Wind Power as a Renewable Energy Source

Abstract

The work presents a description of wind speed and direction in terms of using wind power as a renewable energy source. Wind power in Poland and at the Zawady EF was characterised. Observations were collected from 2002 to 2006 by an automatic meteorological station installed at the Zawady Experimental Farm (EF). Average monthly and yearly frequencies of winds blowing from individual directions were determined, and the average monthly wind speed was analysed. The most frequently recorded wind speed ranged from 2 to 4 m/s (light wind), and the least frequent winds blew at the speed of more than 10 m/s (strong wind). The cold season of the year saw winds blowing at the greatest speed (December, January and February), it being the lightest in the summer months (June, July and August). Wind rose analysis (2002-2006) revealed that, at Zawady Experimental Farm, westerly wind was the most frequent. The most frequent wind speeds were in the range of 2-4 m/s (light wind) and the least frequent wind speeds were in the range of more than 10m/s (strong wind). A wind turbine has a limited capacity of wind power use so only a small portion of energy supplied by wind may be converted into usable energy.

Keywords

• wind speed
• renewable energy sources
• wind direction
• wind power technology