Wind generation has increased in popularity and the technology has improved tremendously over the last decade. In the year 2006, the total installed capacity of U.S. wind generation was about 11,000 MW. Wind turbine generators are continuing to be installed worldwide. The total installed capacity worldwide is about 74,000 MW. Above figure shows typical wind generators.
Wind turbine generators tend to have a high cost per kWh produced. There is also a concern about the availability of wind on a constant basis. Most power companies do not consider wind generators to be base load units. Base load implies that units are readily available and that they are part of a 24 hour generation production schedule. They are brought online when available.
Basically, the concept of wind power is that the wind energy is converted
into electrical energy by means of modern windmills. One interesting characteristic
of wind power is the fact that power produced is proportional to the cube of the wind speed. In other words, if the wind speed is doubled, the power produced is tripled or increased by a factor of eight. Thus, what might appear to humans as modest changes in breezes severely impact wind power production.
Installation of wind power generators requires selecting sites that are relatively unrestricted to wind flow, preferably at high elevations, and within close proximity to suitable powerlines. Obviously, the site selected should have a fairly constant wind speed.
Wind power is accepted as free energy with no fuel costs. Wind power is also considered renewable energy, since wind really never goes away.
Do you feel confused confused about this lesson? Leave your question now in a comment.
Mr. Muhammad Saqib, M.Sc. (PAK), Research Fellow (PAK), a member of IEEE, is a Fulbright Alumnus and earned his Master’s Degree in Electrical and Power Engineering from University Of Engineering And Technology Taxila, PAKISTAN.
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