Space Zoo Patrol – Wind Turbines

By The American Clean Power Association

Background

  • What is this technology called?
    • Wind energy (or wind power)
  • How does it work?
    • Wind power is created using the wind or air flows that occur naturally in the earth’s atmosphere to push large wind turbines. Wind turbines are large machines that are similar to windmills, but they use the wind to create electricity.
    • When wind hits the turbine, the blades of the turbine spin, creating kinetic energy. The force from the blades – which work like an airplane wing or helicopter blade – is translated to a generator that turns this kinetic energy into electricity. This electricity is then passed into the electric grid, which can provide power to places like homes, schools, and businesses. Small wind turbines can be used to power a single home, but a large group of wind turbines together is called a “wind farm”, which are used to generate power for neighborhoods, cities, and more.
  • Who invented it? And when and where?
    • People have been using wind energy for thousands of years. As early as 5,000 BC. By 200 BC, wind was used to propel boats along the Nile River. Simple wind-powered water pumps were also used in China, and windmills with woven-reed blades were grinding grain in Persia and the Middle East. [source]
    • The first modern wind turbine in history was built by Charles F. Brush (1849-1929), an American scientist who, in 1887, built what is said to be the first automatic wind turbine to generate electricity in Cleveland, Ohio. Then, in 1899, the Danish scientist Poul la Cour (1846-1908) improved the wind turbine when he discovered that building it with a small number of rotor blades gave better results and increased the production of electricity. [source] The modern wind power sector emerged in the 1980s. [source]

Advantages

  • What are the environmental advantages?
    • Wind turbines harness energy from the wind, an abundant and renewable resource, and provide electricity without burning any fossil fuel or polluting the air. Wind energy is already helping reduce pollution in nearly every state that is equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions from 71 million cars every year.
  • What are the life cycle financial advantages?
    • Wind power is cost-effective, providing one of the cheapest energy sources available today. Wind projects also bring job options to local communities and save residents an estimated $1.9 billion in state and local tax payments,
  • What jobs are created?
    • Wind energy currently employs more than 120,000 Americans across all 50 states, including nearly 24,000 wind manufacturing jobs at over 500 facilities. Wind energy includes positions for researchers, scientists, engineers, as well as trade workers, educators, transportation workers, business and sales forces, and many others. One important role, wind turbine technician, is the second fastest growing job in the country, increasing by 68% over the next decade.

Energy Production

  • How efficient is this technology?
    • Over the course of a year, modern wind turbines can generate usable amounts of electricity over 90% of the time.
  • How many units are needed for 1 house, 1 school, 1 community?
    • The average commercial wind turbine generates enough electricity per month to power more than 940 homes, and generates enough electricity in just 46 minutes to power one home for a whole month. [source]
  • What percentage of total energy usage (US, world) does this technology provide today?
    • Wind is America’s largest source of renewable energy and the fourth-largest source of electricity generation capacity in the country. Wind currently provides 9.8% of the country’s electricity, and this number is growing. In 2020, wind power produced more than 6% of global electricity. [source]
  • What percentage of total energy usage (US, world) could this technology provide?
    • The potential of wind power is enormous and could cover more than one-third of global power needs (35%) by 2050, becoming one of the largest sources of power in the world. [source]
  • What geographical areas can this be used in?
    • Wind energy is ideal for agricultural and open areas, such as the tops of smooth, rounded hills; open plains and water; and mountain gaps that funnel and intensify wind. Wind energy is easily generated in rural or remote areas, such as farms and ranches or coastal and island communities.
    • Offshore wind is also growing in America. Roughly 80% of Americans live within 200 miles of the coast, and offshore wind can generate significant amounts of electricity close to these homes and businesses.

Engineering / Mechanical

  • How is it manufactured?
    • Wind turbines are primarily made of steel; fiberglass, resin or plastic, iron or cast iron; copper; and aluminum. [source]
  • Where is it manufactured?
    • There are more than 500 manufacturing facilities in America that specialize in wind components such as blades, towers, and generators, as well as turbine assembly across the country. The national wind turbine manufacturing industry is most heavily concentrated in Indiana, California, and New York.
  • What maintenance is required?

Wind turbine maintenance refers to the process of keeping wind turbines running smoothly. It includes routine inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and repairs. [source]

Education

  • What classes should I take in school to work on this technology?
    • Any STEM type class would be beneficial to this industry, especially electrical or mechanical engineering.

Pictures

  • Wind Turbines 1

    Windfarm California

  • Wind Turbines 2

    Offshore New York

Links

American Clean Power Association www.cleanpower.org