Wind Power Technology

How does a wind turbine work?

Generating electricity from wind is simple: wind passes over the blades causing them to rotate, similar to the opposite effect of a fan.  The gear box increases the rotation speed for the generator, which then uses magnetic fields to convert the rotational energy into electricity.  The power then goes to a transformer which converts the electricity from the generator at around 700 volts (V) to the right voltage for the distribution system, typically between 11kV and 132kV.  The regional electricity distribution networks or the National Grid transmit the eletricity around the country to homes and businesses.

Operations and Maintenance

On top of the wind turbine tower is the nacelle, which houses the yaw mechanism, generator, control systems, and instrumentation to measure wind speed and direction.  When the wind changes direction, motors turn the nacelle, and the blades along with it, around to face into the wind.  The blades also 'pitch' or angle into the wind to ensure that the optimum amount of power is extracted from the wind.

All of this information is recorded by computers and is transmitted to a control centre, which can be many miles away.  Wind turbines are not physically staffed, although each will have periodic mechanical checks carried out by local staff.  The onboard computers also monitor the performance of each turbine component, and will automatically shut the turbine down if any problems are detected, alerting an engineer that an on-site visit is required.