The term “eolic” comes from Aeolus, the name of the god of the wind in Greek mythology. Therefore, we can say that it is the energy that harnesses the wind to generate electricity. The most widespread technology today is the three-bladed horizontal-axis wind turbine. The wind strikes the blades, causing the turbine shaft to rotate; this shaft is connected to an electric generator that supplies the general grid. There are other types of turbines, such as vertical-axis models, but their use is limited due to their lower energy performance compared with three-bladed turbines.
They are generally installed along mountain ridges or in areas with constant wind. Offshore wind farms—located in coastal areas but placed at sea—are also being studied and deployed. It is a completely clean and economically profitable source of energy on its own.
In addition to large installations, there are small domestic wind turbines which, when used as a support system for other installations—such as photovoltaic solar systems—are highly effective in rural areas that are isolated from the grid.
Energy produced by the direct transformation of the sun's rays into electricity.
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