Conversion of Wind energy!?

Question

How efficient is Wind Energy?

for example... is 100% of the original energy source converted to the applied energy source is any or some of the energy "lost" to another form of energy!?

PLEASE HELP? CAN'T FIND THE ANSWER ANYWHERE!

Answer 1

Every time you convert energy one loses a % of this energy.  So if your converting wind into electricity, then into a form you can use, even more loss.  What type of storage are you going to use for this power ?  Batteries, then AC into DC, then back to AC.  As you can see, power loses all over the system.

Here is a link that will show you a good place to start looking.

Answer 2

Well obviously since Wind Generators have mechanical parts that are moving against each other there will be friction which would result in a loss of energy to mechanical motion. However it is very minimal and wind energy is actually very efficient. John Deere has just funded putting over 30 wind generators on farm land in the thumb area of Michigan and other cities such as Traverse City and Mackinaw City have invested in the technology. The inital unit costs about 1.4 million dollars a piece, but is virtualy maintenance free for at least 10 years. Final answer is yes there is energy lost, but it is minimal.

Answer 3

Nothing is 100% efficient, this would be a violation of the second law of thermodynamics.  Typical areas of loss from a wind turbine include mechanical losses from the moving parts and magnetic losses from the generating system.

Answer 4

The generators are rated in mapped zones.  These zones provide the average amount of wind to generate their advertised amount.  In weaker zones they would provide less energy as the wind is weaker.   Some models are more effecent than other models.  There is no set standard for energy lost.