How Does Wind Energy Work: The Ultimate Guide

Are you asking yourself ‘How does wind energy work?’. In this article, I’ll break down exactly how it’s produced, outline the different parts of a turbine and discuss wind power’s place in the current UK energy market.

There’s no denying that wind turbines are impressive. And while these feats of aerodynamics and engineering may look confusing, they’re highly ingenious.

Wind turbines contain several different parts that work effortlessly in tandem to turn kinetic energy into electrical energy. But how exactly does that happen? And what does each part contribute to the overall wind turbine structure?

In this deep dive, I’ll cover everything from basic processes to the ins and outs of nacelles and generators.

How Does Wind Energy Work?

Wind energy works by using aerodynamic force to turn rotor blades. The aerodynamic force from the wind causes the turbine blades to spin, which turns a shaft tucked inside the nacelle.

The nacelle also contains the gearbox, a generator and a brake. The shaft’s spinning also prompts the generator to convert kinetic energy from the spinning motion into electrical energy. The electrical energy then passes through a transformer and is converted to an appropriate voltage for the National Grid and homes across the UK.

How Do Wind Turbines Generate Electricity?

Wind turbines are usually oriented toward wind and are often clustered together to create large-scale, commercial wind farms. The force of the air current is a factor that contributes to generating electricity.

There are three parts inside a wind turbine that make the magic happen:

We briefly touched on these parts in the previous section, but let’s look at them in more detail:

• Rotor: Composed of three blades, the rotor captures the wind’s kinetic energy and converts it to rotational energy.

• Multiplier: Connected to the engine via a shaft, the multiplier increases the rotational speed. It transforms fewer revolutions per minute (RPM) into a far higher figure.

• Generator: This element converts the mechanical energy of each rotation into electrical energy. Most generators consist of magnets and conductors. The generator connects to a shaft which spins an assembly of magnets to generate a voltage in a coil of wire. This drives electrical current to power lines under the ground for distribution to the Grid.

The wind turbines in a typical wind farm link together via underground cables. These cables lead directly to a transformer substation that can be sent to the National Grid for nationwide transportation.

What Are the Different Parts of a Wind Turbine?

Wind turbines have several parts, but the main sections are:

• Foundation: This is what the rest of the turbine features stack on top of and must be solid and sturdy enough to support immense weight. It usually consists of concrete and a steel platform (and can weigh as much as 1000 tons).

• Tower: Suppliers typically construct these from tubular steel, which is hardy enough to support the structure of the blades. Towers come in three sections and developers usually have these assembled on a construction site. Taller towers will capture more kinetic energy than shorter ones, as they can support longer blades. Plus, you’ll often find more wind higher off the ground.

• Rotor and hub: These connect to the blades and shaft, and are primarily responsible for kinetic energy generation.

• Blades: Most turbines have three blades, and suppliers often use fibreglass-reinforced polyester or epoxy for longevity.

• Nacelle: The nacelle is a protective part of a wind turbine that houses all the components that transform kinetic energy into electrical energy.

• Generator: As mentioned above, it converts the mechanical energy of each rotation into electrical energy.

You’ll find these elements on all modern wind turbines, but they may differ in size, weight, and shape depending on the type of turbine you’re dealing with.

Interested to learn more? Delve deeper into the different parts that make up a wind turbine.

What Happens Once the Turbines Receive Electricity?

Once the turbines receive kinetic energy and convert it to electrical energy, transmission lines carry electricity from wind turbine generators to transformer substations at extremely high voltages.

These substations then receive alternating current (AC) at this higher voltage and increase or decrease the voltage as necessary.

The transformer decreases the chance of power loss between the generator and the final consumer. Reducing the voltage is also critical in many cases, as it must be safe for use in homes and businesses.

Do Different Wind Turbines Produce Electricity in Different Ways?

There are several different types of wind turbines, and they usually fall under the following umbrellas.

1. Offshore wind turbines

1. Onshore wind turbines

• Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs)
• Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs)
• Domestic wind turbines

Horizontal-axis wind turbines spin on an axis parallel to the direction of the wind, and vertical axis wind turbines orient perpendicular to the direction of the wind.

Offshore and onshore wind turbines are very similar in that developers usually build them as horizontal wind turbines. However, offshore turbines tend to be far larger, giving them the strength to tolerate high-speed winds out at sea.

But generally, while all of these turbines can look different, they operate in essentially the same way. They all capture the kinetic energy of wind via blades and use a generator mechanism to convert the energy into a usable form.

How Much Power Does Wind Make Up in the UK’s Energy Mix?

Wind power is taking hold of the UK in a major way, and it’s hoped that it will eventually replace natural gas and oil (in conjunction with other forms of renewable energy).

Although these figures are exciting on their own, it’s also worth mentioning that the UK’s wind energy market is set to keep compounding. It’s currently set to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 6% between 2022 and 2027.

It’s hoped that the UK will generate 2,896 terawatt hours of electricity a year from wind and solar power by 2050. In 2022, the UK generated 80.3 terawatt hours of electricity through wind power. So there’s a fair way to go before we hit net-zero limits.

We Hope That This Guide Has Answered the Question, ‘How Does Wind Energy Work?’

Interested in putting wind turbines on your land? You’ll need land suitable for wind turbines, ideal wind speeds and enough space for the job.

Try out our wind speed calculator to see if your land receives enough wind for a project.

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But if you want to maximise the potential of your property, we’re here to help. Our team at Lumify Energy are experts in all things wind, and we’ve helped countless landowners boost their income with renewable energy projects. Whether you’re curious about repowering or already starting your first project, we’d like to hear from you.