Wind Energy Basics
There are more than72,000 wind turbines dotted across the United States. Each one plays a vital role in generating wind energy that decreases our collective reliance on fossil fuels. In fact, those turbines alone generate enough power to service 46 million homes. For businesses improving their sustainability and improving their bottom line, wind power provides cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint.
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Key Takeaways
Wind energy generates electricity by converting the kinetic energy of moving air into electrical power through wind turbines. As a renewable resource, wind power helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. Although wind projects require significant upfront investment, their long-term operating costs are relatively low, making them an important part of the global transition to sustainable energy.
Wind turbines convert wind into electricity.
Wind energy is a renewable, low-emission power source.
Operating costs are relatively low after installation.
Wind farms require strong wind conditions and large sites.
Wind power is growing rapidly worldwide.
What Is Wind Energy?
Wind energy, also referred to as wind power, is when electricity is created through the use of wind turbines. To generate wind power, gusts of wind force fan-like turbine blades to spin. As the blades make the turbine rotate, the attached rotor spins a generator that then produces electricity.
Wind energy is considered a form of renewable energy.
How Does Wind Energy Work?
Wind energy works by converting the kinetic energy formed by the wind moving the turbine into electrical energy. This electricity can be used locally, on-site near the turbines, or fed into the power grid to be used as part of the area’s overall power consumption.
This process happens via two types of wind turbines:
- – Horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) have blades that rotate on a horizontal axis.
- – Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWT) have blades that rotate on a vertical axis (these models are less common).
For optimal performance, small turbines need to be in a location with an average annual wind speed of 9 mph. Utility-scale turbines require an average wind speed of 13 mph or more. Other criteria experts look for include sites that are:
- – On top of smooth, rounded hills
- – On an open plain or over open water (offshore sites are popular for that reason)
- – In or near a mountain gap (this setup can funnel wind into strong gusts that increase power generation)
Wind Energy Pros and Cons
The benefits of wind energy are well worth discussing. But to get a balanced picture of what it’s like to tap into renewable energy resources, we need to look at the potential disadvantages, too.
Core advantages of wind energy:
- It’s renewable energy. Wind energy harnesses the power of Mother Nature by leveraging wind, a resource that replenishes faster than it’s used — the very definition of renewable energy.
- Increased sustainability. Wind energy relies solely on the power of the wind, with zero dependency on fossil fuels. The more wind energy you use, the less reliant you will be on less-desirable energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal.
- Relatively low operating costs. When launching a wind energy program, the initial financial outlay can be significant. This is mostly tied to the cost of the wind turbines. But ongoing operating costs are relatively low, focusing mostly on routine maintenance and general site upkeep. This can result in notable savings compared to typical commercial energy costs.
- Easily scalable. When you need more energy and rely on fossil fuels, you have to locate and pay for an allotment of a finite resource. When you need more wind energy, you simply install more turbines.
- More energy security. “Energy security” refers to how likely it is that an organization can meet its own energy needs without relying on third-party utilities. Consumption vs. generation is a huge factor here — if you use more energy than you can generate, you’re going to be reliant on the power grid and, therefore, be required to pay for everything you use. If you can meet your needs solely with wind energy, you’re closer to achieving energy independence.
Top disadvantages of wind energy:
- High upfront costs. You can expect to pay several million dollars per turbine during the initial construction of a wind farm. This could mean hundreds of millions of dollars to get the farm up and running, and while those costs can be recouped over time, that’s still a hefty upfront investment.
- Lack of consistency. Though wind is technically an inexhaustible resource, it’s not an entirely independent one. Days where the air is stagnant mean poor energy generation at turbine sites. Relying totally on wind energy can be stressful if you’re not sure you can store enough energy from good days to withstand the bad ones.
- Location concerns. To operate a wind farm, you need lots of land in an area that’s often windy. There are soil and other environmental concerns, too — you can’t build on wetlands or where the soil won’t support the turbines. Ideal locations are often remote, which means increased costs to create the initial infrastructure and funnel energy to more populated areas.
- Questionable impact on local ecosystems. Though wind energy is certainly more sustainable than fossil fuels, it can still impact the environment by negatively interacting with local wildlife. Turbine blades can be hazardous for birds and bats, and noise pollution can affect animals on the ground.
- Issues with noise and aesthetics. Some people think wind turbines are majestic. Others aren’t so enamored with the noise wind turbines generate, and those huge towers and blades can certainly alter the look and feel of a rural landscape. Concerns over noise and aesthetics can make it more difficult to put wind farms in populated areas.
Where Is the Most Wind Energy Produced?
