Wind Power

Driving along a motorway, you might see wind turbines in the distance converting the day's breeze into electricity. Whether you consider them majestic pieces of architecture or ugly blots on the landscape, there's no arguing their importance. Harnessing the energy from wind is essential to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and the UK is the world's number one for wind power.

Wind Power: Definition

Let's start off with the definition of wind power.

The energy of the wind is harnessed using a structure called a wind turbine. These turbines convert kinetic wind energy into electrical energy. Wind turbines are often found in hilly areas, coastal regions and offshore.

Upland areas experience strong winds, making them good locations for wind turbines. Unsplash

How Do Wind Turbines Harness Wind Energy?

Wind blowing into a turbine moves the blades, causing the rotor to spin. This rotor is connected to a generator, which converts the kinetic energy of the rotor into electricity.

Wind Power Technologies

Most wind turbines fall into one of two categories.

Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs): horizontal-axis turbines are your 'traditional' wind turbines: a tall tower with a three-bladed turbine at the top. These turbines operate upwind (with the blades facing into the wind). The majority of wind power is generated using horizontal-axis turbines.

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs): vertical-axis turbines are less recognisable than their horizontal-axis counterparts. They are omnidirectional, so they don't need to be adjusted according to wind direction.

Wind-Assisted Ships

A few hundred years ago, ships (and thus, world trade) were entirely dependent on wind propulsion. The invention of the steam engine revolutionised transport. But today, ships are returning to their roots in the quest to cut carbon emissions.

Engineers have developed rotor sails, which work via the Magnus effect. They have the potential to cut fuel consumption by up to 20%.

However, creating wind propulsion systems presents a few challenges. Rotor sails are expensive, and take up large amounts of space on deck. Furthermore, commercial ships cannot rely on wind propulsion alone.

Wind Power Advantages

Clean, Renewable Energy: generating electricity from wind power does not release greenhouse gases or other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Winds will never stop blowing, so their energy can always be harnessed.

Cost-effective: the electricity produced by wind turbines is one of the cheapest energy sources available. Additionally, wind is free, so electricity prices aren't subject to changes in fuel costs.

Jobs: the manufacturing, installation, and running the supporting services for wind turbines create numerous jobs.

Low Maintenance: once constructed, wind turbines rarely need maintenance.

Efficient: wind farms operate at a high efficiency, converting up to 50% of wind energy into electricity. This doesn't sound very impressive, but it's not far off the maximum theoretical level of 59% efficiency.

Wind Power Disadvantages

Reliability: wind isn't reliable. There won't be much electricity generated on a calm day!

Noise and Visual Pollution: turbine blades are often noisy, impacting residents and wildlife. Some people consider wind turbines an eyesore, ruining the natural landscape.

Wildlife: birds and bats have been killed by flying into turbine blades.

Wind Power in the UK

The UK is putting its blustery weather to good use and stepping to the forefront of wind power generation.

Since 2009, electricity generation from wind power has increased by an astounding 715%. In 2020, wind energy alone accounted for 24% of total electricity generation (including electricity generated using fossil fuels!)

Offshore Wind Farms

The UK has more offshore wind farms than any other nation, and boasts the world's largest wind farm off the coast of Yorkshire. Hornsea One is home to 174 turbines, with a generation capacity of 1218 MW (megawatts).

The UK has 227 wind farm projects. This photograph shows Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, 27 kilometres from the Norfolk coastline. Unsplash

Fun Facts About Wind Power

• Just one rotation of a wind turbine can power the average UK household for an entire day.

• The average offshore wind turbine is 129 metres tall.

• If you're a fan of wind turbines, you'll love Logie Wind Farm in Scotland. Its circular route through the wind farm is suitable for hikers, cyclists, and even horses.

• Wind power has been in use for thousands of years. Windmills harnessed the power of the wind to grind grain into flour.

• Global Wind Day takes place annually on the 15th of June. Make sure to add that to your calendar!

I hope that this article has explained wind power for you. It's a clean and cost-effective source of energy, but it can be unreliable and impact wildlife. The UK obtains almost a quarter of its electricity through wind power, and has more offshore wind farms than any other country.

^{1. BP, UK offshore wind explainer, 2022}

^{2. Enel Green Power, All the benefits of wind power, 2022}

^{3. Energy.Gov, Advantages and Challenges of Wind Energy, 2022}

^{4. Gemma N. Thomas, Wind energy in the UK: June 2021, Office for National Statistics, 2021}

^{5. Solar Impulse Foundation, Rotor Sails, 2022}

^{6. 4C Offshore, Offshore Wind Farms in the United Kingdom, 2022}