WINDPOWER: A Turn of the Century Review

The 1990s saw a resurgence in the windpower industry, with installed grid-connected capacity expanding more than five-fold between 1990 and 2000. Most of this increase occurred in Europe, where governmental policies aimed at developing domestic energy supplies and reducing pollutant emissions provided a sheltered market for renewable energy generation. The 1990s were also marked by a return to large, megawatt-sized wind turbines, a reduction and consolidation of wind turbine manufacturers, and increased interest in offshore windpower. This article reviews recent trends in the windpower industry, including some of the fundamental engineering principles of wind turbine design. Technological impediments and advances are discussed in the context of changes in the global electricity markets and environmental performance.