Wind Power News: General 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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Renewable power’s big mistake was a promise to always get cheaper
Renewable-energy producers have long touted the promise of cheap electricity, an assurance that’s helped them eat into the dominance of fossil fuels. But the pledge has gone too far, according to the world’s biggest wind-turbine maker. Manufacturers such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S are seeing losses pile up as orders collapse at a time when they should be capitalizing on the turmoil in natural-gas markets. To blame – at least in part – is the industry’s insistence that clean electricity can only . . . Complete story »
Siemens Energy shares hit record low as wind turbine problems mount
Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) warned on Wednesday sales and margins this year would be at the low end of its forecast range due to worsening problems at wind turbine division Siemens Gamesa (SGREN.MC), which has been hit hard by supply chain disruptions. Shares in the company, which was spun off from Siemens (SIEGn.DE) in 2020, fell as much as 6.1% to their lowest level since they were separately listed, highlighting the need for a quick structural fix of Spanish-listed Siemens Gamesa. . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind turbines can affect the weather on land, Danish research shows
Research from Denmark shows that offshore wind turbines can affect the weather several thousand kilometers away. According to research from the Danish Meteorological Institute, wind farms affect wind speed, precipitation, and temperature. The wind farms’ impact can be traced far inland. Professor Eigil Kaas says he is a strong supporter of wind turbines but notes that it is important to investigate how they affect the surrounding area. “And when there is a violent development of wind turbine (projects) in both . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine makers struggle to find pricing power
Wind turbine makers racked up hefty losses last quarter, swelled by rocketing costs and cut-throat competition despite being more in demand than ever. The industry started seeing a steep decline in prices and increased competition back in 2017 as some governments moved away from generous, fixed, subsidised tariffs for power toward an auction-based system that favours the lowest bidders. Profits have been pummelled further by COVID-19, runaway metals prices, politically-motivated import duties and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. . . . Complete story »
Cement makers burn turbine blades as wind power faces recycling headache
Old wind-turbine blades are getting a new lease on life—in cement. Turbines are mostly made of steel, a widely recyclable material. But their blades are constructed of complex composite materials such as fiberglass and balsa wood that are difficult to separate and process, presenting a recycling challenge. As a result, blades that reach the end of their lives often end up in landfill. Last year, more than 12,000 blades were scrapped globally, according to data provider BloombergNEF, which expects the . . . Complete story »
Wind power’s ‘colossal market failure’ threatens climate fight
Optimism abounds about the future of wind power, with a clean-energy boom powering robust growth in an industry that businesses and governments agree is key to slowing climate change. But a nagging problem could keep the sector from fulfilling that promise: Turbine makers are still struggling to translate soaring demand into profit. Wind power heavyweights Vestas Wind Systems A/S, General Electric Co. and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA are reeling from high raw material and logistics costs, changes in key . . . Complete story »
Die Energiewende bekommt ein Rohstoffproblem | Energy transition has a raw materials problem
Für die Energiewende braucht man enorme Mengen von Spezialrohstoffen. Von denen sind einige bereits jetzt knapp, auf andere haben einzelne Staaten beinahe Monopole. Fachleute warnen schon vor den nächsten Abhängigkeiten. Denn es gibt zwar Lösungswege für das Problem – die aber dauern lange und sind unbeliebt. Wer den Schwachpunkt der Energiewende sucht, muss sich in den Straßen von Belgrad umschauen. Tausende Menschen demonstrierten in den letzten Monaten in der Hauptstadt Serbiens gegen den australisch-britischen Konzern Rio Tinto, der in Jadar . . . Complete story »
Saint John wind farm electricity not allowed on NB Power wires
NB Power is generally less enthusiastic about the potential of wind and has been open about that. In his own presentation to the same committee, NB Power President Keith Cronkhite told MLAs wind often performs poorly on crisp cold winter days when it is needed most and that makes it difficult to rely on. "We don't have that wind diversity that says we can always count on wind blowing regardless of the conditions," said Cronkhite. "Based on technology that we see today it will not solve for those cold days in the winter." Complete story »
Siemens Energy shares hit record low as sell-off continues
Shares in Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) hit a record low on Monday as a sell-off triggered by problems at its wind power division Siemens Gamesa (SGREN.MC) continued following a HSBC downgrade. Siemens Energy’s stock fell as much as 6.9% to 17.805 euros per share, its lowest since the company was spun off from former parent Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) and listed separately in September 2020. On Friday Siemens Energy shares recorded their biggest intraday loss after Siemens Gamesa, in which it owns . . . Complete story »
Say goodbye to clean energy’s era of constantly falling prices
The era of ever-cheaper clean power is over, giving a fresh jolt of uncertainty to global energy markets battered by one supply crisis after another. Relentless price declines over the past decade made renewables the cheapest sources of electricity in much of the world. In the past year, though, prices for solar panels have surged more than 50%. Wind turbines are up 13%, and battery prices are rising for the first time ever. As pandemic-induced supply delays ensnare everything from . . . Complete story »
