Mallory Steffey 8-L

Table of Contents

I. Introduction to Wind Power

II. Cons to Wind Power

III. Conclusion

Introduction to Wind Power

Wind power is a relatively new kind of power. It consists of turbines, which turn when the wind blows much like over-sized pinwheels. Most times, wind turbines are built together creating a wind farm.

Wind Turbines

– Horizontal Axis Turbines• Most common• Are made up of a tall pole atop which sits a two- or

three-bladed fan-like rotor, a generator, a controller, and other machinery

– Vertical Axis Turbines• Not very common• Savonius and Darrieus

Savonius

• S-shaped from above

• Spins slowly but has high torque

• Not generally used to make energy• It grinds grain and pumps water better and is used

more widely for that.

• Invented in the 1920s in France

• Frequently it is described as looking like an eggbeater

• Vertical blades revolve in and out of the wind

Darrieus

Cons of Wind Power

• Can kill birds and other wildlife– Cannot be placed on bird or wildlife sanctuaries

• Are noisy• Ruin the landscape• Must be where there is a lot of wind

– Some of the windiest places on Earth are also the furthest from civilization, causing it to be expensive to transport to needy areas.

• In the US, most power lines are old and cannot withstand much more power. When new power is introduced it can cause the whole system to fail. New power lines are costly.

• Can meddle with radio and TV signals

Cons of Wind Power (cont.)

• Take up a lot of space• Extreme weather (lightning, tornados,

hurricanes) can cause serious damage.• Is really expensive to repair

• Is no where near fully developed• Is really expensive

Conclusion

In conclusion, wind power has many drawbacks. It can kill birds and other wildlife. Wind turbines are noisy. They ruin the landscape. They need to be placed where there is plenty of wind. They can hinder in TV and radio signals. They take up a lot of space. Extreme weather can damage them. They are still being developed. They are really expensive.