WIND

WHAT
What is IS wind
WINDenergy?
ENERGY? Tower
Wind is air on the move. Each air molecule has Generation equipment is kept in the tower.
Wind energy
kinetic energyisbecause
generated it is by harnessing
moving. The have a strong
The tower foundation
raises the bladesto and
withstand strong
generation
energy
the wind of the
andwind
is theisworld’s
the combined kinetic
fastest growing winds and support
equipment high abovethe overall heightinto
the ground andthe
the
energy of all of the molecules. The
energy source. It’s becoming more important wind is a smoother, stronger wind
length of the rotor blades. currents. Access to
free and renewable
for electricity companiessourcetoofuse energy,
wind and
energyit is the nacelle and rotor is through the tower.
the world’s fastest-growing Tower: Generation equipment is kept in
as it’s a renewable and free electricity
resource.
resource. the tower. The tower raises the blades and
Nacelle
How is electricity generated from wind? generation
The nacelleequipment
is the hearthigh above
of the the ground
turbine, where
HOW IS ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM into the smoother,
the generator, stronger
gearbox wind are
and rotor currents.
held.
Electricity companies harness wind energy
WIND? Access to the nacelle
The generator andnacelle
inside the rotor isisthrough
used to
with wind turbines. When the wind flows
Electricity companies catch the energy of the convert
the tower.the wind energy into electrical
past using
wind the turbine’s rotor blades,
wind turbines. A ‘windthefarm’
bladeswill energy.
turn and convert the wind energy
often contain many identical turbines. When into kinetic Nacelle: The nacelle is the heart of the
energy.
the windThisflowsenergy
through spinstheablades
rotor inside
of a turbine,
Blades where the generator, gearbox
turbine, they rotate and spin, poweringisa rotor
a generator where the kinetic energy and
Mostturbine drive train
wind turbines haveparts
threeare held.that
blades
converted
inside into electrical
a generator energy. electricity.
and producing The generatortoinside
are attached the nacelle
the rotor. is used
The longer theto
Each turbine works independently. The convert
blades andthe the
wind energy
faster theinto
windkinetic
speed,energy
the
Once the wind energy is converted into
electricity flows through cables in the turbine, and then
higher theinto electrical
possible energy.
output power. The blades
electricity,
flows downthe theelectricity
turbine towerflows and
through cables
combines are tested thoroughly to ensure that they will
in the
with theturbine,
energy down
from the theother
turbinewindtower to
turbines Rotor:
handleMost wind severe
the most turbines have three
weather blades
conditions
inconnect
the wind with thebefore
farm outputentering
from thethe other wind
local that are attached
expected to the
at the wind rotor. Blades in wind
farm.
turbines innetwork
electricity the wind orfarm before entering
the national local
grid, which turbines are tested thoroughly to ensure
electricity
provides networks.
power to New The greater the wind
Zealand. that they will stand up to the most severe
speed, the more electrical energy generated. weather conditions.
WHAT’S INSIDE A WIND TURBINE?
You’llwind
Each usually see more
turbine has four thankeyone wind
parts. Are wind turbines safe to use?
turbine working to generate electricity – this
Each wind turbine has an internal computer
is called a wind farm. All the wind turbines in
Foundation
system that monitors the direction and speed
The foundation
a wind farm work holds the turbine in
independently. place
The in
output
of the wind, and allows it to automatically set
the ground.
of each A wind
turbine turbine has
is combined to have
before a
it enters
strong foundation to handle strong winds and itself to operate at a safe level. If there is any
a local electricity network or the National Grid
support the overall height and the length of damage to the turbine due to overcapacity
What’s
the inside a wind turbine?
blades. (wind speed and strength), the turbines shut
down automatically.
Each wind turbine has four key parts: RENEWABLE ENERGY AT HAU NUI WIND FARM, WAIRARAPA
SOURCE: GENESIS ENERGY
What are the advantages of wind energy?
Foundation: The foundation holds the turbine
in place in the ground. A wind turbine has to The greatest benefit of using wind energy is

