Almost everything in modern times depends on electricity. Every known gadget has to be recharged with electric power so it can be used and enjoyed. From dishwashers to the laptops that we have, they all have one thing in common. They need electricity to be able to do its function. For decades, we have been using electric generators that are run by fossil fuels like petroleum and coal. The fossil fuel sources are not limitless supplies and with so much demand, the current rate of mining or processing cannot cope with what is needed. Aside from limited supply, these fossil fuel based energy sources can cause damage to the environment as well as to people. Alternative sources of electric generation are wind powered generators. They are the most promising technology that can replace the conventional generators used in power plants.
A wind powered generator uses the wind as the mechanical force to power an electric generator. Use of the wind is not something new. The ancient Persians were known to use the wind to pump water, cut wood or grind food using wind mills. We also see wind mills powering water supplies of from lands especially in Europe. Now the wind mills are put into another good use.
Let us evaluate the wind powered generator. First, to consider is the fact that they do not emit harmful gases or chemicals unlike the fossil fuel based generators. We read and listen to environmentalists mention the greenhouse gasses and global warming. Part of the cause for such these situations is the emissions from power plants. What we need now is an electricity source that is clean and safe. We need to consider the environment if we are to make the earth a better place to live in.
Another advantage of wind mills is that several small turbines can be connected together. This saves on space as well as implementation processes. There is no need to build huge structures like most power plants.
One disadvantage of the wind powered generator is that wind flow can vary from place to place or from time to time. There is no way of being certain that the winds will be strong enough to power the generators. This limits the location of the wind mills to areas near the sea or where the wind is most strong like hill tops.
The bigger the wind mill, the more power it can generate so to get maximum electric generation the area should be wide enough to accommodate bigger mills. This is one luxury that some places do not have. Size is directly proportionate to the power it can collect.
Much research is now being conducted on wind powered generators and innovations are being made to make such power usable. The intention is build wind mills in areas where it is going to be most effective like coastal towns and cities. With the wind powered generators there is a very bright future in terms of sustainable and renewal energy.