Don't wind turbines use a lot of power to make them rotate?

Question

how do they make more than they use then? would it help if the blades were made of solar panels?

Answer 1

Remember the pinwheels as a kid?  You blow on them or the wind hits them and they start spinning.  

A wind turbine is a giant pinwheel.  They then take that rotary motion, and use it to generate electricity.  No power is used in turning them, the wind does that.

Answer 2

The wind makes them rotate. That is what the blades are for, to catch the wind. Duh!

Answer 3

I think you mean do they lose a lot of power in the generation process...you don't get something for nothing...In fact I don't have the exact figures but they are not the most efficient power generation method by a long way, and of course what happens when it isn't windy....you can't store electricity like gas so you have to have a ready standby to fill the gap..I'm all for the nuclear option.

Answer 4

Sure, but think how hot the cows would get without them.

Answer 5

No, the wind pushes them around.  Nothing else is needed.

Answer 6

NAH!!!

Answer 7

huh?

Actually, they use the left over energy from the wave machine that makes the surf in the Pacific ocean. The Atlantic Ocean wave machine is at full capacity. It is smaller and was built in the late 1800's.

Answer 8

WIND turbine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

Wind power is the way ahead, I have just purchased a wind powered Japanese T.V. works fine although climbing onto roof can be irritating.

The windpower needed is supplied by the butterfly effect, a butterfly flaps its` wings in Sri Lanka and when it gets here it`s blowing at 40mph,millions of caged butterflies are noised up at different times to supply a steady breeze.

Answer 10

The blades for the turbines are not really turned by the wind. At the bottom of the tower that the blades are sitting on are several bicycles that are mounted off the ground and with the tyres removed from the back wheels. A long length of rope goes around the wheel rims to the turbine at the bottom of the tower and persons that have committed unforgivable "environmental crimes" e.g. putting dustbin out too early, not using 'energy efficient' electrical equipment, putting too much water in the kettle, taking a bath and not a shower, failing to re-cycle glass and paper, etc etc. are then seated on the saddle to pedal and generate energy. One bicycle wheel is actually connected to the blades to give the appearance that the wind is turning them.

Answer 11

You are kidding right?

Answer 12

they only use the power of the wind not electricity that is why they are always sited very high so as to catch the wind

Answer 13

They don't make more power than they use, but the power they use is FREE! So that what they do make is a bonus. Also they absorb power from the wind helping (in a very insignificant way) to reduce gales, hurricanes and storms.