A wind farm, also known as a wind park, is a site designated to be used for wind power generation. It is made up of a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines. They are built in areas known to be especially windy on a regular basis, and the winds turn the blades of the turbines, which then turn the energy of the wind into mechanical power. Generators then turn the mechanical power into electricity, which is then used to power homes.
Some key points about wind farms include:
- Size: Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines.
- Location: Wind farms are built in areas known to be especially windy on a regular basis.
- Components: Each wind turbine consists of a set of blades, a box beside them called a nacelle, and a shaft. The blades rotating in this way then also make the shaft in the nacelle turn and a generator in the nacelle converts this kinetic energy into electrical energy.
- Renewable energy: Wind energy is free and renewable, and wind farms dont produce greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants.
Wind farms can be built on land or offshore in large bodies of water like oceans and lakes. They are normally installed in areas where you can harness terrestrial or sea winds without interfering with the environment or harming the natural habitat of species. Wind farms can be used to power individual homes or businesses, or they can be clustered to form part of a larger wind farm.
