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Home > > Wind turbine news > > What is Wind Energy What is Wind Energy Wind energy is ENERGY obtained from moving air. The motion results from the heating and cooling of the Earth; thus, wind energy is an indirect form of SOLAR ENERGY. It is normally turned into useful energy by the action of WIND currents on moving surfaces such as the sails of a ship or the blades of a windmill. Wind energy is one of the oldest forms of energy used to supplement human muscle. Windmills and other spinning wind-energy devices - more accurately known as wind turbines - were used for grinding grain by the 7th century AD, and were in wide use for this purpose and for pumping water by the Middle Ages; they were brought by the French to Canada in the 17th century and were commonly used for grinding grain. Ships have used sails for at least 3000-4000 years. Before the advent of rural electrification systems, wind turbines were also used to generate electricity on farms in N America, notably on the Canadian prairies. The advantage of wind-energy systems is that they tap an inexhaustible energy source that has no competing uses; hence, there is no fuel cost. The disadvantage is that wind conditions are unpredictable: they are subject to gusting and becalming, to daily and seasonal variations in strength, and to interactions with local topographic features. To meet a continuous demand such as a community¡¯s lighting and heating, a wind-energy system must either be integrated with other energy sources or include a means of storing energy for use during calm periods. If the demand is not continuous (eg, in agricultural water systems or unscheduled water transportation) wind energy can be employed very usefully. The reawakening of interest in wind-energy conversion systems is the result of increasing energy demands and the relatively high costs of conventional energy sources. New wind-energy conversion equipment uses advanced AERODYNAMIC features, modern structural design and new materials. The revival encompasses not only land-based systems but also commercial marine applications. New sail configurations have been devised to improve ship performance dramatically. However, the greatest effort has been focused on land-based generation of ELECTRIC POWER using high-speed wind turbines. Related Questions: 1. Multi-Million-Dollar Wind Energy Contract In China 2. Angola, China's biggest oil supplier |
