What are the 3 main types of wind energy?
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Introduction
Electricity is produced when a turbine (which looks like an oversized fan or propeller) rotates and its blades cut through the air. The wind turns the blades on their axis, which spins a shaft connected to a generator. This process creates electricity by turning magnets inside coils of copper wire as they pass by one another at high speed. Wind energy is an important part of our renewable energy mix because it’s clean and reliable — there’s always going to be wind somewhere in the world!
1. Wind turbines
- Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the most common form of wind energy, and the largest, most expensive and least efficient. They’re used to power large buildings and communities with a constant source of electricity, but they’re not as efficient as solar panels or other renewable energy sources.
The most common type of wind energy is produced with large, megawatt-scale turbines that are mounted on towers. These towers can be up to 40 stories tall and each turbine can have three blades the length of a football field. Most large, commercial wind turbines have a capacity of two megawatts (MW) or more.
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2. Distributed wind energy
Distributed wind energy is the second type of wind power. Distributed wind energy is produced by low-capacity turbines that can be used to power a single home or business, or a small community.
Distributed wind turbines tend to be larger than residential rooftop turbines because they generate more power and are better able to withstand strong winds at higher altitudes. They are also more expensive than most residential rooftop systems, but they have several benefits:
- Distributed systems can provide electricity for remote areas without access to electricity grids or other conventional sources of energy such as coal plants, natural gas plants and nuclear reactors
Distributed, or “small” wind energy systems are generally rated at 100 kilowatts (kW) or less and can be used to power a single home or business, or a small community. They’re especially popular in rural areas where connecting to the electricity grid isn’t an option.
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3. Offshore wind energy
Offshore wind energy is a form of wind energy that is generated from wind turbines located in bodies of water such as oceans and lakes. These turbines can be used both for electricity generation and for pumping water from the sea floor to the surface. They are not as common as land-based wind farms, but they have several advantages, including being free to use and requiring less maintenance.
Wind farms located in bodies of water such as oceans and lakes are called offshore wind farms. Right now there aren’t many offshore wind farms built in the United States — only five exist, but the potential for this type of renewable energy is huge. The Department of Energy estimates that U.S. offshore winds could produce more than double the amount of electricity that we consume each year from all sources!
- Wind farms located in bodies of water such as oceans and lakes are called offshore wind farms. Right now there aren’t many offshore wind farms built in the United States — only five exist, but the potential for this type of renewable energy is huge. The Department of Energy estimates that U.S. offshore winds could produce more than double the amount of electricity that we consume each year from all sources!
- These turbines have three blades instead of two and they rotate at much higher speeds than traditional onshore turbines (typically 7 to 8 meters per second). This means they can create a lot more power per unit area than an onshore turbine would be able to generate if placed in similar circumstances.* Offshore energy is more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t disturb land or wildlife habitats near cities (like fossil fuels do). Plus it’s less noisy too!* Efficiency decreases with distance from shore though so building them further away may not make sense economically.* They’re also harder to put up and maintain because you need boats/ships etc., plus working underwater poses challenges due to visibility issues.* There are lots more costs involved—the average price tag for one megawatt hour produced by these farms came out around 15 cents during 2014-2015; whereas an equivalent amount produced by coal would cost roughly 9 cents per hour.*
We mostly use wind turbines for our main source of wind energy, but there are two other forms that also work well for smaller settings and off shore environments
Wind turbines are the most common type of wind energy. They are used to generate electricity. Wind turbines are large and can be up to 40 stories tall. They have three blades that are the length of a football field and can generate 2 megawatts or more depending on their size.
There are two other forms of wind energy that work well for smaller settings and off shore environments:
- Concentrated solar power (CSP), which uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a liquid-filled “power tower” that generates steam to turn turbines and generate electricity; this method is also known as concentrating solar thermal electricity (CSTE). In addition to being an efficient way to produce clean energy, CSP plants do not require water for cooling like many other types of power plants do—and they don’t emit greenhouse gas emissions either!
- Offshore wind farms harnessing ocean winds at sea level using giant arrays anchored atop steel piles driven into the seabed by specialized ships known as jack-up barges; these offshore farms can produce enough electricity for thousands of homes while also providing habitat for important marine species such as seals, dolphins, endangered whales and other sea life
Conclusion
Whether you have a small home or a large business, wind power can be a great way to supplement your energy needs. We’ve covered the different types of wind turbines and how they work, but there are also many other types of renewable energy sources including solar power and hydroelectricity. As we continue to innovate our technology and improve upon our use of these resources, it’s important for us all to think about how we can contribute towards making them more affordable and accessible for everyone!
