Wind Energy
What is wind energy?
Wind Energy is the most mature and
developed renewable energy. It generates
electricity through wind, by using the kinetic
energy produced by the effect if air currents. It
is a source of clean and renewable energy,
which reduces the emission of greenhouse
effect gases and preserves the environment.
Ancient Egyptian Windmill
‘’The only difference between windmills and wind
turbines is in how the energy they harness is used.
Wind turbines generate electricity. Windmills were
originally designed to grind (mill) grain and pump
water.’’
Timeline (1887 – 2008)
• July 1877 – Glasgow, Scotland
The first windmill for electricity production was built by
Professor James Blyth of Anderson’s College.
• Winter 1887 – Ohio, US
Professor Charles F. Brush Builds a 12kW wind turbine to charge
408 batteries stored in the cellar of his mansion.
• 1890s – Askov, Denmark
Scientist Poul la Cour begins his wind turbine tests.
• 1927 – Minneapolis, US
Joe and Marcellus Jacobs open the Jacobs Wind Factory,
producing wind turbine generators.
• 1920s
The first vertical axis wind turbine, the Darrieus turbine, is
invented by Frenchman George Darrieus.
• 1931 – Yalta, former USSR
A precursor to the modern horizontal wind generator is
used in Yalta, generating 100 kW.
• 1941 – Vermont, US
The world’s first megawatt wind turbine was built and
connected to the power grid in Castleton, Vermont.
• 1956 – Gedser, Denmark
The Gedser wind turbine was built by Johannes Juul. A
200 kW, three bladed turbine.
• 1970s – Ohio, US
The US government, led by NASA, begins to research
into large commercial wind turbines.
• 1980 – New Hampshire, US
The world’s first windfarm consisting of 20 turbines is
built in New Hampshire.
• 1981 – Washington and Hawaii, US
The 7.5 MW Mod-2 was built by Nasa.
• 1991 – Cornwall, UK
The UK’s first onshore windfarm was opened in
Delabole, Cornwall.
• 2003 – Northwales, UK
The UK’s first offshore windfarm was opened. Located 7-
8 km off the North Wales coast.
• 2007 – Stirling, UK
Installed capacity of wind power in the UK reaches 2 GW.
• 2008 – UK
The EU sets the UK government a target to increase the
contribution of renewables to UK electricity to 20% by
2020.
Who discovered Wind
Energy?
As far back as 1877, a windmill as first used as
a means of generating electricity. Designed by
Professor James Blyth of Anderson’s College
in Scotland, this 10-meter-high turbine was
successfully used to charge accumulators to
power his holiday cottage in Kincardineshire.
Blyth’s ‘’windmill’’ at his cottage in Marykirk,
Kincardineshire
Why is Wind Energy a Renewable
Resource?
A renewable resource is a natural resource
which replenishes to overcome resource
depletion caused by usage and consumption.
What makes wind power renewable is that it
uses wind energy which is generated by the
heating and cooling of the earth each day by
the sun. The sun is an inexhaustible source
which makes wind energy renewable.
Top 10 Wind Power Countries
1. China - with a capacity of 19.7 GW.
2. United States - with a capacity of 7 GW.
3. Germany - with a capacity of 6.5 GW.
4. India - with a capacity of 4 GW.
5. Spain - with a capacity of 96 MW.
6. UK - with a capacity of4, 270 MW.
7. France - with a capacity of 1, 694 MW.
8. Brazil - with a capacity of 2 GW.
9. Canada - with a capacity of 12 GW.
10.Italy - with a capacity of 9 GW.
Best places to put Wind Turbines
Wind farms don’t work in crowded residential
areas where the noise pollution bothers
humans. They also don’t work where birds
frequent because these turbines can kill these
flying animals when they unknowingly fly into
them. Wind turbines and farms perform better
in unpopulated windy areas with access to the
power grid.
Areas best suited to wind farms and
turbines include:
• Locations that have frequent, sustained winds.
• Unpopulated areas with inexpensive access to
power grids.
• Sites that currently use polluting sources for
electricity generation.
• Place that yield the best health, climate and
pollution benefits for the region’s residents.
Wind Power in the Philippines
Wind power in the Philippines makes up a small
percentage of the total energy output of the
Philippines. Our country’s wind energy sector has
significant potential and could provide up to 76 GW
of power. Some of the most recent developments
are the:
•Bangui Wind farm in Ilocos Norte
•Wind Energy Power System in Puerto Galera
•Pililla Wind Farm in Pililla, Rizal
Energy Development
• Wind energy is produced by using a large
wind turbine usually consisting of propellers;
the turbine can be connected to a generator to
generate electricity. As the wind passes the
turbines it moves the blades, which rotates the
shaft.
The Conversion of Wind into Electricity
• Wind power is converted into electricity by
magnets moving past stationary coils of wire
know as the stator. As the magnets past the
stator, AC electricity is produced. It is then
converted into DC electricity which can be
used to charge batteries which store the
electrical energy or cal also be def into a grid
interactive inverter for feeding power into the
electricity grid.
