Wind turbine

A rotary machine that extracts energy from moving air and converts it into mechanical power, usually to generate electricity. Its blades drive a rotor connected to a generator, directly or through a gearbox.

Wind turbine blade: An airfoil-shaped rotor component that captures wind energy and turns it into rotational motion. Blade shape and pitch determine how effectively the rotor extracts energy from wind.
Wind power: The rate at which moving air carries kinetic energy through a given area. A turbine's available input power depends on wind speed, air density, and rotor-swept area.
Onshore wind power: Electricity generated by wind turbines installed on land. Land-based farms are a common deployment of the turbine's electricity-generating role.
Solar photovoltaic system: A system that converts sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Solar panels provide a competing renewable source without a rotating aerodynamic machine.
Aerodynamic lift: A force perpendicular to airflow, produced by pressure differences around a moving or stationary surface. Lift on turbine blades produces most of the torque that turns the rotor.
Wind shear: A change in wind speed or direction across distance, including variation with height above ground. Wind shear means blades encounter different wind speeds across their swept area.
Offshore wind power: Electricity generated by wind turbines installed in marine waters. Offshore projects use turbines at sites with strong winds and distinct installation constraints.
Hydroelectricity: Electricity generated by harnessing the energy of moving or falling water. Hydropower can be more controllable than wind generation where suitable water resources exist.
Pitch control: A control method that rotates blades around their long axes to regulate aerodynamic forces. Changing blade pitch controls power output and limits loads in strong winds.
Turbulence: Irregular, fluctuating motion in a fluid, occurring across a range of scales. Turbulence creates changing aerodynamic loads that affect energy capture and fatigue.

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