What is wind energy?

Wind energy is a wind-dependent source of energy. The sun unevenly heats the Earth, creating different temperature and atmospheric pressure zones around the globe. From these pressure differences arise movements of air, called wind. This energy makes it possible to make electricity in wind turbines, also called wind generators, thanks to the force of the wind.

A wind turbine is composed of 4 parts:

-The mast
- Propeller
- The carrycot containing the generator alternator
- Electrical lines that discharge and transport electrical energy (when connected to the grid).

Descending from the windmill of the Middle Ages, wind energy is an energy that emits no greenhouse gases and its raw material, wind, is available all over the world and completely free.

The operation of a wind turbine

A wind turbine generates electricity through wind. Its force activates the rotor blades, which activates an alternator.When the wind starts, the rotor starts. His blades are turning. The rotor is located at the end of a mast because the winds blow higher. Depending on the type of wind turbine, the mast varies between 10 and 100 m high. The rotor typically has 3 blades. To be able to start, a wind turbine requires a minimum wind speed of about 15 km/h. For safety reasons, the wind turbine automatically stops working when the wind exceeds 90 km/h. The rotor drives an axis in the nacelle, called a shaft, connected to an alternator. Thanks to the energy supplied by the axis rotation, the alternator produces an alternating electric current.

WIND BENEFITS

Wind energy is a renewable energy that requires no fuel, does not create greenhouse gases, does not produce toxic or radioactive waste. By combating climate change, wind energy contributes in the long term to maintaining the biodiversity of natural environments.
Wind energy produces wind electricity: without degrading air quality, without polluting water (no discharge into the aquatic environment, no thermal pollution), without polluting the soil (no soot, no ash).
When large wind farms are installed on agricultural land, only about 2% of the land is required for wind turbines. The remaining area is available for agricultural, livestock and other uses.
Landowners who host wind turbines often receive a payment for their land use, which increases their income and the value of the land. Wind energy can help reduce electricity bills and help protect you from power outages. Other agricultural and industrial activities can continue around a wind farm. The cost price of a wind turbine has fallen sharply since 2011 due to the economies of scale that have been achieved in their manufacture. A wind farm takes little time to build, and its dismantling guarantees the restoration of the original site.

WIND DISADVANTAGES

Wind power is an intermittent energy, wind power is not enough in itself to define an energy and environmental policy, the solution would be to couple wind power with solar photovoltaic panels. Effects on the landscape (aesthetics), noise problem (mainly observed with wind turbines imported from Asia), electromagnetic interference problem for low-end wind turbines. Wind energy depends on topography, weather and the environment.