Wind energy is one of the fastest growing methods to obtain electricity. To harness wind energy, it gets caught in wind turbines which then turn it into viable electricity. Wind offers a unique source of energy “because it requires no fuel and does not produce pollution or greenhouse gases”3.
Wind energy has been used for thousands of years, starting off as the ‘electricity’ behind powering boats in ancient Egypt, and then to being captured in wind turbines to generate electricity for other purposes. A wind turbine “is similar to a windmill; it has a very tall tower 200 to 300 feet”4 with two or three propeller-like blades at the top. These blades are turned by the wind. The blades turn a generator (located inside the tower), which creates electricity”2
.Wind energy can provide power to communities near and far, and is an option for developing nations to look at since they rarely have access to forms of energy other than fossil fuels.
Wind energy has been used for thousands of years, starting off as the ‘electricity’ behind powering boats in ancient Egypt, and then to being captured in wind turbines to generate electricity for other purposes. A wind turbine “is similar to a windmill; it has a very tall tower 200 to 300 feet”4 with two or three propeller-like blades at the top. These blades are turned by the wind. The blades turn a generator (located inside the tower), which creates electricity”2
.Wind energy can provide power to communities near and far, and is an option for developing nations to look at since they rarely have access to forms of energy other than fossil fuels.
Benefits to Wind Energy:
Wind will always be replenished. Wind and wind turbines produce no greenhouse gas emissions and they are a “clean source of fuel”4. Wind energy “is one of the lowest-priced renewable energy sources”4. Wind power can be economically harvested across the globe, “making it a key resource in developing economies”4. |
Challenges to Wind Energy:
“Wind turbines depend on wind”4, if there is no wind, no energy is created. “The frequently changing wind direction, and conditions of the atmosphere (such as temperature, humidity, and season)”4 are all factors that need to be considered when harvesting wind energy. The wind turbines themselves can also offer harm because species such as birds and bats can fly into wind turbines, not realizing how fast the wind turbines are spinning, in result killing the birds/bats. |
Click below to learn more about alternative energies, specifically solar energy.