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What is wind energy?
In reality, wind energy is a converted form of solar energy. The sun's radiation heats different parts of the earth at different rates—most notably during the day and night, but also when different surfaces (for example, water and land) absorb or reflect at different rates. This in turn causes portions of the atmosphere to warm differently. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface, and cooler air is drawn in to replace it. The result is wind.
Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of that motion — "kinetic energy." Some portion of that energy can converted into other forms — mechanical force or electricity — that we can use to perform work.
More reading:
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/index.htm contains a very extensive description of the various geographical and geophysical factors that drive the circulation of the winds around our planet.
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