A good wind resource is one where wind speeds average 16 mph or more over the course of a year. Wind speeds are categorized by class, from a low of class 1 to a high of class 7. Wind speeds of class 4 or greater are used for wind power production.

The power of the wind is measured in watts per square meter, and this increases by the cube of the wind speed. For example, winds at 15 mph are almost twice as powerful as winds at 12 mph, doubling the output of a wind turbine. The density of the air also affects turbine output. Cold air at lower altitudes helps generate more electricity than warm air at high altitudes. Height also affects wind speed, since objects on the ground, like trees and buildings, can reduce wind speed. Therefore, taller turbines can capture higher wind speeds and more energy than shorter turbines.

Here are the details of the inner-workings of the wind turbine. (CONTINUE)