Wind turbines
Though it may seem complicated, the process by which wind turbines convert wind into electricity is actually very simple. In fact, it operates much like a fan, only in the reverse. While a fan uses electricity to create wind, wind turbines use wind to make electricity.
The process starts with wind—which is caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the earth’s atmosphere—turning three propeller-like blades around a rotor that is connected to the turbine’s main shaft. This shaft is also connected to a gear box that spins a generator to create electricity. A computer controls the direction of the turbine to make sure it is pointed directly into the wind for maximum productivity. The electricity generated by the wind turbine is then sent via transmission lines to the larger utility grid and on to thousands of homes, schools and businesses.
Sustainability in action
Unlike traditional energy sources, wind turbines generate electricity without consuming fuel and emitting greenhouse gases. This gives them a significant advantage over conventional fossil fuel power sources.
But exactly how much energy comes from a wind turbine? Well, a single ACCIONA Windpower 1.5 MW wind turbine, operating at the average North American wind capacity rate of 33 percent, generates 4.3 million kilowatt hours of energy annually. Since the average American household uses 10,655 kWh of energy per year, this one turbine can provide power equivalent to the energy consumed by approximately 430 households per year.
It’s important to note, however, that while wind turbines make great neighbors—land owners, for example, can continue to farm or raise livestock nearly up to the base of the turbine—not all land is created equal when it comes to building them. They must be built in areas where wind is abundant, thus eliminating urban areas with too many buildings that block wind flow. Moreover, turbines are best situated on farms and rural areas that don’t require the clearing of heavily wooded areas.
Indeed, environmental concerns must be taken into consideration before selecting land for wind projects. ACCIONA takes this commitment seriously by conducting extensive ecological studies. With birds, for example, we ensure that we account for migratory patterns before constructing our turbines. This way, even though less than 1 percent of bird deaths are caused by wind turbines, we are able to further reduce harm to their habitats.
ACCIONA's commitment
At ACCIONA, we see things differently, so we build our wind turbines and wind farms differently—for the community, for our employees and for the future. We see wind turbines as an ideal combination of aerodynamics and aesthetics. We also see them as modern art, a symbol of a brighter future and a cleaner tomorrow.
With this long-term perspective in mind, ACCIONA Windpower manufactures the highest-quality wind turbines at a facility right here in North America. In doing so, we focus on life-cycle cost rather than upfront wind-turbine cost.
We also take safety and aesthetics into account during our design process. Our turbines, for example, include lift elevators that make life better for our turbine technicians who would otherwise be up and down 260 feet of ladder all day long. They are also painted white so that they blend into the horizon and enhance the clean look of our wind farms. Finally, the noise produced by the turbines is similar to the sound of a refrigerator running and is often masked by the very wind that turns them.
Still, we continue to refine and improve our wind-turbine designs. We recently announced a 3 MW turbine, the AW-3000, which will double the current capacity of wind farms. Designed to leverage the proven strength and high reliability of our AW-1500 machine, the AW-3000 offers superior power performance in a variety of wind resource conditions and an improved power-production-per-acre ratio to optimize an owner’s investment.
Improving the design of these wind turbines makes them more reliable, longer lasting, and easier to own and operate. This is a priority for ACCIONA because we’re in this for the long haul.
For more detailed information on ACCIONA Windpower's innovative turbines, please review our brochures:
Contact ACCIONA Windpower for more information on our wind turbine generators.