Wind energy

1. Moving air is called wind. Wind has energy. The energy possessed by wind is due to its high speed (or
motion).
2. So, the wind possesses kinetic energy.
3. It is this kinetic energy of wind which is utilised for doing work.
4. Solar energy is responsible for the blowing of wind.
5. Wind blows due to the uneven heating by the sun in different regions.
6. So, wind energy comes from the sun in an indirect way.
Harnessing of wind energy
1. The energy of wind is harnessed by using a windmill.
2. A windmill consists of big sized, table fan like blades which are fixed over the top of a tall pole in such a
way that they are free to rotate.
3. When the fast moving wind strikes on the blade of windmill, it makes them rotate continuously.
4. The rotatory motion of the windmill is then used to do mechanical work through a shaft connected to
the rotating blades.
Traditional uses
1. In the past, wind energy was used through windmills to pump water (or lift water) from a well and to
grind wheat into flour.
2. This happens as follows : When the blades of windmill rotate by the force of wind, a well by a suitable
mechanism. It could also turn the millstones of a flour mill.
3. The traditional use of wind energy has now been modified by the improvement in technology to
generate electricity through wind- powered generators.
Wind generator
1. The windmill used for generating electricity is called a wind turbine, and the complete set-up of
generating electricity by using wind energy is called Wind generator.
2. When the fast moving wind strikes the blades of wind turbine, then the wind turbine starts rotating
continuously. The shaft of wind turbine is connected to a small generator. When the wind turbine
rotates, its shaft also rotates and drives the generator.
3. The generator produces electricity.
Mechanism
1. The electricity by a single wind turbine is quite small (because a single wind turbine can run only a small
generator).
2. So, in order to generate a large amount of electricity, a large number of wind turbines are erected over a
big area of land.
3. Such a set- up of having a large number of wind turbines working at a place to generate electrical energy
on a large scale is called a wind energy farm.

4. The small electricity generated by each generator is combined together to obtain electricity on a large
scale.

Advantages of using wind energy

1.
2.
3.
4.

It does not cause any pollution.

It is a renewable source of energy and will never get exhausted.
As long as the sun keeps shining, the wind will keep blowing and provide us energy.
The increased use of wind energy for generating electricity will help us conserve fossil fuels, so that they
may last longer.
5. Moreover, it is available free of cost !!!!!!!!!!
Limitations of harnessing wind energy
1. Wind energy farms cannot be established everywhere. The wind energy farms can be established only at
those places where wind blows for most part of the year.
2. The wind required for generating electricity should be strong and to maintain the desired level of
generation.
3. This minimum wind speed is necessary for satisfactory working of a wind generator is about 15km/h.
this is not always so.
4. The wind energy farms require a large area of land
5. The setting up of wind energy farms is very expensive.
Wind energy in India
1. The wind power potential of our country is estimated to be about 45,000 MW. This means if Indias wind
energy is fully harnessed, then 45,000 MW of electrical power can be generated.
2. At present we are generating more than 1025MW of electricity from wind energy. This is going to
increase soon when some more wind energy farms start working.
3. The largest wind energy farm is established near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu can generate 380 MW of
electricity. India is ranked fifth in the world for harnessing wind energy for the production of electricity.
The first position is occupied by Germany. Denmark is, however, called the country of winds because
more than 25% of the electricity needs of Denmark are met by using wind energy.