Facts about Germany 2015 2015 | Page 92

90 | 91 ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE PANORAMA SUSTAINABLE ENERGIES Inner workings of a modern German wind turbine Enercon E-126 type with a 4,200 kW power rating 6 Machine frame Yaw drive Ring generator Blade pitch control Rotor hub Rotor blade 4 3 1 5 2 Windpower plants The wind drives the rotor blades. The generator transforms the mechanical energy into electrical power. Transformer house The transformer feeds the power at the right voltage to the grid operator. Substation The substation transforms the medium voltage into high voltage for transmission over greater distances. 110,000 V 10,000 V 30,000 V 690 V 50 % 30 % 371,000 18,000 more electricity from renewable sources less electricity from nuclear power stations employees in the renewable energy sector new jobs p.a. thanks to the Energy Reform (through 2020)