Wind Energy Basics

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Education

Video introduces wind energy research at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and provides an overview of the NREL Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado.

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Notes from our reviewers

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A professionally-produced overview of wind energy and related research at the NREL National Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado. Link for video includes a printable transcript of the video for students to follow. Students could create a flow chart that illustrates how wind energy is converted into useable energy. Suggested that teachers discuss local and regional wind patterns, why wind generators are located where they are.
Presents the science, technological challenges, and the social and funding issues involved with developing wind technology. Includes some basics on wind energy, wind dynamics, and how wind turbines work. Comments from expert scientist: This material provides the basics of wind energy in an accessible fashion. Links are provided to find more detailed scientific information including wind resource maps and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics on wind production. My main concern is that this discussion is limited and slightly out-of-date. The text presents a height for wind turbines (100 feet or 30m above the surface) that is much lower than modern multi-MW wind turbines. The material is technically correct but gives the impression that turbines are shorter than they actually are. Modern turbines have hub heights of 80-100 m.
Video produced and developed by the National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colorado, which is one of only four national renewable energy laboratories in the world. Link to information about distributed energy on U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability is not accessible.