Wind Power News: General News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Offshore wind farms are vulnerable to cyberattacks
The emerging technology lacks the regulatory framework necessary to protect itself Summary: Researchers have presented a new study on cyberattack risks to offshore wind farms in Glasgow, United Kingdom. They looked specifically at wind farms that use voltage-source-converter high-voltage direct-current (VSC-HVDC) connections, which are rapidly becoming the most cost-effective solution to harvest offshore wind energy around the world. They found that their complex, hybrid-communication architecture presents multiple access points for cyberattacks. The hurrying pace of societal electrification is encouraging from . . . Complete story »
Blown away: almost 70% of animals displaced from homes by wind-power developments
Wildlife and wind turbines are an uncomfortable mix. Rotating turbine blades can make short work of anything unlucky enough to collide with them, but direct mortality is only part of the story. Having reviewed the available evidence from around the world, biologists in Finland have found that 63 per cent of bird species, 72 per cent of bats and 67 per cent of terrestrial mammals are displaced from areas where turbines are installed. Some of the most pronounced effects were . . . Complete story »
Somerton wind turbine damaged during Storm Elin
Part of a wind turbine blade broke off and landed in a field amid strong winds during Storm Elin. The turbine is one of a pair built in 2015 at Blood Hill in Somerton near Great Yarmouth. Part of the structure landed about 20m (65ft) from the turbine tower on Saturday. The blade shows signs of damage. The turbine was managed by E.on until 2012, when it was sold. The BBC has attempted to identify the owner. A set of . . . Complete story »
Renewables ‘not replacing fossil fuels’
Renewables are still just meeting increased demand for electricity rather than replacing fossil fuels, according to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook. The report finds that between 2017-2022 fossil fuels met 51% of new energy demand, despite a rapid buildout of renewable capacity. Solar installations reached a record 250GW in 2022, according to the research. Wind power will deliver 7% of global grid-connected electricity and installed capacity will double by 2030, despite inflationary and supply chain headwinds, DNV forecast. However, in the . . . Complete story »
As offshore wind ramps up, scientists flag potential impacts
Last year, the Biden administration announced an ambitious goal: enough offshore wind to power 10 million homes by 2030. The move would reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, and strengthen energy security. It would also help the United States – which was responsible for just 0.1 percent of the world’s offshore wind capacity last year – catch up with renewable energy leaders like China and Europe. The plan is already well underway: Massive turbines are rising off the coast of Massachusetts, and more . . . Complete story »
Clean energy’s latest problem is creaky wind turbines
The ill wind blowing for clean-energy windmills just got stronger. Siemens Energy shares fell 36% on Friday morning after the company withdrew its fiscal 2023 profit guidance late Thursday. Components in wind turbines made by its subsidiary Siemens Gamesa are wearing out faster than expected. The news isn’t just a blow for the company’s shareholders, but for all investors and policy makers betting on the rapid rollout of renewable power. The problem appears to involve critical parts like bearings and . . . Complete story »
Massive energy corporation says up to 30% of its wind turbines could be malfunctioning
Siemens Energy announced Thursday that it will be undergoing a technical review after it was found that up to 30% of its wind turbines could have faulty components, according to statements made by the company. Siemens Energy, an international energy company that seeks to “decarbonize global energy systems,” announced that it is withdrawing its profit guidance for the year after subsidiary Siemens Gamesa found that there was a “substantial increase in failure rates of wind turbine components.” The company believes . . . Complete story »
Mining critical to renewable energy tied to hundreds of alleged human rights abuses
Over the past dozen years, hundreds of alleged human rights abuses have been committed by over 90 corporations mining minerals critical to the production of clean energy, a U.K.-based human rights organization said in a report released on Wednesday. The Business and Human Rights Resource Center said the alleged abuses involve global mining for copper, lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel and zinc, all used in critical renewable technologies like solar panels, vehicle batteries and windmills. The abuses, the report concluded, stem . . . Complete story »
The true cost of energy generated from wind turbines
Contrary to mainstream belief, wind turbines are neither effective nor, in many cases, good for the environment. Claims of wind power being pro-environment often do not consider the damaging effects these projects can have on wildlife and ecosystems, thus hiding the “true cost” of such initiatives. Wind power projects can threaten birds that fly within their vicinity and trigger a decline in their population; it can harm marine life due to noise pollution, and affect the growth of plants in . . . Complete story »
Renewable energy growth brings mounting waste challenge
Driven primarily by wind and solar power, renewable energy sources surpassed coal for electricity generation in the United States last year, marking a significant milestone. However, as the industry expands, a new problem emerges: what to do with the mounting waste generated by worn-out solar panels and wind turbine blades. More than 90% of discarded solar panels end up in landfills. By 2030, the retired panels are estimated to cover an area equivalent to about 3,000 football fields. But the . . . Complete story »