Wind turbines consist of curved rotor blades around which the wind flows. The principle of buoyancy comes into play here: The air must take a longer path on the bulbous upper side of the rotor blade and flow faster than on the hollow lower side. This results in a higher pressure on the underside than on the upper side, which leads to the buoyancy force. It moves the blade and causes the rotor to rotate. A generator converts the resulting rotational energy into electricity that can be fed into the power grid.

If you live near a wind farm or have ever driven past one attentively, you might have noticed: Not all wind turbines are always in motion – even though the wind is going. It can happen that the rotors temporarily stand still for several hours. But why do some wind turbines not turn and others do? This can have different reasons.

Wind Turbines And The Wind

So if a wind turbine is not moving, the most obvious assumption is that there must be no wind. In fact, according to Stadtwerke Münster, that’s usually the reason wind turbines don’t turn. The turbines need a wind speed of about three meters per second, and this must be continuous: Individual gusts cannot set the rotors in motion.

Even within small distances, wind conditions can vary greatly. For example, on the ground you may feel a distinct breeze blowing, but at the height of the rotors it may be windless.

By the way: Even if it is too windy, wind turbines can stand still. In a storm of force nine or higher, the turbines shut themselves down so as not to overstress the materials.

Other Reasons

For animal welfare reasons, wind turbines sometimes do not rotate. Apart from the wind, there are also other unavoidable reasons why wind turbines do not rotate:

• Animal protection: Particularly in the summer months, some wind turbines stand still in the morning and evening hours and at night so as not to disturb the flight of bats. Measures for bird protection also stipulate that the rotors stand still at certain times.
• Shadow cast: The shadow cast by turbines in the vicinity of built-up areas – for example residential buildings – must not exceed certain limits. The rotors may only cast shadows on surrounding buildings for a limited time per day. To prevent this time from being exceeded, the turbine switches itself off if necessary when it approaches the limit value. To do this, it continuously calculates where its shadow falls from its position and the current position of the sun.
• Maintenance: Regular maintenance or spontaneous repairs are due each year, for which the wind turbines must be out of service.

Limping Grid Expansion Cripples Wind Turbines

When grid bottlenecks occur, wind turbines are the first to be taken out of service.

So sometimes it’s unavoidable that wind turbines won’t turn: because of weather, sun position, nature and animal conservation, or maintenance work. But often the turbines could generate electricity, but are not allowed to, or it is simply not worth it for the operators:inside. The reasons are as follows:

Too much power: If there is excess capacity in the power grids, wind turbines also stand still because of so-called feed-in management. Sometimes there is so much energy available from different sources that not all of it can be fed into the grids. To avoid overloading, grid operators usually shut down wind turbines first. This is because they can be shut down and restarted more flexibly than other plants such as coal-fired power plants. Conventional power plants are also tied to the conventional minimum generation. They may only be shut down to the extent that they can still provide their balancing power. As reported by Tagesschau, according to the German Federal Network Agency, around 5.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity from wind power were not fed into the grid in 2021. This amount could cover about one percent of Germany’s total electricity consumption.

Negative electricity prices: Negative electricity prices occur when the supply of electricity exceeds demand and prices fall, sometimes even below zero. According to the Tagesschau, operators often shut down their wind turbines because electricity production is not profitable. When prices are negative, they have to pay extra if they want to feed their wind energy into the power grid.

To remedy these problems, the power grid must be expanded. According to the Federal Network Agency, a total of 101 projects with a total length of around 12,300 kilometers are planned as of 2022. Of these, around 2,600 kilometers are still in the approval process, while around 7,100 kilometers are in the middle of it. And only about 1,900 kilometers have already been completed.

As long as the infrastructure is not adapted to the German government’s goal of covering at least 80 percent of gross electricity consumption from renewable energies by 2030, this goal can hardly be achieved – and wind turbines will stand still even more frequently.

