Question: when was wind power first harnessed to product electricity though it was only on a small scale

title: Wind turbine
text: Wind power was probably used in Persia ( present - day Iran ) about 500 -- 900 AD . The windwheel of Hero of Alexandria marks one of the first recorded instances of wind powering a machine in history . However , the first known practical wind power plants were built in Sistan , an Eastern province of Iran , from the 7th century . These `` Panemone '' were vertical axle windmills , which had long vertical drive shafts with rectangular blades . Made of six to twelve sails covered in reed matting or cloth material , these windmills were used to grind grain or draw up water , and were used in the gristmilling and sugarcane industries . 

Answer: answer: Wind power was probably used in Persia about 500 -- 900 AD.  The first known practical wind power plants were built in Sistan, an Eastern province of Iran, from the 7th century.