How we make wind work for us

Wind-driven turbines can be used to generate electricity. These look like windmills and work in much the same way.

The wind causes the blades of the wind turbine to move, which turns a turbine shaft. The turbine shaft is connected to an alternator, which turns to generate electricity. A wind vane is used to make sure the turbine points into the wind. Doubling the length of the blades of a wind turbine can multiply by eight the amount of energy the turbine can create.

Each wind turbine generates some energy, but to make wind turbines more efficient they are grouped together into wind farms. Each wind farm may have many wind turbines.

Wind farms need to be located in areas with regular, strong and steady winds. They work best in areas where the wind's average speed is greater than 25 kilometres per hour.

Image courtesy of Auswind