Energy from moving air
Wind is caused by uneven heating of the earth's surface by the sun. Because the earth's surface is made up of different types of land and water, the earth absorbs the sun's heat at different rates. One example of this uneven heating is the daily wind cycle.
How uneven heating of water and land causes wind
Source: Adapted from National Energy Education Development Project (public domain)
The daily wind cycle
During the day, air above land heats up faster than air above water. Warm air above land expands and rises, and heavier, cooler air rushes in to take its place, creating wind. At night, the winds are reversed because air cools more rapidly over land than it does over water.
In the same way, the atmospheric winds that circle the earth are created because the land near the earth's equator is hotter than the land near the North Pole and the South Pole.
Wind energy for electricity generation
Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity. Water-pumping windmills were once used throughout the United States, and some still operate on farms and ranches, mainly to supply water for livestock.
Last reviewed: December 27, 2023.
FAQs
Wind power or wind energy is a form of renewable energy that harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity. It involves using wind turbines to convert the turning motion of blades, pushed by moving air (kinetic energy) into electrical energy (electricity).
What is the environmental impact of wind energy explain? ›
Generating energy from the wind does not release any carbon emissions. By replacing electricity generated from other sources such as fossil fuel power stations, wind energy can lead to an overall reduction in carbon emissions.
What are some quick facts about wind energy from the US Department of energy? ›
Wind electricity generation has increased significantly
Total annual U.S. electricity generation from wind energy increased from about 6 billion kilowatthours (kWh) in 2000 to about 434 billion kWh in 2022. In 2022, wind turbines were the source of about 10.3% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation.
Where is wind found? ›
Favorable sites include the tops of smooth, rounded hills; open plains and water; and mountain gaps that funnel and intensify wind. Wind speeds are generally higher the greater the distance above the earth's surface. Large wind turbines are placed on towers that range from about 500 feet to as high as 900 feet tall.
How to explain wind energy? ›
The terms "wind energy" and "wind power" both describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.
What is wind in a short answer? ›
Wind is the movement of air, caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun and the Earth's own rotation. Winds range from light breezes to natural hazards such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
Who is the largest producer of wind energy in the US? ›
Texas is the runaway leader in wind, generating over 92 Terawatt-hours of electricity during a year, more than the next three top states (Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas) combined. While Texas is the top generator in terms of wind-powered electricity, wind only makes up 20% of the state's total electricity generation.
What state has the most wind power produced in the United States? ›
Wind energy is the largest renewable energy source in the United States, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Texas leads the U.S. in generating wind energy, which makes up about 20% of its total electricity generation.
Who invented wind energy? ›
The first wind turbine used for the production of electricity was built in Scotland in July 1887 by Prof James Blyth of Anderson's College, Glasgow (the precursor of the University of Strathclyde).
What place on earth has the most wind? ›
Commonwealth Bay, Antartica
The Guinness Book of World Records and National Geographic Atlas have both listed this bay in Antarctica as the windiest place on the planet. Katabatic winds in Commonwealth Bay are recorded at over 150 mph on a regular basis, and the average annual wind speed is 50 mph.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power is then used for various purposes.
What is wind energy for kids? ›
Wind power is harnessed by a machine called a wind turbine. Wind turbines are tall towers topped with blades. The blades are connected to a vertical shaft, or rod. When wind causes the blades to spin, they turn the shaft. The turning shaft provides power to a machine called a generator, which produces electricity.
What best describes wind energy? ›
Wind power is a clean and renewable energy source.
Wind turbines harness energy from the wind using mechanical power to spin a generator and create electricity. Not only is wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air.
