scuola energia e ambiente
Wind
Man has been using wind energy for thousands of years. The Egyptians were the first to experiment sailing on the Nile 5,000 years ago, while the first wind mills were made by the Babylonians and date back to the seventeenth century B.C. In the centuries that followed, wind mills spread all over the Middle East. Between 1200 and 1300 they were used in Europe too, especially in the northern countries. Even Leonardo da Vinci worked at perfecting these machines. In 1887, the French Duc de La Peltrie built the first aero generator to produce electrical energy. Today aero generators are utilised to obtain energy from the wind. These modern wind mills exploit the wind to make the blades of a big propeller rotate: the latter is connected to a generator that transforms mechanical energy (deriving from the movement of the blades) into electrical energy.
Aero generators vary in size and shape. In fact, they can have one, two or three blades of varying lengths: those with 50-centimetre-long blades are used as battery chargers; those with 30-metre-long blades are capable of producing energy to satisfy the daily electricity requirements of about 1000 households. When many aero generators are connected they form a wind-farm, which are real power stations. There are both on shore and off-shore wind farms.
subjects dealt with in Wind
Aeolian knowledge
Aeolian energy is the energy that derives from the wind. Men have used its power since ancient times to navigate…
Aeolian plants
The most important way to use wind power is to produce electric power through wind generators, namely aerogenerators. Electric power…
Aeolian distribution
In the last years we have assisted at an exponential growth of aeolic power installed and production of electricity generated…
Environment and territory
Wind is abundant, economical, inexhaustible, widely distributed, and wind energy is a renewable source that does not produce any polluting…
special reports
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21 February 2013 / Energy
Renewable energy in Italy
Renewable energy sources in Italy The GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici), the Italian energy services management authority, periodically publishes data…
23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
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5 October 2011 / Energy
The energy scenario in Italy
The National Energy Balance Every year the Italian Ministry of Economic Development publishes the country's National Energy Balance. This gives…
18 May 2011 / Energy
Artificial photosynthesis
Science is inspired by nature The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature.…
27 September 2012 / Life
Over 7 billion people on Earth
World population hits 7 billion Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population reached the 7 billion mark,…
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22 May 2012 / Energy
Green chemistry
A bit of history Chemistry accompanies man from that day long ago when coarse hands full of hope put out…
4 November 2009 / Energy
Ecological house
A look to the past At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard which our…
5 March 2009 / Energy
Biofuels
Biofuels Biofuels are one of our biggest hopes in the struggle against climate change. Growing crops to be transformed into…
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21 February 2013 / Energy
Renewable energy in Italy
Renewable energy sources in Italy The GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici), the Italian energy services management authority, periodically publishes data…
23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
-
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
5 October 2011 / Energy
The energy scenario in Italy
The National Energy Balance Every year the Italian Ministry of Economic Development publishes the country's National Energy Balance. This gives…
-
18 May 2011 / Energy
Artificial photosynthesis
Science is inspired by nature The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature.…
27 September 2012 / Life
Over 7 billion people on Earth
World population hits 7 billion Demographers have estimated that on 31 October 2011 world population reached the 7 billion mark,…
21 February 2013 / Energy
Renewable energy in Italy
Renewable energy sources in Italy The GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici), the Italian energy services management authority, periodically publishes data…
23 October 2013 / Air
Carbon Footprint
CO2 emissions and lifestyles If your parents decide to buy a new car, they might be attracted by a car…
13 May 2013 / Earth
Small steps, great footprints
Which one takes up more space, an apple or a steak? Have you ever wondered how much space is taken…
from the Multimedia section
curiosities
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Hywind, floating wind power turbines
The future of wind power turbines is afloat. In fact the first floating wind power farm will be set up…
Italian offshore wind farm
The first Italian wind farm will be installed in the waters of the Strait of Otranto, 20 km from Tricase…
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations. However, there are some technologies…
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A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created. This building works with a hydrogen…
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way. However hydrogen is only present…
Phyto-depuration
A very interesting project has been carried out by Lombardy region: the creation of a water phyto-depuration plant whose final…
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The “wave-swallowing” dragon
Wave Dragon, that swallows waves and generates electricity is a plant for the exploitation of sea wave energy. It has…
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture, which improves the relation between buildings and nature,…
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans the installation of photovoltaic roof tiles on…
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Hywind, floating wind power turbines
The future of wind power turbines is afloat. In fact the first floating wind power farm will be set up…
Italian offshore wind farm
The first Italian wind farm will be installed in the waters of the Strait of Otranto, 20 km from Tricase…
-
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations. However, there are some technologies…
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created. This building works with a hydrogen…
-
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way. However hydrogen is only present…
Phyto-depuration
A very interesting project has been carried out by Lombardy region: the creation of a water phyto-depuration plant whose final…
Hywind, floating wind power turbines
The future of wind power turbines is afloat. In fact the first floating wind power farm will be set up…
Italian offshore wind farm
The first Italian wind farm will be installed in the waters of the Strait of Otranto, 20 km from Tricase…
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations. However, there are some technologies…