What is Wind Power?

Australia has a number of windy locations and open spaces, which makes it the perfect environment for generating wind power. Wind power is generated from windmills (found in many countries as well as in parts of rural Australia), which are connected to wheels that operate machinery when they turn. This machinery can then be used for example, to pump water for land irrigation or to grind wheat into flour.

The energy produced from the windmills can also be used to drive wind turbines in order to generate electricity. Wind turbines drive generators that in turn generate electricity without pollution or cost.

A wind turbine consists of propeller-like blades that catch the wind. A rotating shaft connects to the blades and runs to the generator to transform the mechanical energy created from the rotations into electrical energy.

Advantages of Wind Power

• It is an ongoing, renewable energy source
• It does not produce any greenhouse gases or other toxic pollutants
• It is useful in remote areas not connected to the main electricity grid (if they are wind prone)
• It is free once the equipment is installed
• Relatively low maintenance (usually needed just twice a year for a total of 40 hrs/year).
• New jobs in manufacturing, construction and environmental management services.

Disadvantages of Wind Power

• The speed and intensity of wind changes
• They can be large and sometimes set up in groups of turbines which can affect the view of the landscape
• Turbines can harm (and sometimes kill) wildlife, in particular birds
• The generation of energy can be quite noisy
• The very windy areas are often near the coast where land is more valuable
• Turbines can cause interference with nearby televisions

For further information on Wind power or any of the other renewable sources of energy visit www.seda.nsw.gov.au