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EWEA's Features

FAQs: Wind energy basics

21.05.2010

Have you ever wondered what a wind turbine is made of? Or maybe you’ve found yourself questioning how fast turbine blades turn or how the wind is measured. Here is a small extract from our new frequently asked questions section that could provide you with the answers you’ve been looking for.

What is a wind turbine made of?
The towers are mostly tubular and made of steel or concrete, generally painted light grey. The blades are made of glass-fibre reinforced polyester or wood-epoxy. They are light grey because it is inconspicuous under most lighting conditions. The finish is matt, to reduce reflected light.

How fast do turbine blades turn ?
The blades rotate at anything between 15-20 revolutions per minute at constant speed. However, an increasing number of machines operate at variable speed, where the rotor speed increases and decreases according to the wind speed.

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