tagged w/ Wind Power
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Noise from wind turbine blades, inadvertent bat and bird kills and even the way wind turbines look have made installing them anything but a breeze. New York design firm Atelier DNA has an alternative concept that ditches blades in favor of stalks. Resembling thin cattails, the Windstalks generate electricity when the wind sets them waving. The designers came up with the idea for the planned city Masdar, a 2.3-square-mile, automobile-free area being built outside of Abu Dhabi. Atelier DNA’s "Windstalk"project came in second in the Land Art Generator competition a contest sponsored by Madsar to identify the best work of art that generates renewable energy from a pool of international submissions.Noise from wind turbine blades, inadvertent bat and bird kills and even the way wind... more
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With anti-government zeal in America high and US lawmakers unable to reach a consensus on the size and scope of the federal budget, uncertainty is rampant in the US wind energy community.
http://bit.ly/rZm29PWith anti-government zeal in America high and US lawmakers unable to reach a consensus... more
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Ecotech Institute today announced that it is bolstering the wind energy training and safety labs, offering students access to cutting-edge equipment that prepares them for careers in the wind industry. According to the Department of Energy, wind power is the fastest growing energy source in the world. By using the newest equipment at Ecotech, students will have the most up-to-date training that employers want.
“Ecotech’s Wind Energy Technology Program is arguably the best in the world and our labs are a critical piece of the student experience,” said Mike Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “The ever-growing area of wind energy requires tremendous knowledge and a commitment to learn proper, safe techniques, which this equipment will help provide.”
Ecotech’s holistic teaching approach includes hands-on labs, soft skills (communication, workplace etiquette), math and science basics, technology and more. However, the labs serve as the showcase of the campus and Ecotech has purchased state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that students have the renewable energy training that will help them excel in their careers.
The labs, which will be complete in time for the first graduating class to enjoy, use a wide variety of real-life elements for complete training.
The Wind Training Lab now contains a generator trainer, fiber optic splicing kit, specialty tools, a Lab-Volt Wind Turbine Nacelle Trainer, Lab-Volt Wind Turbine Hub Trainer, and several wind farm simulation software packages.
The Wind Safety Lab now includes a 25-foot climb and rescue tower, Miller Evolution Harnesses and Lanyards, Rescue Randy dummy, Miller Safe Escape Rescue Device, Lab-Volt cranes and a rigging trainer. Ecotech will also soon have a TorcUP torque and tensioning trainer.
“The integrated systems approach offered by LabVolt’s Wind Turbine Training Simulators provide a very realistic view of the functionality and programming of a large, commercial wind turbine,” added Shawn Lamb, program director at Ecotech Institute. “These are leading-edge technologies that effectively prepare students and get them excited about going into the field.”
Ecotech Institute’s Wind Energy Technology program is a two-year associate’s degree program focused on the generation and transmission of energy using wind power. Designed with employer input, graduates will be prepared to enter the workforce as wind energy technicians.
This program might be right for people who:
• love working outdoors.
• want to help develop cleaner, more sustainable energy.
• are interested in working on mechanical devices.
• enjoy math and science.
• like working with power tools to assemble, repair or install.
Learn more about Ecotech’s Wind Energy program at www.ecotechinstitute.com/wind-energy-technology-schools.cfm.
Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, launched in Aurora, Colorado in April 2010 with seven highly practical degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers.Ecotech Institute today announced that it is bolstering the wind energy training and... more
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The Germans have installed over 10,000 megawatts of solar panels in the past two years, enough to power 2 million American homes (or most of Los Angeles, CA). If Americans installed local solar at the same torrid pace, we could already power most of the Mountain West, could have a 100 percent solar nation by 2026, while enriching thousands of local communities with new development and jobs.
The following map shows what could have happened had the U.S. kept pace with Germany on solar power in the past two years (installed the same megawatts on a per capita basis). Sunshine could power 10 states!
