Blades are aerodynamic devices that operate somewhat akin to an airplane wing. However, instead of lifting a load and moving it through the air to another place like an airplane wing, air masses move through the wind turbine's rotor, causing it to rotate. The load on the airfoil-shaped blades is the electric generator, to which the blades are attached. The rotating generator shaft produces electricity.

Home-sized wind turbines have tails that allow them to move side-to-side to track the wind. All wind generators have some sort of governor that limits the speed of the turbine. This protects the equipment from overproducing and burning up in high winds, but also limits the stressful centrifugal forces that all rotating equipment experiences at high-speed revolutions. The wind generator itself must be built to survive severe winds.

When it comes to towers, there are plenty to choose from. (CONTINUE)