The paper provides an overview of the historical development of wind energy technology and discusses the current world-wide status of grid-connected as well as stand-alone wind power generation. During the last decade of the twentieth century, grid-connected world-wide wind capacity has doubled approximately every three years. Due to the fast market development, wind turbine technology has experienced an important evolution over time. An overview of the different design approaches is given and issues like power grid integration, economics, environmental impact and special system applications, such as offshore wind energy, are discussed. Due to the complexity of the wind energy technology, however, this paper mainly aims at presenting a brief overview of the relevant wind turbine and wind project issues. Therefore, detailed information to further readings and related organisations is provided. This paper is an updated version of the article ‘Wind Energy Technology and Current Status: A Review’, published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 4/2000, pp. 315–374. This update was requested by Elsevier due to the large interest in wind power.

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An overview of wind energy-status 2002

The paper provides an overview of the historical development of wind energy technology and discusses the current status of grid-connected as well as stand-alone wind power generation worldwide. During the last decade of the 20th century, grid-connected wind capacity worldwide has doubled approximately every three years. Due to the fast market development, wind turbine technology has experienced an important evolution over time. An overview of the diAerent design approaches is given and issues like power grid integration, economics, environmental impact and special system applications, such as oAshore wind energy, are discussed. Due to the complexity of the wind energy technology, however, this paper mainly aims at presenting a brief overview of the relevant wind turbine and wind project issues. Therefore, detailed information on further readings and related

Wind energy technology and current status : a review

Progress and recent trends in wind energy

Throughout history, windmill technology represented the highest levels of development in those technical fields we now refer to as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and aerodynamics This report describes key stages in the technical development of windmills as prime movers -- from antiquity to construction of the well-known Smith-Putnam wind turbine generator of the 1940's, which laid the foundation for modern wind turbines Subjects covered are windmills in ancient times; the vertical-axis Persian windmill; the horizontal-axis European windmill (including both post mills and tower mills); technology improvements in sails, controls, and analysis; the American farm windmill; the transition from windmills to wind turbines for generating electricity at the end of the 19th century; and wind turbine development in the first half of the 20th century 43 refs

J. H. Westbrook

Papers

A field guide to American windmills

A history of data recording, analysis, and dissemination

The Bells of Russia: History and Technology by Edward V. Williams (review)

Index to Volume 24 (1983) of Technology and Culture

Men of Iron: Forbes and Adam by Kenneth T. Howell, Einar W. Carlson (review)