In this post it will explain how a wind turbine works and the context of its use in Switzerland.
What is Wind and how we can use this to generate electricity?
Wind is the result of the sun's uneven heating of the atmosphere. Warm air expands and rises, and cool air contracts and sinks. This movement of the air is called wind. [1]
How does a wind turbine work?
The wind turbine consists of a mast, a rotor and a generator . The mast is up to 164m high, but can reach over 200m. The rotor has a diameter of up to 10 metres. This has an output of up to 2-3 MW. Behind the rotor is a generator which generates electricity through the rotation of the rotor. [2]
The picture shows a classic wind turbine on a wind farm on the water. [3]
Wind turbines use the kinetic energy of the incoming air to rotate the blades. The mechanical energy generated in this way is converted into electricity by a generator.
In 2015, a total of 34 large Swiss wind turbines produced around 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of wind power. This is enough to cover the electricity consumption of around 28,000 households. The interactive map "Wind energy plants" documents the current stock of wind plants in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, wind energy can still develop strongly. For example, Swiss wind turbines are expected to produce around six times as much electricity as in 2015 by 2020 and around forty times as much by 2050. Suitable sites are located on the Jura heights, but also in the Alps and Pre-Alps and on the western Swiss Plateau. [4]
All reports on the subject can be found at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.
The planning of wind farms is often delayed by objections and appeals, as the rotors cause noise, are visible in the landscape and can pose a danger to migratory birds and bats. Naturally, special consideration is given to environmental protection, nature conservation and animal welfare. In addition, Suisse Eole, a partner of SwissEnergy, supports cantons and investors in the planning of wind energy projects and helps to increase and consolidate acceptance among the population. Suisse Eole also networks electricity companies, authorities, engineering offices, investors and environmental protection associations in order to implement a sustainable energy policy.
Wind measurements are central to the planning of wind turbines. The following video clip explains how and for how long measurements are taken to select the best sites and why such a high mast is erected for this purpose. [5]
Diagram from the Swiss Government.Diagram from the Swiss government. In the picture you can see how energy production has changed in recent years. [6]
Quiz
Question 1
How much Power did the Swiss Windturbines generated in 2015?
A) 50 GWh
B) 100 GWh
C) 150 GWh
Question 2
For how much average housholds could this energy be used?
A) 25‘000
B) 30‘000
C) 28‘000
Questions 3
How many Windturbines did we have in Switzerland in 2015?
A) 34
B) 45
C) 60
Vocabulary:
kinetic energy - kinetische Energie
GWh - Gigawattstunden
MW - Megawatt
Source:
[1] What is Wind [www.klexikon.zum.de]
[2] How it works [www.suisse-eole.ch]
[3] Wikipedia [www.wikipedia.ch]
[4] Energie Schweiz [www.energieschweiz.ch]
[5] Energie Schweiz [www.energieschweiz.ch]
[6] Bundesamt für Elektrizität [www.bfe.admin.ch]
Leandro Hämmerli, Cindy Gehrig und David Koller