Wind Power- An Introduction

Wind is produced by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface, by the sun. When the sun shines during the day, the air, over landmasses, gets heated more quickly than the air over water. The warm air over land expands and rises, and the heavy cool air, over water, moves to take its place creating local winds. At night this process is reversed. Wind is called a renewable source of energy because wind will be produced as long as the sun shines over the earth.

Wind power has been a source of energy since long in traditional forms but its sophisticated use was first made in Netherlands. Wind power is generated by wind mills. The wind mills capture wind which is used to rotate turbines and thus generate electricity. This generated electricity is used to pump water in wells for irrigation, for lighting houses and streets and for use in small units of industries.

Electricity generated by wind power from a single wind mill cannot be used for commercial purposes. Therefore, a number of wind mills are erected over a large area known as a Wind Energy Farm. The wind power from such a farm is used to generate electricity that can be used on a commercial scale.

Average wind speeds need to be calculated since different wind mills are suitable for different speeds in different terrains. The design and construction of wind turbines rotated by wind power can be adapted to suit a specific location and the end use of the electricity generated by wind power.

Wind power is a commercially competent source of generating electricity at low cost.