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The Land of Sunshine

Australia is blessed with a vast amount of sunshine, making it an ideal location for solar energy generation. With its long hours of sunlight, high solar radiation levels, and favorable climate conditions, the country boasts immense solar potential. The abundant sunshine allows solar panels to capture a significant amount of energy, making them highly efficient.

This accessibility to sunlight not only maximizes the output of solar systems but also contributes to their cost-effectiveness. The more solar energy you generate from your solar panels, the faster your system pays for itself. After that, the savings are all extra money in your pocket.

Government Support

Another crucial factor driving the popularity of solar power in Australia is the strong government support for renewable energy initiatives. The Australian government, at both federal and state levels, has implemented various policies and programs to encourage the adoption of solar energy. These initiatives include the Renewable Energy Target (RET), feed-in tariffs, rebates, and grants, all of which make solar energy an attractive proposition.

In addition, the creation of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has facilitated funding for renewable energy projects, including solar power. The government’s commitment to sustainability and clean energy solutions has played a significant role in propelling the growth of solar installations.

The Green Revolution

Australians have shown a growing concern for the environment and a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. Solar power offers a clean and renewable energy alternative that aligns with the nation’s environmental goals. As a country blessed with beautiful landscapes and a population that loves the outdoors, it’s little surprise that people are concerned about maintaining the environment.

By installing solar panels, individuals can actively contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. This environmental consciousness has led many Australians to embrace solar energy as a responsible and sustainable choice. By generating electricity from sunlight, solar power reduces reliance on fossil fuels, minimizing air pollution and other environmental impacts. It empowers individuals to take control of their energy consumption and make a positive impact on the planet.

Financial Incentives and Rebates

For many Australians, solar installations are still somewhat out of reach in terms of costs. However, as the technology becomes more popular, prices tend to go down, making solar more financially viable every day. The declining cost of solar panels, coupled with attractive government incentives, means there’s no better time to buy.

The introduction of feed-in tariffs allows solar system owners to earn credits for excess electricity they feed back into the grid, providing a financial return on their investment. Moreover, solar rebates and grants such as the SRES (Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme) have reduced the upfront costs of installing solar panels. These financial incentives have proven to be powerful motivators for Australians seeking to save money on their power bills while supporting renewable energy.

Improved Technology

Advancements in solar technology have played a pivotal role in the growing popularity of solar power in Australia. Over the years, there have been significant improvements in solar panel efficiency, durability, and aesthetics. The development of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, such as monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, has allowed for greater energy generation in limited spaces.

Additionally, the introduction of solar energy storage systems, such as batteries, has enhanced solar’s popularity. Being able to store excess electricity generated during the day for use during the evening is a big factor for those seeking independence from electricity retailers.

As solar power continues to gain popularity in Australia, now is the perfect time to explore the benefits of solar installations for your home or business. Contact a reputable solar energy provider today to discuss your options and start your journey towards energy independence and sustainability.

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If you are tired of paying astronomical energy bills each month, now is the time to take action. The longer you wait to find a solution to this problem, the harder it will be to avoid financial problems. Luckily, there are a number of things a business owner can do to bring the overall cost of the energy bill down.

The following are some of the things to consider when trying to get cheaper business energy costs.

1. Make Sure You Are Getting the Best Deal

The first thing you need to do when trying to reduce monthly energy costs is to shop around. Most larger areas have a number of energy providers in place. This means you have options when it comes to what you pay for this necessary utility. If you want to check the rates of a number of different companies in your area, be sure to check out this website – EnergyBot.

While finding a better energy provider will be time-consuming, it is well worth the effort invested. With a bit of hard work, getting the most affordable commercial energy rate in your area will be easy.

2. Energy-Efficient Lighting Can Be Helpful

Using light fixtures is something most business owners do on a daily basis without much thought. If your business building is filled with older incandescent lightings, then you are probably wasting a lot of energy. Modern bulbs are built to be far more efficient, which is why using them is such a good idea.

