We have a deadline for reducing the impact of global warming and limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It’s time to utilize all the known and new methods for providing clean energy. One of the better known methods of producing energy is through the power of wind.
Historically, like hydropower, wind power has been utilized in some form for quite a while. Popular novel, Don Quixote, originally published in 1605 noted one such use in the famous battle with a windmill. Indeed, windmills are thought to have originated either with the Greeks around 250 BC or possibly in China in 200 BC. The windmill was and is still used to complete agricultural tasks such as grinding grain and moving large amounts of water from place to place. The use of the windmill eventually led to the development of the wind turbine which takes the utilization of the wind a step further by producing and storing energy. Instead of the mechanical rotation created by the propellers being used directly in a task like grinding grain, the rotation is leveraged by a series of gears and rotors to create electricity. This electricity can then be transferred to the grid, used on site, or stored in generators.
The wind turbine is made up of 2 - 4 large blades suspended above ground by a tower. The tower allows for the greatest wind current, high above the ground, to be “captured” for use. The tail or vane attached to the shaft ensures that the blades are facing into the wind and the pitch control unit ensures that the wind turbine’s blades don’t get damaged by violent winds tearing at them at aggressive angles. From the mechanical movement of the blades to the generator, then from the generator to a set of inverters or power interface, energy travels back to the grid. The efficiency of this system controls how much power and the improvement of this system could be the difference of producing enough power for a small town or a large city from the same wind farm. Efficiency is everything.
Treehugger / Hilary Allison
Wind power is one type of clean energy that produces zero emissions and countries like Denmark, that have been leaning into wind power for several years, are able to produce even more energy than they use. This is an excellent option as we work to replace and eliminate fossil fuel based energy sources. Even if your county or city isn’t utilizing wind power, you may be eligible to use wind power residentially. If it is suitable for your location, residential wind power is actually one of the most affordable options. In some locations, you can cut your home electrical bill by 80%. Combined with another source of energy, it’s possible to design a home system that produces enough energy to sell back to the grid. That’s beyond self sufficient! Residential goals for 2022! We have the clean resources, it’s time to implement them.