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.
Wind, solar, hydro power all up for discussion with Camden Select Board
CAMDEN – Camden will dive into renewable energy conversations Tuesday evening, Jan. 7, at a regularly scheduled Select Board meeting, as the town explores solar power options for municipal operations, as well as wind and hydro energy. It’s not a new topic for the Select Board, but the outline provided by Town Manager Audra Caler-Bell drills into the details the town needs to consider before committing to any options. Citizens, including those serving on the Camden Energy and Sustainability Committee, have . . . Complete story »
Study: offshore renewable energy installations rough on marine life
Offshore renewable energy installations are lauded for their potential to combat climate change but they can also inflict a heavy toll on marine life and their ecosystems, according to a study released Tuesday. The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, reports that as more countries and companies around the world embrace greener, marine-based technologies that help communities fulfill their energy needs, it is becoming evident that such technology can wreak havoc on underwater marine life if . . . Complete story »
Orsted says ‘you can’t have it both ways’ on price and local benefits
The offshore wind sector is increasingly having to tell politicians they can’t have it both ways over cheaper power and demands for local benefits such as jobs, said a senior executive at global industry pacesetter Orsted. Christina Aabo, head of R&D at the Danish offshore wind giant, said expansion into new global markets is creating the need for frank discussions with policymakers keen to secure high-profile benefits while at the same time insisting on rock-bottom electricity prices. “As we step . . . Complete story »
This wood is key to wind power. Too bad there’s a shortage
The rollout of new wind power projects could be delayed by a shortage of balsa wood. Better known for its use in model aircraft, table-tennis rackets and surfboards, balsa is a key component of many wind turbine blade cores because it is both strong and lightweight. But that could be a problem for the immediate future of renewable energy. Balsa wood prices have almost doubled in the past year, which could affect planned wind farms. “Balsa has one of the . . . Complete story »
Swedish wind firm to take Clashindarroch II proposals to the people
Swedish energy firm Vattenfall is set to take proposals for a second Aberdeenshire wind farm to local residents in a bid to move the project forward. The 70 megawatt (MW) Clashindarroch II development will consist of 14 turbines, each almost 600 feet in height. The project will be close to Vattenfall’s operational Clashindarroch Wind Farm, which opened in 2015, near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Vattenfall said it wants locals to review and discuss the latest project plans. A number of dates . . . Complete story »
Siemens Gamesa plans 600 job cuts as ‘headwinds’ persist
Wind OEM Siemens Gamesa unveiled plans to cut 600 further jobs to protect profitability in a “tough market”, but said it is well placed to benefit from the sector’s strong long-term outlook after record commercial activity last year. Siemens Gamesa said the staff reductions, affecting white collar workers, will help it stay competitive following a “transitional year” in 2020 for the industry, which is still experiencing the impact of “adverse factors” such as ongoing price pressures, rising costs and regulatory . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind gets a warning from its biggest developer
The world’s biggest developer of offshore wind farms issued a reality check to the industry, saying it has overestimated the amount of time its turbines are generating electricity. Copenhagen-based Orsted A/S announced that offshore wind farms wouldn’t produce quite as much power as previously forecast. The adjustment could shave millions of dollars of revenue a year off each project. It’s also a warning to other developers who may have used similar analysis to estimate the economics of their projects. Orsted . . . Complete story »
4 truckloads of wind turbine parts delivered to Kahuku after 6 more arrests
One small sacrifice to help a bigger cause. That’s what Kahuku resident Dana Yamauchi figured he’d do by getting arrested before dawn today near the site of a 25-megawatt wind farm planned in his community. “Even if it makes just a little bit of change,” he said. “It’s the effort that counts. It means so much to me that this is going to be worth it. I’m proud to be from Kahuku.” Yamauchi was one of three people arrested by . . . Complete story »
Police arrest 55 protesters seeking to block wind-energy farm in Hawaii
Environmentalists have long raised objections to fossil-fuel energy sources such as oil, coal and natural gas, but it turns out not everyone is wild about wind power, either. Fifty-five protesters were arrested Friday in Hawaii as they blocked roads to stop wind turbines and other heavy equipment from reaching the construction site for the Na Pua Makani Wind Project, the latest protest aimed at stopping the eight turbines from being erected in Kahuku. “Today is not the end. We’re still . . . Complete story »
‘Most renewable energy companies’ linked with claims of abuses in mines
Most of the world’s top companies extracting key minerals for electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines have been linked with human rights abuses in their mines, research has found. Analysis published by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), an international corporate watchdog, revealed that 87% of the 21 largest companies mining cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel and zinc – the six minerals essential to the renewable energy industry – have faced allegations of abuse including land rights . . . Complete story »
