What is the ultimate source of energy that powers wind?

The ultimate source of wind energy is the sun. 

The sun's rays heat the earth and its atmosphere. However, this heating effect is not uniformly distributed. The uneven heating of our atmosphere by the Sun causes the winds. An easy way to understand this is by thinking about what happens when the air is heated. Hot air rises up in the atmosphere, while the colder air settles down to take the place vacated by the...

The ultimate source of wind energy is the sun. 

The sun's rays heat the earth and its atmosphere. However, this heating effect is not uniformly distributed. The uneven heating of our atmosphere by the Sun causes the winds. An easy way to understand this is by thinking about what happens when the air is heated. Hot air rises up in the atmosphere, while the colder air settles down to take the place vacated by the hot winds. This motion of hot and cold air is what we experience as wind. The motion of air from hotter to colder regions can also take place along the earth's surface. 

Depending on the temperature variation, topography, and a number of other factors, winds can be weak or very strong. These days, special emphasis is being placed on the utilization of wind energy for electricity generation and thereby using it as a source of renewable energy.

Hope this helps.