about wind power
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definition
Wind power is a form of renewable energy which is becoming increasingly utilised in Australia. Wind is created when the sun heats up parts of the air and other cooler air moves in to replace it. Wind power is harnessed by installing windmills which in turn can be used to provide electricity to homes and businesses. Wind power currently accounts for only 1% of all electricity supplied in Australia but is becoming more popular; new wind farms are being built around the country.
how wind power works
Wind hits the blades of the windmill, causing the blades to turn. This movement drives a generator which generates electricity. In windy regions, windmills can create large amounts of energy without having any adverse affect on the environment. Scientists are trying to find the most effective ways to utilise the wind, and modern turbines are now mounted on top of towers 40-60 metres high to give them greater exposure to the strongest winds.
advantages of wind power
There are many advantages from using wind to generate electricity:
- Wind is a renewable form of energy and does not emit greenhouse gases
- Remote areas not connected to the main electricity grid can use wind power as a viable solution
- Although the wind turbines are tall they usually occupy only small amounts of land, leaving it available for other uses such as farming
- Once constructed, wind farms are cheap to operate and require low levels of maintenance
disadvantages of wind power
However, there are several disadvantages from using wind to generate electricity:
- Wind strength is not consistent, meaning that it cannot be relied upon as the main generator of electricity
- Turbines create a lot of noise so it is not a good option for residential areas
- Wind turbines are very large and considered unsightly by some, changing the natural landscape and having a negative visual impact
- Set up costs can be substantial and the generators require a lot of space
- At current levels of efficiency, wind farms need to be relatively large to generate enough electricity for a community. For example the largest wind turbine available today can generate enough power at full capacity for only around 475 homes
- Windmills are dangerous to bird life although wind farms are usually built away from migration paths