Solar Would Power the Mountain West if The U.S. Kept Pace with Germany
The spread of solar has also been in harmony with environmental goals. Rather than covering natural areas or fertile land with solar panels, 80 percent of the solar installed in Germany was on rooftops and built to a local scale (100 kilowatts or smaller – the roof of a church or a Home Depot store). Solar in the U.S. also can use existing space. The following map shows the amount of a state’s electricity that could come from rooftop solar alone, from our 2009 report Energy Self-Reliant States.
While the local rooftop solar potential of these states varies from 19 to 51 percent, there’s much more land available for solar without covering parks or crops. Once again, data from Energy Self-Reliant States (p. 13):
“On either side of 4 million miles of roads, the U.S. has approximately 60 million acres (90,000 square miles) of right of way. If 10 percent the right of way could be used, over 2 million MW of roadside solar PV could provide close to 100 percent of the electricity consumption in the country. In California, solar PV on a quarter of the 230,000 acres of right of way could supply 27% of state consumption.”
Such local solar power also provides enormous economic benefits. For every megawatt of solar installed, as many as 8 jobs are created. But the economic multiplier is significantly higher for locally owned projects, made possible when solar is built at a local scale as the Germans have done.
With local ownership, making America a 100% solar nation could create nearly 10 million jobs, and add as much as $450 billion to the U.S. economy.
The Germans have found the profitable marriage between their energy and environmental policy. It’s time for America to discover the same.
– John Farrel, via CleanTechnica. This post originally appeared on Energy Self-Reliant States, a resource of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s New Rules Project.
More at websiteThe Germans have installed over 10,000 megawatts of solar panels in the past two... more
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By Andrew Webster
Solar powered vehicle chargers are becoming increasingly popular, but until now we haven't yet seen a wind powered EV charger. Enter the Ecotricity turbine powered charger in Reading, England.
Located in a business park, the EV charger is able to power two cars at once, and actually makes use of solar power as well as wind. In addition to a wind turbine it features a large solar panel for gathering energy.
The charger is free-to-use and reportedly can fully charge a car in under two hours. While it is the first dual-power charger to be installed, Ecotricity has also been building what's being called the "Electric Highway," by installing solar-powered EV chargers at motorway service stations across the UK.
12 stations are expected to have chargers installed by next month while 27 will have them in the next 18 months.
"We're creating the infrastructure to get Britain's electric car revolution moving," said Ecotricity founder Dale Vance.
"This marks the beginning of the end for the old combustion engine. With world oil prices going through the roof, you'll now be able to get around Britain using only the power of the wind It costs just over 1p a mile in an electric vehicle, compared to 15.4p in a petrol car (at today's oil prices)."
Via InhabitatBy Andrew Webster
Solar powered vehicle chargers are becoming increasingly popular,... more
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LOrion
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6 months ago
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Hi! All interetsd in supporting ALTERNAternative enrgy for all day is sept. 22nd. 2011 a DAY TO SUPPORT GREEN ALTERNATIVE ENRGYU! THANKS! DR. EDSON ANDRE' JOHNSON D.D.U.L.C.Hi! All interetsd in supporting ALTERNAternative enrgy for all day is sept. 22nd.... more
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Ecotech now has seven computer labs, nine clean energy labs and 11 lecture classrooms, including labs that focus on electricity, electronics, solar, wind and safety, as well as one outdoor solar residence lab. All labs offer progressive equipment to facilitate practical learning of basic and advanced electronics, the fundamentals and applications of wind and solar power generation and safety skills. Electricity, electronics, power, solar and hydraulics labs contain Lab-Volt® systems.Ecotech now has seven computer labs, nine clean energy labs and 11 lecture classrooms,... more
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In the Loop City segment, Bjarke Ingles brings up the subject of energy efficiency by describing how development of the new transit system would combine Sweden’s hydro-electricity and Denmark’s wind power. This combination of power grids would in turn create a continuous loop of energy supplying both regions with alternating power sources thereby reducing the likelihood of brownouts or blackouts.
