Wind Power
Wind Power
Wind has been used for many years to provide us with energy either for sailing around the world or for powering windmills.
Wind Power
The wind is formed by huge warm air currents in the Earth's atmosphere, driven by heat energy from the Sun. This moving air has huge amounts of energy, which can be used to make electricity using wind turbines.
Wind Power
Wind turbines harness the movement of air to produce energy. The wind turns the blades, which turn a rotor shaft; as the shaft spins it turns an electricity generator. Wind turbines are often grouped together in wind farms.
Two main types of wind farms
Onshore wind farms are built on land with the foundations of the wind turbines placed deep into the soil of an area that has been checked and shown to have a good wind. There are over 70 onshore wind farms in the UK and it is thought that wind power could be supplying 10% of the UK's electricity by the year 2025
Two main types of wind farms:
Offshore wind farms are built on the sea floor and again in areas with a reliable supply of wind. There are 13 offshore wind farms in the UK at present.
Wind Power
Wind turbines cannot work if there is no wind, or if the wind speed is too powerful.
Wind power
Wind farms provide a clean source of energy but have disadvantages.
Some people think they spoil views, and can be noisy in windy conditions. Suitable locations for wind farms are often in areas of beauty like mountainsides.
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Wind power
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