How do wind turbines work?

Wind turbines harness the wind—a clean, free, and widely available renewable energy source—to generate electric power. The animation below is interactive. You can start and stop the turbine’s movement, hover over parts to see their description, and use the icons in the lower right corner of the animation to switch views.

How does a wind generator work?

The energy in the wind turns the blades that are connected to the main shaft, which turns and spins a second shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity. – A machine that is used to make electricity. When the generator head is turned, this energy is converted to electrical energy.

How do humans use wind energy?

Humans have been using the energy of the wind for thousands of years for example as sails for boats, as windmills to grind grain and make flour, and windpumps to pump water. How do wind turbines work?

How do wind power plants produce electricity?

Wind power plants produce electricity by having an array of wind turbines in the same location. The placement of a wind power plant is impacted by factors such as wind conditions, the surrounding terrain, access to electric transmission, and other siting considerations.

How does a wind turbine pitch system work?

The pitch system adjusts the angle of the wind turbine's blades with respect to the wind, controlling the rotor speed. By adjusting the angle of a turbine's blades, the pitch system controls how much energy the blades can extract.

How does a utility-scale wind plant work?

In a utility-scale wind plant, each turbine generates electricity which runs to a substation where it then transfers to the grid where it powers our communities. Transmission lines carry electricity at high voltages over long distances from wind turbines and other energy generators to areas where that energy is needed.