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Wind Power

Wind power is one of two power sources that could theoretically provide all of humanity’s power needs indefinitely. The wind produces enough energy every year to provide more than eight times our power consumption. The catch is that the majority of this power is in the upper atmosphere, out of our technological reach.

Possible solutions abound, though none have achieved reality yet. One popular solution is to combine a wind generator with a lighter than air craft that is tethered to the ground with an electrically conducive cord. In theory this craft could be raised into the atmosphere, where sustained winds in excess of 100 mph exist. The generator could transmit the power back down to the ground, where we could use it.

Current practical wind power exists mostly in the form of home wind turbines. These are generators attached to blades that look similar to the prop of an airplane. These are set on top of towers ranging anywhere from a dozen to a few hundred feet tall. The largest generators are located off shore, to be spun by the prevailing landfall wind that happens there. These generators have a capacity of 6 megawatts each, and are actually too large to be transported via train or road. The prop blades must be constructed in a shipyard and carried out to the generator location using large cargo vessels.

 

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