Editorial: Selected papers from the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) 2007

Abstract

Wind energy is undergoing a remarkable resurgence, and is now poised to provide an ever increasing share of the world's energy in the coming years. The story of its rise, fall, and rise again is a fascinating one. From roughly 1200 A.D. to the 1800's, wind was one of the major sources of energy for industry. Energy from the wind was used to grind flour, pump water, saw wood, press oil and make paper. With the advent of the steam engine however, the use of wind for mechanical power began to decline. This decline was only partially interrupted by the application of windmills for pumping water in the settlement of the American West during the 19th century. Once electric power generation appeared, late in the 19th century, there were a number of efforts to use wind rotors as the prime movers. Some of the smaller of these wind electric generators, such as the Jacob's wind turbine, had some success. Others, such as the much larger Smith-Putnam turbine of the late 1930's, proved to be ahead of their time.