How do turbines work for kids

In addition to the wind farms owned by Alliant Energy, we also purchase more than megawatts of energy from other wind farms throughout our service area. 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, businesses and schools.

Skip to content Energy Glossary. Wind farms are built in flat, open areas where the wind blows at least 14 miles per hour. They sure are big! How many wind turbines do you need to have a wind farm? How a wind turbine works A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Make your own wind-powered gadgets! Now that you've read about wind power, you can make your own wind-powered gadgets at home. Several windmills can be connected to a power grid for an electricity provider, called a utility.

Some wind turbines are even combined with photovoltaic solar cell systems. Wind farms, also called wind plants, refer to a large number of wind turbines that are built close together.

Countries such as the U. It was reported in March that China is getting more electricity from wind than from its nuclear power plants, and it has more of those than any other country. In spite of lower wind speeds in , Chinese wind farms produced enough power to electrify more than million homes! Meanwhile, according to the U. Department of Energy, the U. In , wind power generated 4. There was enough electricity generated to power the equivalent of Some energy experts feel that if we harness just a fraction of the available power from wind energy, there would be no need for any other source of electricity in the world!

The studies done about the ill effects of wind turbines on wildlife have for the most part been scattered, and conducted mostly by the people who promote wind energy. There were deaths and injuries also due to changes in air pressure that is caused by spinning turbines.

Wind turbines have harmed and killed thousands of threatened and endangered bird species, including the golden eagle. Measures have been employed to try to reduce the impact of wind turbines on wildlife. One example is better siting of wind turbines in areas with smaller wildlife populations. And some wind farms are shutting down during bird and bat migrations if they are located along migratory routes.

Whether any or all of these measures are helping is unclear at this point. As the wind energy business grows and expands, researchers continue to try to figure out ways to decrease the impact wind turbines have on wildlife. Raised in Maryland and Alabama, Robin now lives with her husband in the Coast Range of western Oregon where she especially enjoys observing the wildlife on her property. You can learn more on her blog, robinkoontz.

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