As fossil resources are depleted and, more importantly, natural resources trigger alarms, people are turning to different energy sources. This is how the concept of renewable energy emerged. Otherwise, serious problems await the world in the near future. As it is renewable and does not pollute the nature, wind energy is considered as one of the basic energy sources of the future. The winds are the result of the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy, mainly caused by the action of the pressure forces generated by the movement of air.

Whether a wind power plant is economical depends mainly on the amount of energy that can be generated in the selected plant area. In order to determine this amount of energy, the topographic structure of the land belonging to that area is taken as a basis and a wind observation station is installed at the appropriate points. Measurements such as wind speed, wind direction and wind strength are made in accordance with the standards with the measurement devices installed in these wind monitoring stations. In the light of the information obtained, the amount of energy production is calculated and it is decided which wind turbine will be placed.

Although air moves like liquids, the movement of air is much faster, and air covers everywhere. The process of converting the air into kinetic energy by using this rapid displacement feature is called wind energy. The centers that generate electricity by using wind energy are called wind power plants.

Wind energy starts with the sunrise. The parts of the air layer, which cools at night, close to the earth, heats up with the sun rays and begins to expand and rise. The cold air layer at high altitudes moves towards the ground. This displacement of hot and cold air creates winds.

The wind turbines used to generate electrical energy consist of three parts: propeller blades, shaft and generator. As the wind blows, the propeller starts to turn its blades. At this moment, kinetic energy (movement energy) is obtained by wind energy. A shaft is connected to the propellers and the shaft rotates when the propellers rotate. With the rotation of the shaft, the generator motor starts to generate alternating current. To calculate how much electricity a wind turbine generates, it is necessary to look at the wind speed and propeller diameter. In general, large wind turbines rotate at a speed of 15 meters per second. The higher the wind turbine, the more wind it takes and a faster return. Meanwhile, marine turbines are more efficient than land turbines.

Wind turbines produce more expensive electricity than coal and nuclear power plants. However, wind energy has renewable and clean features. Carbon dioxide and other gases that harm the atmosphere are not released. It is impossible for the wind to end. As a result of efforts to protect nature, wind farms are being established and becoming widespread. However, it does not have disadvantages. Because wind turbines cannot always operate at high efficiency because the wind speed varies. It also creates noise pollution while working, disturbing people, animals and wildlife.

Scope of Wind Intensity Measurements

A device called anemometer is used to measure the wind speed. The devices that measure the wind speed as well as the direction are called anemographs. Wind speed and wind strength do not mean the same. Beaufort (Bofor) Scale was developed by Admiral Beaufort in the British Royal Navy in the eighteenth century to explain the wind strength and its effects. This scale, which scales winds according to their intensity and speed, is still used today. The often heard wind in televisions will be 2 to 4, according to this scale. For example, the wind speed of 2 is less than 11 km per hour. The speed of the 6 wind is up to 50 km per hour. The wind speed of 10 is close to 100 km per hour.

Wind speed and intensity are also important in the operation of wind turbines. These measurements are performed by accredited laboratories. The efficiency of wind turbines depends on the intensity of the wind. If the wind is blowing at an average speed of 4-5 meters per second, the blades start to rotate and electricity generation begins. However, if the wind strength increases, for example, if the wind speed reaches 25 meters per second, the blades will stop spinning. Because if it does not stop, the operation of the wind turbine becomes a problem. Wind turbines can generate electricity for approximately 20-25 year round.

The main standards used for wind strength measurements carried out by authorized laboratories are:

• TS EN 61400-1 Wind turbines - Part 1: Design guidelines
• TS EN 61400-2 ... Section 2: Small wind turbines
• TS EN 61400-3 ... Section 3: Design rules for offshore wind turbines (IEC 61400-3: 2009)
• TS EN 61400-11 ... Chapter 11: Acoustic noise measurement techniques
• TS EN 61400-12-1 ... Chapter 12-1: Power performance measurements of wind turbines generating electricity
• TS EN 61400-13 ... Section 13: Measurement of mechanical loads
• TS EN 61400-22 ... Section 22: Conformity testing and certification
• TS EN 61400-23 ... Section 23: Full scale structural tests of rotor blades
• TS EN 61400-25-5 ... Section 25-5: Communication on control and monitoring of wind power plants - Conformity test

With the use of fossil fuels (ie oil, coal and gas), millions of tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere each year. This is the main cause of climate changes and the deterioration of ecological balance. However, wind energy does not produce greenhouse gas neither when it is produced nor used. A turbine can generate 80 times the amount of energy required for installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning.

Large non-governmental organizations and nature conservation groups such as the World Foundation for Nature Conservation, Greenpeace and Friends of the World support wind energy. When wind farms are established, environmental impact assessments are always carried out to ensure their potential impact on the environment, including fauna and flora. Without these evaluation results, wind turbines are not built.