Wind Energy

Wind energy is a source of renewable energy. It does not contaminate, it is inexhaustible and reduces the use of fossil fuels, which are the origin of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. In addition, wind energy is a “native” energy, because it is available practically everywhere on the plant, which contributes to reducing energy imports and to creating wealth and local employment.
For these reasons, producing electricity through wind energy and its efficient use contributes to sustainable development.
Wind energy does not emit toxic substances or contaminants into the air and water, which can be very damaging to the environment and to human beings. Unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power plants, wind energy has one of the lowest water-consumption footprints, which makes it a key for conserving hydrological resources.

WIND TURBINE FEATURES

How do wind turbines produce energy? The functioning of a wind turbine can be explained in function of the following phases:

Automatic orientation

• The wind turbine is automatically oriented to take maximum advantage of the kinetic energy of the wind, from the data registered by the vane and anemometer that are installed at the top. The nacelle turns around a crown located at the end of the tower.

Turning of the blades

• The wind makes the blades turn, which start to move with wind speeds of around 3.5 m/s and provide maximum power with a wind speed 11 m/s. With very strong winds (25 m/s), the blades are feathered and the wind turbine slows down in order to prevent excessive voltages.

Gearbox

• The rotor (unit of three blades set in the hub) turns a slow axis that is connected to a gear box that lifts the turning velocity from 13 to 1,500 revolutions per minute.

Generation

• The gearbox transfers its energy through a fast axis that is connected to the generator, which produces the electricity.

Evacuation

• The energy generated runs through the inside of the tower to the base. From there, the energy runs over an underground line to the substation, where its voltage is raised in order to inject it into the electrical grid and distribute it to the points of consumption.

Monitoring

• All of the critical functions of the wind turbine are monitored and supervised from the substation and the control center in order to detect and resolve any incidents.