Up Close Timelapse Video Shows Every Detail of How a Wind Turbine is Built

Wind has been used for over a thousand years, with the first known windmill built between 500-900 AD in Persia (known as Iran, today).  For centuries to come, wind would be used to power grain mills and scoop up water out of a river or stream.  Surprisingly, the first windmill, or wind turbine, to actually produce electricity was built way back in 1887 in Scotland.   Inventor James Blyth used the turbine to power his vacation home.

Now, wind turbines for electricity are slowly gaining in popularity, but the race is on to see who can make them more and more efficient.  Just like solar power, not all of the energy gained from wind can be used.

How do Wind Turbines Work?

Wind turbines are obviously more suitable to windy environments, as it uses the wind to turn its blades.  The blades typically rotate at 18 RPM, which is pretty slow, so a series of gears are installed inside the shaft that rotate at 1800 RPM.  Those gears then power a generator, which begins to create electricity. The video below gives great information for those looking to learn more about how wind turbines work.

See how wind turbines generate clean electricity from the power of wind. The video highlights the basic principles at work in wind turbines, and illustrates how the various components work to capture and convert wind energy to electricity. This updated version also includes information on the Energy Department's efforts to advance offshore wind power.

Locogen Wind Turbine Timelapse

Now, for the main attraction.  The 330KW wind turbine in North Ayrshire, Scotland.  The structure stands 200 feet high (61m) and is Locogen’s Enercon E33 turbine.  In the video, you’ll see the entire construction process, from beginning to end and it’s filmed up close, so you can see pretty much every detail.  Typically, timelapse videos only show an overview of the entire site, so you can barely tell what’s actually being done, so it’s nice to see a company take a different approach.

Construction of our first wind turbine. An 330kW Enercon E33 in North Ayrshire.