Wind Energy Jenna Jenkins Jessy Madison Tyler Conaway Dreher Winfrey Michaela Burns

How Wind Energy Works Windmills are the opposite of a fan. Fans use electricity to produce wind and wind turbines use wind to produce energy. They are very large, detailed machines.

Wind Turbines. The structure of a wind turbine is simple. A rotor with blades, which convert the wind's energy into rotational movement. A machine house, containing the rotor shaft linked to a generator by a drive train. A tower to support the machine and put it sufficient height so the blades don't hit off the ground. Electronic equipment for the general control of the turbine.

Do we need wind energy in the U.S.? continued. Wind energy is one of the most popular energies in technologies. We have wind turbines in the United States because it is the fastest growing wind market in the world. At least 50,000 Americans die prematurely each year because of air pollution.

Do we need wind energy in the U.S? Yes we do need wind energy in the United States because it generates electricity. Wind energy benefits the United States by reducing the “hidden costs” resulting from air pollution. Wind energy is one of the most popular energy technologies.

Positive Effects of Wind Energy It is environmentally friendly. It prevents global warming because it produces Carbon Dioxide which plays an important role in it. It can also reduce health care cost because it does not produce air pollution like power plants do

Negative effects of Wind Energy It produces Erosion (but this can be prevented with proper techniques)‏ It kills bats and birds because they collide into the wind turbines It may also interfere with wildlife by destroying some animals habitats Another problem is that the wind turbines may make noise and bother some people

The Cost of Wind Energy Wind Turbines that is installed in a very windy area generated less expensive electricity than the same unit installed in a less windy area Modern wind turbines cost between $1500 and $2000 per kilowatt for wind farms that use multiple unit arrays of large machines. Smaller individual units cost up to $3000 per kilowatt. In good wind areas the costs of generating electricity range between 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt an hour. That cost is somewhat higher than the costs associated with an electrical facility but wind energy costs are decreasing every year whereas most conventional generation costs continue to increase In remote areas generating with diesel generators can range from $.25 to $1.00 per kilowatt hour. In good wind areas electricity that is generated by the wind is clearly cost effective. When compared to the money that is charged by electrical companies wind energy costs are nearly competitive. That is without accounting for the environmental and health benefits of using a non polluting source of energy.

Using Wind Energy Around The World The use of wind turbine generators is growing around the world. In terms of installation and operation worldwide the wind power industry now turns over more than 9 billion USD. At the end of ,000 megawatts of wind generated electricity produced some 92 Twh of electricity. That is sufficient energy for the electricity needs of Portugal and Greece combined.

Windmills in the Western World Grain grinding was the first documented windmill application. Between 1850 and 1970 the United States installed over six million small (one horsepower or less) mechanical output machines. The primary use was water-pumping. The main applications were stock watering and farm home water needs.

Wind Power's Beginning The history of wind power shows a great evolution from when it first was used. From the use of simple light devices to heavy material-intensive devices. Aerodynamic lift is a modern concept that was unknown to the ancients. The earliest known use of wind power is the sail boat.