Which process converts wind energy into usable electrical energy?

The process that converts wind energy into usable electrical energy is mechanical conversion. In wind energy systems, wind turbines utilize the kinetic energy of moving air (wind) to turn their blades. This mechanical movement is then transduced into electrical energy through a generator typically found within the turbine. The generator is activated by the rotor's motion, allowing the mechanical energy from the wind to be transformed into electrical energy that can then be used for power generation.

Wind milling, while intuitively related to the concept of wind energy, is not the technical term used for the direct conversion process to electricity. Hydropower refers to energy derived from flowing water, and thermal emission relates to heat energy rather than mechanical processes related to wind. Therefore, mechanical conversion is the most accurate description of the process involved in transforming wind energy into electricity.