Name:Kevin(陳冠佑)

Student ID: 113458037

Group:2

Topic:Wind Energy

What is Wind?

Wind is the movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric

pressure. It occurs when air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of

low pressure, usually influenced by the Earth's rotation, temperature

variations, and geographic features. Wind plays a critical role in regulating

the Earth's climate and is a significant natural force that humans have

harnessed for various purposes, such as sailing, generating electricity, and

agriculture.

WIND ENERGY – WHERE IT COMES FROM?

• Wind energy comes from the movement of air in the Earth's

atmosphere, which is primarily driven by the sun. Solar radiation

heats the Earth's surface unevenly due to the planet's tilt, rotation,

and varying landscapes. This uneven heating creates differences in

temperature and pressure, causing air to move from high-pressure

 areas to low-pressure areas, resulting in wind.

• Additionally, geographic features like mountains, valleys, and water

bodies influence wind patterns. Coastal areas often experience

stronger and more consistent winds due to temperature differences

between land and sea. These natural movements of air are harnessed

through wind turbines to generate electricity, making wind energy a

clean and renewable resource.

What is Wind Energy?

Wind power is energy obtained from the force of the wind. How? Through a

wind turbine that transforms the kinetic energy of air currents into

electrical energy. The energy is mainly extracted with the rotor, which

transforms the kinetic energy into mechanical energy, and with the

generator, which transforms this mechanical energy into electrical energy.

We are talking about a renewable, efficient, mature and secure energy that

is key to the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the economy.

How does wind power work

Wind Turbines

As we have already mentioned, in order to utilise the kinetic energy of the

wind and convert it into electrical energy, it is necessary to use a wind

turbine. The optimal use of these giants, (they are usually between 80 and

120 metres high) depends on the strength of the wind. For this

reason, wind farms, which pool a large number of wind turbines and make

it possible to obtain this energy in large quantities, must be set up in places

where windy conditions are predominant.

• The wind turbines have to be oriented in the direction of the wind,

which is done by means of a vane on the nacelle. From there, the

force of the air currents will set the three main parts of the wind

turbine in motion:

• The rotor: composed of three blades and the bushing that joins them

together, its function is to capture the force of the wind and convert

it into mechanical rotational energy.

• The multiplier: connected to the engine by means of a shaft, its

function is to increase the rotational speed from 30 revolutions per

minute (rpm) to 1500 rpm.

• The generator: this element is responsible for converting the

mechanical energy of rotation into electrical energy.

• Each of the wind turbines that make up a wind farm are linked
 together by underground cables that carry the electricity to a

transformer substation. From there it is transported to homes,

factories or schools, among other recipients, through the distribution

networks of the various electricity companies.

Types of wind energy

There are currently two types of wind energy depending on where the wind

turbines are erected:

Onshore wind energy : Onshore wind energy is responsible for producing

electricity by harnessing the wind from wind farms located on land. To do

this, we install wind turbines capable of transforming kinetic energy from

the wind into electricity suitable for use and send it to the distribution

network

Offshore wind energy : Offshore wind energy is the energy obtained by

harnessing the force of the wind that is produced on the high seas, where it

reaches a higher and more constant speed than on land due to the absence

of barriers. In order to make the most of this resource, mega-structures are

installed that are seated on the seabed and equipped with the latest

technical innovations
Advantages of wind energy

• The wind blows day and night, which allows windmills to produce

electricity throughout the day. (Faster during the day)

• Energy output from a wind turbine will vary as the wind varies,

although the most rapid variations will to some extent be

compensated for by the inertia of the wind turbine rotor.

• Wind energy is a domestic, renewable source of energy that

generates no pollution and has little environmental impact. Up to 95

percent of land used for wind farms can also be used for other

profitable activities including ranching, farming and forestry.

• The decreasing cost of wind power and the growing interest in

renewable energy sources should ensure that wind power will

become a viable energy source in the United States and worldwide.

Advantages

• Clean: As it does not require any combustion process, it is an energy

with low greenhouse gas (GEI) emissions, the main culprits of global

warming.

