ABSTRACT
The global wind power resource is truly enormous, but much of the wind power is relatively inaccessible, being far out at sea or at high altitudes, where high winds blow continuously. However, the technically accessible amount has been estimated to be about 300 million GWh per yeararound 20 times the current electricity demand. Wind is one of the oldest forms of energy harnessed by humans. The earliest applications include sailing ships, wind mills to grind grain, and pumps for irrigation purposes or to prevent flooding. Wind used for propulsion goes back at least 5500 years, and its agricultural uses can be traced back to the seventh century in the Middle East and Asia.
