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Wind Energy

A Career Exploration Activity

If you think the concept of turning wind into energy is a new idea,

think again...

History of Wind Energy

Interesting Facts

  • Windmills were used to mill grain, route water, pump water from flooded areas, create paper, paint, gin, mustard, oil, cut wood, and more.
  • Wind power was showcased at the World's Fair in 1893.
  • The first utility scale wind farm was installed in California in 1980.
  • In 2016 Wind Turbine Technician was named the fastest growing job of the decade.

Wind Energy

Wind Energy Storage

How is a wind turbine installed?

  1. Estimate how many different types of jobs it takes to complete the construction and installation of this wind turbine?
  2. What types of jobs are they?
  3. Which step of the installation do you think was the most difficult to complete and why?
  4. What steps from the installation did you find the most interesting and why?

How does off shore installation differ?

  1. In your opinion, would an off shore installation be more difficult than an on shore installation? Why or why not?
  2. Brainstorm a list of jobs needed to complete an off shore installation.
  3. Which step of the installation seems the most difficult and why?
  4. Does the location of a wind turbine change its ability to produce power? Why or why not?
The path towards sustainable energy will be long.... America cannot resist this transition, we must lead it. ~ Barack Obama

Design Variables that Impact Efficiency & Productivity

  1. Blade Length
  2. Blade Pitch
  3. Blade Twist
  4. Tip Shape
  5. Airfoil Shape
  6. Turbine Height

Your Turn....

Experiment with Wind Turbine Design

Engineering Wind Tutorial
Blade Variables and Power Output
Wind Energy Lessons
Working with Wind Energy
Energy Kids - Wind
Andronicus, a Greek astronomer, built the first weather vane in 48 B.C.

Careers in Wind Energy

Wind Energy Engineers
Wind Turbine Service Technician
Wind Energy Operations Manager
Wind Energy Project Manager

Reflection

  1. What part of this activity did you find the most interesting and why?
  2. What part of this activity did you find least interesting and why?
  3. Would you consider a career in wind energy? Why or why not?

Explore the K12 Career Education Navigator

The K12 Career Technical Education (CTE) Navigator helps you explore high school courses and career pathways offered across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Browse by industry sector, county, school district, and more to find options that match your interests and career goals and see how these pathways can prepare you for college, certifications, apprenticeships, or the workforce.

Explore the K12 CTE Navigator
CREATED BY
Workforce SBCSS

Credits:

Created with images by Anna Jiménez Calaf - "untitled image" • RawFilm - "Windfarm" • Zoltan Tasi - "The Dark Mill" • Lewis Meyers - "a squeaky windmill" • American Public Power Association - "Heartland" • Nicholas Doherty - "Rampion offshore wind farm." • Unknown - "Free picture: wind, turbine, sky, electricity, Sun, energy ..." • Unknown - "Windkraftanlage Rotorblätter Groß · Kostenloses Foto auf ..." • Unknown - "White and Black Windmill Building · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "Windmills | Free Stock Photo | Wind turbines in winter ..." • Unknown - "High Angle Photo of Wind Turbine on Field · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "Wooden Windmills Near Lake · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "3 Blade Windmill · Free Stock Photo" • Unknown - "무료 사진: 풍력 발전소, 해돋이, 태양, 바람 터빈, 풍력 터빈, 바람개비 - Pixabay의 무료 ..." • Jordan Ladikos - "Weather vane atop the former Coast Guard building in Cleveland, Ohio." • Pradeep Ghildiyal - "On the way back to Bangkok from a short north Thailand trip, we stopped at a gas station and found this amazing view :)"