How are wind turbines powered when there is no wind

March 8, 2021 9:01 pm Published by

Wind turbines can produce impressive amounts of power, and they can be excellent sources of alternative power for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint. However, wind turbines generate power based on their surrounding environmental conditions. At times when there’s little wind in the atmosphere, turbines won’t produce as much energy. If you’re wondering what happens to energy storage and production then, Kurz wind experts explain.

How do Turbines Spin Without Wind?

It’s not uncommon to drive past a wind turbine or a wind farm and see the turbines’ blades still spinning even when there is little or no wind. There are several possible reasons why you may still see wind blades spinning. First, the blades on wind turbines are highly sensitive to any wind at all. Even if it’s not apparently windy to people nearby, the slightest breeze can still make turbines’ blades spin, even just slightly. Secondly, turbines can still keep spinning for hours after winds stop or die down. Lastly, wind turbines will sometimes draw power from the grid to keep moving, especially during the cold winter months when the blades and gears might otherwise freeze.

Energy Storage

Modern wind turbines are designed in such a way that end customers will continue to receive power, even on days when wind turbines are producing less energy. Wind turbines, like many sources of alternative energy, are connected to a source of backup power supply. Like solar panels, for instance, wind turbines may have their own backup storage unit, which is where they send excess wind power when they produce more energy than is required by the consumer on a given day. On days of slower production, consumers can simply use the energy stored in the wind turbine’s backup power supply to continue receiving power. Turbines may also be connected to the utility grid, which allows consumers to switch over to using conventional forms of electricity if they are not getting enough power from their wind turbine during a windless day.

Basic Wind Power Requirements

Wind turbines operate within an ideal wind speed range. If there is too little wind, turbines won’t produce much energy. If conditions are too windy, on the other hand, turbines can suffer from system damage. Ideally, turbines will operate in a range with wind speeds that average 15-25 MPH. Winds should have an average speed of at least 9 MPH in a given location in order to make wind turbines a cost-effective source of electricity.

For more details on wind energy, Kurz wind specialists are available to answer all your questions.

Categorised in:

This post was written by Matt Passannante

Comments are closed here.