Wind Generated Power as Alternative Energy

Wind is air in motion and is created when earth is heated unevenly by the sun. This is because earth surface varies a lot, with land and water masses, proximity to the equator, altitude, etc. Large atmospheric winds are created when the land near the equator is heated more than land near the poles. This energy is being harnessed to produce electricity. Wind is a renewable energy source since winds will be around us always.

You've probably seen wind farms with windmills. When the blades of the windmill turn in the wind, a turbine is moved which then generates electricity. A windmill can make a small amount of electricity and will be able to power a few electric appliances with it. To produce electricity on a large-scale wind farms are built with very big turbines. They are built in open areas, usually between two hills, where a tunnel effect is created and wind blows about 14 miles an hour. Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and California have huge wind farms, and there are many that are coming up.

The bigger the wind turbine is, the better and more effective it is, as more wind can reach it and more electricity can be generated. The tower is made of steel and is hollow. The blades are made of polyester and fiberglass. They are also called rotors. A wind farm can only have two to three turbines, or if it is well spread out, it could have up to 150 turbines. Altamont Pass in California is one of the largest wind farms in United States, with about 900 wind turbines.

If you want to install a wind power generator, you will first have to figure out the potential power output. You will have to consider data on wind resources in your area, be aware of site features like trees, or any other structures which could obstruct the flow of wind, and do your planning on basis of this information collected. If you plan to install a hybrid system with wind energy as one of the power sources, then be sure to plan to balance the system by using photovoltaic panels in proportion to the size of the generator.

The location of the wind generator is also very key. They could either be erected on top of a home or building, or attached a tower by the side of a building. If attached to a building, you will need to install vibration isolators to avoid structural vibration. If you are installing a large generator, you can do this on large buildings or on a separate tower, which could be close to the building. It is not recommended to put these on small or old homes of lightweight framed buildings. The location of the generator is very important, so is the wind speed, which the generator has access to.

In addition, installing appropriate and safe electrical grounding for the tower and the unit is also very important. It is most beneficial to have the unit at least 20 feet higher than any structure that is within 100 feet of the tower. The voltages in wind generators differ for each unit, and could be adjustable. Models with low as well as high voltage are available, with voltages ranging from 12 to 240 volts.