How Past Wind Farm Technology
Transformed Into Modern Energy

History of Wind Turbines

One of the earliest wind turbines was constructed by Professor James Blyth of Glasgow in 1887.

He constructed a windmill to charge a battery which he then used to power the lights in his home.

Glasgow tried to offer his services to power light to his local town but was denied due to a misunderstanding of the technology. It was believed that “electrical power was the work of the devil.” 

It took almost a century for the modern, industrial-scale use of wind energy to take off. 

An oil/ energy crisis that occurred in 1973 lead to the creation of the first modern wind farm in New England. 

Constructed in 1980, this wind farm was a result of the Carter administration moving away from dependence on foreign oil. 

Large Wind Farms 

Large wind farms consist of hundreds of wind turbines spread out over a large area. 

According to studies, it is suggested that wind turbines can provide more than 40 times the current global electricity consumption. 

The main challenge with this is finding the appropriate location for wind farms. 

In order to have a wind farm, you need wide, open space, grazing land used for a certain kind of agriculture, and an average wind speed. 

The faster the wind speed, the quicker the project will realize a profit. 

Offshore Wind Farms

Off-shore wind farms are a more recent phenomenon. The first offshore wind farm was installed in Denmark in 1991. 

There are a few advantages to offshore wind farms. Using the ocean wind as a resource opens up the area that wind turbines can cover. Wind can also be substantially stronger offshore. Here are a few additional advantages:

• Wind speeds offshore are often faster than wind speeds on land. Due to faster wind speeds, more energy can be generated
• Wind speeds tend to be steadier offshore than on land. This means that offshore wind farms can supply a more reliable source of energy due to the steadier supply of wind
• Building offshore wind farms close to coastal cities, which holds half of the US population, can help with high energy needs
• Offshore wind farms create jobs, do not emit environmental pollutants, provide renewable energy, and provide a domestic energy source

There are also a few disadvantages to offshore wind farms as well. These include:

• Offshore wind farms are very costly and it can be hard to maintain and build them
• Strong waves and wind can damage wind turbines 
• After a certain depth, around 200 feet, it is difficult to build secure wind farms
• The effects of offshore wind farms on marine animals and birds are still uncertain

How Are Wind Farms Transported?

Moving turbine blades, towers, and nacelles, from where they are made to another location, takes extensive planning. This planning often lasts more than a year. 

The most common methods of travel involve using rail, road, and sea. 

Traveling by road involves comprehensive planning that requires the removal of trees whereas traveling by train requires permits, which can take a while to be approved. 

As wind farms become an increasingly popular mode of energy generation, logistics will have to be fine-tuned as well. 

Conclusion

Wind is a powerful force. Although it can be destructive, it can be used for progress as well. There are advantages to using wind technology as well as disadvantages. Moving wind turbines involves extensive planning. Wind turbines, despite their drawbacks, represent the future of technology. 

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