, is then trnasferred directly into an electrical generator. the rotational energy of the blades moves a shaft within the electrical generator. This leads to the movement of a magnetic feild within another, which produces electricity. The design of how this system operates can differ depending on the type of wind turbine being used. Wind turbines come in two main variaties, vertical-axis wind turbines and horizontal-axis wind turbines. The difference between the two types is the orientation and design of the blades that provide rotational energy. vertical-axis wind turbines have blades that are built around a vertical pole, while horizontal-wind turbines have blades that are built around one that is horizontally aligned. There are many reasons to use either type in different situations, but for the purpose of effecient and cost effective electricity production, horizontal-axis wind turbines are generally the better choice.
Statistics
| Year from 2014 to 2019 | Wind Energy Generation in the U.S. in Thousand Megawatthours |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 181,655.2818 thousand megawatthours |
| 2015 | 190,718.54771 thousand megawatthours |
| 2016 | 226,992.56213 thousand megawatthours |
| 2017 | 254,302.69522 thousand megawatthours |
| 2018 | 272,667.45372 thousand megawatthours |
| 2019 | 300,071.02867 thousand megawatthours |