Wind Energy
Wind energy, a key part of the new electrified energy system
Wind energy harnesses the power of the wind to generate renewable electricity and contribute to a more sustainable, secure and electrified energy system. Its development, both on land and at sea, is advancing alongside new technologies that improve efficiency, enable integration with other energy solutions and expand its potential for the future.
The wind is an inexhaustible natural resource: air that has been moving across the Earth's surface for billions of years. Today, this powerful force has become one of the main sources of renewable electricity. Wind energy is playing an increasingly important role in the electrification of the economy and the reduction of emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels, while innovation is opening up new possibilities for harnessing this resource more efficiently and sustainably.
What is wind energy and how is it generated?
Wind energy is the power of the wind converted into electricity. The process begins when the air moves the blades of a wind turbine, the modern equivalent of traditional windmills, converting its kinetic energy into mechanical energy. This movement turns a rotor connected to a generator, which in turn converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The electricity generated passes through a transformer, which adjusts its voltage, and is fed into the grid to supply homes and businesses efficiently and without carbon emissions.
It is a renewable, efficient, mature and safe source of energy that has been key to the energy transition and is now a strong ally on the path towards electrification.
Renewable energy for a more electrified economy
Wind energy is one of the main sources of renewable generation and is key to meeting growing electricity demand. The progressive electrification of transport, buildings and industry requires an increase in clean electricity generation to move towards a low-emission energy system.
By harnessing an inexhaustible domestic resource such as wind, wind energy strengthens energy self-sufficiency and security while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, its ability to integrate with other sources – such as solar PV through hybrid plants – optimises supply and maximises the use of the network.
How do we harness the wind at wind farms?
A wind turbine is essential for harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind and converting it into electrical energy. Wind turbines are generally installed in groups within a wind farm. Their dimensions have continued to increase to maximise the amount of wind they can capture, from onshore structures more than 100 metres high to offshore giants that are already taller than large skyscrapers, reaching up to 250 metres.
To maximise energy production, wind farms must be located in areas with favourable wind conditions while ensuring suitable accessibility and protecting biodiversity and the landscape, as well as enabling coexistence with other uses of the land. Once installed, wind turbines continuously adjust their orientation to the direction of the wind thanks to a wind vane located at the top of the tower.
From there, the force of the air currents will set the three main parts of the wind turbine in motion:
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The rotor: composed of three blades and the bushing that joins them together, its function is to capture the force of the wind and convert it into mechanical rotational energy.
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The multiplier: connected to the engine by means of a shaft, its function is to increase the rotational speed from 30 revolutions per minute (rpm) to 1500 rpm.
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The generator: this element is responsible for converting the mechanical energy of rotation into electrical energy.
Each wind turbine in a wind farm is connected by underground cables that transport the electricity to a transformer substation. From there, the electricity is transported to homes, factories, schools and other users through the electricity distribution networks operated by the different electricity companies.
SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Wind energy: clean, efficient and safe [PDF] External link, opens in new window.
Types of wind energy
There are currently two types of wind energy depending on where the wind turbines are erected:
Onshore wind energy
Onshore wind energy is responsible for producing electricity by harnessing the wind from wind farms located on land. To do this, we install wind turbines capable of transforming kinetic energy from the wind into electricity suitable for use and send it to the distribution network.
Offshore wind energy
Offshore wind energy is the energy obtained by harnessing the force of the wind that is produced on the high seas, where it reaches a higher and more constant speed than on land due to the absence of barriers. In order to make the most of this resource, mega-structures are installed that are seated on the seabed and equipped with the latest technical innovations.
Advantages of wind energy
Wind power offers numerous benefits, both for the companies that invest in it and for society:
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Clean energy
As it does not require any combustion process, it is an energy with low greenhouse gas (GEI) emissions, the main culprits of global warming.
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Renewable resource
Wind is a renewable natural resource that is continuously replenished and can be harnessed to generate electricity without consuming fossil fuels.
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Competitive costs
Wind energy offers competitive generation costs and relatively low operating and maintenance costs, particularly in locations with favourable wind conditions.
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Low impact
Wind farms are developed following environmental and land-use studies that identify and minimise their potential impact on the environment, biodiversity and other land uses. Prevention, mitigation and monitoring measures are also implemented throughout their operation.
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Creates green jobs
The development of wind energy drives the creation of green jobs across the entire value chain, from manufacturing and construction to the operation and maintenance of facilities, while also promoting technological development and local economic activity.
Challenges facing the wind energy sector
The growth of wind energy also presents new challenges, and the sector is already investing talent and resources to address them. These include integrating greater amounts of renewable generation into electricity networks, which requires smarter and more flexible networks, as well as developing energy storage technologies. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence also make it possible to monitor wind farms, optimise their operation and anticipate potential incidents through predictive maintenance systems. In addition, wind generation can help produce green hydrogen, expanding its applications beyond electricity supply.
Another challenge is to optimise planning at an early stage to promote the coexistence of projects with their surroundings and biodiversity, while also moving towards greater circularity in wind turbine components. In this regard, developing solutions to reuse and recycle blades at the end of their useful life is one of the sector's key areas of innovation.
Iberdrola, pioneer in onshore wind power for 20 years, now stands out in offshore wind power with new projects and markets.
Iberdrola, a pioneer in wind energy
At Iberdrola, we have extensive experience in developing wind energy and were pioneers in deploying this technology on a large scale. The Group has expanded its presence from onshore to offshore wind, with ambitious projects underway in strategic markets across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, alongside a growing commitment to technologies such as floating offshore wind.
Some of our most emblematic operational wind facilities include the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France, the Wikinger offshore wind farm in Germany, the Whitelee onshore wind farm in the United Kingdom and the Oitis onshore wind complex in Brazil, among others.
Wind energy is part of our Strategic Plan through 2028, receiving more than half of the Group's total investment in Renewable Generation worldwide. It is a key element in driving electrification and moving towards a more sustainable energy model, combining the development of new renewable capacity with innovation, networks and storage.