This work is copyright. The copying, adapting or issuing of this work to the public on a non-profit basis is welcome. No other use of this work is permitted without the prior consent of the
copyright holder. From ElectroCity www.electrocity.co.nz © Genesis Energy 2010.
 ARE WIND TURBINES SAFE? In addition, there are several smaller wind farms
that
Eachitwind
generates electricity
turbine withoutcomputer
has an internal emitting and individual turbines, and more wind farms
greenhouse
system that gases.
monitorsWind theenergy hasand
direction little are under construction.
effect
speedon of the
the environment,
wind. The system this automatically
is because:
sets itself to operate at a safe level. If the ACTIVITIES
• wind energy is a renewa ble res ource,
wind speed exceeds a safe level or if there is ACTIVITY ONE
sodamage
any it can never run
to the out the computer will
turbine,
•shut
thethe
re aturbine
re no em is s ion s when generusually
a ting Divide the class into groups. Assign each group
down automatically, one of the seven main wind farms in operation in
byelectricity
twisting the from windinto the wind so they
blades New Zealand.
don’t turn the turbine.
Wind farms lessen the need for us to use
fossil fuels to generate electricity, which helps Hau Nui
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF WIND Horseshoe Bend
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY Tararua
What
Windareenergy
the disadvantages
is a renewable of wind energy?
resource, so it Te Āpiti
will never runenergy
out. is a great Te Rere Hau
Although wind West Wind
Wind energy has little direct effect on the
environmentally friendly option to generate White Hill
environment, as there are no greenhouse
electricity, a lot of turbines are needed in one
gas or heat emissions or other pollutants.
place in order
Modern to generate
turbines power forof up to
with capacities The teacher displays a large map of New Zealand
communities
1 MW meantothat use.wind
Somefarms
people think they
of between 100 on the wall and labels the wind farms. Groups
have
anda negative
150 MW are visual impactThese
practical. on theare research their assigned wind farm, find out why
landscape
comparableand arewithnoisy.
many existing hydro and the site was chosen and present this information
geothermal power stations in New Zealand. back to the class. For example:
How is windcan
Turbines energy used in and
be serviced Newrepaired
Zealand? Hau Nui wind farm, south-east of Martinborough
individually without the need in the Wairarapa, is ideally located to capture the
Wind energy plays a useful role intoenergy
close down
an entire wind farm. wind currents that are funnelled and accelerated
generation for New Zealand. There are
Once a wind farm has been constructed, the through the nearby Cook Strait and over the
currently
land canseven wind
still be farms
used in operation
for other in
purposes, Rimutaka Ranges. The wind farm has 15 turbines
New Zealand.
such Combined,
as farming these wind farms
or agriculture. and a capacity of 8.65 MW, which provides
have a capacity of 170MW, which will enough energy for around 4,200 homes in the
produce
WHAT ARE enough energy for aboutOF
THE DISADVANTAGES 75,000
WIND Martinborough area and, depending on demands
average
ENERGY? New Zealand households. and output, as far north as Greytown.
Wind farms tend to be highly visible and cover
large areas, usually on ridges or hilltops. Some ACTIVITY TWO
people dislike seeing large numbers of turbines WIND ENERGY QUIZ
on the horizon and some complain that they Students answer the following questions.
are noisy.
How long have wind turbines been
HOW IS WIND ENERGY USED IN NEW ZEALAND? available as an energy source?
Wind energy plays a significant, growing role in Before wind turbines were invented,
energy generation for New Zealand. By the end how did people use wind to generate
of 2009, there were seven main wind farms in electricity?
operation in New Zealand. Combined, these Why is wind energy a good choice for
wind farms have a capacity of nearly 500 MW. environmental management?
What is kinetic energy?
ACTIVITY THREE
BUILD A MODEL WIND TURBINE
Here are some websites and publications
showing how to build devices that use the
energy of the wind.
Make an Anemometer (Energy Quest –
California Energy Commission).
An activity that shows students how to
make an anemometer, which is a device
that tells you how fast the wind is
blowing.
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/
anemometer.html
Make Your Own Wind Winch (Solar
Schools)
http://www.solarschools.net/resources/p
df/make%20your%20own%20wind%20w
inch.pdf
Ministry of Education. 2004. ‘Windmills
and Waterwheels’. Building Science
Concepts (Book 54). Wellington: Learning
Media.

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
- New Zealand Wind Energy Association: www.windenergy.org.nz
- Ministry of Economic Development: www.med.govt.nz
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority: www.eeca.govt.nz
- Genesis Energy: www.genesisenergy.co.nz