Wind power is generated with a wind turbine which is a modern version of the wind mill, which has been used for thousands of years to drive machinery. A shaped blade, similar to the propeller on an airplane, is mounted onto a tower and aimed into the prevailing wind. The wind rotates the blade which spins a shaft inside the tower and turns a generator, creating electrical energy. Figure 1 shows a schematic of wind turbine components, and the DOE video describes how a turbine converts wind energy into electricity. Early wind turbines generated on the order of 30 kW, while modern turbines being installed have an average nameplate capacity of 3 MW as of 2022. (See Figure 2) Offshore wind turbines are even larger, with Siemens' new 7 MW offshore wind turbine testing in Denmark. Modern wind turbines also rotate much slower than early versions, which allows for more efficient generation, results in less wear and tear on the mechanical components for longer life, and significantly reduces the
danger to migrating birds.
Utility-scale "wind farms" are a collection of wind turbines (see Figure 3) and
OWOE: How much land does a wind farm require?, and can consist of hundreds to thousands of turbines for the largest farms. In addition to the turbines, the wind farm consists of a power transmission system in the form of electrical wires, conduit, and control cables, control and maintenance facilities, and a substation that connects the farm with the utility power grid. Utility-scale wind farms are generally located in areas with average annual wind speeds of at least 10 miles per hour (4.5 m/s). Ideal locations are characterized by near constant, non-turbulent wind throughout the year, with few sudden powerful bursts of wind.
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