What is wind energy – and how does wind power work?

Very simply put, wind energy is energy that comes from the wind. No surprises there! When the wind blows, it’s the blades of the wind turbine that cause the shaft inside the turbine to rotate. This movement is converted into electricity and channelled to the electricity grid before reaching homes and businesses. Did you know that wind turbines produce electricity almost non-stop? It’s true. In fact, wind turbines can produce as much as 80-90 percent of the time, and only a light breeze is needed for production to start. Wind power is literally a breeze! Wind turbines are resilient, too, and can withstand winds up to a full storm.  

Where a wind turbine is placed is very important. Typically, wind turbines are placed on ridges where it is particularly windy so they can create the most energy most effectively. The blades of the turbines can be rotated and adapted to both wind direction and strength (think of a sail on a sailboat) to make the best use of the wind.  

This video below shows you how wind power works:  

This is how electricity from wind is produced, step by step:

1. The blades of a wind turbine capture the wind's kinetic energy. When the wind blows, it makes the blades go round. The stronger the wind blows, the faster the wings rotate. 
2. As the blades turn, they transfer power to a drive shaft. The drive shaft is like a long rod that runs from the blades to the generator in the machine house. 
3. The generator then converts that kinetic energy into electrical energy. 
4. Next, the electricity then goes down through the tower of the wind turbine before being sent out to the power grid and ending up in homes, schools, workplaces, factories, etc.   
5. As long as the wind is blowing, a wind turbine can produce electricity.