Wind Power News: News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Suzlon launches turbines for low wind speeds
Suzlon Energy on Thursday launched a new range of large capacity wind turbine machines suitable for low wind speeds. Addressing the launch of the S9X suite of wind turbines here today at the 3-day conference on wind power, Suzlon’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Tulsi R. Tanti, said the 2-MW class turbines were specifically designed for moderate and low wind regimes. As the emerging economies increasingly focus on renewable energy, there is a need for products tailored to meet the . . .
GE wind turbine towers reach 130 m
GE is introducing taller wind turbine towers for its onshore wind turbine product line, bringing hub heights to 130 m. The taller towers will initially be offered for GE’s 2.5 MW series including the 2.75-103 wind turbine. “We continuously strive to increase value for our customers. The taller tower which will also be available for our new 2.75-103 is the next step in our evolutionary product portfolio,” says Stephan Ritter, General Manager of GE Renewable Energy Europe. “With taller towers, . . .
Wind and wave energies are not renewable after all
Build enough wind farms to replace fossil fuels and we could do as much damage to the climate as greenhouse global warming. WITNESS a howling gale or an ocean storm, and it’s hard to believe that humans could make a dent in the awesome natural forces that created them. Yet that is the provocative suggestion of one physicist who has done the sums. He concludes that it is a mistake to assume that energy sources like wind and waves are . . .
Bird group calls for end to wind energy due to threats to species
Irony of ironies, wind energy — a preferred form of renewable energy among environmentalists — has animal rights advocates concerned about the hundreds of thousands of birds killed by wind turbines. On Tuesday an international bird watchdog group based in Spain, Save the Eagles International (STEI), warned that the expected construction of 3.5 million wind turbines worldwide will result in the extinction of a variety of bird species. STEI is calling for a moratorium on all wind farm construction and . . .
Iberdrola Renovables to slash wind power growth in 2012
The world’s biggest wind farm developer Iberdrola Renovables plans to slash growth in 2012, the company said in a presentation to investors. The Group maintains its strategic objectives after recording €2.87 billion profit last year. The Company will invest €5.6 billion in networks, excluding the €2.4 billion acquisition of Brazilian distribution company Elektro, €5.3 billion in renewables and €2.2 billion in generation and retail. Average annual Ebitda and recurring net earnings growth are projected between 5-9%, maintaining policy on shareholder . . .
New study yields better turbine spacing for large wind farms
Large wind farms are being built around the world as a cleaner way to generate electricity, but operators are still searching for the most cost-effective and efficient way to arrange the massive turbines that turn moving air into power. To help steer wind farm owners in the right direction, Charles Meneveau, a Johns Hopkins fluid mechanics and turbulence expert, working with a colleague in Belgium, has devised a new formula through which the optimal spacing for a large array of . . .
Big new wind turbines too close together, says top boffin
A top American fluid-dynamics boffin says that new, larger wind turbines now going into service are going to have to be placed much further apart – which will have serious implications for the amount of energy produced by wind farms of the future. The latest wind farms now going into service use huge turbines with rotor diameters in the 100m range, expected to offer large outputs. But according to engineering professor and fluid dynamics expert Charles Meneveau of Johns Hopkins . . .
Wind turbines need to be farther apart, suggests study
A new formula has been devised to help wind farm owners generate energy more cost efficiently. Charles Meneveau, a Johns Hopkins University (JHU) fluid mechanics and turbulence expert, working with a colleague in Belgium, has devised the new precept through which the optimal spacing for a large array of turbines can be obtained. ‘I believe our results are quite robust,’ said Meneveau, who is the Louis Sardella Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the university’s Whiting School of Engineering. ‘They indicate . . .
Vestas and GWEC launch wind energy consumer standard
Asked about the difficulties of proving a product had actually been made from wind energy, a GWEC spokeswoman said: “What is important is we drive development of new wind farms. It doesn’t matter where you get your electrons as long as you drive wind power development.” The wind industry has grouped together to launch ‘WindMade’, a consumer standard designed to highlight products made by wind energy-friendly companies. The standard has been launched by companies and groups including Vestas, GWEC, Bloomberg, . . .
Renewable energy group IRENA seeks big budget rise
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is seeking a more than ten-fold increase in its annual budget to promote sustainable energy, its interim director-general said on Tuesday. “For the type of work we are thinking about, the optimal budget is about $250 to $300 million,” Adnan Amin told reporters. “It is realistic to expect growth in the budget in the medium term.” Abu Dhabi-headquartered IRENA currently has an annual budget of about $20 million. IRENA is optimistic of securing such . . .
