The History of Wind Energy

The History of Wind The History of Wind EnergyEnergyThe History of Wind The History of Wind EnergyEnergy

Kristian Wolstrup Kristian Wolstrup NøNørgaard & Ralf rgaard & Ralf LeffinLeffinKristian Wolstrup Kristian Wolstrup NøNørgaard & Ralf rgaard & Ralf LeffinLeffin

1) Introduction1) Introduction

2) Internal narrative story2) Internal narrative story

3) The Danish case vs. the US case: 3) The Danish case vs. the US case: (two competing trajectories)(two competing trajectories)

5) Conclusion5) Conclusion

6) Discussion / Questions6) Discussion / Questions

ScheduleSchedule::

2. Internal narrative story2. Internal narrative story

The “Windmill-Story”:The “Windmill-Story”:

• Charles F. Brush (1849-1929):Charles F. Brush (1849-1929): first wind turbine pioneerfirst wind turbine pioneer

• Paul la Cour (1846-1908):Paul la Cour (1846-1908): founding farther of the ‘theory’founding farther of the ‘theory’

• Johannes Juul :Johannes Juul : first AC- wind turbinefirst AC- wind turbine

The “Windmill-Story”:The “Windmill-Story”:

• several key several key developments developments

• Charles F. Brush (1849-1929):Charles F. Brush (1849-1929): first wind turbine pioneerfirst wind turbine pioneer

• Paul la Cour (1846-1908):Paul la Cour (1846-1908): founding farther of the ‘theory’founding farther of the ‘theory’

• Johannes Juul :Johannes Juul : first AC- wind turbinefirst AC- wind turbine

The “Windmill-Story”:The “Windmill-Story”:

• todaytoday: Multi-Megawatt wind : Multi-Megawatt wind turbinesturbines

• several key several key developments developments

• Charles F. Brush (1849-1929):Charles F. Brush (1849-1929): first wind turbine pioneerfirst wind turbine pioneer

• Paul la Cour (1846-1908):Paul la Cour (1846-1908): founding farther of the ‘theory’founding farther of the ‘theory’

• Johannes Juul :Johannes Juul : first AC- wind turbinefirst AC- wind turbine

3. The Danish case vs. the US 3. The Danish case vs. the US casecase

The Danish caseThe Danish case

• vital entrepreneurial networkvital entrepreneurial network

• energy crisis 1973energy crisis 1973

• grass-roots movementgrass-roots movement

• development of ‘meaning’development of ‘meaning’

Bottom-up and Top-down strategyBottom-up and Top-down strategy

The US caseThe US case

• compete with already existing power compete with already existing power plantsplants

• energy crisis 1973energy crisis 1973

• ‘ ‘Big Science’ heavily funded from the Big Science’ heavily funded from the StateState

• knowledge from aerodynamicsknowledge from aerodynamics

Top-down strategyTop-down strategy

4. Conclusion4. Conclusion

ConclusionConclusion

• from grass-roots to ‘Big Industry’from grass-roots to ‘Big Industry’

• external factors played a crucial external factors played a crucial rolerole

• different meanings to technologydifferent meanings to technology

critic of sourcescritic of sources

• used material: books and online publicationsused material: books and online publications

• books - internal narrative accountsbooks - internal narrative accounts • no access to relevant energy journalsno access to relevant energy journals

Thank You for your Thank You for your attention!attention!Thank You for your Thank You for your attention!attention!

Kristian Wolstrup Kristian Wolstrup NøNørgaard & Ralf rgaard & Ralf LeffinLeffinKristian Wolstrup Kristian Wolstrup NøNørgaard & Ralf rgaard & Ralf LeffinLeffin