Whispering Willow Wind Farm
Using the wind to create electricity has been around for a long time, you've probably seen windmills on farms. When the wind turns the blades of a windmill, it spins a turbine inside a small generator to produce electricity, just like a big coal power plant.
A windmill on a farm can make only a small amount of electricity, enough to power a few farm machines. To make enough electricity to serve lots of people, power companies build "wind farms" with dozens wind turbines.
Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour.
When it comes to size, bigger is better. The bigger the wind turbine, the more wind it reaches and the more electricity it produces.
Wind turbines used for large-scale wind farms come in various sizes, but are usually approximately 13 feet wide at the base, and between 230 and 265 feet tall at the hub. With one of the blades in the upright position, the total height is approximately 406 feet, like the one pictured here at Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
When it comes to size, bigger is better - the bigger the wind turbine, the more wind it reaches and the more electricity it produces.
Wind farms can have as few as five wind turbines or as many as 150. One of the largest wind farms in the U.S. is in Altamont Pass, California. It has more than 4,800 wind turbines. Visit the Encyclopedia of Earth for more information on Altamont Pass wind farm.
Alliant Energy owns and operates three wind farms in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin:
In addition to the wind farms owned by Alliant Energy, we also purchase more than 400 MW of energy from other wind farms throughout our service territory
How a wind turbine works
A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity.
The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools.
The diagram below shows the inside of a wind turbine:
Photo courtesy of American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Now that you've read about wind power, you can make your own wind-powered toys at home.
Links for teachers and parents: