Horizontal and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines - Most of the progress is made in Propeller Design

Governments and private organizations around the world are looking for ways to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels. Innovative ways to produce electricity include converting sunshine, using flowing water to drive turbines, and capturing the power of the wind. This short article will give you the basics to the question "What is wind energy?" and give you some ideas about this clean and efficient resource.

Wind Energy, know through the ages has a huge potential

Wind is such a common part of life that we almost take it for granted. We sometimes forget that the wind has been used for centuries to propel ships, grind grains, and pump water. Modern wind turbines are used to produce electricity.

Two Main types Vertical or Horizontal (Eggbeater)

There are two designs of wind turbines, horizontal axis and vertical axis. Horizontal axis turbines are the most commonly used for large scale power production. They have propeller-like blades that face the wind. Vertical axis turbines have an egg-beater shape, they can use the wind coming from any direction. We differentiate the Darrieus and the Savonius type turbine

The Power output is increasing

As the wind turns the blades of the turbine the generator spins to produce electricity. Large utility scale turbines can produce as much as 5,000 kW while smaller models designed for residential or industrial use may be in the range of 100 to 500 kW.

Update ==> in 2008 Turbines with a 2 Megawatt output are not uncommon in Germany

The electricity produced by large turbines is fed into the power grid of utility companies where it is available for residential and industrial consumption. Residential turbines can also be connected to the grid to reduce the power consumption of the household. If excess electricity is produced it can reverse the power meter and give a credit to the customer.

Wind Energy is Completely Renewable

Wind power is an environmentally friendly power source. It is renewable, clean, and quiet. Large scale wind farms, however, have been criticized as being ugly, dangerous to birds, and casting shadows. These concerns can be answered through careful layout of the turbines and choosing the wind farm areas to minimize environmental impact.

The majority of people support wind power as a clean renewable power source. Polls say that about 80% are in favor of wind farms, with only 5% against them.

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