Green energy is gaining ground these days as we are more and more concerned about the impact of conventional energy producing means on the surrounding environment. Early this year, a news piece made the headlines in Germany and around the world announcing for the first time in its history the renewable energy had the majority contribution to the country\u2019s internal use. And since wind turbines play a great role in these efforts, let\u2019s now take a look at how a wind turbine work.<\/p>\n
Simply stated, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. View the wind turbine animation to see how a wind turbine works or take a look inside.<\/p>\n
Wind is a form of solar energy and is a result of the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth’s surface, and the rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns and speeds vary greatly and are modified by bodies of water, vegetation, and differences in terrain. Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating electricity.<\/p>\n
The terms wind energy or wind power describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.<\/p>\n