A wind turbine takes in energy from wind with the goal of converting it into electrical energy. Much of the wind energy is also converted into the kinetic energy of the spinning turbine and heat lost to the air around it. If the goal of the turbine is to put out electric energy, what is the efficiency of the turbine?

Question

Physics

Hank

25 January, 03:27

A wind turbine takes in energy from wind with the goal of converting it into electrical energy. Much of the wind energy is also converted into the kinetic energy of the spinning turbine and heat lost to the air around it. If the goal of the turbine is to put out electric energy, what is the efficiency of the turbine?

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Orlando Pineda · Answer 1

German physicist Albert Betz (in 1919) demonstrated that the highest efficiency you can achieve with a wind turbine is around 59%

We would have to analyze the design of an specific turbine to determine its efficiency, however it is unlikely to achieve 50%, as todays turbines have an average efficiency in the 20-35%

The answer would be around 25%