As summer begins to heat up, we are reminded that power drain is a major source of concern for most urban areas. The great northeast blackout in 2003 affected more than 55 million people in densely populated areas, such as Cleveland, Baltimore and New York. A computer failure in an already stressed and deteriorating system caused one of the most widespread power outages in history.
Since the blackout urban areas have ramped up contingency plans for the possibility of future events, including increased training of emergency service providers, harsher penalties for price gauging during times of crisis and emergency alert systems that run on alternative power. Energy saving campaigns were also implemented with media reminders to individuals and business owners to set their thermostats higher in the summer months and lower in the winter months, to buy new, energy-saving CFL light bulbs and to provide incentives to those who purchase energy-saving appliances with cash refunds. Other reminders to limit energy consumption have become commonplace.
Do you think your community is doing enough to prevent another power failure like the northeast blackout? What are some measures you take on a daily basis to limit your energy consumption?
In the Loop City segment, Bjarke Ingles brings up the subject of energy efficiency by... more
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Following in the footsteps of other common consumer labels such as the recycling, cruelty free or USDA Organic labels, WindMade will offer consumers the ability to make informed choices about the products they purchase.
The WindMade label requires that companies acquire a minimum of 25% of their electricity from wind power.
Keep reading: http://t.co/kxry0ooFollowing in the footsteps of other common consumer labels such as the recycling,... more
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Think of it as the Autobahn of wind power.
To retain their position as leaders in the clean energy race, Germany, a nation that produces more wind power than in any other European country, is planning an energy superhighway. The wind power corridor will run the length of the country from north to south, and will serve to connect Germany's growing wind energy supply with high energy demand regions.
Learn more: http://t.co/UT6dLKsThink of it as the Autobahn of wind power.
To retain their position as leaders in... more
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When you think of wind power, you think of giant turbines harnessing big breezes. But industrial designers in China have developed a device that can capture the wind created by trains as they whoosh down the track. The "T-Box" device is installed between railroad ties and buried half-underground so as to not interfere with normal train operation. As the train passes overhead, the whooshing wind spins a turbine inside the T-Box to generate electricity.
LINK : http://news.discovery.com/tech/device-harnesses-wind-power-from-passing-trains-110404.htmlWhen you think of wind power, you think of giant turbines harnessing big breezes. But... more
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Until 2008, the U.S. held the top position in the world in private investment of clean energy, but its position is deteriorating.
In 2010, China took the top spot, followed by Germany.
"The United States' position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain," says Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's Clean Energy Program, which released a report today.
"We are at risk of losing even more financing to countries like China, Germany and India, which have adopted strong policies such as renewable energy standards, carbon reduction targets and/or incentives for investment and production."
Globally, 2010 clean energy finance and investments grew by 30% to a record $243 billion. The US received $34 billion in equity last year, a 51% increase from 2009. However, the gap with China, which attracted a record $54.4 billion, continues to widen. Germany also attracted more money than the U.S. with $41.2 billion, claiming the number two spot, up from third the previous year.Until 2008, the U.S. held the top position in the world in private investment of clean... more
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ptr23
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Central Finding
The overarching finding of this study is that a zero-CO2 U.S. economy can
be achieved within the next thirty to fifty years without the use of nuclear
power and without acquiring carbon credits from other countries. In other
words, actual physical emissions of CO2 from the energy sector can be
eliminated with technologies that are now available or foreseeable. This
can be done at reasonable cost while creating a much more secure
energy supply than at present. Net U.S. oil imports can be eliminated in
about 25 years. All three insecurities – severe climate disruption, oil supply
and price insecurity, and nuclear proliferation via commercial nuclear
energy – will thereby be addressed. In addition, there will be large
ancillary health benefits from the elimination of most regional and local air
pollution, such as high ozone and particulate levels in cities, which is due
to fossil fuel combustion.
http://www.ieer.org/carbonfree/covercfnf.jpgCentral Finding
The overarching finding of this study is that a zero-CO2 U.S.... more
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Cargill, an international shipping company, recently partnered with Hamburg-based SkySails to use wind power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industry.
