Pumping water using wind energy

Principle

New application areas are being continually looked for to extend the use of renewable energies. Wind, for example, generates energy that is not constant, but the storage of this has been found to be difficult. For this reason, excess wind energy could be used to pump water to a high-up reservoir, so that a hydro-electric power station could utilize the water for power generation on less windy days.

The idea of using wind energy to supply current to a pumped storage electrical power station for the filling of a reservoir is relatively new. It was awarded an environmental promotion prize in Germany in 2006.

In this experiment, the time required by a windwheel to pump water to various heights is measured.

Benefits

• Experiment is part of a complete solution set with a total of 26 experiments for Renewable Energy solar cells, wind power, water power
• Safe experimentation: The fan in the blower is protected against touch
• The power supply used is versatile and is particularly suitable for pupil tests for all ages

Tasks

How quickly can water be pumped using wind energy?