Wind power programmes in the United Kingdom and elsewhere 1900 - 1960

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Authors & editors	Allen, J [Author] Bird, R A [Author]
Publisher	HMSO
Year of publication	1977
Languages
Medium	Digital
Edition	1
Topics	Generation of Electricity > Windpower
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Scope & content	Extract Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (see attachment for more): The first 'modern' stimulus to develop the use of wind power came roughly in the period 1900-1920; pioneer farming and other 'outback' activities had a need for water pumping and electricity ahead of or in the absence of the rural spread of utilities. A proliferation of small plants (up to 5 kW) was marketed to meet this demand, and it was only after the Second World War that the expansion of electrical supply networks forced a market decline. Countless installations of the period have now fallen into disuse, and only a handful of manufacturers remain in the business. In this early period Denmark, in particular had pressing fuel problems (in the absence of indigenous coal) which encouraged the government to support development of larger machines up to 35 kW) for community use, for water pumping and electricity supply These distinctive machines (their rotors evidencing descent from windmill sails of earlier centuries) reached successful production of several hundreds before the First World War Developments in aerodynamics during the First World War enabled a transition to more efficient aerofoil rotors in developments from 1920 onwards.