SkySails developed a patented technology that uses a giant kite which flies ahead of a vessel to augment the power of its engines.
Next December Cargill will install a 320m2 kite on a handysize vessel of between 25,000 and 30,000 deadweight tonnes. The kite will generate enough propulsion to reduce consumption of bunker fuel by up to 35 percent in ideal sailing conditions.
Read more: http://ow.ly/48BJnCargill, an international shipping company, recently partnered with Hamburg-based... more
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Makani Power's flying power generator began with a simple question: If almost all wind power comes from the very tip of a windmill's rotor blade, can one build a turbine that is just the tip? The solution, it turned out, involved cross-breeding a conventional windmill with a model planes.
:http://www.livescience.com/13074-makani-power-flying-wind-power-turbine.htmlMakani Power's flying power generator began with a simple question: If almost all... more
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suzane
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11 months ago
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The Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior this week announced the first-ever inter-agency plan to rapidly develop massive offshore wind farms. The plan is designed to encourage private industry to develop offshore wind farms -- and to produce enough energy to contribute to the Administration's goal of generating 80% of the nation's electricity from clean sources by 2035. If the plans come to fruition, the United States could see thousands of square nautical miles of ocean off the coast of the eastern United States developed into wind farms in the coming decade.
"The primary benefit of close collaboration between the Department of Energy and Department of the Interior is to demonstrate the strong commitment of the federal government to developing the nation's offshore wind energy resources in a responsible manner," said Tom Welch, a spokesperson for the Department of Energy.
At a joint press conference announcing the initiative earlier this week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar each announced their respective agencies' specific new programs to help foster private development.
more at link...The Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior this week announced the... more
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Bridges are generally exposed to the elements, meaning they generally get a nice dose of sunlight often coupled with some fairly strong crosswinds. For these reasons this “Solar Wind” bridge design would seem to make a lot of sense. The proposed bridge would harness solar energy through a grid of solar cells embedded in the road surface, while wind turbines integrated into the spaces between the bridge’s pillars would be used to generate electricity from the crosswinds.
The brainchild of Italian designers Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino, the Solar Wind concept was designed for the Solar Park Works – Solar Highway competition that asked entrants to modernize sections of a decommissioned elevated highway stretching between Bagnera and Scilla in Italy.
The road surface would replace traditional asphalt with 20 km (12.4 miles) of “solar roadways” consisting of a dense grid of solar cells coated with a transparent and durable plastic coating providing 11.2 million kWh per year. The designers say this system, combined with the 26 wind turbines integrated underneath the bridge generating 36 million kWh per year, would provide enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes.
In addition to the “solar roadways,” the top surface of the bridge would also include a “green promenade” along its length comprising solar greenhouses for growing local produce. Drivers would be able to stop along the bridge to buy some fresh fruit and veggies while enjoying panoramic bridge views (an idea which strikes us as "a bridge too far" for this concept).
The Solar Wind entry was awarded second prize in the Solar Park Works – Solar Highway competition and the design clearly has merit. The integration of wind turbines into the underside of high altitude bridge exposed to constant strong winds seems like a particularly good idea – given that this could be achieved from a structural engineering point of view. Let's hope someone will see the concept and run with it.
http://www.gizmag.com/solar-wind-bridge-concept/17771/Bridges are generally exposed to the elements, meaning they generally get a nice dose... more
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The caretakers of the Empire State Building have announced a change to a 100% renewable energy source.The caretakers of the Empire State Building have announced a change to a 100%... more
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A new study published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research has found that a wind turbine's color can impact how many insects it attracts, a finding that could help reduce the number of birds and bats that become entangled in the blades while searching for their dinner.
Find out which colors were the most dangerous: http://ow.ly/36fnFA new study published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research has found that a... more
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