For most business owners, using LED lights is something they view as a priority. If you are looking for professional and reliable commercial lighting manufacturers and suppliers then kydled.com is your best choice. We have rich experience in manufacturing all types of LED lights with high quality and competitive price. They offer a 2-5years warranty for our LED lighting products.

Going around and doing an energy audit in your commercial building is a great way to find out what lighting needs to be changed. By replacing all incandescent bulbs with new LED models, you can have a brighter and more efficient commercial building.

3. Control Your HVAC Thermostat

Most of the energy your commercial building uses is to power the HVAC unit. During the hotter months of the year, you will have to pay close attention to what your thermostat is set on. If the HVAC unit is running all day due to low thermostat settings, it can increase your energy costs substantially.

This is why you need to run your thermostat on about 76 to 78 degrees. By doing this, you can give the unit a break and reduce the amount of money you have to pay in energy each month. If you are having problems with employees messing with these settings, then putting a locked box over the thermostats is crucial. This will allow you to ensure the settings stay as you want them.

4. Get Familiar With Your Energy Contract

Do you have a contract with your existing energy provider? If so, you need to take out this contract and get familiar with the information in it. In some cases, these contracts will automatically renew and will lead to a business owner paying a higher rate.

Knowing when the existing contract ends will give you a chance to negotiate with the energy company to ensure you aren’t paying out of contract prices.

5. Involve the Whole Team

Some business owners think that making their building more energy efficient is a job they can perform alone. In reality, having success with this will require involvement from your whole team. Informing your employees about what your mission is can be beneficial. Telling team members what they can do to help reduce energy consumption can take a lot of stress off of your plate.

Saving Energy Takes Time

Avoid going into this process thinking you are going to see the fruits of your labor immediately. In reality, it will take a while before you start to notice any savings created by increased energy efficiency.

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Recycle

Recycling is one of the most obvious solutions, and there’s a big chance that you’re already doing it. You segregate your rubbish into different categories with plastic, glass, and paper, each having their own container. Depending on where you live, there’s a chance that you also sort green waste separately or at least compost it to use in your garden. But then there’s one more type of material that can be recycled and it’s metal. You’re probably already aware that every piece of electronic equipment in your house contains metal elements. Recovering them and reusing them in the production of new items is a great solution that allows us to limit the need for mining. You can simply collect all the unwanted devices together with other metal things you’ve gathered over the years and schedule a scrap metal pick up.

Use less plastic

The amount of plastic we’re using every single day is one of the biggest factors affecting the planet right now. Even though plastic can be recycled, the disposable products made of it often end up in landfills, and it’s a big problem. Of course, the campaigns that raise awareness and explain to people how to segregate their waste properly are very useful. But the one thing that’s even better than recycling plastic is not using it in the first place. You won’t always be able to avoid it, but even something as simple as not using plastic bags, straws, or bottles will be a positive change.

Save energy

Saving energy is not only good for the planet but it’s good for your wallet as well. Sometimes it’s just more convenient to leave the light on when you go out of the room to look for something or talk to someone, right? But every time you do it or don’t turn off your computer or TV when you’re not using it, you’re wasting the energy. Make it a habit to turn off all the devices once you stop using them. It’s also a good idea to replace the bulbs in your house to more efficient and eco-friendly ones. They need less energy to produce the same amount of light, so they’ll help you reach your goal.

Take a walk

Leaving the car in the garage has multiple benefits. First, the more you move, the healthier you are, and that’s always a good thing. It’s especially important if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. Then there’s also the fact that you’re saving money on gas and, since you’re not using your car, it’s not emitting CO2. So next time you need to go to the shop or visit a friend who lives nearby, why not take a walk or ride a bike instead of driving? It’ll be good for you and the environment.

The more people decide to go green, the better the results. So choose things you can change but also try to encourage your friends and family to do the same. And don’t limit yourself to the ideas listed above, there are so many other possibilities, from changing your diet to using less water, that you’ll be able to find the right ones for you without a problem.

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