Climate change caused by burning fossil fuels and escalating fossil fuel prices make the further rapid development of renewable energy sources a global imperative. Energy provided by wind power, though no panacea, has the potential to make a substantial contribution to meeting electricity needs in many countries. This concise and accessible account of the history and future development of wind power technology offers a complete overview of this vital field for engineers, scientists, students and all readers interested in wind power. Requiring no prior technical knowledge, this book provides a global historical assessment of wind power use, encapsulating sequential experimental changes, and concluding with narration of wind deployment, and an assessment of future options. Wind power is shown as compatible with large scale use: a clean, competitive and abundant energy source to help meet our future needs.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Wind power and our energy needs - an overview
2. The first windmills
3. Seven centuries of service
4. Generating electricity - the experimental years, 1887 to 1973
5. Evolution of the modern wind turbine, 1973 to 1990
6. Progress and economics in Europe, 1973 to 1990
7. UK progress, 1973 to 1990
8. Development and deployment, 1990 to 2008
9. The future: from marginal to mainstream
Appendix 1. The power output from wind turbines
Appendix 2. The performance of traditional windmills
Appendix 3. Wind characteristics
Notes to chapters
Notes to Appendices
References
Index.