Harnessing wind energy has a long history. In China and Egypt, archeologists have found “windmills”—used to grind grain and pump water—dating as far back as 500 BC. Windmills have been in use ever since. But in the early 1970s, when oil embargoes caused acute energy shortages in the United States, harnessing the wind took on greater importance as not only another power source, but as a renewable energy power source.

There are still some small-scale wind turbines being constructed—mostly to supply power to locations not connected to the electric grid—but the most recently built wind parks are for large-scale, commercial electric power production. This increasing demand for large wind parks—both on- and offshore—has stimulated the development of new high-efficiency wind turbines. Today’s turbines—from companies like GE Wind, Nordex, Vestas and NEG Micon—can produce three megawatts or more.

Because of the positive economic and environmental benefits from wind power, countries across Europe have made strong commitments to using the wind—and especially offshore wind—as a source of clean energy. A number of wind parks are currently in operation with more in the construction or planning stages. Move your mouse over the location names to learn more about wind parks in the US and around the world.