ABSTRACT
The use of the energy in the wind has played a long and important role in the history of human civilization. A few hundred years later, windmills were used to pump water and reclaim much of Holland from the sea. The First "modern" wind turbines appeared in the middle 20th century. The chapter provides a background on the historic development of wind turbines leading to present wind turbine designs. Charles Brush was a pioneer in the use of wind turbines to produce electricity. He was one of the founders of the American electrical industry. One of the pioneers of modern aerodynamics who built wind turbines in Denmark in the late 1800s was Paul la Cour. The modern era of wind turbine design reflects the appreciation gained in aerodynamics that also drove the development of modern aircraft. Wind energy is playing an ever increasing world-wide role as a renewable energy source.
