wind
solar energy harnesses the power of the sun.
how it works
wind energy generation harnesses the kinetic energy of the wind to turn the blades of a wind turbine which spins a generator that produces electricity.
there are 3 main types:
onshore. located on land. the most common type.
offshore. located in shallow ocean waters. generate more power due to stronger winds at sea
distributed. for homes or businesses, not typically connected to the power grid.
wind is the largest source of renewable energy in the US today, accounting for 10%+ of total utility-scale electricity generation.
bottlenecks
interconnection delays + costs
grid infra limitations
variability / storage needed
permitting, siting, & regulatory constraints
environmental concerns (particularly for offshore wind)
companies building in wind
NextEra Energy is one of the largest renewables companies in the US and one of the largest wind developers.
Invenergy is a major player in renewables broadly, including wind capacity.
Enel Green Energy
EDF Energy
Orsted is a Danish company involved in many offshore wind projects