WIND

 

WHAT IS WIND?

Wind Energy captures the natural wind in our environment and converts the air’s motion into mechanical energy. Wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure. Wind speeds vary based on geography, topography and season. As a result, there are some locations better suited for wind energy generation than others. In general, wind speeds are higher near the coast and offshore since there are fewer objects like vegetation, mountains and buildings to slow them down. 1 2

The mechanism used to convert air motion into electricity is referred to as a turbine. A turbine is a large structure with several spinning blades. These blades are connected to an electro-magnetic generator that generates electricity when the wind causes the blades to spin.

 

 

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Global Wind Energy Council

International Energy Agency Wind

World Wind Energy Association

European Wind Energy Association

Canadian Wind Energy Association

INTERNATIONAL OR PROMINENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

American Wind Energy Association

Danish Wind Industry Association

Distributed Wind Energy Association

RESEARCH INSTITUTION

Delft University of Technology

Center for Wind Energy Research

Wind Energy Center – University of Massachusetts

ACADEMIC JOURNAL

Wind Energy

Wind Engineering

HISTORY

U.S. Department of Energy

POLITICS

International Renewable Energy Agency

ECONOMICS

European Wind Energy Association

European Wind Energy Association – Economics of Wind Energy

IRENA Renewable Energy Cost Analysis – Wind Power

Wind Energy Foundation – Economics

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

U.S. Department of Energy

Tethys

BUSINESS ANALYSIS

International Renewable Energy Agency

HEALTH IMPACT

Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

SUSTAINABILITY

Conserve Energy Future

TECHNOLOGY

Save on Energy – Animated Infographic on the Science of Wind

Siemens – Wind Energy

National Geographic Interactive Wind Power Simulator

How Stuff Works – How Wind Power Works

10 Incredible Wind Power Facts

OTHER INTERESTING ESSAYS/ARTICLES

Pembina Institute

U.S. Department of the Interior

Centre for Sustainable Energy

U.S. Department of Energy