The history of wind energy shows that Denmark is in a leading position, when it comes to the production of windmills and wind energy. It is no coincidence that Denmark holds the top-spot when it comes to windmills and wind energy, since it has been an important project for a large part of the Danish population.

The succes Denmark enjoys today in the field of wind energy production came about in large part because of the effort of high schools (gymnasium), associations and the commitment of the general public. Early experiments led to an impressive production of wind energy and windmills, which are exported around the world.

In 1881, Poul la Cour, a teacher a the Askov High School, began a series of experiments with the goal of producing a windmill, which could produce direct current. The mill generated electricity for the school and the town of Askov.

At Askov, la Cour trained "rural electricians", who went on to construct small local powerplants around the country, of which about 30 employed wind mills in their production. The smaller plants were outmaneuvered by larger coal-dependent plants and the construction of the nationwide high voltage power grid, leading to the disappearance of the smaller windmills.

In 1919, engineer Povl Vinding drew up a patent on the "Agricco Mill", the first windmill in the world, which could produce alternating current for the central power grid.

Windmills was used during both World War 1 and 2, since Denmark experienced a shortage af coal and oil.

During World War 2, a new continuous-current producing (DC) windmill was tested. A total of 20 mills was produced. One of which was mounted on Bornholm by the town Nexø just off the shore where there was not so much water flow. Technically, this became the first off-shore windmill.  

From 1957 to 1967 "Gedsermøllen" ("The Gedser Windmill") was in operation, and it became the basis for the modern windmills we know today. It was constructed by Johannes Juul, an employee of the energycompany SEAS, for a joint venture, a windpower production programme overseen by the Danish powerplants. The programme was eventually shut down as it was concluded that windmills could not adequately compete with oildriven power-plants, due to the low prices of oil. Johannes Juul disagreed.

Privately, however, the construction of windmills took off in the years that followed, and many cities, large and small, wanted one. Mutual inspiration and cooperation drove the production forward, and in the small town of Lem in Jutland, a small manufacturer of farming vehicles took interest in the new mills. That factory, Vestas, has since become one of the worlds largest producers of windmills and a trailblazer in the field of wind energy.