I have a question!
Question: I've seen the wind turbine twirling above Hayes Center skyline. So exactly what is a wind turbine?
Answer: A wind turbine is a rotating machine that converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as pumping water, cutting lumber or grinding stones, the machine is called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is instead converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind generator, wind turbine, wind power unit (WPU), wind energy converter (WEC), or aerogenerator.
Question: What is the annual capacity factor of the wind turbine in Hayes Center?
Answer: The annual capacity factor for the last 13 months is 16%. See the graph for capacity factor by month:
Question: I see the wind turbine turning all the time. Is it producing electricity all the time it is turning?
Answer: The wind turbine generally produces electricity when the wind reaches speeds of 8 to 60 miles per hour. The optimal peak generation is produced at wind speeds of 26-28 miles per hour. Wind speeds in excess of 60 mph will cause the turbine to shut down. See the graph for optimal wind generation data.
Do you have a question about wind turbine technology? E-mail your question to info@swppd.com or call us at 1-800-379-7977.