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Growing concern for the environmental degradation has led to the world's interest in renewable energy resources.
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Wind is commercially and operationally the most viable renewable energy resource and accordingly, emerging as one
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of the largest source in terms of the renewable energy sector.
Glossary

Site Map Wind Energy - What is it?

Wind is the natural movement of air across the land or sea. Wind is caused by uneven heating and cooling of the
earth's surface and by the earth's rotation. Land and water areas absorb and release different amount of heat
received from the sun. As warm air rises, cooler air rushes in to take its place, causing local winds. The rotation of the
earth changes the direction of the flow of air.

Basic technology
Wind electric generator converts kinetic energy available in wind to electrical energy by using rotor, gearbox and
generator.

The Basic Process

The wind turns the blades of a windmill-like machine. The rotating blades turn the shaft to which they are attached.
The turning shaft typically can either power a pump or turn a generator, which produces electricity.

Most wind machines have blades attached to a horizontal shaft. This shaft transmits power through a series of gears,
which provide power to a water pump or electric generator. These are called horizontal axis wind turbines.

There are also vertical axis machines, such as the Darrieus wind machine, which has two, three, or four long curved
blades on a vertical shaft and resembles a giant eggbeater in shape.

The amount of energy produced by a wind machine depends upon the wind speed and the size of the blades in the
machine. In general, when the wind speed doubles, the power produced increases eight times. Larger blades capture
more wind. As the diameter of the circle formed by the blades doubles, the power increases four times.

Why Wind Energy

The project is environment friendly.

Good wind potential to harness wind energy.
A permanent shield against ever increasing power prices. The cost per kwh reduces over a period of time as
against rising cost for conventional power projects.
The cheapest source of electrical energy. (on a levelled cost over 20 years.)
Least equity participation required, as well as low cost debt is easily available to wind energy projects.
A project with the fastest payback period.
A real fast track power project, with the lowest gestation period; and a modular concept.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs are low.
No marketing risks, as the product is electrical energy.
A project with no investment in manpower.

Components of wind electric generator

Main components of a wind electric generator are:

1. Tower
2. Nacelle
3. Rotor
4. Gearbox
5. Generator
6. Braking System
7. Yaw System
8. Controllers
9. Sensors

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