HOW WIND ENERGY WORKS
Wind is a renewable source for energy which can be caught using large wind mills (called turbines) that spin to generate electricity.
Computer systems control the direction of turbine blades to match the direction of the wind
Wind pushes turbine blades into rotation
Blades turn a generator to convert mechanical energy into electricity
Generator sends electricity through transmission lines to the power grid, bringing electricity to homes and businesses
FUN WIND FACTS
- Wind has been used since the earliest civilizations to grind grain, pump water and power sailboat
- Wind turbines can be as tall as a 20-story building, with blades as long as a football field!
- The top 5 wind power producing states, in order, are Texas, Iowa, California, Minnesota and Washington
- Wind energy companies sometimes hire rock climbers to do repairs on their wind turbines since they must be experts in using ropes to scale great heights
- Wind is created by the heating and cooling patterns of the Earth’s surface based on the position of the sun
- The best sites for wind farms are open areas at high altitudes, such as mountain gaps, shorelines, open plains or rounded hills.
resource: http://www.greenmountain.com/resources/enviro-kids/renewable-energy-101/solar-energy
