Wind power through the ages

The ability to harness the wind and use its power for production has fascinated people for millennia, as this brief historical overview shows:

The wind on land, at sea and in the air

Man first learned to harness the wind as early as 4000 BC. The Chinese were the first to take to the seas in primitive rafts around this time.
Greek mythology contains stories of people who tried to fly like birds, and in the 15th century, scientist Leonardo da Vinci attempted the same experiment.
It was a hot air balloon in 1783 that first lifted us from the ground, while in 1852 Henri Giffard designed the world’s first airship.
The world’s first flight in an engine plane took place in the USA in 1903. Two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, succeeded in travelling 40 metres before landing safely again on the ground.

The first European wind turbines were built around 1100,
and were used for both milling corn and pumping water.
In 1887-1888, American Charles F. Brush built the first wind turbine, producing current for 12 batteries, 350 filament lamps, two carbon arc lamps and three motors.
At the end of the 19th century, Poul la Cour built several experimental wind turbines and researched wind tunnels. Poul la Cour’s experimental turbine in Askov, Denmark, still exists today.
During the first half of the 20th century, wind turbines gradually faced increasing competition from coal-fired power plants and the nationwide power grid. However, shortages of coal and oil during the two world wars ensured that demand for wind power continued.
In 1957, Johannes Juul built the Gedser turbine which became the template for modern wind turbines. The Gedser turbine had a single generator and three revolving blades.
In 1979, Vestas sent the first wind turbines out to customers wishing to invest in renewable energy.
In 1980, the state of California decided that 10 per cent of its energy supply should come from wind power by 2000.
In the spring of 2004, Vestas merged with NEG Micon and became the undisputed world leader in the wind power industry.