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 Wind power has been used for hundreds of years as windmills were used for grinding grain and pumping water. Technology has now developed and wind turbines are used to generate electricity.
Wind is a major source of renewable energy in the UK , because this country is one of the windiest in Europe . Wind power can be used to generate electricity by building wind turbines and placing them in windy locations, either individually or in groups, which are known as windfarms.
Wind turbines do not release harmful toxins into the atmosphere, which is a contributor to Climate Change and is released by non-renewable energy sources used at the moment to produce our electricity.
A wind turbine can have a number of blades. Most modern wind turbines have 3 blades, as these look the best. The blades are attached to a hub, which is attached to a gear shaft inside the nacelle, at the top of the turbine.
As the wind blows, the blades and hub turn the gear shaft, which rotates the generator and produces electricity. The electricity is then taken away through underground cables to the substation, where it is fed into the electricity network, called the National Grid.
Did You Know?
- Wind turbines start operating at wind speeds of 4 metres per second. This is the equivalent to 9 miles per hour.
- The nacelle can rotate to make sure the blades are always facing the wind, by constantly monitoring the wind with the anemometer mounted on the nacelle.
The best places to build a windfarm, is where the wind is strong and reliable, but also has to take into consideration the local landscape and nearby residents and settlements.
Places like:
- On the tops of rounded hills
- On open grassy plains
- In gaps between mountains and hills
- In coastal areas
- Out at sea (Offshore Windfarms).
Wind power has great potential in the UK and many windfarms are being developed in England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland as well as other countries around the world as it is a good source of renewable energy.
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Children's Windy World
