Facts About Distributed Wind Energy

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Whether harnessing the power of the wind to fly a kite, propel a boat across the ocean or using it to generate power for your home, wind power has played an important part in human civilization for more than 5,000 years. From its most simple applications to today’s technological wonders of wind farms, wind power continues to help us live efficiently and effectively.

Distributed wind energy systems are wind turbines or systems that are located near the end user. Today they can offer reliable electricity generation for homes, schools, farms, ranches, businesses, towns and local communities. Here are ten interesting facts about distributed wind energy you probably didn’t know:

  • The first known use of wind dates back 5,000 years to Egypt, where boats used sails to travel across the sea.
  • Wind energy helped the Persians pump water and grind grain between 500 and 900 B.C. Grain grinding was the very first documented windmill application.
  • Between 1850 and 1970, more than 6 million small wind turbines were installed in the U.S. They were primarily used for water pumping.
  • The first large utility-scale wind farms were installed in California in 1980. This resulted in greater awareness of environmental affects and proper siting—where wind turbines were installed, that is. This also led to the development of lower impact designs.
  • Wind power is much safer and more sustainable than traditional coal-based power; instead of burning something to generate steam, wind power relies on the power of the moving turbine alone to generate electricity. Learn more on why wind energy is cleaner and safer for electricity generation.
  • Today’s wind turbines are much more complex than the traditional windmill. They can have up to 8,000 different components!
  • Wind turbine blades can be up to 260 feet long, and a turbine tower can be over 328 feet tall.
  • The United States generates more wind energy than any other country in the world except for China.
  • Wind energy provides many jobs in the manufacturing sector. The wind industry employs over 73,000 people across construction, development, engineering, operations in the U.S.
  • Since 2008, the U.S. wind industry has generated more than $100 billion in private investment.

Looking for more information about wind energy and other green energy alternatives? Visit the rest of our Bright Insights blog!