What
is wind energy? How is it produced?
Wind
being another form of solar energy is a rich source of
renewable energy. Wind flow however owes its origin to
the various geographical and environmental factors like,
rotation of the earth, the varying topographical forms
and thus the differential heating of the earth’s surface
by the sun’s rays. The flow of wind is essentially a
motion energy which is harnessed into mechanical energy
called wind energy. Wind energy is machinated into
mechanical and electrical power by two majorly used
devices like wind mills and wind energy turbines. This
wind energy is being used multifariously nowadays. Now
where is wind energy used is a very interesting and
critical topic of discussion in this era of power
conservation.
Usage
and application of wind energy: factors
involved
Wind
energy is being widely utilized across the world. The
knowledge of regeneration and application of this solar
power will further help us better realize the viability
of wind energy in the various aspects of our lives. To
explore where is wind energy used, we need to have a
clear idea about wind energy as a resource. Wind is
nothing but the circulatory system of the earth where
the air from the cooler zones rushes to fill up the
vacuum created by the upwardly moving hot air from the
relatively warmer parts. Now how and where is wind
energy used in a particular area solely depends on the
available wind energy resource of that area. Thus the
amount of wind covering a particular area throughout the
year determines the expanse of its use in that region.
The speed of wind is another inherent factor affecting
the application and use of wind energy resource. Local
terrain and altitude affect the speed of wind like
higher altitude provides a less turbulent and speedy
wind. Like stated above wind mills and wind energy
turbines are two major wind power generators used for
generating power. The major difference between the two
machines lies in the field of application of the wind
energy produced by them. Wind mills are deployed in
places where wind energy is harnessed and used for
mechanical power like grinding wheat, pumping water etc.
and wind energy turbines are deployed to produce
electricity.
Who
uses wind energy?
Depending
on the scale of usage wind energy turbines are available
in various power ratings. The source of wind energy
being free and uninterrupted makes this resource the
most widely accepted amongst its competitors like coal
and fossil fuels. Thus the field of application of wind
energy stretches from as small as a household and farm
requirements to as massive as national and provincial
networks.
Thus wind turbines seem to have a more wide
application than wind mills. The use of wind energy in
supplying power for a nation can be exemplified by that
done in
How
useful is the use of wind
energy?
To
account for the fields where is wind energy used as a
source of power we need to illustrate the advantages and
disadvantages of the whole application. Like, supplying
electricity for a nationwide requirement definitely
calls for the side effects involved. And it can be
proudly said that wind energy is a pollution-free
renewable resource. Also wind energy turbines do not
emit any toxic, greenhouse gases or air pollutants like
the conventional power plants. Besides saving power,
wind energy generators are pretty economic to use thanks
to their minimum life cycle cost, minimal operating
disbursals and no fuel purchasing. Nevertheless, some
minor concerns like noise pollution (produced by the
rotor blades), visual impact (blocking the view of the
landscape) and avian mortality (bats and birds being
killed while flying into the rotors) are been taken care
of by wisely locating the wind plants and technological
developments. Thus the use of wind energy is being
practiced all over the environment conscious
nations.
