Skip to main content

This link is exclusively for students and staff members within this organisation.

Unauthorised use will lead to account termination.

Previous

The acoustics of the Royal Albert Hall

Next

Clues

Power from wind turbines

Horizontal-axis wind turbines provide a significant source of renewable energy. However, as Ron Holt explains, energy extracted directly from the wind is governed by the power coefficient that represents the efficiency of a wind turbine

© Anna Stakhiv/stock.adobe.com

The terms in bold link to topics in the AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA A-level specifications, as well as the IB, Pre-U and SQA exam specifications.

The amount of kinetic energy in the wind can be calculated from the volume and density of the air and the wind speed. Wind turbines can transfer energy from the wind to generate electricity. The efficiency with which a wind turbine can do this has a maximum theoretical value, as well as practical limitations on design. Total power output of wind turbines in the UK is forecast to reach 50 gigawatts (5.0 × 1010 W) before 2030.

Your organisation does not have access to this article.

Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise

Subscribe

Previous

The acoustics of the Royal Albert Hall

Next

Clues

Related articles: