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The
UK government is committed to producing 10% of the UK's
electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and it is supported
by 75% of people in the UK.
Wind, especially in Britain and northern europe is freely
available and is a clean, cheap source of energy.
Wind power is generated by a turbine, and can be adapted
to various sizes, from commercial to domestic use.
History: Windmills were the first wind powered
tools and the earliest-known design is the vertical axis
system from Persia about 500-900 A.D.
Although wind power was used for many centuries, it fell
into decline with the replacement of fossil fuels and
a electricity grid.
Experimental wind plants in other countries between 1935-1960's
showed that large-scale wind turbines would work, but
no large scale turbines where developed. Then came the
innovative 3 blade 200 kW Gedser wind turbine, which was
built in 1956-57 by J. July in Denmark and with the looming
oil crisis of the 1970's, governments looked to funding
alternatives.
New developments led to turbines like the 'Bonus 3 blade
turbine' which can produce 450kw @35mph, these are large
groups of turbines that feed electricity into the utility
grid.
Key elements:
*Well designed wind turbines are generally quiet in operation
(Wind farm at 350m 35-45
Car at 40mph at 100m 55).
*The average wind farm in the UK will pay back the energy
used in its manufacture within three to five months, and
over its lifetime a wind turbine will produce over 30
times more energy than was used in its manufacture.
*Wind energy is one of the safest energy technologies.
*In the UK the average capacity factor is around 30%.
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