Fun and Interesting Facts about Windmills

• The oldest mill in the Netherlands dates back to the eight century. In the Middle East, oldest examples of wind powered mills date back to the same period of time, although some signs point that Persians had them in 5th century AD.
• Earliest mills were not made only to process grain, but also to be used as automated stations that can route water from flooded areas or pump water from the depths to water agricultural areas. Dutch mills were famous for that use.
• Largest historic windmills in the world are located in the Netherlands, near the town of Schiedam.
• During peak of windmill popularity in 18th and 19th century, Europe housed around 200 thousand of them.
• Before the appearance of steam-powered machines, windmills represented the only machines that could reliably be used for manufacture of many materials. One area of Netherlands had over 600 mills that were used for creation of paper, paint, gin, mustard, oil, cut wood and more.
• Wind power accounted for 1.9% of US electricity production in the year 2009. This was more than enough power to give energy to all 5 million homes in the state of Colorado.

• In early 20th century, windmills were optimized to more easily take advantage of wind power. They could reach the output of around 100 horsepower.
• In mid-19th century, arrival of mass produced steam power started the decline of windmills. However they remained in use even until today.
• Modern windmills are mostly used to convert wind energy into electricity. The entire industry for managing electric windmill turbines has grown much in popularity in late 20th century.
• First windmill in America was created in 1888 by Charles Brush in Cleveland, Ohio.
• Early windmills used fan shaped objects made from wood. Modern windmills are using metal or other modern composite material.
• World’s largest wind turbine that is 20 stories high and has rotors that have length of entire football field. It is built and stationed in Hawaii.
• One megawatt of wind energy can prevent creation of 2,600 tons of Carbon Dioxide that is made by fossil-powered engines.
• The popularity of wind power turbines quadrupled between years 2000 and 2006.
• Windmills are most used in US states of Texas, Iowa and California.
• Today, there are between 1000 and 1150 windmills in Holland. Some are still actively used to grind grain or water drainage.
• Holland celebrates “National Mills Day” every second Saturday in May.
• Modern wind turbine is a complicated machine with over 8000 parts.
• Modern wind turbines strive to place their blades at highest altitude possible so that they could access stronger winds.
• United Kingdom is home to over 130 windmill energy farms.
• Windmills can help farmers to live in areas that lack in surface water. Wind power can help them extract water from deep inside the ground.
• Average size of wind turbine rotor has reached the diameter of 97 meters in 2013.
• Country that has most wind turbines is not USA, it is China.
• 20% of the energy production in Portugal and Denmark comes from wind turbines.
• In 2012 there were 45,100 active wind turbines in the world.
• The strongest windmill operating at its peak speed can power up to 500 homes.