Using the wind as an energy source is not development during the latest decades. Even in ancient times methods were developed to take advantage of the force of the wind. At sea, sails were used to utilize wind’s power in order to propel boats. The invention of windmills was a significant development for any society. The power of the wind alleviated the sweat of the grinding process, as it replaced mulls and bare hands as the drivers. The windmills not only made the core process less costly, it also dramatically improved working conditions and created an industry for windmill production.
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Persian vertical axis windmill |
When wind was first used to drive machinery is debatable. Ancient scriptures show that there was - at least - early communication about the potentials of wind energy. There is consensus that windmills were widespread used in the Middle East and Central Asia during ancient times, which is said to spread towards China and India. Despite a void of evidence, some suggest that windmill technology may have been present in China and Europe before it came to know about the Persian technology. Also some academics coin that ancient written accounts suggest that wind mills may already have been invented and build in the 7th century in Babylonia, or even earlier. (Ragheb, 2011).
