A Primer About Wind On Global Wind Day – CleanTechnica

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Global Wind Day is observed every year on June 15 to raise awareness about the power of wind energy and its potential to reshape the world’s energy systems. It’s important to understand the nuances of wind and how it is such a great clean, renewable, and sustainable source of energy.

But not everyone is aware of how wind works to generate energy. Let’s take this opportunity to fill in some gaps you might have about wind, wind turbines, and the important of global wind as part of the transition to a net zero world.

What is wind? Wind is caused by uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Because the earth’s surface is made up of different types of land and water, the earth absorbs the sun’s heat at different rates. One example of this uneven heating is the daily wind cycle. Air under high pressure moves toward areas of low pressure – and the greater the difference in pressure, the faster the air flows and the stronger the wind!

Why is wind significant as a renewable energy source? Wind is a renewable energy source that can be used to create electricity with fewer environmental impacts than many other energy sources. It’s renewable because the wind is always blowing somewhere. Thanks to wind turbine technology, We can harness the natural and endless power of the wind to generate electricity for homes and businesses without worrying about depleting the supply.

Is wind energy a recent phenomenon? Wind energy is not new — wind power has been used for thousands of years. As early as 5000 BCE, Egyptians propelled boats along the Nile River using the wind. Wind energy has emerged as one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources. Wind energy is an alternative to energy produced by burning fossil fuels. Generating wind energy is all about kinetic energy — the energy of motion. It produces electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, reduces dependence on fossil fuels, and supports the global fight against climate change.

What is a wind turbine? According to DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, a typical large-sized wind turbine contains about 8,000 parts within its foundation, tower, nacelle, and blades. There are over 500 facilities manufacturing wind turbine components in the US. Wind turbines are manufactured in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but the most common design is the one with 3-blades mounted on a horizontal axis. Their output ranges from as small as 100 kilowatts to as big as 12 megawatts. They can be placed in a huge range of locations: on hills, in open landscapes, fixed to the bottom of the sea – and we can even have floating turbines in deep waters!

What are the components of a wind turbine? The Global Wind Day folks offer an excellent overview of a wind turbine. A wind vane at the top of each turbine communicates to the turbine the speed and direction the wind is blowing. The turbine then rotates on the tower to face into the wind, and the blades rotate on their axis to create maximum resistance against the wind. The wind starts turning the blades which are connected to a hub and a low-speed shaft. The low-speed shaft spins at the same speed as the blades (7-12 revolutions per minute). To generate faster rotational speed for the generator to produce electricity, most turbines have a gearbox that multiplies the rotational speed of the low-speed shaft by over 100 times to the high-speed shaft, which rotates up to 1,500 revolutions per minute. This is connected to a generator, which converts the kinetic energy into electricity.

How does a wind turbine work to create energy? Wind turbines take the kinetic energy that’s in the wind and convert that kinetic energy into mechanical power. It’s mostly used in the form of electricity. A group of wind turbines is called a wind farm. On a wind farm, turbines provide power to the electrical grid. These turbines can be found on land (onshore) or at sea (offshore). The turbine converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power. It’s actually pretty simple: The energy in wind turns the turbine’s blades around a rotor that is connected to the main shaft, which itself spins a generator to create electricity.

What variables determine how much electricity a turbine can produce? 

• Wind speed: Stronger winds allow us to produce more electricity. Higher turbines are more receptive to strong winds. This means wind turbines generate electricity at wind speeds of 4 – 25 meters per second.
• Blade radius: The larger the radius or “swept area” of the blades, the more electricity can be produced. Doubling the blade radius can result in four times more power.
• Air density: “Heavier” air exerts more lift on a rotor. Air density is a function of altitude, temperature and air pressure. High altitude locations have lower air pressure and “lighter” air so they are less productive turbine locations. The dense “heavy” air near sea level drives rotors more effectively.

What is the potential for a global wind labor force? Europe’s wind workforce is set to grow to 600,000 people by 2030, up from 370,000 today. This comes to show the huge growth and job creation potential of wind energy. But hiring more than 200,000 additional people over just 6 years will be challenging. As an industry, we need to close this skills gap. This means working closer with schools and universities, scaling up vocational training and reskilling programs, setting up retention programs and much more. But above all, it requires us to raise awareness of the diverse and exciting job opportunities in wind energy. Wind jobs are still under the radar. Our industry has been slow to embrace digital storytelling and social media.

Why is Global Wind Day important? Global Wind day is a moment to bring wind energy to life and make it more accessible. Organizers of Global Wind Day 2025 want new generations and new audiences to get inspired to pursue a career in wind. Advocates for global wind workers are hopeful because Gen Z is climate-conscious and career-driven, with 73% saying they are concerned about climate change, and 65% saying environmental impact influences their career choices. Global Wind Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to transition to clean energy solutions. It aims to educate people about how wind power works, its environmental advantages, and the innovations transforming the wind sector.

How does Global Wind Day create community? The day also honors the scientists, engineers, and environmentalists who have been working to make wind energy more efficient and accessible. In a time when the world is facing increasing environmental challenges, Global Wind Day encourages nations, industries, and individuals to invest in and support green energy alternatives. With growing awareness and commitment, wind energy holds the promise of a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.

What is the history of Global Wind Day? In 2007 the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) wanted to celebrate wind as a renewable energy alternative. It became a worldwide event in 2009 with the support of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Since then, the day has been marked with events, campaigns, educational activities, and exhibitions across countries to engage the public and policymakers about wind energy’s benefits.