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The constant usage of non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels, has led to a steady price increase over time. It could be expensive for economies to meet their global energy demands, so they needed to look for alternatives. In this case, wind power is one of the most used alternative resources.
This article will tell you fun facts about wind power and turbines. When and where did they start? What is the tallest turbine? Continue reading to know all of these!
#1. Wind Turbines Harness Energy From The Wind
As water turbines pump water for renewable energy, wind turbines obtain and convert wind power to create electricity. The heights of these wind turbines are similar to 20-story buildings. They also have three blades that are approximately 60 meters long.
Wind turbines are like giant propellers of airplanes constructed on a tall stick. The wind power allows the blades to spin, transferring motion to the shaft connected to the generator. It then produces electricity.
#2. People Have Been Using Windmills Since 2000 B.C.
Many people have already used windmills since 2000 B.C. They first developed these windmills in Persia and China.
Most of the Ancient mariners sailed across different lands and waters using wind power. Many farmers also used it for farming, such as grinding grains and pumping water. Today, people operate windmills and turbines to convert wind into electric power.
#3. Smith-Putnam: The Very First Modern Wind Turbine
In 1941, turbine manufacturers created the Smith-Putnam, the first megawatt-sized turbine in the wind industry. They connected it to the local electrical distribution system.
Smith-Putnam operated for about 1,100 hours. However, one of its blades failed at a known weak point. Its manufacturers could not reinforce or repair it due to the material shortage during the war era.
Still and all, Smith-Putnam remained the colossal and first wind turbine technology ever developed and built until 1979.
#4. Wind Energy Is An Inexpensive Source Of Energy
Many fossil advocates argue that wind energy is more costly than fossil resources. Nonetheless, fossil fuel plants need oil, natural gas, and coal to work. Their maintenance and operation costs are also expensive.
On the other hand, wind power only requires wind to operate. Since its energy contents depend on the cube of the wind speeds, its operation will also vary according to how windy the area is. In 2020, the estimated wind energy production costs were 8.6 cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh) in fixed-bottom turbines and 13.5 ¢/kWh in floating ones.
Considering the expenses and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), wind energy is a competitive and inexpensive renewable energy source.
#5. Wind Turbines Can Negatively Impact Wildlife
Such rumors that wind turbines are dangerous for bird species due to blades or tower collisions are some misconceptions about them. In reality, other energy sources are more hazardous to flying animals.
In a study by Benjamin Sovacool, fossil fuel plants affect birds’ mortality around 35 times more severely than wind energy. Researchers have also concluded that birds can’t die in wind turbine collisions because modern wind farms have slower-moving blades.
#6. Wind Energy Is A Clean Energy Source
Since wind turbines only use the energy obtained from moving air to generate electricity, it causes minimum pollution. Moreover, it does not leave harmful residue or emissions in the environment.
Every year, a wind turbine replaces five to eight tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) and around 1,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). Throughout its lifetime, it can produce energy 80 times larger than the energy used to construct, maintain, operate, disassemble, and throw it away.
In a shorter sense, wind turbines only need three months to generate equal energy to build and operate. Therefore, wind turbines are an efficient renewable energy source.
#7. Modern Wind Turbines Do Not Produce Too Much Noise
Despite their large moving blades, wind turbines amazingly emit low-frequency noise quiet when operating. The only sounds they create are from the wind speed changes at different heights.
Years ago, manufacturers would create turbine designs mainly focused on optimizing aerodynamics, disregarding the noise levels on wind farms. However, environmental regulations arose to limit the noise to 5dB or not exceeding the ambient background noise. These manufacturers then obeyed because there might be severe penalties for not following the regulations.
As time goes by, new technology developments found ways for noise reduction. They tried improving the gearbox design, adding acoustic damping of the nacelle, using anti-vibration mountings, and putting liquid cooling on the generator. These technological advancements helped manufacturers to achieve minimal decibel levels and maximized performance.
