When do wind turbines stop?

When do wind turbines stop?

• A. When there is no wind or it is too strong
• B. When electricity demand is high
• C. When it's cloudy
• D. When the turbine reaches maximum capacity

Answer: (B)

Wind turbines operate only within a safe wind range. They have cut-in wind speed (start generating) and cut-out wind speed (shut down to protect the turbine). If there is no wind or the wind is too strong, the turbine stops to prevent damage. Cloudiness has no effect on wind power, and stopping because demand is high isn’t how they’re controlled—grid operators may curtail output, but the turbine itself stops mainly due to wind conditions. When wind is within the safe range, the turbine can generate up to its rated power, but reaching that limit doesn’t require stopping. So the key idea is that stopping occurs when wind is either too weak or too powerful.

Wind turbines operate only within a safe wind range. They have cut-in wind speed (start generating) and cut-out wind speed (shut down to protect the turbine). If there is no wind or the wind is too strong, the turbine stops to prevent damage. Cloudiness has no effect on wind power, and stopping because demand is high isn’t how they’re controlled—grid operators may curtail output, but the turbine itself stops mainly due to wind conditions. When wind is within the safe range, the turbine can generate up to its rated power, but reaching that limit doesn’t require stopping. So the key idea is that stopping occurs when wind is either too weak or too powerful.