The Evolution of Wind Energy Generation

Time Humanity Start Harnessing Wind Power

Renewable energy has been a significant discovery throughout the long course of human history. For thousands of years, humanity has been constantly seeking new sources of kinetic energy, and the use of wind power can be traced back to ancient times. In civilizations such as ancient Egypt and Greece around 5,500 years ago, people began utilizing sailboats, and subsequently, windmills and natural ventilation systems came into existence.  Windmills had already been in use for centuries in Eastern countries like China and Persia before spreading to Europe in the 10th to 12th centuries. Especially in modern-day Netherlands and other Northern European countries, windmills remain a symbolically significant icon. In colder regions, harnessing wind power for kinetic energy proved more practical than using hydropower, as water could freeze during winter, rendering it ineffective. For hundreds of years, the application of windmills remained relatively unchanged until the 19th century, marking a pivotal turning point in their historical trajectory.

Turning Point

Enter the 20th Century

Around the 1920s, French scientist George Darier invented the world's first vertical wind turbine, obtaining a U.S. patent in 1931. The blades of this turbine, known as "orthogonal wind turbines," differed from modern ones. In the 1930s, American scientists Joe Jacobs and Marcellus Jacobs founded the first small wind turbine manufacturing and sales factory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, called "Jacobs Wind." This company is now the oldest in the United States manufacturing renewable energy equipment. At that time, many American farmers in rural areas primarily used these wind turbines for lighting.

In 1941, the world's first 1-megawatt wind turbine was commissioned in Vermont, USA, and connected to the local grid. By 1957, "Jacobs Wind" had sold 30,000 wind turbines globally. The year 1973 became a crucial year for the development of wind energy when an oil supplier announced a ban on oil transportation, leading to a surge in oil prices and sparking a strong interest in alternative energy sources.

In 1980, the world's first wind power plant with 20 turbines was completed in the United States. Subsequently, wind energy experienced rapid development. In the 1980s, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, the U.S. conducted in-depth research on wind power generation. During this period, significant advancements were made in wind turbine construction technology, resulting in power capacities reaching the megawatt level. Through aerodynamics research, it was confirmed that large-scale energy production could be achieved with wind assistance.

In 1991, the world's first offshore wind farm was commissioned in Denmark, and the UK also constructed onshore wind farms. The offshore wind farms in the UK, with mature technology and promotion, gradually lowered electricity prices. In 2023, Norway's Equinor Energy officially inaugurated the Hywind Tampen offshore wind power plant, currently the world's largest "floating wind power plant."