Wind Energy Wind energy is the kinetic energy associated with the movement of atmospheric air.

. Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships. Wind turbines transform the energy in the wind into mechanical power, which can then be used directly for converting to electric power to generate electricity. Approximate power available in wind passing through an region of area A units with velocity v and density is given by = . According to Betzs law maximum power that can be = ; extracted is 59.29% of the maximum available energy. Power coefficient Conversion efficiency is the efficiency of wind turbine to convert wind energy achieved by the turbine in the form of mechanical energy to electrical energy. Cut in speed-Minimum wind speed required to run the wind mill, it is around 3-4 m/s. Cut out speed-Maximum wind speed up to which wind turbine can run without damaging the wind mill, it is around 25 m/s. ADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER Wind Energy is an inexhaustible source of energy and is virtually a limitless resource. This source of energy has tremendous potential to generate energy on large scale. Like solar energy and hydropower, wind power taps a natural physical resource. Windmill generators dont emit any emissions that can lead to acid rain or greenhouse effect. Wind Energy can be used directly as mechanical energy. In remote areas, wind turbines can be used as great resource to generate energy. In combination with Solar Energy they can be used to provide reliable as well as steady supply of electricity. Land around wind turbines can be used for other uses, e.g. Farming DISADVANTAGES OF WIND POWER Wind energy requires expensive storage during peak production time. It is unreliable energy source as winds are uncertain and unpredictable. Requires large open areas for setting up wind farms. Noise pollution problem is usually associated with wind mills. Usually places, where wind power set-up is situated, are away from the places where demand of electricity is there. Transmission from such places increases cost of electricity. Global installed capacity was 2,82,587 MW in 2012 and by 2017 it will reach 536.13 GW. In India, wind power potential of 46,500 MW and installed capacity of 17,351 MW (20% of potential). Major work carried out by Centre For Wind Energy Technology India stands 5th in global wind power generation following China, US, Germany, Spain.

ABHISEK DASH