News & Articles on History of Wind Power
This page was prompted by a technical question about early electricity-generating wind turbines in the United States. The question followed a similar question about “who was the first” to interconnect a wind turbine with an electricity network. There is a lot of confusion internationally about both subjects.
The history of wind energy is a broad subject and many have written about it. I’ve pulled together a list of sources, books, links, and museums that I know about. This list is far from comprehensive. If anyone wants to add to this list or edit this list, please do so.
A number of the entries below are reviews I’ve written of books that include the history of wind energy. The original book can usually be reached from the review. Other news items are relevant to the history of wind turbine development.
The English Windmill Video by Martyn Taylor
By
Paul Gipe
Martyn Taylor has made a wonderful video about the development and preservation of the English windmill. Sales of the video will go to preservation efforts.
Les éoliennes Sogréah-Neyrpic
By
Étienne Rogier
French historian Étienne Rogier examines in depth one of the great wind turbine development programs of the post WWII years. En francais.
Sex Sells–Even Wind Energy: The Dalhart Mystery
By
Paul Gipe
Sex sells. Always has, always will. Sex has been used to sell beer, cars, and even wind energy–well, at least articles about wind energy.
Performance of Swiss Darrieus Wind Turbine Alpha Real Mirrors that in California of the 1980s
By
Paul Gipe
The 1992 report on the project by the Centre de Recherche Energétiques et Municpales reads like so many of the others from the period. In short, the four-year project was a failure for a host of reasons that the report highlights.
French Post Card and CENG’s Darrieus Turbine
By
Paul Gipe
Wind historian extraordinaire Etienne Rogier sent me a carte postale (post card) promoting a 1988 French postage stamp. The card depicts the postage stamp and an experimental Darrieus turbine.
Etienne Rogier on the Operation of France’s Post War Wind Turbine “Neyrpic”
By
Paul Gipe
French wind historien Etienne Rogier has published an article on French post war wind turbines in the latest issue of the house organ for the Fédération des Moulins de France.
