History of wind power
Wind power was discovered many thousands of years ago and was used to make boats move faster, to grind grain and for water pumping systems. The conversion of wind power into electricity through a turbine was discovered in 1888 by a man called Charles F Brush who built the first wind turbine in the U.S., a method which has become vastly popular all over the world.Today wind farms are operated around the world for producing electricity. Wind turbines are used in over 80 countries making use of this clean, free, and endless source of energy.
What is wind power?
Wind is a creation of solar energy. Air heated by the son rises while colder air is pushed downwards, thus creating a wind motion. This wind motion is called kinetic energy, which is then harnessed by turbines and converted into electrical energy known as wind power.
Effects on the Environment
The effects on the environment are minimal while the benefits are enormous. Wind power is a renewable source of energy – the supply is endless. Using wind power eliminates the need to use fossil fuels that are limited release harmful gases into the atmosphere. Wind power never pollutes.
The few prohibitive factors to using wind power are the need for the large areas of land for the wind turbines to be built on, birds colliding with the turbines and the aesthetic compromises the turbines sometimes lead to.
Wind Power at The Solar Garden
The Solar Garden boasts two different wind turbines:
- Vertical Wind Turbine: Research on this wind turbine was presented at the Coriolis Company’s (a leading Israeli Wind Energy company) research center at Hakfar Hayarok.
- Horizontal Wind Turbine: A product of the “Avir Leyisrael” (Air for Israel), it has three blades and is a total of 90 cm in length
In addition, the Solar Garden’s wind energy display includes a Wind Measuring Device sold by the Ishrasul company.
During the tour, visitors will learn about the differences between vertical and horizontal wind turbines, as well as the relative strengths and weaknesses of each. Visitors will also get a chance to examine and touch the physical structure of the turbine blades. Finally, we will discuss the current struggles that wind energy companies face in Israel.
The more we use non-renewable resources for power, the more pollution is released into our atmosphere. There is an ever- increasing demand for clean renewable resources such as wind turbines which are vital to sustaining our planet.