(Newswire.net — October 7, 2020) –With growing popularity, wind turbines attract more and more investors to the industry. Although wind turbine business is a very technically-demanding field, there are numerous highlights that many want to know or are simply curious about. Here are a few interesting facts about the massive machines.
Do wind turbines ever stop?
Wind turbines are stopped during maintenance so to inspect the blades and mechanisms at no risk for the construction or technical staff. Likewise, they stand still when parts are changed. In case of strong winds above 25 meters per second wind turbines are shut down due to the high possibility of damage due to storm.
Are there big wind turbines only?
There are small wind turbines for commercial businesses, householders and communities who locate their distributed grids near to a consuming area. This allows tangibly cut expenses on electricity and eliminates chances of power loss during hazardous situations.
Wind farms of small wind turbines need less land, require less development permissions and are compatible with other types of energy generation systems like solar panels. There are companies that develop distributed power generation systems. For example, Tbhawt Manufacturing develops microgrids combining their small wind turbines with solar panels and other renewable energy producing sources.
Vertical-axis wind turbines, like the ones by Aeolos, are widely used in rural areas. Such wind turbines are mounted on rooftops or in gardens. Although their output is sensibly small, sometimes the amount is enough to cover the needs of the owner.
If offshore perform better, why not put all of them in the sea?
Offshore wind turbines require preliminary shelf, or ground, development. This results in a much higher cost of construction. On the contrary, onshore wind turbines are more practical than the offshore ones as they do not need additional terrain preparation and thus are built faster to start generating electricity faster.
At the same time offshore wind turbines are said to be the prime renewable energy source of the future, many researches are being conducted to ease the development of offshore wind farms so to remove wind turbines from the land leaving more space for agriculture and causing less danger to the wild nature. Offshore wind energy generation is expected to become a leading energy generation instrument in Europe in the nearest years.
How fast is a wind turbine?
Wind turbine blades rotate following the present wind speed. This means that in changing winds the rotation speed is quite versatile. On average, wind turbine blades make up to 20 turnarounds per minute.
Are wind turbines ever-lasting?
As any mechanical construction, a wind turbine has its own lifetime period which strongly depends on conditions of use and the quality of materials and maintenance. Usually, a wind turbine operates for up to 25 years. It should be noted that they perform continuously, with no supervision needed, for about 120,000 hours. According to the WindEurope organization, this compares to a car engine lifetime which comprises about 6,000 hours.
Is the wind farm spare land lost for cultivation?
On average, wind turbines specifically occupy less than one percent of the appropriated territory. The rest of the spacious area can be continuously utilized for agricultural purposes and other needs. Big wind turbines might produce more noise frustrating the animals and housekeepers nearby – in such cases small wind turbines should be chosen as they are much quieter while catering even more benefits for a more busy area.