Onshore wind

Horizontal-axis turbines on land, the main source of new wind power.

Capture · Wind · No. 26

• Capture
• Output: Electricity

Power from a new onshore wind farm now costs about USD 33 a megawatt-hour, 71% less than in 2010.

Chart: Illustration: Onshore wind

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Wind is solar energy in disguise: sunlight warms the air unevenly and sets it moving. Turbines catch it with blades that turn 10 to 20 times a minute.

Three things to know

1. No rotor can ever capture more than 59.3% of the wind's energy, and modern turbines manage about 40-50% in good winds.
2. Because the wind keeps changing, a typical new turbine delivers only about 36% of its rated output across a year (2025).
3. Each megawatt needs roughly 457 t of concrete and 117 t of steel, mostly in the foundation and tower.

The journey

1. 1 SunlightUneven heating of air drives the wind
2. 2 WindMoving air flows through the rotor
3. 3 BladesLift spins the rotor at 10-20 rpm
4. 4 GeneratorGearbox or direct drive makes electricity
5. 5 GridAC lines carry power to users

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