Wind power involves taking the energy of the wind and transforming it into something that is capable of doing work for mankind. One of the earliest forms of wind power was windmills. These large buildings harnessed the energy of the wind to turn heavy grindstones. The stones would be used to make flour and corn meal. They had a big advantage over the alternative means of power for a mill, cattle, because you didn't have to feed a windmill or clean up after it. But if you want to truly look at the first use of wind power, consider the sail boat. These craft utilized the wind's power to propel them over the waves. Creative engineering allowed them to sail almost directly into the wind, which is impressive when you stop to think about it. Sailing and milling set precedents for the use of sustainable power. However they were significantly more intuitive than the conversion of wind to electricity. That conversion is at the heart of modern wind power. The chief obstacle that any power source must overcome is the transition from its natural state to a state usable by mankind. The majority of our power use is now electric, and so we are constantly looking for ways to convert anything and everything to electricity. In the case of wind power, it's relatively simple; wind spins a turbine around a magnet, creating an electric current, which can then be fed into the power grid. Source: hoosacwind.com
Source:
http://hoosacwind.com/windpower.html
