F. U. N with Science F.U.N With Science_1_FINAL_UPDATE v3 | Page 11

9 Wind Another alternative to fossil fuels is wind power energy and BL&P is currently investigating the viability of this energy source. To obtain energy from the wind, wind turbines are used as follows in the scheme below: Energy in wind turns propeller-like blades around a rotor The rotor is connected to a main shaft Main shaft spins generator to produce electricity The largest wind turbine in Barbados is currently located at the US Embassy, in Wildey, St. Michael. It is a 70 ft high, 20 kilowatt turbine which on an annu- al basis is expected to produce 56 megawatt hours of energy. Additionally, BL&P has been granted approval to construct a wind farm in Lambert’s, St. Lucy in the near future. One could say that the energy future of Barbados looks bright (pardon the pun). by Janelle Belgrave