Wind Power
Wind power can be converted into energy to perform useful work, for example using a wind turbine to generate electricity.
Approximately 2% of electricity generated worldwide is from wind energy. It is a renewable energy source that is proving to be important with the current focus on climate change and global warming.
For centuries wind energy has propelled sailing ships around the world. It has been used to pump water and to grind grain.
Wind energy can be converted into wind power to perform useful work. This usually occurs through using a wind turbine to generate electricity.
Approximately 2% of electricity generated worldwide comes from wind energy. In some countries wind generated electricity supplies a significant percentage of their generated electricity.
For centuries wind energy has propelled sailing ships around the world. It has been used to pump water and to grind grain.
Wind farms are now seen as an essential part of the UK energy plan. Wind farms are both offshore and on land.
More and more businesses and private homes are generating electricity from a wind turbine on their property. There is the opportunity to sell unused electricity back to the National grid.
Ecotricity, UK, Wind Power - Ashden Award winner
In the context of global warming, wind energy is an important means of producing renewable electricity. Wind energy is of course derived from solar energy, the power of the sun heating our atmosphere and causing our global wind patterns.
But wind farms are now seen as an essential part of the UK 2020 energy plan. Wind farms now exist both offshore and on land. The offshore wind farms in particular will produce a significant amount of our electricity by 2020. In fact an area 20km x 30km offshore in an appropriate location could house sufficient wind turbines to generate all the electricity that the UK currently requires in a year!
More and more businesses and private homes are also generating electricity from wind turbines on their properties. There is also the opportunity to sell unused electricity back to the National grid.
In the context of global warming, wind energy is an important means of producing renewable electricity. Wind energy is of course derived from solar energy, the power of the sun heating our atmosphere and causing our global wind patterns.
UK Offshore Wind
In April 2001 the first group of licences for up to 30 turbines on 18 sites around the UK coast was announced. This is referred to as Round 1 of the UK Offshore Wind Development.
The Round 2 licencing process for fifteen projects which would generate up to 7.2GW of new wind capacity, is underway now.
Click here for more on offshore wind farms
UK Onshore Wind
There are many wind turbines in the UK, ranging from small turbines on houses to large wind turbines in remote areas.
Click here for more on onshore wind farms