What are green technologies?

Wind is created by uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun.  Wind was first converted to useful energy by windmills which ground grain, drove machinery in factories, or pumped water.   It also was harnessed to propel sailing ships.  Today, the wind is also harnessed by wind turbines which are used to generate electricity and is one of the fastest growing segments of the renewable energy industry. 

Large, commercial wind farms consisting of hundreds of individual wind turbines can be developed in areas where winds are favorable.  Wind quality varies greatly among geographic regions based on geography, altitude, height above ground, variability, and intermittency.  Wind farms need a consistent source of steady, powerful winds to be economically viable.

The variability and intermittency of wind greatly complicates the production of electricity by wind power.  Electricity generation and instantaneous consumption must remain in balance to maintain a stable electrical grid system.  This can be a problem when large wind farms combine with variable winds to produce widely fluctuating electricity generation.  If the available wind is used to produce electricity and the consumptive demand of electricity is less than is produced the electricity must be stored somehow or utilized in some other part of the country.  Integrating renewable energy sources and dispatching conventional electricity generation simultaneously requires a good electrical transmission system and real-time information about wind forecasting and projected energy demand.  Integrating wind energy and solar electricity with conventional fossil fuel generation is part of the smart grid which will help integrate variable electrical generation with variable demand.

There are many applications of small wind turbines.  Small-scale wind power can be integrated with a solar panel battery backup system to live off grid.  Large farms or factories can install their own wind turbines to replace utility-provided power.  Small wind turbines can be used to replace utility power with any surplus being sold back to the utility.  Small turbines can be made or purchased to reduce the amount of power received from a utility.

Lake Land offers WND 040, Introduction to Wind Technology, WND 041, Wind Technology Maintenance I, WND 042, Tower Rescue and Competent Climber, and TEC 063, Electric Power Distribution, TEC 067, Smart Grid Introduction, TEC 069, Site Assessment for Renewable Energy as coursework to prepare students in pursuit of a career in wind energy.

Careers in wind energy could be Wind Energy Technicians, Wind Project Managers and Designers, Civil Engineers, Dispatchers, Meteorologists, Computer System Analysts, logistical and transportation specialists, machinists, assemblers, welders, quality control inspectors, scientists, biologists, site developers, Aerospace Designers, Electrical & Materials Engineers, Environmental Engineers and Technicians, and many others.