Wind energy is captured through wind turbines that usually consist of three blades. These blades start rotating due to the air pressure exerted on them by strong winds, which can be found 100 feet or more above ground. The spinning, in turn, powers an electric generator which can be connected to a local utility grid. A wind turbine is a machine for converting the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy.

At the end of 2006, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 74,223 megawatts; although it currently produces less than 1% of world-wide electricity use, wind-powered generators account for approximately 20% of electricity use in Denmark, 9% in Spain, and 7% in Germany. The total capacity of all wind farms in Canada is approximately 1,492 MW as of February 2006. Germany has the biggest wind turbine to be established offshore, and the largest number of wind farms in the world.

Wind Energy in the Future:

Globally, wind power generation more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2006.
As of May 2006, there were 444 wind turbines in Australia with a total generating capacity of about 638 megawatts. Another 130 turbines are currently under construction, representing an additional 250MW.The United Kingdom government, for example, has a target for 10% of domestic energy consumption to be generated from renewable sources by the year 2010.Wind power is now a viable, robust and fast-growing industry.

Cheap electricity from wind makes it economical to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen. Hydrogen is the fuel of choice for the highly efficient fuel cells that may be used widely in the future to power motor vehicles and to supply electricity, heating and cooling for buildings.

On Long Island, L.I.P.A. is planning on building wind turbines capable of generating as much as 200,000 kilowatt-hours. These wind turbines are schedule to be built in Shoreham, Long Island.