Posts Tagged Wind Power

Wind Turbines + Batteries = Stable Power Supplies

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on May 9, 2013

By pairing a hybrid wind turbine’s battery with a wind-forecasting algorithm, wind farm operators might be able to guarantee a specified amount of power output for nearly an hour. If this pairing is possible, then integrating intermittent renewable energy might become much easier and lower the cost of wind power. It’s difficult to determine the [...]

Large Wind Farms Need Improved Computer Modeling, Study Shows

Posted by Ovidiu Sandru in Wind Power on April 18, 2013

As technology progresses, and wind power is becoming less expensive, the demand for larger wind farms increases. Alongside with growth comes a new challenge: the profit that needs to be obtained is in direct correlation with the accuracy with which the total power output is predicted. The total performance of the wind farm decreases when [...]

If Bigger Wind Turbines are Better, then Why Go Smaller?

Posted by Benji Jerew in Wind Power on April 8, 2013

Recent developments in blade technology and turbine size have proven that bigger is better when it comes to wind turbine costs, efficiency and overall power output. This is true, for the most part, and wind energy is becoming cheaper per kWh than even fossil fuels in some areas. By increasing blade length, and therefore the [...]

Wind Turbines Falsely Accused to Cause Sickness, Study Claims

Posted by Mila Luleva in Wind Power on March 16, 2013

‘Wind turbine sickness’ was found to be a purely psychological phenomenon, according to a new study by a public health scientist at Sidney University. Thousands of people around the world claim that their health is affected by wind farms. Increased blood pressure and blood glucose are just some of the symptoms triggered by sleepless nights and constant [...]

Large Wind Farms Might Produce Less Energy Than Thought

Posted by Mila Luleva in Energy news, Wind Power on March 4, 2013

A study conducted by scientists from University of North Carolina and Harvard University claims that global wind power resources have been significantly overestimated. Amanda S Adams and David W Keith state that production levels of 2 to 7 watts per square meter, estimated before, are unrealistic and should be brought down to not more than [...]

Global Wind Turbine Market Evolution Uncertain

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on February 21, 2013

According to an expert at GlobalData, the wind turbine market is currently suffering from manufacturing overcapacity, falling subsidies, and general uncertainty about the long-term future of wind energy. Presented as evidence, the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer has predicted far weaker sales this year and is revising shipment forecasts. GlobalData’s Senior Energy Consultant Jennifer Santos [...]

China Wind Power Generation Bigger Than Nuclear

Posted by Leigh Kim in Nuclear Power, Wind Power on February 21, 2013

Nuclear power is no longer the top energy source in China. Wind power has overtaken nuclear power, and in 2012, wind farms generated 2% more electricity than nuclear power plants. This gap will only widen in the years to come. China was in the throes of growing its nuclear energy program when the Fukushima disaster [...]

Honda Uses Wind Turbines to Manufacture Cars at Ohio Factory

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on February 12, 2013

At its transmission plant in Russells Point, Ohio, Honda is currently installing wind turbines that will supply 10% of the factory’s electricity needs. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, experts predict the turbines will produce 10,000 megawatt hours per year. Honda will have the distinction of having the first automotive manufacturing facility in the United [...]

Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels, Report Says

Posted by Benji Jerew in Green Policy, Wind Power on February 8, 2013

For many proponents of keeping the status quo, that is, sticking with fossil fuels for our energy needs, a common claim will be, “Fossil fuels are cheaper than renewable energy.” This may have been true twenty years ago, or even five years ago, but according to a recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance [BNEF], [...]

Technology Helping Wind Turbines Overtake Fossil Fuels for Energy

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on February 7, 2013

Although wind turbines do not appear to have changed much over the years, the technology behind them has gotten considerably more sophisticated. This has led to the increase in the amount of electricity wind turbines can generate and has lowered the cost of wind power. General Electric’s 2.5-120 wind turbine is a leader in the [...]

Wind Farms Equivalent to Statues on Easter Island, According to Founding Father of the Green Movement

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on February 6, 2013

In a shocking move, a founding father of the Green movement is fighting to stop a 275 foot wind turbine from being erected near his home in England. Inventor of the “Gaia Theory” and original predictor of global warming, Professor James Lovelock is combating wind turbines and believes the original intentions of the Green movement [...]

Kite-Powered Electric Vehicle Sets Three World Records in Trek Across Australia

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on February 5, 2013

Evonik, a New Jersey company that has been developing lithium-ion batteries for Daimler for the past 5 years, has developed a record-breaking electric vehicle that employs kite power as its main energy source. Astonishingly, during tests, the electric car drove 3000 miles across the entirety of Australia only using self-contained wind power. Evonik claims the [...]

Weather Forecast Accuracy Affected by Electromagnetic ‘Clutter’ From Wind Turbines

Posted by Leigh Kim in Wind Power on January 26, 2013

The development of wind energy opportunities in the UK and Europe, from small micro wind turbines up to larger mega wind developments, both onshore and offshore is actively supported by the Met Office. However, recently, the coalition has been split in two over controversial wind farm findings. Research has determined that wind farms can quite [...]

Germany and France On The Right Way to Renewable Energy Transition

Posted by Mila Luleva in Energy news on January 19, 2013

Despite numerous efforts of critics and opponents of renewable energy to undermine the importance of solar and wind, and to stimulate burning of fossil fuels as an energy source, they cannot keep up with current technological advances and sustainable development policies. Various green energy projects demonstrate that the key to ‘cleaner’ future is to create [...]

US Military Embraces Microgrids for Security, Self-Reliance

Posted by Leigh Kim in Energy news on January 10, 2013

The US Department of Defense (DoD) consumes more petroleum than any other organization in the world, and the DoD’s military operations create the biggest demand for all forms of energy. To add a layer of complication, military bases in the US and abroad currently use aging transmission systems that are prone to cyber-terrorism and are [...]