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Wind power

Wind power is produced when the kinetic energy of the  wind is converted into electrical power or mechanical power. Wind turbines are used to generate electrical power while wind mills are used to generate mechanical power from the wind.

Wind energy comes from the kinetic energy of air molecules.  This energy is able to drive the blades of a turbine,  causing them to rotate. In so doing, the kinetic energy of the wind or air molecules is converted into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy can be further converted into electrical energy by connecting the rotating blades of the turbine to the shaft of a DC motor or dynamo, through a gearing system.

A basic wind turbine system consists of a tower, the blades, a generator, a gear box, cabling and  electrical control circuits. The tower provides the required elevation so that the blades can be exposed to stronger winds (generally, the higher the altitude, the stronger the wind). .

Harnessing wind energy is a more environmentally friendly to generate energy (as opposed to burning fossil fuels) because it does not emit any pollutants. Hence, it is important that we understand how to efficiently generate sufficient levels of energy from wind turbines and other sources of "clean energy".