Wind Electric Generating

Windpower technology dates back many centuries. There are historical claims that wind machines which harness the power of the wind date back beyond the time of the ancient Egyptians.  In Europe the first windmills were seen much later, probably having been introduced by the English on their return from the crusades in the middle east. It was in Europe that much of the subsequent technical development took place.  The energy windmills produce can be used in many ways, traditionally for grinding grain or spices, pumping water, sawing wood or hammering seeds. Modern wind power machines are used for generating electricity and are more properly called wind turbines.

Pitstone Windmill, believed to be the oldest windmill in Britain. 

World wind electric generating capacity climbed from 17,500 megawatts (MW) in 2000 to 24,000 MW in 2001—a dramatic one-year gain of 6,500 MW or 37 percent. As generating costs continue to fall and as public concern about climate change escalates, the world is fast turning to wind for its electricity.

Since 1995, world wind generating capacity has increased an astounding fivefold. In stark contrast, the use of coal—the principal alternative for generating electricity—peaked in 1996 and has declined by 6 percent since then.

One megawatt of wind generating capacity typically will satisfy the electricity needs of 350 households in an industrial society, or roughly 1,000 people. In densely populated Europe, there is enough accessible offshore wind energy to meet most of the region's electricity needs. Low-cost electricity from wind brings the option of electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen, which can be stored and used to fuel gas-fired turbines in backup power plants when wind power ebbs. Over time, hydrogen produced with wind-generated electricity is the leading candidate to replace natural gas in gas-fired power plants as gas reserves are depleted. Hydrogen is also the ideal fuel for the fuel-cell engines that every major automobile manufacturer is now working on.

Wind energy in the form of electricity and hydrogen can satisfy all the various energy needs of a modern economy, and it promises to become the foundation of the new energy economy. We can now see the shape of this new economy emerging as wind turbines replace coal mines, hydrogen generators replace oil refineries, and fuel-cell engines replace internal combustion engines.