The use ofwind power dates back to ancient times, with the appearance of windmills, and has developed over the centuries for mechanical applications such as pumping water and grinding grain. From the 19th century onwards, it became possible to generate electricity with it. Encouraged by the oil crises, the first wind farms appeared at the end of the 20th century. By the beginning of the 21st century, technological advances, falling costs and supportive policies had transformed wind power into a keyrenewable energy source for reducing CO2 emissions.
The early days of wind power
The earliest days of wind power date back thousands of years, when ancient civilizations discovered the potential of the wind to produce mechanical energy.
Antiquity and the Middle Ages
The first known uses of wind power date back to antiquity, with windmills in Persia (now Iran) around 500-900 A.D. These early windmills were used to grind grain and pump water. Windmills arrived in Europe in the 12th century and began to spread rapidly. The first European windmills were built of wood and used a horizontal axis design. The Netherlands, in particular, became a center of innovation for windmills, with improved designs including mechanisms to turn the mill head to capture wind from different directions. Windmills were used to grind grain, press oil, saw wood and pump water to drain wetlands.
Technological developments: Over time, windmills evolved to adopt vertical-axis designs and more complex mechanisms, such as gears and power transmission systems. These innovations improved the efficiency of windmills and extended their use to other applications, such as electricity generation.
From the Renaissance to the 19th century: the appearance of the first windmills
During the Renaissance, windmills continued to play an important role in grain milling, oil production and similar activities. The Netherlands, in particular, developed increasingly sophisticated windmills to drain wetlands and reclaim farmland. Improvements in design and adjustment mechanisms enhanced their efficiency.
As the industrial age progressed, windmills began to lose importance in the face of the rise of steam engines and factories. However, they continued to be used in agriculture and irrigation. The 19th century saw the emergence of wind pumps, especially in the USA, which used the wind to extract water from the ground. These wind-driven pumps were widely used to supply water to farms and rural areas.
James Blyth, a Scotsman, built the first wind turbine to generate electricity for his home in 1887. A year later, American Charles F. Brush built the first large-scale wind turbine for electricity generation. Wind pumps, meanwhile, continued to be used for irrigation and water supply, particularly in rural areas far from electricity grids.
20th century: the development of wind turbines
In the 20th century, the development of wind turbines underwent several milestones that contributed to their expansion and use in large-scale electricity generation.
During the Great Depression and the Second World War, wind turbines were mainly used to supply remote rural areas with electricity. One of the most famous examples is the US Rural Electrification Administration (REA) program, which electrified many rural areas using wind turbines.
Wind turbine research and development was stimulated by the oil crises of the 1970s, which highlighted our dependence on fossil fuels and the need to diversify energy sources. Government and university research programs were launched to develop new, more efficient and cost-effective wind turbine technologies.
The first large-scale modern wind turbines were built in the 1980s and 1990s. Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands were among the first countries to invest in wind power and build wind farms. Technological advances, such as improved blade design, lighter and stronger materials, and more sophisticated control systems, made wind turbines more efficient and reliable.
21st century: wind turbines become a major source of electricity
The development and expansion of wind turbines accelerated from the 2000s onwards, driven by technological advances, falling costs and supportive national and international policies.
First decade: 2000-2010
At the turn of the century, in 2000, installed wind power capacity worldwide stood at around 17.4 GW, with countries like Germany and Denmark leading the way (source: IRENA, Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021). The Chinese government also introduced its first five-year renewable energy development plan in 2001, including specific targets for wind power.
During the 2000s, several countries adopted ambitious targets and policies to promote renewable energies, including wind power. For example, in 2009, the European Union adopted the Renewable Energy Directive, which sets a target of 20% renewable energy in energy consumption by 2020 (source: Directive (EU) 2009/28/EC).
At the same time, wind energy costs have fallen considerably over the century, making this technology increasingly competitive with traditional energy sources. According to IRENA, the global weighted average cost of onshore wind power will fall by 70% between 2010 and 2020, from 0.085 USD/kWh to 0.053 USD/kWh (source: IRENA, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020).
2010-2020
These factors have contributed to a rapid expansion in installed wind power capacity worldwide. In 2010, global installed wind power capacity exceeded 200 GW, and in 2017 it exceeded 500 GW (source: IRENA, Renewable Capacity Statistics). By 2020, the world’s installed wind power capacity will reach around 733 GW (source: IRENA, Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021).
Offshore wind power has also become increasingly popular over this period. By 2020, global offshore wind capacity was around 34 GW, with the UK, Germany and China leading this expansion (source: Global Wind Energy Council).
There have also been a number of innovations, including floating, flying, bladeless and urban wind turbines. In 2011, the Hywind project developed by Norwegian company Equinor (formerly Statoil) was the first floating wind farm to be commissioned. Since then, several projects have been launched, including the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind farm in Portugal, due to open in 2020. The American company Makani, which was acquired by Alphabet in 2013, has developed flying wings equipped with wind turbines.