Networks of Wind Energy Enthusiasts and the Development of the “Danish Concept” - Wind Power for the World: The Rise of Modern Wind Energy - page 144

And through this process of design work and construction
of a set of component suppliers, various industrial actors began
to engage with the wind energy technology development. While
many parts were supplied by the local blacksmith community
and masons, various parts were outsourced including the yaw
ring, gearbox, generator, brake callipers, bearings, and most
importantly, the turbine blades. This in turn led to the creation
of a backbone supply chain for what would become the Danish
wind industry some of whom were already involved in the

burgeoning wind industry through supplying parts for Riisager-
style turbines, and some of whom were brand new to the industry.
The idea of component supply was one of the fundamental aspects
of the wind turbine. The ethos of the local small- and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) in Denmark is important to the history.
Unlike the United States and much of the rest of Europe which
had fully embraced the American system and mass production,
Denmark in the mid-20th century still had a strong local production
base including a network of local masons, carpenters, painters and
blacksmiths. The idea in the development of the NIVE turbine was
to engage with the local production network to the extent possible
for the development of the wind turbine.

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5.3.4 Growing the Danish Wind Networks and Industry
Thus, the early windmill development involved local production
and engagement from blacksmiths. This eventually led to the
engagement of the Danish Blacksmiths Association (DS). As
mentioned before, local wind turbine manufacturers met regularly
at the OVE “VindTræf ” and other local meetings to discuss best
practice for wind turbine design from their field experience.
It was at the fifth of these OVE “VindTræf” meetings in
Brandbjerg that two gentlemen from DS approached Preben
Maegaard and were interested in how they could turn wind
energy into an economic boon for their members. This led to
the establishment of a formal relationship where NIVE would
provide a series of standard design manuals to DS that covered
every aspect of the design of a modern wind turbine. Over the
years, the design team at NIVE and later Folkecenter created a
design handbook accessible to anyone and based on the “Danish
Concept”. It began with the early 22 kW and 55 kW designs