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Question

What is wind energy? How is the wind energy used to produce electricity? How much electric power is generated in India using the wind energy?

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Solution

Wind Energy is the most mature and developed renewable energy. It generates electricity through wind, by using the kinetic energy produced by the effect of air currents. It is a source of clean and renewable energy, which reduces the emission of greenhouse effect gases and preserves the environment.

Wind energy is a type of energy used to make electricity, like fossil fuels or nuclear power. Wind energy harvests energy from the wind and converts it into electrical power. Wind is created by temperature changes in the atmosphere. As warm air rises, cool air moves into the area, and the movement creates what we know as wind. The diagram shows the process of wind formation over a body of water, which is a very common place for wind energy to be harvested.

Wind formation from the cool air (blue) flowing into the warm air (red)

Wind power converts the kinetic energy in wind to generate electricity or mechanical power. This is done by using a large wind turbine usually consisting of propellers; the turbine can be connected to a generator to generate electricity or the wind used as mechanical power to perform tasks such as pumping water or grinding grain. As the wind passes through the turbines it moves the blades, which spins the shaft.

Wind power generation capacity in India has significantly increased in recent years. As of 30 June 2018, the total installed wind power capacity was 34.293 GW, the fourth largest installed wind power capacity in the world. Wind power capacity is mainly spread across the South, West and North regions.


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