Contributor: Why we neglected wind power for a century – Los Angeles Times

Report on the Historical Development and Global Adoption of Wind Power in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Wind Energy as a Cornerstone for Sustainable Development

Modern wind turbines are critical infrastructure for achieving global sustainability targets. Their development and deployment are driven by the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources, directly addressing the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This technology is fundamental to mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future.

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Wind turbines provide a renewable source of electricity, crucial for increasing the share of clean energy in the global mix.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By generating electricity without greenhouse gas emissions, wind power is a primary tool in the effort to combat climate change and its impacts.

Historical Development and Early Innovations

The concept of generating electricity from wind dates back to the late 19th century, representing an early but largely overlooked innovation in renewable energy.

The Pioneering Work of James Blyth

In 1887, Scottish engineer James Blyth developed one of the first machines to produce electricity from wind power. This invention demonstrated a viable alternative to the coal-powered steam turbines that dominated the Industrial Revolution, representing a foundational step towards the principles now enshrined in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Blyth’s homemade turbine, installed at his cottage in Marykirk, Scotland, featured a design that successfully powered his home. The key components and process were as follows:

1. A 30-foot wooden tower was constructed.
2. Four 13-foot canvas sails attached to steel arms captured kinetic energy from the wind.
3. A system of gears and spindles transferred the rotational energy to a flywheel.
4. The flywheel was connected to a Burgin dynamo, which generated direct-current electricity.
5. The generated power was stored in French accumulators (early rechargeable batteries), ensuring a stable supply independent of wind conditions—a critical innovation for energy reliability aligned with SDG 7.

Early Resistance and Missed Opportunities

Despite its success, Blyth’s invention faced significant opposition, primarily from established fossil fuel interests. The coal industry, a dominant economic force at the time, viewed free-to-harness wind energy as a threat to its business model. This resistance created a major barrier to the early adoption of clean energy.

An offer by Blyth to use his surplus electricity to power the streetlights of Marykirk was rejected by town officials, a decision that delayed progress towards what would now be considered a key aspect of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The only major application of his technology was a larger turbine that provided power to the Montrose Lunatic Asylum for 27 years, demonstrating the technology’s long-term viability.

Global Implementation and Progress Towards SDGs

After a century of delay, the world is now increasingly embracing wind power to meet energy demands and climate goals. The global adoption of wind energy signifies substantial progress in achieving SDG 7 and SDG 13.

• Denmark: Leads globally with approximately 50% of its electricity generated from wind.
• Germany: Generates a quarter of its electricity from wind power.
• United States: Wind power accounts for over 10% of electricity generation.
• Brazil and India: Both have reached the 10% mark and are continuing to expand their capacity.
• China: Is undergoing an astronomical expansion of wind power infrastructure, installing massive turbines across the country, from western plateaus to its southern coasts, significantly contributing to global renewable energy capacity and SDG 9.

Environmental and Social Considerations for Sustainable Deployment

While wind turbines are a cornerstone of climate action, their deployment requires careful management of environmental and social impacts to ensure holistic sustainability. These challenges must be addressed to maintain public support and ecological integrity.

• Ecological Impact: The risk to avifauna from blade collisions remains a concern.
• Social Impact: Complaints regarding noise pollution and visual disruption of landscapes are noted in some communities.
• Lifecycle Management: The disposal and recycling of immense turbine blades after their 20-year lifespan present a significant challenge for sustainable waste management, an issue related to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Operational Safety: Maintenance of equipment at extreme heights poses inherent risks.

Conclusion: An Urgent Imperative for a Sustainable Future

The century-long delay between the invention of the wind-powered generator and its widespread adoption represents a significant missed opportunity. During this period, the global reliance on fossil fuels has caused incalculable environmental damage, directly undermining the goals of climate stability and ecological health. The accelerated deployment of wind power is now an essential and urgent strategy to meet the targets of SDG 7 and SDG 13. It is imperative that this clean energy source is scaled globally to mitigate the escalating climate crisis and secure a sustainable planet for future generations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The entire article is centered on the development and adoption of wind power, a form of clean and renewable energy. It contrasts this with the use of fossil fuels like coal, highlighting wind as a “better means of generating electricity” and a way to “wean society away from polluting ourselves into oblivion.” The story of James Blyth generating electricity for his cottage and offering it to his neighbors directly relates to providing access to modern energy.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly frames the need for wind power as an urgent response to climate change. It states that the stakes of our energy choices are “our very existence” and laments the century-long delay in adopting wind power, during which the “planet has suffered hugely during that century, as vast amounts of fossil-fuel byproducts have been created.” This directly connects the shift to wind energy with mitigating the effects of climate change.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The narrative details the invention of the wind-powered electricity generator by James Blyth, showcasing early innovation in clean energy technology. It describes his “homemade machine” and the engineering behind it, from the canvas sails to the “Burgin dynamo.” The article also discusses the modern, large-scale infrastructure of wind power, with “turbines of ever-increasing size” becoming a “normal feature of every skyline” in countries like China, representing a significant upgrade in energy infrastructure.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article advocates for a shift in production patterns, specifically in how electricity is generated. It contrasts the unsustainable model of “burning of the coal and oil that long fueled the world’s tens of thousands of power stations” with the sustainable use of wind, which is described as “free, clean and blowing endlessly above us.” This highlights a move towards more responsible production methods that do not deplete finite resources or harm the environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

   This target is directly addressed when the article quantifies the growing share of wind power in several countries’ electricity generation. It states, “more than a 10th of America’s power is generated by wind. Some European countries enjoy a far greater percentage: In blustery Denmark, half of the country’s electricity is made by wind, in Germany a quarter, and down in Brazil and over in India 10% and growing.” This demonstrates progress towards increasing the renewable energy share.

2. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   The large-scale adoption of wind power by nations like China, Denmark, and Germany, as described in the article, is a clear example of integrating climate change mitigation measures into national energy strategies. The text notes that in China, “the rise of wind power generation and the size of the machines that perform the task are simply astronomical,” indicating a strategic, national-level push towards renewable energy as a response to climate concerns.

3. Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes.

   The article’s main subject—the wind turbine—is a “clean and environmentally sound technology.” The global trend of building massive wind farms, from “the western mountains of Yunnan and Sichuan” to “the coasts off Shanghai,” represents a large-scale upgrade of energy infrastructure to make it more sustainable, moving away from the polluting infrastructure of coal-fired power plants.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.

  The article provides explicit data points that serve as this indicator. It gives the percentage of electricity generated by wind for several countries, which is a direct measure of the renewable energy share. For example: “In blustery Denmark, half of the country’s electricity is made by wind” (50%), “in Germany a quarter” (25%), and in the US, Brazil, and India, over 10%.

• Implied Indicator for Climate Action (related to Target 13.2): Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

  While the article does not provide specific numbers for CO2 reduction, it strongly implies this as a key outcome. The central argument is that wind power is an alternative to “polluting ourselves into oblivion” by burning fossil fuels. The “incalculable effects” of the delayed adoption of wind power refer to the vast amount of “fossil-fuel byproducts” that were created instead. Therefore, the adoption of wind power is presented as the primary mechanism for reducing these harmful emissions.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: latimes.com