Wind power

Wind power is mechanical or electrical energy generated by capturing the kinetic energy of moving air, usually with wind turbines.

Wind turbine: A machine that extracts energy from moving air and converts it into mechanical or electrical power. Its blades and drivetrain perform the central conversion in most modern wind-power systems.
Onshore wind power: Electricity generated by wind turbines installed on land. It is the most established setting for deploying utility-scale wind turbines.
Solar power: Energy generated by converting sunlight into electricity or heat. Solar power shares wind's renewable role but follows a different resource and output pattern.
Intermittent renewable energy: Renewable energy whose output varies with naturally changing conditions and cannot be fully controlled on demand. Wind power's weather-dependent output creates the system-integration challenge shared by this class.
History of wind power: The development of technologies that use wind to perform work or generate electricity. Its timeline traces the shift from direct mechanical work to modern power systems.
Betz's law: A theoretical limit stating that an ideal turbine can capture at most 16/27 of the kinetic power in wind passing through its rotor. It sets a fundamental ceiling on how much wind energy a rotor can extract.
Offshore wind power: Electricity generated by wind turbines installed in bodies of water, usually at sea. Offshore sites can access strong winds and accommodate large projects near coastal demand.
Hydroelectricity: Electricity generated by harnessing the energy of flowing or falling water. Reservoir hydropower can be dispatched more readily than wind when water is available.
Capacity factor: The ratio of a power plant's actual energy output over time to its maximum possible output. It distinguishes a turbine's rated capacity from the electricity it produces in real conditions.
Persian windmills: Early vertical-axis windmills used in parts of Persia for tasks including grain grinding and water pumping. They are among the earliest documented machines to harness wind for sustained useful work.

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