Wind Power FAQs
What is wind power?
Winds are caused by the sun’s heating of the atmosphere unevenly. Wind flow patterns are affected by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, a form of solar energy, can be used to generate electricity when harvested by wind turbines.
How do you measure wind intensity?
Wind intensity is characterized by wind-power density classes, ranging from class 1 (the lowest) to class 7 (the highest).
What are wind turbines?
Wind turbines rotate (like jet engines) when pushed by moving air, generating power. Unlike a jet engine that needs energy to rotate them, wind turbines are rotated by wind to create energy.
What are the type of wind turbine?
Please refer to the section on Electregy Wind Products to see the various type of win fans.
Why is wind a good source of energy in the US?
Wind energy is very abundant (class 3 and above) in many parts of the United States. Wind energy is a free, renewable resource and is available in practically unlimited quantities. Wind energy is also a source of clean, non-polluting, electricity and unlike fossil fuels, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 1990, California's wind power plants offset the emission of more than 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, and 15 million pounds of other pollutants that would have otherwise been produced. It would take a forest of 90 million to 175 million trees to provide the same air quality.
What limiting factors in the growth of wind farms?
- Inconsistency
Wind is intermittent and does not always blow when electricity is needed. Wind cannot be stored, though the electricity it generated can be.
- Lack of power grids
- Good wind sites are often located in remote locations far from areas of electric power demand and these locations often so not have power grids sufficient enough to tie-in to the national grid system.
- Legislation currently being considered address the grid issues.
- Capital expense
Wind technology needs a higher capital investment than fossil-fueled generators. Fortunately, wind farms are very competitive in operational costs and with tax incentives and new legislation being considered, the capital cost of wind farms are reasonable. Electregy can help you navigate through the various sources of government subsidies.