Wind Power
Wind turbines are strategically located in areas of high wind occurrences, such as near the coast, hilltops or in open plains. Wind turbines come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most commonly used design is the windmill. Due to the fact that on mine sites the wind does not constantly blow, wind turbines are suggested to be paired with other renewable energy sources to maintain a constant supply of energy to a microgrid. The currently studied microgrid is the combination of wind farms, solar farms, and battery storage of their combined energy.
Wind turbines use the wind to create electricity. Kinetic energy applies force to the turbine’s blades that rotate a rotor, which then spins a generator that produces the electricity. WA is home to several wind farms. Wind power is currently the cheapest type of renewable, with blades on a turbine harnessing the natural power of the wind. These blades are connected to a hub, which links to a generator and as the wind blows, the energy on the blades drive the generator. There’s greater wind strength at higher altitudes, so taller turbines are generally more productive, with energy created by wind estimated at just 5 cents per Kilowatt hour. Perth is officially the third windiest capital in the world, after Wellington in New Zealand, and Chicago in the United States, so there’s great potential for wind energy in WA. In fact, we have been involved in several wind farm projects to connect this renewable energy to our grid and deliver cleaner, greener energy to WA customers.
