Wind Power Sahit Bollineni Jonathon Perry Jason Cartwright

How does it work?  Wind turbines are usually made up of 3 propeller-like blades.  The rotor is attached atop a tall tower where the wind is more powerful.  As the wind blows, it spins the rotor.  As the rotor spins, the energy of the movement of the propellers gives power to the generator.  The magnets and copper wire inside the generator produce the actual electricity

Waste Products  The only harmful products of wind energy are those that result from the:  Manufacture  Transportation  Maintenance Of the wind generation equipment  After the production phase, wind energy does not produce any harmful byproducts.

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Advantages  Wind is free and can be easily captured for energy use.  No greenhouse gases or other pollutants after the production phase.  They take up little space and the land surrounding the wind turbines is still available for use.  They are pretty.  They can be used in remote areas (off the grid).

Disadvantages  Wind is not consistent.  Not as efficient in producing energy as the burning of fossil fuels.  Without subsidies, wind turbines are not economically practical.  Can kill birds.

Interesting Facts  Can be bought for commercial or personal use.  Largest blade is 75m long with a rotor diameter of 154m  A single 1-MW wind turbine running for 20 years is equivalent to burning 29,000 tons of coal or 92,000 barrels of oil