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First Windmill for Electric Power
In Glasgow, Scotland The first windmill to gain eletric power was built by Professor James Blyth. The Windmill power the professor's home fore 25 years. -
Period: to
Wind Power Through out the Ages
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Charging Batteries
In Ohio a Professor by the name of Charles F. Brush built a 12kW wind turbine to charge 408 batteries stored in the cellar of his mansion. This lasted him 20 years. -
Askov, Denmark
Scientist Poul la Cour begins his wind turbine tests to bring electricity to the rural population of Denmark. In 1903, Poul la Cour founded the Society of Wind Electricians leading to 1904 when the society held the first course in wind electricity. La Cour was the first to discover that fast rotating wind turbines with fewer rotor blades were most efficient in generating electricity production. -
Minneapolis, US
The Married couple Joe and Marcellus Jacobs open the Jacobs Wind Factory which made Wind turbine generators. These Generators were used to gain power to chatge batteries and generate lighting. -
Darrieus turbine
The first vertical axis wind turbine, the Darrieus turbine, is invented by Frenchman George Darrieus who in 1931 has it patented in the US. The design, often referred to as the "eggbeater windmill", due to the appearance of its two or three blades, is still used today. -
Yalta, former USSR
The modern horizontal wind generator is used in Yalta, generating 100kW. The turbine has a 30m tower and a 32% load factor, meaning it provides 32% of its potential energy output, pretty good even by today's standards. -
Vermont, US
The world's first megawatt wind turbine is built and connected to the power grid in Castleton, Vermont. The turbine has 75-foot blades and weighs 240 tons. -
Gedser, Denmark
The Gedser wind turbine is built by Johannes Juul, a former student of Poul la Cour. The 200kW, three-bladed turbine inspired many later turbine designs, and Juul's invention - emergency aerodynamic tip breaks – is still used in turbines today. The turbine operated until 1967 and was refurbished in the mid 1970s at the request of Nasa. -
Ohio, US (again)
The United States government, led by Nasa, begins research into large commercial wind turbines. Thirteen experimental turbines are put into operation and the research paves the way for many of the multi-megawatt technologies used today. -
New Hampshire, US
The world's first windfarm consisting of 20 turbines is built in New Hampshire. The windfarm however, is a failure as the turbines break down and the developers overestimate the wind resource. -
Washington and Hawaii, US
In 1981 the 7.5mW Mod-2 is build by Nasa, followed in 1987 by the 3.2mW, two-blade wind turbine. Both turbines break records for diameter and energy output. -
Vindeby, Denmark
The first offshore windfarm is created in Vindeby, in the southern part of Denmark. The windfarm consists of 11 450kW turbines. -
Cornwall, UK
The UK's first onshore windfarm is opened in Delabole, Cornwall. The farm consists of 10 turbines and produces enough energy for 2,700 homes. -
North Wales, UK
The UK's first offshore windfarm is opened. North Hoyle offshore windfarm is located 7-8km off the north Wales coast between Prestatyn and Rhyl and consists of 30 turbines. -
Stirling, UK
Installed capacity of wind power in the UK reaches 2gW, with the opening of the Braes O'Doune windfarm, in Scotland, which produces 72mW of power.
