| With energy issues becoming a daily subject in the | | | | rates. As each surface heats up, the air rises and |
| news, wind energy is gaining notoriety. Here is an | | | | cooler air rushes in to replace it. Thus, we have wind. |
| overview of wind farms and their potential.A wind | | | | Given this situation, ideal locations for wind farms are |
| farm is simply a collection of wind turbines in a | | | | often along shorelines or in valleys funneling winds |
| location used to produce electricity. Wind farms can | | | | from the shore.Many people are under the impression |
| be found in the United States, but are far more | | | | that wind farms are located only in areas of land |
| prevalent in Europe. China is also beginning to invest | | | | where winds are howling through valleys and over |
| large amounts of resources in wind farms as its | | | | hills. While this is certainly true, the current trend is to |
| energy needs grow.The fundamentals of electricity | | | | build wind farms off the shorelines of countries.The |
| production through wind farms are pretty simple. | | | | advantage of offshore wind farms has to do with |
| Highly efficient wind turbines are placed in locations | | | | the frequency and generation of winds. Shorelines |
| where they will receive the maximum amount of | | | | represent fertile wind generation areas. On top of |
| wind energy. These turbines can be traditional | | | | this, the open space of the ocean allows winds |
| horizontal windmills or vertical eggbeater | | | | generated from remote locations to move towards |
| windmills.Regardless, the wind turns the blades as it | | | | shorelines. If you have ever spent time going sailing, |
| passes, which turns a generator within the turbine. | | | | you have an understanding of how strong these |
| The turning motion converts the wind energy into | | | | winds can be. On top of all of this, placing wind farms |
| electricity when the generator cranks, which is then | | | | in the ocean avoids the cost of buying pricey space |
| sent into a utility company power grid or stored in | | | | on land.Wind farms are up and functioning in most |
| batteries. This process is similar to hydropower with | | | | first world countries. The bigger issue is getting them |
| wind being used instead of water.The stereotypical | | | | to produce enough energy at as low a price as |
| wind farm is an exercise in topography. The goal is to | | | | possible to make them a viable energy production |
| find locations where wind exists as frequently as | | | | platform.Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a |
| possible. Put in practical terms, ideal spots are in areas | | | | directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read |
| where ground variation occurs as wind is produced | | | | more wind farm articles. |
| when different surface areas heat up at different | | | | |