In the United States, wind energy accounts for about 10% of all utility-scale electricity generation. The wind turbines responsible for that power are strewn across a total of 41 states, but 59% of wind energy in the United States comes from Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Internationally speaking, 2022 saw a total of 127 countries generate a staggering 2,904 billion kWh of wind electricity. China led the way, generating an impressive 36% of that total. The top five countries for wind electricity production in 2022, after China, were:
- United States (21%)
- Germany (6%)
- Brazil (4%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
Wind Investments: Costs of Adopting Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 Land-Based Wind Market Report found wind turbine prices increased slightly between 2022-2023. This unexpected increase occurred after turbine prices declined a whopping 50% between 2008 and 2020. The average price for wind turbine operation is about $900/kW to $1,200/kW. For a 2.75-megawatt (MW) turbine, this translates into total costs of about $3.1 million.
Installed project costs, which include other non-turbine expenditures like designing the site and executing initial installations, were $1,200/kW to $1,800/kW for land-based projects and $3,500/kW to $4,000/kW for offshore wind energy initiatives.
In the long term, you’ll also need to factor in operations and maintenance costs if you choose to build and manage your own wind farm. You’ll pay for various labor, leases, and maintenance services, at a minimum.
Job Outlook in the Wind Energy Field
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has named wind turbine service technicians as one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. This career path has an expected growth rate of 45% between 2022 and 2032. It comes with a median pay of $61,770 per year as of 2023, breaking down to about $29.70 per hour.
These numbers suggest that the wind energy industry is expanding. As more turbines go online, the need for experienced technicians also increases.
But there are other opportunities in wind energy, too, many of them in engineering. The industry will need environmental engineers, industrial engineers, civil engineers, electronics engineers. These specializations help identify wind turbine sites, continually research their environmental impact, and develop new iterations of turbines. Their combined efforts continue to build upon the early successes of renewable energy technology.
How Has Wind Energy Been Used Throughout History?
Wind energy has a strong and storied history in the United States and in many ancient cultures throughout the globe.
One of the earliest recordings of wind energy at work shows boats sailing along the Nile River in 5,000 BC simply by harnessing the wind. By 200 BC, windmills featuring woven-reed blades had popped up in the Middle East, and people in China were using wind-powered water pumps to source their daily H2O.
In the 11th century, the windmill and pump mechanisms favored in the Middle East had begun trickling to other parts of Europe. The Dutch took to the idea quickly, using wind pumps to drain water from lowland areas prone to flooding.
Soon, windmills had even reached the “new world” colonies. Homesteaders created their own wind-powered mills to break down lumber, grind whole grains into flour, and pump water. These turbines were a huge part of rural life even until the early 1900s. Slowly, electrification programs promising convenience and stability commanded attention, and so began the transition from wind energy to electricity.
Today, in the 2020s, we’re seeing that transitional process in reverse. But now, it’s not just homesteaders and ranchers exploring wind power. Some of the biggest utility companies in the country are involved in renewable energy, bringing sustainable utilities to the masses and using technology inspired by ancestors to move into the future.
What Is the Environmental Impact of Wind Energy?
On-land and offshore wind energy farms are lauded for being eco-conscious alternatives to traditional fossil fuel utilities, and for good reason. They do produce “clean” energy that reduces your carbon footprint and lessens the amount of greenhouse gas emissions thrust into the atmosphere. But there are still potential effects on wildlife and the environment that should be understood and discussed.
One of the biggest concerns regarding wind farms is how turbines will impact the surrounding area, birds, and other wildlife. Birds and bats can get caught in the turbine’s blades, especially if turbines are erected in a known migratory path. Offshore wind energy sites must concern themselves with marine life, such as whales or dolphins. Local marine life might get confused by noisy turbines and unusual vibrations given off by machinery.
Project developers and site operators can minimize environmental impact by:
- Choosing to lease/develop less vulnerable sites (no environmentally fragile ecosystems, areas with lower wildlife density, etc.)
- Using research tools, including satellite imagery and models of animal activity, to predict how wind turbines might affect existing life in the region
- Monitoring existing wind farms to see whether wildlife is thriving and if there are fixes that can be made to lessen ongoing impact
- Adhering to guidelines from WINDExchange’s Land-Based Wind Energy Siting and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop, install, and operate wind farms as sensitively as possible
Wind Energy Examples: Renewable Energy in Real Life
Wind turbines still seem futuristic, but wind energy is actually quite prevalent in and influential on modern-day living.
We already use wind energy for:
- Electricity, funneling energy from wind turbines into the power grid to offset carbon emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels
- Transportation, with experimental efforts made to use wind energy to power electric vehicles
- Food production, where old-school traditions are made modern with contemporary versions of windmills used to mill grain
- Pumping water to combat flooding and use water from lakes and rivers to irrigate crops
- Sports, such as land surfing and windsurfing
Wind energy has the potential to change the way you generate power and reduce your reliance on the public power grid. However, these changes won’t happen overnight. If your business is pursuing sustainability improvements, consider switching to a wind energy supplier. Integrity Energy’s team of brokers use their industry expertise to find the most cost-effective renewable energy plans for businesses. Start your company’s sustainability journey by requesting a free quote today.
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About the Author 
Michael McKelvey
