Wind energy: basics

In short: Wind energy converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using wind turbines and is one of the most important pillars of renewable energy supply. Both onshore and offshore installations contribute significantly to electricity generation.

In more detail: A wind turbine’s output depends heavily on wind speed and increases disproportionately as wind increases.

In detail

• Operating principle: Wind drives the rotor blades, which turn a generator via a shaft, converting mechanical into electrical energy.
• Onshore wind power: Land-based turbines are cheaper to build and maintain, but more often face resistance due to noise and landscape impact.
• Offshore wind power: Sea-based installations benefit from stronger and more consistent wind conditions but are more expensive to build and maintain.
• Fluctuating generation: Since wind strength varies greatly, wind power must be combined with other energy sources or storage to ensure a stable supply.
• Land requirements: Wind turbines need comparatively little ground space, since the area between turbines can still be used for farming.
• Impact on wildlife: Birds and bats in particular can be endangered by wind turbines, which is why site selection and shutdown times help protect them.
• Repowering: Older, smaller turbines are increasingly being replaced by larger, more efficient ones, significantly increasing electricity output at existing sites (erneuerbare-energien-ueberblick, co2-fussabdruck-im-alltag).