Power of the Wind: What Is Wind Energy?

The wind is circulation of the Earth’s air, created as a result of the natural interaction of heat and the earth. Wind acts as kinetic energy, or energy that is created by movement. This energy can be harnessed to create mechanical energy and then translated into electricity.

Wind energy is ultimately derived from the sun, which heats the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. Different air masses, land surfaces, and water bodies absorb and release this heat at varying rates. This creates circulation in the atmosphere. These natural movements of air include the jet stream at the continental scale and onshore and offshore breezes at the local scale.

Today’s wind technology harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing air and then transforms the mechanical energy of spinning blades into pollution-free electricity. Over the past 25 years, major advances in turbine technology have made this process ever more efficient, making wind energy a cost-competitive option for a growing number of applications.

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