www.buildgreen.ae
SUSTAINABLE PAST
April 2011
58
A look at our sustainable heritage
O
ld lines up against new in this image from the Mediterranean coast, with an early sail-wing horizontal-axis mill used to grind grain sat in front of a modern wind turbines used to generate electricity. Wind power has played a crucial role in the advancement of the human race and today is commonly associated with the impressive power of giant electricity-generating wind turbines. The first windmills, however, are believed to have originated in Persia between 500AD and 900AD, and
were designed to automate the tasks of grinding grain and pumping water. The earliest documentation of a Chinese windmill dates back to the 13th century, while in the 14th century the Dutch refined the classic tower mill design. In the late 19th century, the American multi-blade windmill design was used in the first large windmill to generate electricity. Today electricity generating wind turbines are becoming an ever more common sight across the globe and the largest wind farm currently under construction is the 800MW Alta Wind Energy Centre in the USA.