| What is a wind turbine made of? What is a wind | | | | Turbine |
| turbine and how does it work? What is a wind | | | | Turbine subsystems include: a rotor, or blades, |
| turbine, and how does it make electricity? What is | | | | which convert the wind's energy into rotational |
| a wind turbine built from? | | | | shaft energy; a nacelle (enclosure) containing a |
| Wind | | | | drive train, usually including a gearbox* and a |
| Wind electric turbines generate electricity for | | | | generator; a tower, to support the rotor and |
| homes and businesses and for sale to utilities. | | | | drive train; and electronic equipment such as |
| Wind turbines being manufactured now have | | | | controls, electrical cables, ground support |
| power ratings ranging from 250 watts to 5 | | | | equipment, and interconnection equipment. |
| megawatts (MW). Wind plants can range in size | | | | Turbines are monitored continuously via a SCADA |
| from a few megawatts to hundreds of | | | | (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) |
| megawatts in capacity. Wind power plants are | | | | system. Turbine and generator operation are |
| "modular," which means they consist of small | | | | continuously monitored via a SCADA system, and |
| individual modules (the turbines) and can easily be | | | | any conditions which might affect turbine |
| made larger or smaller as needed. Wind turbines | | | | operation are immediately reported back to a |
| are fundamentally different from fuelled power | | | | central monitoring facility. |
| plants in this respect. | | | | Power |
| Energy | | | | Power from two 660kW wind turbines enhances |
| Energy from the wind turns the turbine's blades | | | | the quality of supply in the surrounding rural |
| around a rotor. Energy produced by the generator | | | | electrical grid. Power plants that run on fossil fuel |
| after being transformed by automatic systems | | | | or nuclear power typically have capacity factors |
| which aim is to adjust quality of energy to | | | | of 80-90%. Power plants emitted 70% of the |
| requirements of the National Power System, is | | | | sulphur dioxide, 34% of carbon dioxide, 33% of |
| delivered to distribution systems. Air has mass, | | | | nitrogen oxides, 28% of particulate matter and |
| and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of | | | | 23% of toxic heavy metals released into our |
| that motion ("kinetic energy"). Some portion of | | | | nation's environment, mostly the air. Power |
| that energy can converted into other forms | | | | production depends upon local wind, height of the |
| mechanical force or electricity that we can use to | | | | turbine and outdoor temperature. |
| perform work. TOP Turbine subsystems include: a | | | | Conclusion |
| rotor, or blades, which convert the wind's energy | | | | With your own windmill, your home can generate |
| into rotational shaft energy; a nacelle (enclosure) | | | | energy by using wind power and which would |
| containing a drive train, usually including a gearbox* | | | | consequently lower your electricity bills Many |
| and a generator; a tower, to support the rotor | | | | people now have windmills so powerful they are |
| and drive train; and electronic equipment such as | | | | selling the energy back to the electric companies, |
| controls, electrical cables, ground support | | | | you can do this as well and make big $. |
| equipment, and interconnection equipment. | | | | |