"Wind energy (or wind power) refers to the process of creating electricity using the wind, or
air flows that occur naturally in the earths atmosphere." Wind turbines capture kinetic
energy from the flowing wind and generate electricity.
Utility-scale wind energy can range from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts, and they
deliver the mass amounts of energy produced to power grids, and are then distributed to
consumers by power companies. Distributed or "small" wind energy refers to small wind
turbines that deliver energy to a single home, farm, or company not connected to the power grid.
Offshore wind energy are wind turbines that are built and extended across large bodies of water.
They're bigger than any land-based turbines and can generate more power.
When the wind blows past a wind turbine, the wind's kinetic energy is caught by the blades
of the turbine. That kinetic energy is turned into mechanical energy, the rotation of the blades.
"This rotation turns an internal shaft connected to a gearbox, which increases the speed of
rotation by a factor of 100." This increased rotation spins a generator that produces electricity.
Wind farms are made up of many turbines set up in multiple rows to produce a vast amount of
energy. The electricity produced by these wind farms are delivered to the power grid where
electric companies or operators send the electricity to you.