Wind Energy Theory

A wind turbine converts the force of the wind into a turning force acting on rotor blades. This is captured by an electrical generator attached by a shaft to the rotor blades. The electrical generator is more or less a large electrical motor being turned by the shaft. The amount of energy which the wind transfers to the generator depends on the density of the air, the rotor area, and the wind speed.

Wind speed critically influences the amount of energy a wind turbine can capture. The energy content of wind grows by the cube of any increase in average wind speed. Doubling the wind speed can deliver eight times as much energy!

The energy in the wind also depends on the density of the air (mass per unit of volume), and therefore the "heavier" the air, the more energy is received by the turbine. Canadian winters are great for wind generation since the best wind energy density levels are seen in the deepest winter months.