The role of wind power

Extraction of energy from wind is one of the cheapest of the renewable technologies. Electricity from modern wind turbines is competitive with new clean coal fired power stations and cheaper than nuclear power.

Europe aims to double the amount of renewable energy we produce, from 6% to 12% of primary energy supply by 2010. The contribution from wind energy is expected to be 40GW, with an increasing amount from offshore wind installations, like the one shown below, which is situated off the coast of Gotland in Sweden.

Information from the British Wind Energy Association (http://www.bwea.com).

How do wind turbines work?

Almost all wind turbines producing electricity consist of rotor blades which rotate around a horizontal hub. The hub is connected to a gearbox and generator, which are located inside the nacelle (the large part at the top of the tower where all the electrical components are located).

Most wind turbines have three blades which face into the wind; the wind turns the blades round, this spins the shaft, which connects to a generator and this is where the electricity is made.

Did you know?

Wind turbines start operating at wind speeds of 4 to 5 metres per second (around 10 miles an hour) and reach maximum power output at around 15 meters/second (around 33 miles per hour). At very high wind speeds, i.e. gale force winds, (25 metres/second, 50+ miles/hour) wind turbines shut down.

Turbines covering an area of sea about the size of London would be capable of meeting 10% of the UK's electricity needs.