Energy

Types of wind plants

Electric power can be used through two types of plants: plants for isolated users and plants to be connected to already-existing electric networks. The first type of plant is the one to produce “utility” electric power supplied by small aerogenerators with less than 1 kilowatt power (1-2 metre rotor) to feed equipment in isolated areas, like radio relay stations, detectors, signalling systems, etc. these systems often compete or are used together with photovoltaic systems. Moreover electricity is produced to supply isolated houses or settlements that are not connected to the network. These installations are made up of small aerogenerators (3-20 kilowatts) and a system (battery) that accumulates electric power when the wind is favourable. These applications have a limited distribution in industrialized countries, but they could have interesting perspectives in developing countries with strong winds. The second type of Aeolian installations is connected to the network and divided into two categories: one to produce power to supply small networks and one connected to the national network. The first are plants located on small islands or remote areas that are supplied by power systems not connected to the national network. Also for this type of systems it is possible to use wind power and photovoltaic power together (hybrid plants) that could integrate on an annual basis. The most interesting application for wind power is the supply of large national networks. For this reason medium-large sized machines or wind-farms have been used for a total power of some megawatts or a few tens of megawatts.