The History of Wind Generated Power

With the increased costs of energy derived from fossilwindmills were installed in the United States. The main
fuels, many consumers are interested in alternativeapplication was pumping water for livestock and
sources of energy. Unfortunately the market trend tellsproviding farm homes with a water supply.In the late
us that little to no relief in oil prices is in sight. A great19th Century, the first windmill to generate electricity
source of power can be harnessed from the windwas born! This was the Brush postmill in Cleveland
using electricity generating windmills. Below is a briefOhio, and the year was 1888! The rotor was
history of wind power, and how it came to be.Windapproximately 17 meters in diameter. This windmill had
power has been harnessed for many, many years.a gearbox with a high spin ratio attached to a DC
Nobody knows for sure when man started using thegenerator.By the middle 1920's, several small scale
wind's power to grind flour or pump water, but it issystems were found across the Midwestern plains
thought that the first windmill appeared in the Persianand used to supply farms with electricity. These
region. From there this windmill technology spread backsystems generally had a 1 to 3 kilowatt output.1941
to northern Europe. Windmills crafted by the Dutchsaw the largest wind generator to date. This
were used primarily to pump water.Windmills weregenerator's capacity was 1.25 megawatts. It was
definitely not the first structures to harness the wind.known as the Smith-Putnam machine. The rotor
This award belongs to the sailboat. More than likely,measured an astonishing 175 feet in diameter.Today,
founded in small scale (small canoe with an animal skinmany wind turbines are in operation from small scale
as a sail) the sailboat became the only way to crossresidential systems that are affordable to the
large areas of water. The sailboat evolved into largehomeowner to large scale wind turbine farms that are
ships moving great distances by using only wind as aused to supply a large amount of electricity to utility
source of power.Windmills on a smaller scale showedcustomers.For more information on wind power, visit
up in America in the mid 19th Century. The Aermotorus online at is one of the alternative energy sites Will
and Dempster design were invented and many are stillReece owns and operates. Please visit us today!
in use. From 1850 to 1970 more than 6,000,000