Efficiency of Wind Power Generation
Posted by admin on April 13th, 2009 filed in Power Articles
Wind power is the method by which wind is used to generate electricity. To determine the efficiency of wind power generation, we need to know how the wind power system works. The wind turbines collect the power of the wind in two steps: the propeller blades are turned by the gusts of wind, and the propeller then turns a shaft connected to a generator. The method is just like hydro-power, but with wind acting as the energy source instead of flowing water.
Interestingly, wind is actually a form of solar power – wind change and variability is caused by uneven heating of the ground by the sun. In order to fully use the power that the wind is capable of generating, many areas have set up wind farms. A wind farm consists of more than one wind turbine set up in an area. With all the wind turbines working at the same time, these farms are a great way to produce large amounts of electricity.
In general, a single wind turbine will convert about 20 percent of the energy in wind to electricity. The most efficient production occurs between five and 20 miles an hour of wind speed. This general 20 percent efficiency rating is roughly seven to five percent more efficient than solar power, but sunlight is constant whereas wind is not.
Just one wind turbine set up in an area will not produce very much electricity, and is not very good for powering large areas – these small turbines are usually used to power just one farm or house or occasionally to pump water.
Wind farms, when assembled in a large grouping of wind turbines in one area can produce much larger and more consistent volumes electricity. Power can then be supplied to whole communities through existing utility grids or stored in battery-like storage cells.
Wind turbines can be set up to face the wind or face away from the wind. Modern wind turbines can also turn to catch the wind as it gusts from different angles, a factor which makes them far more efficient than before. The larger the turbine’s blades and the taller the turbine’s height will increase the efficiency as well.
The exact efficiency of wind power generation from wind farms is nearly impossible to pinpoint. The problem is found in the factors that go into the analysis. The terrain, amount of wind, size of turbines and so on varies from wind farm to farm or place to place. There is no constant, which makes it difficult to nail down general efficiency ratings.
While wind technology has not yet progressed to a point where no energy is lost while harnessing it, it is fair to say that the principle is favorable compared to other renewable sources. Wind technologies have and are improving at a fairly constant rate. With advances in new and better materials and design concepts, creating electricity from the forces of natural wind hold great promise as one of the best alternative energy sources for local power production .
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