• Inexhaustible: Wind is an unlimited resource, and so is its use as long

 as there are sufficient air currents.

• Cheap: Both the cost per kW produced and its maintenance is quite

low. In areas where the wind blows harder, the benefit is even

greater.

• Low impact: Wind farms are built after a rigorous analysis and

planning process. In addition, depopulated areas are sought to avoid

negative effects on inhabitants.

• It generates green jobs: According to the International Renewable

Energy Agency (IRENA), wind energy already employs more than 1.2

million people today and the number of green jobs will not stop

growing.

Disadvantages

• The wind is not always predictable - some days have no wind.

• Suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land is

expensive.

• Some people feel that covering the landscape with these towers is

unsightly.

• Can kill birds - migrating flocks tend to like strong winds.

However, this is rare, and we tend not to build wind farms on

 migratory routes anyway.

• Can affect television reception if you live nearby.

• Can be noisy. Wind generators have a reputation for making a

constant, low, "swooshing" noise day and night, which can drive you

nuts.

Weather and location dependency

Wind is generated everywhere on earth. It’s abundant and inexhaustible—

but also variable and uncontrollable. And we need strong, sustained winds

to generate reliable electricity. Weather variability makes it harder for

communities, especially in low-wind regions, to depend on wind power for

all of their energy needs. In the United States, the areas where wind

resources are most plentiful may be far from the biggest energy consumers,

like densely populated cities.

One major, overdue solution: Update the U.S. power grid. As the nation

takes steps to modernize its grid infrastructure, increasing the capacity of

the existing grid, incorporating more distributed energy sources, and

building new transmission lines will go a long way toward ushering in the

clean energy future we need. In fact, in times of record-breaking heat and

electricity demand, new wind energy resources have helped save our grid
more than once. And when we can connect wind resources across different

regions—to capture wind blowing in one area while it’s slowing down in

another—we’ll boost resilience even more.

Another solution is battery storage, which can capture excess energy

generated by renewable projects and discharge it when it’s needed. Battery

storage can increase flexibility and prevent blackouts, especially when it’s

combined with improving wind technology, forecasting, and transmission. It

also helps to have other renewable sources like solar—since the sun may be

shining when the wind isn’t blowing, and vice versa.

Wildlife impacts

Many people, including the experts at NRDC, are working to ensure that we

develop wind in a way that takes into account the well-being of wildlife and

delicate marine ecosystems, which face risks as the industry grows. At the

same time, fossil fuels are no friend to wildlife: Tens of millions of animals

are killed indirectly each year by fossil fuel projects that destroy habitats,

pollute the air, and contaminate water. And climate change, caused largely

by the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, will do even more harm.

One of the biggest concerns with wind is the potential risk of birds and bats

colliding with propeller blades, especially during migration. Thankfully,

efforts are being made to minimize harm. For instance, in February 2024,

the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a permitting rule that requires wind

projects to be demonstrably low risk to bald and golden eagles. The DOE

has also committed to studying potential conflicts between wind and

wildlife.

Hazards specific to offshore wind farms might include collision risks with

construction and maintenance vessels, as well as disruptive noise during

the surveying and construction of a wind farm, which can interfere with the

communication between marine mammals. But with proper planning, these

impacts can be minimized. NRDC serves on the board of the Renewable

Energy Wildlife Institute, which supports research on these solutions, and

as far back as 2012, NRDC has collaborated with wind developers to create

guidelines that protect marine ecosystems during planning phases. This

includes having construction and operations boats move slowly through the

water to reduce the risk of whale strikes, monitoring when whales are

nearby so loud construction noises don’t disturb them, employing tools that

reduce sound impacts, and avoiding construction when whales are feeding

or migrating through the area.

Aesthetics

A common talking point for wind energy skeptics is that the tall towers are

too much of an eyesore, especially against a natural landscape. Despite

critics’ best efforts, however, public opinion on wind and solar energy has

remained positive, with around 75 percent of U.S. adults in support of

expanding wind farms. For the vast majority of people, solving the climate

crisis is worth altering the view.