Wind energy is a renewable energy source that is a clean and inexhaustible alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Today, when we are facing environmental challenges, the use of wind energy appears to be one of the sustainable energy solutions.
What generally causes wind to form? The sun is the main cause of wind, but its speed and direction are also affected by the uneven terrain of the earth and the rotation of the earth. As is known, the sun heats our planet with different intensities. The difference in atmospheric temperatures causes a difference in the density of the air masses and, accordingly, in the pressure. Relatively heavy cold air masses of high pressure move towards warm low-pressure areas, which in turn move upward due to their lightness. This movement of air masses to equalize pressure is called wind.
We can say that wind energy is one form of solar energy. The kinetic energy of the movement of air masses has been used by mankind for centuries, for example, for the movement of sailing ships, the flight of hot air balloons and airplanes, etc. Also, man was able to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy and use it to his advantage, with windmills for grinding grain, pumping water, and more.
The conversion of wind kinetic energy into electricity became possible at the end of the 19th century. In 1887, Scottish professor James Blyth created the first wind turbine. The 10-meter-high device supplied the scientist’s house with electricity. In 1888, the American inventor Charles Brash repeated the experiment to supply his home with electricity. The first wind farm was built in Denmark in 1891 to generate electricity for a rural settlement.
At its core, wind power is the conversion of the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity by means of wind turbines. Today, it is one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies in the world.
China and the USA are the world leaders in the use of wind energy. By 2030, wind energy use is expected to reach about 16.7–18.8% of total electricity. And this, according to data from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), will help to avoid about 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
How Does a Wind Farm Work?
A wind farm combines wind turbines located in one or different areas with favorable wind conditions and connected in a single network. Large wind farms can include 100 or more wind turbines.
A wind turbine consists of wings mounted on a mast attached to a rotating shaft (rotor). The wing is basically three, which provides optimal acceleration when exposed to the wind. The kinetic energy generated at this time is transferred to the generator, which converts the mechanical energy of rotation into electrical energy. The electricity produced by the generator is supplied through transmission lines to the power system, storage device or isolated network of consumers.
To optimize the use of wind energy, modern wind turbines are equipped with a device that ensures automatic turning of the wings in the direction of the wind. The power of a wind turbine depends on the airflow, which is determined by the wind speed and the area it covers.
Wind power plants can be located on land – on hills or in special areas arranged at high altitudes. It can also be located in the coastal zone of the sea or ocean, where the wind is generated due to the uneven heating of water and land. Air moves from water to land during the day, and vice versa at night. Offshore wind power plants are built in the sea – 10-12 km away from the shore, where the wind blows regularly and its speed is significantly high. The power plant is being built on the bottom of the sea, where the water depth is relatively small. The structure is anchored in the ground at a depth of 30 m and the electricity is supplied to the land by underwater cables.
Since excessively strong winds (more than 25 m/s) can damage the turbines, it is possible to stop them with a special locking mechanism. Even a weak wind (less than 3 m/s) has a negative impact on the operation of the power plant. Maximum power is achieved in 15 m/s wind. The optimal setting is considered when the average annual wind speed at a height of 50 m is 6.4 m/s.
Wind Energy in Georgia
The potential of wind energy in Georgia is a very promising source for meeting the country’s energy needs and for sustainable development. A favorable geographical location with mountainous terrain and coastal areas creates ideal conditions for the installation of wind turbines. In addition, Georgia is actively developing energy infrastructure, introducing new technologies and stimulating investments in the renewable energy sector. As a result, the country receives not only clean energy, but also promotes economic growth and reduces dependence on energy import.
As a result of the research work carried out to determine the energy potential of wind in Georgia, promising areas for the construction of a wind power plant have been identified. These are Poti, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Samgori, Mta Sabueti and the surrounding area of the Chorokhi River. Estimates show that Georgia has the potential to absorb 1000 to 1100 megawatts of wind energy.
Since some of the projects are still at the stage of technical-economic study or discussion, currently only one Shida Kartli wind power plant is operating in the country.
Gori Wind Power Plant
The average wind speed in the territory of Gori municipality is 8.5 m/s, which is quite enough to get electricity, so it is in this area that six wind turbines of the Danish company VESTAS, which is one of the world leaders in the production of wind turbines, are located.
The selection of a specific place was also facilitated by other factors, the landscape of the place, climatic conditions, proximity to the transport highway and Gori substation. Environmental issues were also considered. The nearest settlement is 2 kilometers away and there is no violation of the permissible noise norm. There wasn’t enough green cover to make it necessary to cut it down. The bird flyway is located 15 kilometers from the power plant, in the Mtkvari valley, and is not affected by the operation of wind turbines.
The installed capacity of the Gori wind farm is 20 megawatts, which means that it can supply electricity to an average of 18000 households per year. However, electricity is not intended to supply any particular settlement.
The country’s energy policy is aimed at the full utilization of renewable energy sources, which motivates the private and public sector to invest in the infrastructure of renewable energy sources, in particular in the construction of wind power plants.
How to Use Wind Energy For Your Business
In the last decade, the technological improvement of wind turbines and their considerable cost reduction have made the use of wind energy quite attractive both for private consumption and for setting up one’s own business.
Today’s existing wind turbines provide the opportunity to choose them not only by wind parameters and required power, but also by considering the budget.
Your own wind farm not only gives you the opportunity to supply your business with cheap and sustainable energy, but you can also sell the excess electricity generated.
Construction of a Wind Power Plant
For the construction of a wind power station, first of all, an optimal place should be selected, where it will be favorable to build such a station. This involves identifying suitable sites with high wind potential and minimal environmental impact. Factors such as land availability, landscape of the area, proximity to transmission networks, etc., should also be considered.
After the initial selection of the area, it is necessary to collect information about the wind speed and direction, because based on these parameters the wind turbines should be selected. The power of a wind turbine directly depends on the strength of the wind and increases significantly with the increase in the diameter of the turbine wings and the height of the mast.
In addition, information on climatic conditions – temperature and humidity – should be collected and evaluated.
The topographic features of the place, its landscape, whether the area is mountainous or not, should be studied. In order to carry out construction works, it is necessary to survey the ground, as well as to evaluate the access roads for bringing the equipment to the construction stage and then for unhindered access to the operation stages.
Environmental issues should also be considered, such as the amount of green cover, whether it is a habitat for animals and birds. Also, the distance to the settlement, so that the noise caused by the turbines is within the permissible norm and finally, the possibility of connecting to the transmission network.
The stages of construction of a wind farm differ significantly depending on the scale of its use, whether it is part of industrial, commercial, domestic or hybrid energy systems. But in all cases, the first and most important step is to evaluate the wind parameters.
Step Energy offers the installation of wind measuring devices, so-called “met masts”, to measure wind speed and direction, which is necessary before the installation of wind turbines. In addition, power plant design, station development-construction and subsequent operation-maintenance.
The company has been working in the field of renewable energy for many years and as an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) company carries out the full cycle of installation of solar panels and wind turbines – from design to execution.
If you want to get your own cheap electricity at the expense of an inexhaustible resource – wind energy, our team of professionals is ready to implement optimal solutions for setting up a wind power plant tailored to your needs.