Interesting Facts
- The Klipheuwel wind farm near Caledon consist of 9 Sinovel wind turbine generators manufactured in China and was built by the Spanish company, Iberdrola.
- The highest wind speed measured on the Klipheuwel site was 120km/h and the turbines can withstand wind speeds of up to 250km/h
- On an average light wind day, the turbine rotates at approximately 7 seconds per revolution, which calculates to a Blade tip speed of 185km/h
- A turbine consist of a foundation ring, 4 tower sections, a Nacelle (power generator), Hub (blade adaptor) and 3 Blades with a combined weight of approximately 500 tons. Each Blade weighs 13500kg and measures 55m in length.
- The height from the ground to the Hub (centre where the Blades connect) is 95m and the total height to the top of a Blade in an upright position is 150m.
- In strong wind conditions, the turbine turns itself into the wind, tilt the Blades and “lock down”. Once the wind speeds have dropped, it will start turning again.
- Each turbine is equipped with a flashing aircraft warning light on top of the turbine Nacelle.
- The components were received at the Port of Saldanha and transported via Malmesbury, past Riebeeck Kasteel, Worcester and Villiersdorp due to overhead restrictions and turning space, approximately 350km in total.
Facts about wind energy
What is wind energy?
The growing consumption and steady increase in price of non renewable sources has forced people to look for alternative fuels that are available cheaply and can meet their growing demand for energy. Wind energy is one of the best sources of alternative energy. Wind refers to the movement of air from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. Wind is caused by uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Hot air rises up and cool air flows in to take its place. Winds will always exist as long as solar energy exists and people will be able to harness the energy from till then.
It is a renewable source of energy and does not produce any pollutants or emissions during operation that could harm the environment, other than those required for maintenance. Wind power is one of the cleanest and safest method of generating renewable electricity. Wind farms can be created to trap wind energy by placing multiple wind turbines in the same location for the purpose of generating large amounts of electric power.
10 Facts on Wind Energy
- The first modern wind turbine was built in 1940’s in Vermont.
- A wind turbine has as many as 8,000 different components.
- Wind energy is renewable and pollution free source of energy.
- Most of the modern wind turbines have 3 blades which can reach speeds at the tip of over 320 kph (200 mph).
- More than 45,100 of wind turbines were operating by the end of year 2012.
- Albert Betz, was a German physicist and a pioneer of wind turbine technology. He discovered wind energy theory and published in his book Wind-Energie.
- Wind energy produces more than 20% of the total electricity production in countries such as Denmark and Portugal.
- The largest wind turbine in the world is located in US in Hawaii. It stands 20 stories tall and has blades the length of a football field.
- Wind energy can be a great source of alternative to fossil fuels and has been growing trend in many countries, especially in Europe.
- Isolated locations are provided power by small onshore wind farms. Power from small wind farms are purchased by utility companies.
Facts about solar energy
What is solar energy?
The consumption of non-renewable sources like oil, gas and coal is increasing at an alarming rate. The time has finally come to look after some other renewable sources of energy i.e. solar, wind and geothermal energy. Although many countries have started utilizing solar energy extensively but still they have to go a long way to exploit this energy to fulfill their daily demand for energy. Here are few facts on solar energy that can help you assess the potential of solar energy to meet global requirements.
Solar energy refers to energy from the sun. The sun has produced energy for billions of years. It is the most important source of energy for life forms. It is a renewable source of energy unlike non- renewable sources such as fossil fuels. Solar energy technologies use the sun’s energy to light homes, produce hot water, heat homes and electricity.Solar power can significantly reduce the electricity bills. Moreover, there are many tax incentives and rebate programs designed to spur the use of solar, and save home owners money at the same time.
10 Facts on Solar Energy
- Solar energy is a completely free source of energy and it is found in abundance.
- The water cycle is an important result of solar insulation. The earth, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation and their temperature rises.
- By means of photosynthesis, solar energy is converted by green plants into chemical energy which creates the bio mass that makes up the fossil fuels.
- Solar powered hot water systems utilize solar energy to heat water. In certain areas, 60 to 70% of water used domestically.
- Food can be cooked, dried or pasteurized using solar energy.
- Solar chemical processes replace fossil fuels as a source for chemical energy and can make solar energy storable and transportable.
- Thermal storage systems can store solar energy in the form of heat by using common materials with high specific heat such as stone, earth and water.
- Common domestic use of solar energy is from solar panels which absorb solar energy to use for cooking and heating water.
- Solar energy produce no pollution, have no environmental effects and is ecologically acceptable.
- Space missions by various countries use solar energy to power their spaceships.
