Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 18
Arne Jaeger
Angerbenden 23, 40489 Düsseldorf, Germany
ajwind@web.de
18.1
Introduction
After the world economy was hit hard by the oil crisis in 1973-74
alternative ways of producing energy were sought—and found.
Wind energy was one of them. In the 1970s Denmark and the
United States quickly became pioneering countries concerning
wind turbine research and development. Federally funded
projects as well as a bright private engagement gave birth to a new
industry. These very early activities made the two countries play
a major role when the wind industry came to rise in the 1980s.
Apart from Denmark and the United States, the Dutch wind
industry had also progressed significantly during the 1980s.
In Germany main attention was paid to federal large-scale
wind turbines until the early 1990s. These machines, however,
all failed in the end. Federal support for private projects was low
or non-existing. There was a deep lack of experience in design,
engineering and operation of wind turbines. Thus, Germany had
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