How a wind power plant works

A wind power plant converts the kinetic energy of air masses to electric energy. This information module explains how this works. There is particularly great potential in the use of wind energy on the open ocean (offshore wind energy). High-voltage direct-current transmission (HVDC) is used for this purpose. Since power generated from wind energy is not available around the clock, energy stores are needed. The statistics show the share of wind power in the power mix of individual countries.
By the way: an upwind power plant (solar chimney) is not a wind power plant, but a solar thermal power plant.

Information and ideas:
Suitable as an introduction to a field trip to a wind power plant.

Using the following sources: ABB AG; Fraunhofer IWES; WindEurope; GWEC

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Physics; Technology

Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13

Middle/high school; Vocational training

Energy; Power generation; Power plant; Renewable energy; Solar energy; Wind power plant; Electric power generation; Energy conversion; Renewable energy; Solar power plant; Wind power plant; Wind turbine

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MediaHouse GmbH using material of: Arne Nordmann (norro) - Own illustration. Using Image:Schema eolienne.svg, Image:Windrad-Nahaufnahme.jpg, Image:WindPropBlade.jpg and [1] and containing High_voltage_warning.svg., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1708454 (Principle/Design; licence: CC BY-SA 3.0, edited by Siemens Stiftung), Photo by Kim Hansen. Postprocessing (crop, rotation, color adjustment, dust spot removal and noise reduction) by Richard Bartz and Kim Hansen. - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7185913 (Offshore wind farm/Photo; licence: CC BY SA 3.0)

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