Wind Energy
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| wind turbine/wɪnd ˈtɜːbaɪn/ | wind turbine |
| wind farm/wɪnd fɑːm/ | wind farm |
| renewable/rɪˈnjuːəbl/ | Describing a resource that can be replenished naturally on a timescale relevant to its use. |
| intermittent/ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt/ | Occurring with interruptions or gaps rather than continuously. |
| Offshore/ˈɒfʃɔː/ | Offshore |
Catching the wind
- Moving air carries energy we can capture.
- A wind turbine 风力涡轮机 has huge blades on a tall tower.
- The wind spins the blades, which turn a generator.
- Many turbines together form a wind farm 风电场.
The benefits
- Wind is renewable 可再生 and free — it keeps blowing.
- Turbines release no CO2 while running.
- They take little ground, so farms and grazing continue below.
- Once built, the fuel costs nothing.
Wind turbines on farmland. The land between them can still be farmed
A wind turbine makes electricity when…
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Wind spins the blades, which turn a generator inside the turbine to make electricity.
The costs
- Wind is intermittent 间歇性 — no wind, no power.
- Output rises and falls, so it needs backup or storage.
- Spinning blades can kill birds and bats.
- Some people find the tall turbines noisy or ugly.
A major benefit of wind power is that it…
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Wind is renewable and emits no CO2 while running — a clean, free fuel.
Because wind does not always blow, wind power is ____ (not constant).
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Wind power is intermittent — output rises and falls with the wind, so it needs backup or storage.
Where it works
- Turbines need strong, steady wind, not calm air.
- Windy coasts, ridges, and open plains are best.
- Offshore 海上 wind farms catch strong sea winds.
- A sheltered, still valley is a poor place for them.
Benefit or cost of wind power?
Sort each feature of wind power into a benefit or a cost.
Farmers can still grow crops on the land between wind turbines.
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Turbines take up little ground, so the land around them stays useful for farming or grazing.
Select all true statements about wind power.
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Wind is renewable, intermittent, and can harm flying wildlife. It needs strong, steady wind, not calm air.
Wind's big weakness is the same as solar's: it's intermittent. You cannot make the wind blow on demand, so a grid running on wind needs storage or a backup source for calm days. Its wildlife cost is real but local — careful siting away from major bird routes reduces it. Clean and free, but not always available.
A prairie wind farm:
- Tall turbines line a windy ridge; below them, the farmer still grows wheat right up to the towers.
- On a blustery day they power thousands of homes with zero emissions.
- On a still day they barely turn — so the grid leans on stored power or a gas plant until the wind returns.
A wind turbine turns the wind's energy into electricity; many form a wind farm. Benefits: renewable, low-CO2, and the land below stays farmable. Costs: it is intermittent (needs backup), can kill birds and bats, and needs windy sites — windy coasts, ridges, and offshore locations work best.