Wind Energy & Its Alternatives

The winds are continually moving across this planet. From the incredibly swift jetstream to the little eddy of wind that ruffles the grass, winds of all speeds and strengths are moving.  With all this energy and motion circulating continually, it seems like a waste not to harness it to cater for some of humanity’s energy needs.  Wind energy is renewable, releases no emissions or greenhouse gases (unless you count the carbon dioxide already in the air passing in and out of a turbine, which most people don’t) and the infrastructure needed to harness wind energy does not have a very great impact on the environment.

As a matter of fact, wind energy was probably used more widely in the past than it was today.  In fact, it was the introduction of fossil fuels (in the form of coal to power steam engines) that led to wind energy being abandoned, circa 150 years ago.  Wind energy turned the mills that ground wheat into flour, and wind energy was the only energy source powering international trade (the tea clipper sailing ships of the 1800s were renowned for their speed and efficiency, and they were powered by wind energy and wind energy alone.

The Cutty Sark sailed from Australia to Britain in 67 days – maybe it’s time to get her out of dry dock once she’s been restored).

Today, people are not looking to wind power so much for transport – although, in my opinion, this option is worth considering if the world’s 150-year love affair with fossil fuels is looking likely to end in tears.  Instead, people are more interested in wind energy as a source of electricity generation.  This is accomplished by the use of windmills wired to generators.

Wind Mills Producing Energy

Windmills are already being used in many parts of the world to use wind energy for pumping water up from underground, and molinologists (a technical term for windmill experts) are also researching the use of mills for other purposes, such as:

• sawing logs (like the original sawmills),
• grinding (grain and other things that need to be crushed to powder),
• hammering, and
• pressing (as is done to metals and other materials to be recycled)

Wind Energy for Electricity Generation

Wind energy for electricity generation is growing in popularity.  Wind turbines can be found for individual homes, and also on a larger scale to power the main grid.

If you are considering wind energy as a source of electricity for your home, here are some quick tips regarding generators and windmills:

• Site your windmill where it can catch the prevailing wind (every area has one or more).  If you have more than one prevailing wind, site it where it can catch both.
• Don’t make the tower of your windmill so high that you can’t service it – moving parts will need maintenance, lubrication and replacement.
• Take care with your domestic wiring – a power surge created by a sudden squally gust of wind can fry electronic circuit boards.
• Incorporate a form of charge storage in the form of a deep cycle battery to see you through days when the winds are weak, sporadic or non-existent.
• If you live in a very windy area, consider a marine grade turbine – they’re tougher and will stand up to the conditions.

Perhaps the most familiar form of wind energy comes from Wind Turbines like this.