Windmill

Harnessing kinetic energy: The windmill converts wind's force into mechanical rotation, driving everything from 9th-century Persian grain mills to modern gigawatt-scale wind turbines.

The windmill is an ancient, proven technology that converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical power. Historically, the device (first referenced in 9th-century Persia and 12th-century Europe) was a prime mover, essential for tasks like grinding grain or water pumping for land drainage (e.g., in the Netherlands). Today, the modern iteration is the wind turbine: a sophisticated system where blades spin a rotor and shaft, which then drives an electrical generator. This technology is a cornerstone of renewable energy, with hundreds of thousands of large turbines generating over 650 gigawatts (GW) of power globally as of 2020, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-technologies-office