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 A
wind generator or wind turbine is a machine for converting the kinetic energy in wind into
mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such
as a pump or grinding stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the
mechanical energy is then converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind
generator.
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Wind generators are used to generate electricity from the kinetic power of the
wind. Historical they were more frequently used as a mechanical device to turn
machinery. There are two main kinds of wind generators, those with a vertical
axis, and those with a horizontal axis. Wind turbines can be used to generate
large amounts of electricity in wind farms both onshore and offshore.
Electricity produced by wind generators can be used directly, as in water
pumping applications, or it can be stored in batteries for household usage.
Wind generators can be used alone, or they may be used as part of a hybrid
system, in which their output is combined with that of solar PV arrays and hydro generators and/or a
fossil fuel generator.
 Hybrid systems are especially useful where cloudy weather and windy conditions occur simultaneously.
The most important decision when considering wind power is determining whether
or not your chosen site has enough wind to generate the power for your needs,
whether it is available consistently, and if it is available in the season that
you need it.
Wind generators vary in size from 300k to several hundred K-watts for individual or small community usage. These wind generators, if installed in groups of two or more are called wind farms.
Previously, there was criticism that wind farms were not environmentally sound because of the reported deaths of countless birds in a California wind farm. After extensive analysis it was discovered that two factors resulted in these deaths. Firstly the wind farm was situated on a migratory bird path and secondly the support
for the wind generators was constructed with an open support structure and it was found that birds where nesting in these structures. both of these issues are now taken into account whenever a wind farm is constructed.
Wind generators have now become that efficient that they now generate power at the same cost as conventional coal fired power stations.
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