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The world has been benefiting from wind energy for thousands of years.
It started with using wind patterns to steer ships and boats to using wind turbines to power entire communities. Wind technology has come a long way, and a lot goes into understanding how it all works.
Are you interested in the wind industry? If you want to gain the skills needed to install and service wind machinery, enroll in Universal Technical Institute’s 30-week Wind Turbine Technician program. At UTI, we offer training that can help prepare you for a career in the energy industry.1
Read more to learn about the history of wind energy, its primary uses, and the exciting advancements wind technology has gone through.
The First Recorded Use of Wind Energy
The history of wind energy timeline dates back to 644 AD. The earliest recorded use of wind energy in terms of the use of windmills was in Persia. Back in that time, those windmills heavily relied on stones to function. They progressed quickly as we found better ways to harness wind energy.
The earliest image we have of a windmill is from the 1420s and was commonly found in Europe and the Americas. During that time, windmills were typically used to pump water, crush grain, and cut wood. The discovery of electricity really pushed the advancement of windmills and the use of wind energy.
James Blythe, an electrical engineer, created the first-ever design for a windmill that could generate electricity. He was the first person in wind energy history to generate electricity using the wind.
Evolution of Windmills and Their Primary Uses
Did you know that wind energy is generated because of the sun? As the earth rotates and absorbs the sun’s heat through the atmosphere, wind is created. We have come a long way as a society from the first gust of wind.
Wind turbines started to become more common in the late 1800s. In the 1880s, Thomas O. Perry, an American mechanical engineer, performed thousands of wind experiments to build an improved windmill. His research led to windmill designs that could pump and lift more, and still function during lighter winds.
A game-changer for the wind industry was the development of steel blades. It made windmills more efficient and popularized them across the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people started to purchase or build their own windmills to use on their farms.
In 1888, Charles F. Brush, an American engineer and inventor, used the very first large windmill to generate electricity. Around this time, windmills that could produce electricity began to be called “wind turbines.”
Wind Turbines for Electricity Generation
By 1941 the first megawatt (MW) wind turbine was created. To put it into perspective, a 1.5 MW turbine can produce enough electricity to power around 500 homes. The 1970s brought out research that projected a steady rise in oil and coal prices. Governments around the world decided to provide incentives to develop and build more efficient wind turbines.
This caused a boom in wind turbine technology. Another positive of this boom is that wind energy is a clean and renewable energy source. The process wind turbines go through to generate electricity doesn’t release pollution into the air.
In the 1990s, more than 2,000 MWs of wind energy capacity was stationed in California. At the time, that was more than half of the world’s capacity. As of 2022, more than 70,000 functioning wind turbines were estimated to be in the United States alone.
In the present day, there are two types of wind turbines: vertical and horizontal axis windmills. Even if there are different models, they all have the same basic parts: blades, a rotor, and a tower.
Advancements in Wind Energy Technology
Throughout the years, there have been several notable advancements in wind energy technology. These improvements have helped improve the overall safety and efficiency of harvesting wind energy. The improvements include:
Blade improvements: Something as simple as lengthening the blades helped increase the amount of energy a turbine can capture. Other improvements to the blades such as splitting them up also made them easier to transport, which helps cut down on installation costs.
Larger and more efficient turbines: The larger the turbine, the higher the electricity output it can generate. This produces more reliable and consistent wind power generation.
Improved Rotor: Updated rotor designs help turbines generate power at lower wind speeds, which allows them to function in more types of weather conditions.
Taller towers: There are stronger winds at higher heights, and that’s why lengthening the height of towers improves their efficiency. It helps them reach high-altitude wind.
Climbing cranes: Cranes help make servicing larger wind turbines safer and more effective. Servicing duties include part replacements, surveying the state of the tower, and more.
Wake steering technology: This provides a way to tilt or turn the direction of a wind turbine as wind factors change. It is a huge benefit because it helps improve energy production.
Future Outlook for Wind Energy
The demand for wind technicians is growing—employment is projected to grow 60% from 2023 to 2033.63 In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), wind turbine service technicians are one of the fastest-growing occupations.
Wind Industry Jobs
Similar to other industries, wind technician training program graduates are prepared for entry-level roles. Over time, technicians may be able to advance their careers with experience and hard work.77
Some jobs trained wind technicians can pursue include:
Entry level:
- Wind turbine technician
- Installation technician
- Field service technician
Advanced:
- Troubleshooting technician
- LOTO I & II specialist
- Wind farm support specialist
- Research and development
- Electrical engineer
- Environmental engineer
- Materials engineer
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for wind power technicians in the United States was $61,770 in May 2023.61 This means half earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand, and cost of living in the area.
Considering a Career in Wind?
Discover more about UTI’s campuses, programs, and the application process. Request more information to connect with an Admissions Representative.
Do you feel ready to start your wind technician journey? Enroll today!
Campuses That Offer Wind Technician Training
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