#8. The World’s Largest Wind Turbine Farms
Multiple wind turbines form wind farms, and Gansu is currently one of the world’s largest wind farms. It has around 7,000 wind turbines installed in different provinces of Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Jiuquan, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, and Hebei, in Gansu, China. This wind farm has an expected installed capacity of 20 gigawatts.
On the other hand, Walney Extension is the largest offshore wind farm. You can find it in the middle of the Irish Sea. It has an installed capacity of 659 megawatts, producing adequate energy for around 590,000 households.
#9. Wind Energy Continues To Advance Each Day
Structural dynamics, aerodynamics, and micro-meteorology have undergone constant technological advancements. These things have already contributed to the 5% annual increase in the rotor area’s energy yield per square meter.
Moreover, the weight of wind turbines continues to decrease, the sound level becomes lower, and the annual energy output increases 100-fold through the years. Many manufacturers are continuously developing and innovating their ideas to improve wind turbines.
Today, the Vestas V164 is one of the world’s largest-capacity wind turbines. It has a rated capacity of 8.0 megawatts, a 164-meter diameter, and a 220-meter overall height. This wind turbine is mainly for offshore use.
#10. Wind Energy Can Make Differences In The Energy Industry
Wind turbines improved dramatically in terms of power output and size. For instance, a modern wind turbine like Enercon’s E-82 has a 2000 kW generator and an 82-meter diameter. It can produce around 4,000 to 6,000 megawatt-hours per year, equal to the annual electricity produced for 400 to 600 Canadian households.
You can also find over 432,883 MW capacity installed worldwide today. Europe’s current wind power capacity covers 11.4% of Europe’s electricity consumption in an average wind energy year.
Meanwhile, wind power generated 49% of the total electricity usage of South Australia in June 2016. This would promote exponential economic growth. Sometimes, it would also provide all the State’s electricity needs during the month.
The W.A.C. Bennett Dam (G.M. Shrum Generator) contains a 2,730 MW capacity and floods 166,000 hectares. In a shorter sense, wind turbines have already generated power that has replaced the need for 158 dams similar to W.A.C. Bennet Dam’s size.
In 2015, wind power usage avoided over 637 million tons of greenhouse emissions worldwide.
#11. China Produces 37% Off Wind Energy Around The Globe
China has become the world’s leader in wind energy production. It generates more than a third of its global capacity. Following China, the United States, India, Germany, and Spain are in the ranking of the world’s wind energy producers.
#12. Haliade-X Is Currently The Biggest Wind Turbine
Haliade-X is reportedly the current world’s largest wind turbine.
Generating electricity is not a problem because it can provide enough for 16,000 households. The Haliade-X wind turbine stands twice the height of Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty. It has a rotor span of 220 meters and is 260 meters high.
#13. Modern Turbines Harness Energy For 600 American Homes
Most wind turbines with a colossal size can provide adequate wind power to 600 American homes. Usually, these wind farms are in windy areas.
Sometimes, people can use a small turbine in the backyard to power a home or small business. A wind farm arises once they put a collection of wind turbines in one location. Many wind farms also offer rental wind turbines to rural communities.
#14. Wind Turbines Are Complex
Unlike what we know, wind turbines are more complex than traditional prairie windmills. Modern wind turbines have around or over 8,000 different components. Operators need to master each of them to utilize the entire machine correctly.
#15. Wind Energy Is Fast-Growing
Wind energy is a mode of electricity production that has been growing fast through the years. Modern turbines surpassed the electricity generated in 1990 by over 15 times. In 2012, wind companies and investors spent $25 billion on wind energy investment.
Today, wind energy continues to grow as many countries expand their wind energy industry.
Conclusion
Wind energy can be an aid for the rising prices of non-renewable sources of energy. It provides enough wind power and electricity to many economies and industries without sacrificing the environment. Furthermore, it helps reduce harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, making it a practical choice for renewable energy.
Aside from its features, wind energy is also unlimited. Since its power comes from the air, wind turbine companies can produce electricity anytime and anywhere, as long as there is wind.