Wind is a natural force that humans have harnessed since ancient times. In Greek mythology, it was the god Aeolus who controlled the winds. For Viking sailors in Norse mythology, it was the god Njörd, and in Mesoamerican mythology, Ehécatl was the deity of wind and rain.
This element has powered everything from small water-pumping windmills to the famous giants immortalized in Don Quixote, which still stand in Campo de Criptana, that fabled region of La Mancha. These windmills once helped grind grain and contributed to large-scale food production.
But as a source of electricity, wind wasn’t harnessed until 1887, when two distinct types of wind turbines were developed for self-generation—one in Scotland by physicist James Blyth, and another in Cleveland by millionaire inventor Charles Brush. By the 1920s, the first commercial wind turbines were being built in Minnesota.
Despite these early efforts, the technology didn’t gain much momentum for large-scale use. The emerging industrial society of the time required large amounts of energy—with greater output, higher conversion efficiency, and reliable supply—all of which was found in hydrocarbons.
It wasn’t until the oil crisis of 1973 disrupted the energy system that governments began funding programs to build wind turbine prototypes in countries like the UK, Germany, and the United States.
Now, 50 years later, thanks to private sector investment and government subsidies—enabled in part by taxpayers and consumers—the wind energy industry has become a reality, both onshore (land-based) and offshore (sea-based). Today, it stands as one of the most promising pathways to a decarbonized energy future.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), wind energy, along with solar, will lead the global decarbonization of electricity generation. IRENA estimates that by 2050, onshore and offshore wind power could provide more than 35% of the world’s total electricity demand.
It’s important to emphasize that technological innovation has been crucial in developing this now-central technology on the road to net zero. Offshore wind development began in Europe in the 1990s and has since evolved—thanks to costly but significant government subsidies.
Today, wind energy is booming across the globe. The U.S. is learning from Europe and rapidly launching projects along its coastlines. In Latin America, Brazil and Mexico are leading the way. Colombia has expressed the intent to develop wind projects but continues to face serious challenges in public policy and regulatory frameworks.
There is an opportunity for Colombia to join the global trend of large-scale wind development—an industry that could bring many benefits to Colombians. However, to attract the necessary investment, the country must ensure legal stability, physical and social security, and other conditions that make Colombia an attractive destination for the capital required to fulfill the promise of wind.
Carolina Rojas Gómez
Student, Executive Master of Management in Energy
BI Norwegian Business School
