Who would think of getting energy from the wind? It turns out that wind energy has a history that goes back to ancient times. The Egyptians and Persians used windmills to grind grain more than 2,500 years ago. In the 16th century, the Dutch used windmills to pump water. The first Dutch windmills were used to drain marshes and keep farmlands free from flooding. These mills were similar to windmills used to grind grain in other parts of Europe but were equipped with an additional mechanism to pump water. Dutch windmills became a key technology for Dutch agriculture and economy at that time and were widely used in the low areas of the country.
The first designs of wind turbines appeared in the 19th century. One of the earliest known designs is that of John B. Dunlap, an American inventor who patented a wind turbine design in 1854. In 1887, Danish inventor Poul la Cour built a small wind power generation facility in southern Denmark. The facility consisted of a 6-meter diameter windmill powering an electrical generator. The generated power supplied a water pump and an electric lamp and was used to light a nearby rural school. Although it was a small facility, it was an important milestone in the history of wind energy as it was the first time wind was systematically used to produce electricity.
With technological advancement, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, larger and more efficient wind turbines began to be built, which allowed for increased electricity generation. In the 1970s, wind energy began to be used in large-scale electricity production projects, especially in Denmark and the United States. During this decade, the first wind farms with several turbines connected to the electrical grid were built. As technology continued to advance, turbines became increasingly larger and more efficient, which allowed for increased wind energy generation capacity.
In the 21st century, wind energy has experienced a significant advancement in terms of technology and global deployment. Some of the major advances in wind energy in the 21st century include:
Larger capacity wind turbines: current wind turbines are significantly larger and more efficient than those from a few years ago. Some of the world's largest turbines have a rotor diameter of over 200 meters and a generation capacity of over 8 megawatts (MW).
Efficiency improvements: significant improvements have been made in the efficiency of wind turbines, which has allowed for increased electricity generation per unit area of rotor.
Development of offshore wind farms: the deployment of wind farms in deep waters has allowed for harnessing the stronger winds found far from the coast.
Decreasing costs: the costs of wind energy production have significantly decreased in recent decades, making it one of the most economically competitive forms of renewable energy.
Greater integration into the electrical grid: technologies have been developed to allow for greater integration of wind energy into the electrical grid, increasing the stability and efficiency of the electrical system.
Advances in monitoring and prediction: technologies have been developed to improve wind monitoring and prediction, allowing for better utilization of wind energy.
In summary, these advances have allowed for greater deployment and increased wind energy generation worldwide, and it is expected to continue growing in the coming years.
As you can see, an old companion, who has been with us all our lives and has not stopped improving.