Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as electricity, using wind turbines.
5,500 years ago humans have been using wind power to propel sailboats and sailing ships.
4,000 years ago the Babylonians and Chinese were using wind power to pump water for irrigating crops.
1887, The first windmill for electricity production is built.
Windmills use blades to gather wind that flows over it. Just like an airplane uses wings for lift, windmills use their blades for lift as well – in this case to turn the windmill. Windmills are pretty simple structures; their blades are connected to a drive shaft that is connected to an electric generator. As the blades turn, this turns the drive shaft and creates electricity. Electricity is sent through wires and collected.
Windmills are often referred to as turbines when producing energy. There are different types of windmills, categorized by the direction their blades rotate. Two different turbines are the horizontal axis turbines and the vertical axis turbines.
