California: Wind Farms Retrospective - Wind Power for the World: The Rise of Modern Wind Energy - page 538

thousands homes. Back in the 1980s, the public and the rising
wind industry including its critics were given a very strong
success story—despite the failure of many units. For many
years the wind industry was given a benefit.
• Until today there was no wind development in the world in
which so many diferent wind turbine manufacturers were
involved. More than 30 various manufacturers from eight
diferent countries of origin are counted in just one large wind
development in a single US state.
• There has never been another wind development bringing
together such a high amount of diferent wind turbine
concepts. The US lightweight and vertical-axis concepts, the
heavyweight Danish designs, various concepts from other
manufacturers are “mixed together”. Thus, a highly valuable
amount of know-how and experience was gained and a wild
and colourful visual impression was created.
• In the Californian wind development, the highest number of
installed units was realised. In 1985 alone 4989 units were
put up. It made them the largest wind farms worldwide for
decades.
• California's wind farms are the most retrofitted, repaired and
modified in the world.

References

1. Vosburgh, Paul N. (1983) Commercial Applications of Wind Power , Van

Nostrand Reinhold Company.

2. Righter, Robert W. (1996) Wind Energy in America: a history , University

of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

3. Stoddard, Woody (1986) “The California Experience” in : DANWEA

`86, Conference Proceedings , The Association of Danish Windmill

Manufacturers, Centec Business Consultants, Copenhagen.

4. “Wind Power Monthly News” Magazine, Vol. 1, 1985-Vol. 6, 1990.

5. Wind Power Parks: 1983 Survey , Strategies Unlimited, Mountain View,

CA, Interim Report August 1984, EPRI AP-3578.

6. Wind Power Stations: 1984 Survey , Strategies Unlimited, Mountain

View, CA, Final Report June 1985, EPRI AP-3963.

7. Vindmølleparker i Californien , Situationsrapport Juni 1983,

Teknologirådets Styregruppe for Vedvarende Energi.