1.5 MW wind turbines in a windfarm in California. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

That energy can be harnessed from the wind is not a new discovery. The first practical windmills were developed in Persia in the 9th Century and large windmills used for grinding grain were common in medieval Europe. It is, though, first with the development of modern wind turbines that significant amounts of energy can be produced. Today wind energy is widespread and still growing in use throughout the world. However, the fraction of energy being produced by wind turbines is still very modest. Denmark is one of the frontrunners in the development and usage of wind generated energy, but even there wind energy only contributes with around 20% of the country’s total energy consumption.

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