Wind Power Facts

It's important to educate yourself about wind power facts if you are considering utilizing this type of energy to power your living or working space, or to pump water.

With more and more people searching for alternative energy sources, interest in wind power has been increasing and is likely to continue to do so. Depending on what your energy needs are and where you live, wind energy may be a viable option for you. Before you can make that decision, you need to learn the basics of this type of energy.

Wind power involves harnessing the kinetic energy in wind and converting it to electricity via a wind turbine. Wind turbines consist of rotors (also referred to as blade) that turn a shaft that is connected to a generator. The generator converts the wind's energy to electricity.

There are several advantages associated with this type of energy. Wind power is a free, renewable resource that has minimal environmental impact. It's also very economical. Once the necessary equipment is installed there is no cost associated with harnessing and using wind power and it can power residential and commercial structures as effectively as traditional grid power.

While there are many benefits associated with wind power, there are also disadvantages. Even in areas that have good wind, the supply is not always steady, and the strength of the wind can vary greatly when it is blowing. This means that windmills can't be relied upon to provide a steady supply of electricity at all times.

Wind energy can replace grid power, but it can also be used to supplement traditional electricity. If you plan to rely on wind energy as the sole source of power for your home or office, you'll need equipment beyond a simple windmill that will allow you to store wind energy for use during times that the wind is not blowing. You'll need storage batteries and a charge controller, as well as an inverter that will convert the DC power from the batteries into the AC power necessary to run your home or office.

Not every location has a sufficient quantity of wind to rely on this type of energy with any source. For wind power to be a practical energy solution, the area must have a steady supply of non-turbulent wind that blows straight. To find out if the area where you live has the right type of wind, see the wind resource map on WindPoweringAmerica.org.

In addition to atmospheric variables, there are also zoning restrictions to consider. Harnessing and using wind power requires the installation of a windmill, which can be rather large. Some areas have zoning restrictions in place that prohibit the type of equipment you'd need to utilize this energy source.

Wind power is one of the oldest forms of energy. It's origins as a power source can be traced back thousands of years, to as early as 5000 BC. Prior to the 19th century, wind energy was primarily used for the purposes of boat propulsion, grinding grains to make bread and other food items, and to pump water for irrigation and consumption. The first wind systems used to harness wind energy for electricity were erected in the earliest 20th century.

If you're interested in learning more about how wind power works, the following resources can provide you with additional information and wind power facts:

• Home Power Magazine
• North American Wind Power Magazine
• American Wind Energy Association
• Wind Power Monthly
• Wind Today Magazine

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