Book excerpt: Highlighting the capabilities, limitations, and benefits of wind power, Wind Turbine Technology gives you a complete introduction and overview of wind turbine technology and wind farm design and development. It identifies the critical components of a wind turbine, describes the functional capabilities of each component, and examines the latest performance parameters and procurement specifications for these components. From cutting-edge design aspects to experimental data, this comprehensive reference contains eight chapters—each dedicated to a specific design aspect of wind turbine technology. It examines potential wind turbine installation configurations, along with the structural requirements for the tower and nacelle. The book also: Presents site wind speed prediction techniques Addresses the integration of wind farms into the electrical power system, including power quality and system stability Describes wind speed frequency distribution and the structure of turbulence Details design and analysis techniques, as well as the functions of wind turbine controllers The book uses a conventional nomenclature and consistent sets of symbols and units throughout to present the information in a manner that’s easy to understand. It also explains how to compare electrical energy generation costs from wind turbine installation with those of other renewable energy sources.