There are many advantages to using wind energy, however, there are drawbacks also. The fact the wind is not a consistently reliable resource causes problems in the form of where to locate these wind turbines. There is test which can be done to measure annual wind potential such as putting an anemometer in a set location for twelve months. This process is very time-consuming, but a necessary step in determining whether building a turbine is economically worth the cost in that said location. However necessary these anemometers are for determining the viability of a location they can have false readings and sometimes prove faulty. Wind is not only inconsistent, but also is very shifty and can shift directions quickly and frequently. The solution to this problem has already been solved with vertical axis turbines, which have two offset blades facing opposite directions. Since the blades are facing in two opposite directions they need no mechanism to keep them pointed into the optimum wind direction. Horizontal axis wind turbines have more trouble staying in the wind seeing the position of the blade only allow wind to flow one way through the blades. This problem has been solved with an anemometer connected to a wind vane, which measures wind speed and direction through the use of a computer. This computer is connected to the yaw drive, which controls the direction in which the turbine is facing, and constantly keeps it facing in the appropriate direction. By using such devices this reduces the need for human supervision, resulting in a more efficient process. The more time and energy we dedicate to researching this resource the more efficient the technology for harvesting them will become.
Problems with Wind Energy
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