Database results:
examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Wind Power Generation
Wind power is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world. It harnesses the natural power of moving air to generate electricity without producing greenhouse gases or other pollutants during operation.
Key Definitions:
Wind is created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. When the sun heats land and water, the air above them warms up, becomes less dense and rises. Cooler air then flows in to replace it, creating wind.
1. Wind turns the turbine blades around the rotor.
2. The rotor is connected to a generator shaft.
3. The spinning shaft turns a generator which produces electricity.
4. The electricity is sent through transmission lines to homes, businesses and factories.
The amount of electricity a turbine can generate depends on:
- Wind speed (power increases as the cube of wind speed)
- Blade length (longer blades capture more wind)
- Air density (denser air contains more energy)
- Height (wind speeds increase with height above ground)
There are two main types of wind turbines, each with their own advantages and best uses:
Features:
- Blades rotate around a horizontal axis
- Most common design
- More efficient in consistent winds
- Typically have 3 blades
Features:
- Blades rotate around a vertical axis
- Work in turbulent wind conditions
- Lower maintenance (generator at ground level)
- Less efficient than horizontal axis
Scale:
- Utility-scale: 100kW to several MW
- Community-scale: 15-100kW
- Residential: 1-15kW
- Micro-turbines: Under 1kW
Not all locations are suitable for wind power generation. The best sites have:
Common locations include:
While wind power is considered environmentally friendly, it's important to understand its potential impacts:
Birds and bats can collide with turbine blades, though modern designs and careful siting have reduced this risk. Studies show that fossil fuel and nuclear power plants cause far more wildlife deaths per unit of energy produced than wind farms.
Wind farms require more land area than conventional power plants, but the actual turbines and infrastructure only occupy about 1-10% of the total area. The remaining land can still be used for agriculture or left as natural habitat.
Wind turbines produce mechanical noise from the gearbox and aerodynamic noise from the blades. Modern designs have significantly reduced noise levels, but some people still object to the visual impact of wind farms on rural and coastal landscapes.
Located off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea, Hornsea is the world's largest offshore wind farm. Hornsea One has 174 turbines covering 407 square kilometres and generates enough electricity to power over one million UK homes. The project demonstrates how the UK is harnessing its excellent offshore wind resources to reduce carbon emissions while creating thousands of jobs in coastal communities. The wind farm prevents the release of over 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually compared to fossil fuel alternatives.
Wind power capacity has grown dramatically in recent decades. As of 2021, the global leaders in wind power capacity are:
Wind power technology continues to evolve rapidly:
- Larger turbines (now exceeding 15MW per unit)
- Floating offshore platforms for deeper waters
- Smart grid integration and energy storage solutions
- Improved materials for lighter, stronger blades
- Better forecasting to predict wind generation
- Wind could provide up to 35% of global electricity by 2050
- Costs expected to fall by another 30% by 2030
- Offshore wind capacity projected to increase 15-fold by 2040
- Integration with solar and storage systems becoming common
- Increasing role in hydrogen production for energy storage
The UK has become a world leader in wind energy, particularly offshore wind:
The world's most powerful wind turbine is currently the Vestas V236-15.0 MW, with blades longer than a football pitch at 115.5m each. A single rotation of this turbine can power an average UK home for 2 days! The turbine stands nearly 280m tall from base to blade tip - that's almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower.
Log in to track your progress and mark lessons as complete!
Login NowDon't have an account? Sign up here.