Like all forms of energy, wind is created as a result of the sun. The sun heats a land mass and the heat from the land is absorbed by the surrounding air. When the air reaches a certain temperature, it begins to rise quickly upwards. This results in a low pressure area at ground level and a higher pressure area above the land. Air naturally moves from high pressure zones to low pressure zones. This air movement creates wind.

Areas of the Earth that are close to the sun, such as the equator, become warmer more quickly than areas further away, such as the poles. As air moves over warm areas and rises, cooler air from surrounding areas rushes in to fill the space left by the rising air, thereby creating surface winds. Due to elevation, topography, surface roughness, and location, some areas experience more wind than others.

Wind energy is the kinetic energy that is present in moving air. The amount of potential energy depends mainly on wind speed, but is also affected slightly by the density of the air, which is determined by the air temperature, barometric pressure, and altitude. For any wind turbine, the power and energy output increases dramatically as the wind speed increases. Therefore, the most cost-effective wind turbines are located in the windiest areas. Wind speed is affected by the local terrain and increases with height above the ground, so wind turbines are usually mounted on tall towers.

Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy in surface winds and convert it into electrical energy in the form of electricity. To do this use they use three basic parts: blades, a shaft and a generator. As wind moves over turbine blades, it causes “lift” — the same effect used by airplane wings. Lift makes the blades rotate. The turning blades turn a shaft. The turning shaft moves a magnetic field in the generator, which in turn creates electricity. This electricity is transmitted through cables to a transformer and then further onto an electrical grid substation, where the power is transported by long distance transmission lines to cities.

How it works?