History of wind energy

Wind energy, or wind power, has been harnessed for thousands of years. However, what began as a way to propel boats and grind grain has evolved into a technology that generates clean energy.

Wind turbines convert wind energy into electricity. This progress stems from an evolution that started with ancient windmills and has culminated in modern turbines that are now an integral part of our landscape.

Let's dive into the history of wind energy!

The origins of wind energy: long before electricity

Believe it or not, we have been harnessing wind energy for centuries, but not always with the same purpose. The first civilisations did not think about generating electricity but rather about using wind energy for daily tasks.

The earliest known use of wind energy was in ancient Egypt, around 3500 B.C., where Egyptians used sails on boats to navigate the Nile River, enabling long-distance trade and communication.

Centuries later, around 200 B.C., in China, windmills were built for pumping water, a crucial solution for irrigating fields. These early windmills demonstrated how civilisations found an ally in the wind.

In Persia (modern-day Iran) during the 7th century, vertical-axis windmills were developed. These structures, made of wood and reed sails, were used for grinding grain and pumping water. Although vastly different from modern wind turbines, these early designs laid the foundation for what would later become one of the primary sources of renewable energy.

During the Middle Ages, the use of wind energy evolved. In Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, windmills played a crucial role in agriculture and water management.

These structures symbolised human ingenuity, leveraging the wind to drain the land and transform lowlands into fertile agricultural areas. Windmills became a defining feature of the European landscape and a driving force of agricultural progress. Curious about windmills? We’ll tell you some fun facts about them!

Interesting facts about windmills in Europe

Throughout history, windmills have been present in different European regions, adapting to local needs and leveraging wind energy for various purposes:

• The Netherlands: the famous Dutch windmills allowed lowlands to be drained and reclaimed from the sea. They then formed what is known as polders, i.e., land that was once part of the sea or a swamp, later dried using dikes and canals for agricultural use. These windmills are a symbol of human capability to utilise natural resources and adapt the environment to their needs.

• Spain: in Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real), the windmills that inspired Cervantes' Don Quixote were used until the 19th century to grind grain, playing an essential role in Spain's rural economy.

• Other European countries: In England and France, windmills were adapted for specific local tasks, showcasing wind energy's long-standing importance across various regions.

This brings us to a crucial turning point in the evolution of wind energy: the Industrial Revolution saw the first wind generators, marking the beginning of wind's transformation into electricity.

The Industrial Revolution and the first wind generators

With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the use of windmills declined as steam engines became the primary source of energy. Still, interest in harnessing wind energy resurfaced in the 19th century, with the first attempts to generate electricity from wind.

One of the great pioneers in this field was Charles F. Brush, an American who built the first modern wind turbine in Cleveland (Ohio) in 1888. His massive turbine, with a 17-meter rotor diameter and 144 wooden blades, was the first of its kind to generate electricity continuously, operating for 20 years. Its main downside? It only produced 12 kW of power.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Danish physicist Poul la Cour made significant advances in wind generator efficiency. By the early 20th century, he had installed over 100 turbines in Denmark for decentralised electricity production. By 1908, Denmark already had 72 wind generators with capacities ranging from 5 kW to 25 kW.

His findings on the efficiency of fewer-bladed turbines laid the groundwork for modern wind turbine design. In 1957, his student, engineer Johannes Juul, installed a turbine in Gedser (Denmark). It had a 24-meter diameter and 200 kW power.

Its three-blade, horizontal-axis design is considered the first modern wind turbine, similar to today's turbines. It operated maintenance-free for 11 years before being dismantled in 1992. In 2006, the turbine's nacelle and rotor blades were moved to the Energy Museum (Energimuseet) near Bjerringbro, in central Jutland (Denmark), where they were reassembled for display.

However, wind energy did not experience a true boom until the 1970s oil crisis. The global need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels drove investments in renewable energy, with wind energy emerging as a leading option.

In this context, the Carter Administration in the United States promoted the use of renewable energy, marking the beginning of the modern development of these technologies. In this period, wind energy companies such as Vestas and Gamesa emerged, while research projects were funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

At the same time, NASA developed large wind turbines, although their commercialisation was delayed due to the decline in energy prices in the 1980s. Technological innovations, such as aerodynamic blades and variable-speed generators, laid the foundation for today’s high-power wind turbines.

But… when was the world’s first wind farm built? Let’s continue along the historical timeline!

Who would have imagined that those early windmills would become so crucial? Wind energy has evolved into a key component of clean electricity production and the decarbonisation of the energy sector. Beyond reducing CO₂ emissions, it is a driver of economic development.

The wind energy sector creates jobs, employing approximately 40,000 people in Spain, whose number is expected to double by 2030. It also helps reduce reliance on foreign energy sources, lowering the need to import fossil fuels—enhancing national energy autonomy and economic stability.

Additionally, as a clean and renewable source, wind energy has direct benefits for public health by reducing air pollution, improving quality of life, and promoting overall well-being. These advantages make wind energy an effective solution in the fight against climate change and essential for long-term sustainable development.