Oldest Wind Turbine

Humans have been using wind as a source of power and energy ever since they started sailing ships. Historical archives show that windmills were used way back in 1750 BCE to generate mechanical energy and by the 9th century, windmills were developed and used in various parts of the world. 

As science has advanced and grown more complex, wind turbines have become an important part of wind power. In this article, we’re going to look more closely at some of the oldest wind turbines in the world, so let’s get right into it. 

3. Poul la Cour’s Wind Turbine

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Poul la Cour worked on a wind turbine in the early 1890s that was used to power a school with electricity. At the time, wind turbines had already been invented, so Poul’s construction was not considered to be a new discovery. His construction produced hydrogen by using the technique electrolysis, and it powered the Askov Folk High School. 

Since Poul la Cour was also known for being an inventor, he worked on inventing a regulator that helped produce a steady source of electricity for the school . 

Did you know?

Poul la Cour converted the windmill he built in 1891 into an electrical power plant, and this power plant was used to power the city of Askov.

2. Charles F. Brush’s Wind Turbine

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

While James Blyth was working on his wind turbine in Scotland, Charles F. Brush was also working on his version of a wind turbine across the ocean, which is one of the world’s oldest turbines. It had a 56-foot-high tower with rotors that were 17 meters in diameter. It also had 144 cedar wood blades. 

This particular wind turbine could power around 100 incandescent light bulbs. It could also charge a bank of batteries, operate arc lamps, and various other motors as well. 

Did you know?

Charles F. Brush’s wind turbine had an automatic furling system. This system helped the turbine convert wind into energy automatically, thus helping energy production to be optimized.

1. James Blyth’s Wind Turbine

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

James Blyth was a Scottish professor and electrical engineer who was widely known for working on the first and oldest wind turbine in recorded history. He used this wind turbine to power his family’s holiday home in Maykirk, and he is renowned for being the person to have developed a structure that was powered by wind energy. 

Blyth worked on several designs for his model of a wind turbine, and in 1887, created a wind turbine, or windmill, that was made from cloth sails. It produced electricity, and he used that electricity to power all the lights in his holiday home. After patenting his design, Blyth worked on refining it and in 1895, hired an engineering company to build a second wind turbine. This turbine went on to power an asylum for over 30 years. 

Did you know? 

The first turbine that James Blyth built generated more electricity than he anticipated, so he offered it to his town. However, he was rejected because at the time, people believed that electricity came from the devil.

Conclusion

In this article, we walked you through a list of the oldest wind turbines. As we mentioned in the introduction, wind turbines have been around for several centuries now, and thanks to the advancements of science, they have only continued to become more refined and durable. They play an important role in renewable energy, and we owe them much of our lives!