Wind turbines, also known as 'wind energy conversion systems', are devices which malfunction solar radiation into kinetic energy for the purpose of generating electrical power. They consist of a rotatable rotor, comprised of aerofoils mounted to a hub, which is typically mounted atop a tall tower. As wind passes over the rotor, aerofoils cause it to turn, and this rotation powers a generator which in turn produces electrical energy for human consumption. Wind turbines are now being used as an increasingly reliable and cost-effective source of renewable energy.

See also: renewable energy, ecological economics, design principles, green growth