How do the turbines re-start once the wind dies down?
The wind turbines operate automatically, self-starting when the wind reaches an average speed of 3–5 metres per second (m/s). The output increases with the wind speed until it reaches 13–14m/s. If the average wind speed exceeds the operational limit of 25m/s, the turbine stops. When the wind drops back below the restart speed, the safety systems reset automatically. Why can the turbine mechanism not be geared to allow the blades to still turn (albeit more slowly) in high winds? Wind turbines are developed to produce the maximum energy yield at minimum cost. Theoretically, it is possible to have a wind turbine that always produces power: a very high tower and a very small rotor that rotates in even the faintest breeze. However, the energy yield would be very small for such a turbine. Similarly, a very strong turbine with a very large rotor would allow maximum power production during a year’s worst storm, but it would be standing still during the rest of the year. The optimum is in-betwe
