What is Wind Power?
The wind is caused by huge convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere, driven by heat energy from the Sun. This means as long as the sun shines, there will be wind. So, what is wind power exactly and how do winds form? (Check out the lesson on winds here). This can be explained in simple terms by the daily wind cycle.
The earth’s surface has both land and water. When the sun comes up, the air over the land heats up quicker than that over water. The heated air is lighter and it rises. The cooler air is denser and it falls and replaced the air over the land. In the night the reverse happens. The air over the water is warmer and rises and is replaced by cooler air from land.
What is Wind Power?
The moving air (wind) has huge amounts of kinetic energy and this can be transferred into electrical energy using wind turbines. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, businesses and schools.
Wind turbines cannot work if there is no wind, or if the wind speed is so high it would damage them. Wind turbines are usually sited on high hills and mountain ridges to take advantage of the prevailing winds. Just like a windmill, wind energy turbines have been around for over 1000 years. From old Holland to farms in the United States, windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain.
So remember, the wind is caused by huge convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere, driven by heat energy from the Sun. This means as long as the sun shines, there will be wind.
source: eSchoolToday
