WIND ENERGY

Аннотация

This scientific work discusses the natural source of wind energy, its operating principles, advantages, and disadvantages. The study highlights the technology of generating electricity through wind turbines, their environmental cleanliness, and economic efficiency. It also analyzes the potential and prospects for the development of wind energy in the context of Uzbekistan. Furthermore, the necessity of transitioning to renewable energy sources and the role of wind energy in sustainable development are emphasized. Keywords: Wind energy, renewable energy, alternative energy sources, wind turbines, electricity, environmentally friendly technology, sustainable development, energy efficiency, wind generator, atmospheric motion, air currents, aerodynamic force, energy conversion, wind speed, wind density, energy production, Uzbekistan's energy potential, green energy, power grids, energy transformation. Introduction: Wind power plants are typically built-in locations where the average wind speed is high—4.5 m/s or more. Preliminary studies of the area are conducted beforehand. Anemometers are installed at heights ranging from 30 to 100 meters to collect data on wind speed and direction over the course of one to two years. The gathered data can be combined into wind resource maps. These maps (along with specialized software) help potential investors estimate the return on investment of the project. Wind speed increases with altitude. Therefore, wind power plants are usually constructed on hills or mountain ridges, and the generators are mounted on towers 30 to 60 meters high. Obstacles that might affect wind flow—such as trees or tall buildings—are taken into account during planning [1-4]. Wind is a clean and widely available source of energy. The kinetic energy of moving air masses originates from the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun and the rotation of the Earth. Historically, wind energy was first harnessed to propel sailing ships and to power windmills for grinding grain. Today, wind energy primarily refers to the generation of electricity using wind as a resource. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy [5-7]. Wind power plants are classified based on their location as either onshore or offshore. Onshore wind farms are built on land, while offshore farms are constructed above the surface of water bodies. Although both types operate on the same principle, their construction and operation vary due to differences in environmental conditions. https://scientific-jl.com 1 4 66-son_1-to’plam_Iyul-2025 ISSN:3030- 3 6 1 3 T A D Q I Q O T L A R jahon ilmiy – metodik jurnali Onshore wind farms are less expensive and easier to install and maintain; however, they often suffer from lower efficiency due to inconsistent wind patterns on land. On the other hand, offshore wind farms are more efficient due to stronger and more consistent wind flows over water surfaces, but they require more complex infrastructure and higher capital investment due to their challenging locations [8-11]. Onshore Wind Power Station The first automatically controlled wind turbine was created by American inventor Charles Brush in 1888. It had a rotor diameter of 17 meters. Modern wind energy began its development in the 1980s, with turbines producing as little as 50 kW. In the early 1980s, the Soviet Union developed a plan to build wind power stations in the Far North to supply energy to autonomous facilities, with military engineers designated to construct these stations. Later, an experimental wind farm was established along the Desna River in the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv Oblast in the Ukrainian SSR, equipped with several wind turbines [12-15]. In 1988, the first experimental wind power station of a fundamentally new type was launched near the town of Medemblik in the Netherlands. Unlike traditional bladed wind engines, this facility used a modern wind turbine design. Today, the world’s largest operational wind power station is the Gansu Wind Farm located in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China, with a total installed capacity of 7,965 MW. Offshore wind farms are typically built at short distances from coastlines, either in seas or oceans. Coastal areas experience frequent and consistent winds due to the differential heating of land and water surfaces. During the day, a sea breeze blows from the water toward the land, while at night, a land breeze flows from the cooled land back to the water. Offshore wind farms are typically constructed 10 to 60 kilometers away from the shoreline. These offshore installations offer several significant advantages: https://scientific-jl.com 1 5 66-son_1-to’plam_Iyul-2025 ISSN:3030- 3 6 1 3 T A D Q I Q O T L A R jahon ilmiy – metodik jurnali They are barely visible from the coast. They do not occupy land space. Thanks to steady and strong marine winds, they achieve higher efficiency— particularly in terms of capacity factor (the ratio of actual output to potential output). O