In the 1930s, over 30,000 windmills were used in Denmark to power farm machinery and pump water. By the year 2030 less than 4,000 modern wind turbines could provide half the country's electricity. A major study by the Danish Energy Agency concluded that wind turbines built out at sea could produce power just as cheaply as on land. Denmark's wind energy industry employs more people than the country's fishing fleet. Denmark's first large offshore wind park should be in place soon after the millennium.
Wind power produces minimal amounts of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
A modern 1.5 megawatt wind turbine can avoid an annual 5,000 tonnes of CO 2 being emitted by burning coal. Europe's largest wind farm is at Carno in Wales. It produces enough electricity for 25,000 homes. The wind turbines were built in Denmark. Wind turbines are Denmark's fourth largest export commodity.