Wind energy is the process of using wind to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines are used to convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power, which can be used for specific tasks such as grinding grain or pumping water, or can be converted into electricity by a generator. Wind power is considered a sustainable, renewable energy source, and has a much smaller impact on the environment compared to burning fossil fuels.
Wind is caused by uneven heating of the earths surface by the sun, and wind energy is actually a byproduct of the sun. The sun’s uneven heating of the atmosphere, the earth’s irregular surfaces (mountains and valleys), and the planets revolution around the sun all combine to create wind. Wind power is proportional to the third power of the wind speed, meaning that the available power increases eightfold when the wind speed doubles.
Wind turbines can be used for residential onsite energy use, which requires a small turbine that can generate the amount of power that the home requires for daily operation, or for larger commercial onsite loads. Wind power plants, or wind farms, produce electricity that is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and other facilities. Wind is the largest source of renewable energy in the United States, providing clean electricity from land and offshore to individual homes, remote farms, small businesses, and factories.
