What is wind energy, how does it work?

• Far more than blowing wind around, wind turbines convert wind into electricity that feeds into the electricity grid, for us to then use in domestic and commercial settings including appliances, transportation, water, and more.  

 

What is wind energy, how does it work?

Despite common belief, wind turbines are almost the opposite to fans. Far more than blowing wind around, wind turbines convert wind into electricity that feeds into the electricity grid, for us to then use in domestic and commercial settings including appliances, transportation, water, and more.  

 

 

Implementation 

The benefits of wind energy are many and varied, providing not only electricity, but also employment while protecting Mother Nature. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, decreased air pollution and carbon emissions are just some of the ways in which this renewable energy source can benefit us now and in the future. Thanks to an increase in wind farm projects across Australia, wind energy reported the highest growth in FTE employment: 60% between 2017-18 and 2018-19 and has more than doubled since. Furthermore, wind power accounts for almost 3% of global electricity consumption, with the industry expecting to double by the end of the decade.

How does it work?

Wind turbines consist of vanes up to sixty meters long, connected to towers, and rotating on an axis for maximum resistance. These blades are made of lightweight,  resistant material which is forced by a breeze to spin, producing energy with as little as 11km of wind and able to withstand gusts of up to 90km. The types of turbines used depend largely on the location eg. within a valley or high on hills, but in most cases the fundamentals remain: Wind creates kinetic energy which forces the blades to rotate, turning the gearbox, which in turn rotates the generator, resulting in clean energy to be used throughout the community. 

Electricity 

The generation capacity of wind turbines varies, however, ACCIONA commonly utilises 1,500 kW and 3,000 kW varieties – measurements which refer to the maximum power generated by the turbines. Taking ACCIONA’s AW3000 as an example, if it runs for 2,500 hours per year with average winds, the turbine will produce 7,500 MWh of electricity – enough energy generated for more than 2,000 households.

Monitoring

Larger scale operations require constant monitoring so that all critical functions of wind turbines can be continually assessed and any issues can be resolved. 

Surveillance can be done from the control center, or remotely using tablets or Iphones.  The system allows for analysis of wind speeds, power outputs, grid voltages, as well as offering the ability to compare different sections of a wind farm and access to previous data.

ACCIONA

ACCIONA is the leader in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of wind energy assets. With more than twenty years of experience in the sector, as well as a strong belief in the power of renewable energy solutions, ACCIONA has over 13 GW capacity in operation and under construction globally.