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Wind Energy

Wind energy is harnessed from the wind through the use of wind turbines. These are large rotating machines that convert motion into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy may then be used directly to achieve such tasks as pump water or grind stones, in the case of a windmill. It may also be converted directly into electricity.

The turbines which transform wind energy may be known by many other names. These include wind generators, wind turbines, wind power units (WPU), and wind energy converters (WECs). Finally, they may also simply be recognized as aerogenerators. This final term is perhaps the least direct.

Wind energy was producing about 1.5% of global electricity use by the end of 2008. It is growing rapidly and has in fact doubled between the years 2005 and 2008. Many countries are now experiencing high levels of wind power reliance, including 19% of energy production in Denmark and 11% in both Portugal and Spain.

 

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