Ever Wonder How A Windmill Works? The wind pushes the blades in a circular motion, which then turns an axel. This turning motion can be used for a variety of things such as grinding grain, pumping water, or even generating electricity. Modern windmills are used to produce electricity, and are more properly called Wind Turbines.  Think about how your ceiling fan works. You plug it into the wall, feed it electricity, and the motor turns the blades to push air at you. In a way, a windmill works the exact opposite. The wind pushes the blades that turn a generator (or a motor in reverse), and this generates electricity. If you have studied electromagnetism, you know that any moving conductor inside of a magnetic field will produce a current. This turning motion is an efficient way of producing that current, which is why windmills can be extremely valuable in terms of renewable energy.  Use the Nav-Bar above to click around and learn a little more about Windmills. There are even links to construct your own wind turbines at home.