Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind's kinetic energy. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator, which produces. Wind turbines work on a simple principle: instead of using electricity to make wind—like a fan—wind turbines use wind to make electricity. Wind flows over the blades creating lift (similar to the effect on airplane wings), which causes the blades to turn. wind energy being at the forefront. Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Historically, wind power was used by sails, windmills and windpumps, but today it is mostly used to generate electricity.