Wind Power Solutions » Wind Turbines

U.S. Companies File Complaint Over China’s Steel Subsidies

By MATTHEW L. WALD and KEITH BRADSHER — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:10:07 +0000

The four American companies, makers of towers for wind turbines, sought tariffs of about 60 percent on rivals in China and Vietnam.

Wind turbines are supposed to like the wind!

Click Green Staff — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:51:00 +0000

Huge wind turbine erupts in flames as 165mph winds strike Scotland These amazing pictures show the moment a huge wind turbine erupted in flames after it was struck by hurricane-force winds in Scotland. Local photographer Stuart McMahon from Ardossan, North Ayrshire, snapped the fireball as it wrecked the turbine earlier this afternoon. Stuart told ClickGreen tonight the blades on the 30mw turbine had been braked and were not turning as the ferocious winds swept across Scotland. "It was clear that the turbine caught fire first and the flames spread to the covering of blades," he said. "There was debris still on fire being swept off in the wind and across the fields." "These are huge structures and to see one on fire was a spectacular sight." "The fire must have lasted for about 15 or 20 minutes until the fire brigade turned up to put out the fire." The Ardrossan wind farm was sold by Scottish and Southern Energy to Infinis last year for £54 million. It comprises of 15 turbines with the capacity to power about 29,500 homes.

Where are we now as a planet

soladood — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 23:05:59 +0000

Well i must say, it’s been quite a while since did any blogging on this space – something that i think i should be getting back into given my passion on this subject:)

It seems in a lot of instances, wind power has been getting a bad rap lately due to the noise that they create.

A few months ago, we were driving along the freeway from Sydney to Melbourne. I looked out the window only to see a huge wind turbine – doing its thing.

We drive a little further and their they were – at least 20-30 wind turbines – all spinning in harmony with each other – incredible sight i must say!

The noise they are proclaimed to be emitting, didn’t seem to be any different to that as the wind rushes past the window as our car drives on. In fact, if you had shut yours eyes as you drive past these huge structures, was no different to anywhere else as we drove the 1000km stretch of road.

All opinions are valid of course, but i think it’s time to actually bring this subject to the surface for a healthy discussion – indeed:)

First – i wonder what the residents of this building (video below) are experiencing with regards to noise pollution?

till next…

Green Blog: Tapping the Tappan Zee for Wind

By MATTHEW L. WALD — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:58:18 +0000

A town supervisor in Westchester County suggests that a new Tappan Zee Bridge should include wind turbines.

Green Blog: Gains for Small Wind Turbines

By THE NEW YORK TIMES — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:22:52 +0000

In the United States, industry experts caution that 2011 will be a tougher year, even though a 30 percent tax credit is to continue until the end of 2016.

Humboldt Residents Say Not In My Backyard To Wind Farm

Gina-Marie Cheeseman — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:02:00 +0000

A proposed wind power project in California’s Humboldt County ShellWind Energy, Inc. (SWE) is drawing some serious "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) responses. During a Ferndale City Council meeting on September 1, 2011, residents expressed concerns about construction noise, use of large trucks, the visual impact of the wind turbines, light pollution and the effect on property values, the Eureka Times Standard reports. Prior to the meeting, residents sent letters to the Ferndale City Council opposing the project. According to the Eureka Standard Times, one of the letters said, "This project could have a major impact on the lives of residents of both the city of Ferndale and the Eel River Valley. Citizens’ questions and concerns must be addressed before any final decision are reached on a project of this magnitude."

Green: A Smarter Wind Technology

By THE NEW YORK TIMES — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:29:50 +0000

Manufacturers are making strides in wind power technology: turbines are not just getting bigger, but are also becoming more finely tuned to the wind.

Bats and Birds Face Serious Threats From Growth of Wind Energy

By UMAIR IRFAN of ClimateWire — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:03:08 +0000

Spinning blades and fluttering wings are clashing more frequently as greater numbers of wind turbines are installed throughou...

Green Column: Wind Power Gains as Gear Improves

By KATE GALBRAITH — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:30:02 +0000

Turbines have grown larger and more effective, with some models capable of producing 300 times as much power as those sold 15 years ago.

Companies Recruit Rock Climbing Enthusiasts to Repair Wind Turbines

By JOEY PETERS of ClimateWire — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:33:10 +0000

When repairing wind turbines became his full-time job five years ago, Josh Crayton was awed by what he calls "the fantasticne...

Wind in 2011

Andy Soos, ENN — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Some people like the concept of wind/renewable power. There are some who do not. Nevertheless society needs energy to run its desired lifestyle. So how are we in 2011 so far? The AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) indicated that the first quarter of 2011 saw over 1,100 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed -- more than double the capacity installed in the first quarter of 2010. The U.S. wind industry had 40,181 MW of wind power capacity installed at the end of 2010, with 5,116 MW installed in 2010 alone. The U.S. wind industry has added over 35% of all new generating capacity over the past 4 years, second only to natural gas, and more than nuclear and coal combined. Today, U.S. wind power capacity represents more than 20% of the world’s installed wind power. Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 400 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. make components for wind turbines, and dedicated wind facilities that manufacture major components such as towers, blades and assembled nacelles can be found in every region.

Bats worth billions

Jeremy Hance — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:30:00 +0000

US agriculture stands to lose billions in free ecosystem services from the often-feared and rarely respected humble bat. According to a recent study in Science bats in North America provide the US agricultural industry at least $3.7 billion and up to a staggering $53 billion a year by eating mounds of potentially pesky insects. Yet these bats, and their economic services, are under threat by a perplexing disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS) and to a lesser extent wind turbines.

Green Development? Not in My (Liberal) Backyard

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:59:12 +0000

Bike lanes? Wind turbines? Mass transit? All great developments for progressives — until they have to live with them.

Green: When Wind Farms Trump House Cats

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:10:30 +0000

While cats are a far greater than wind turbines are to small birds, that doesn't hold true for endangered species like the whooping crane, golden eagle or sage grouse.

Green: When Wind Farms Trump House Cats

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:24:34 +0000

While cats are a far greater than wind turbines are to small birds, that doesn't hold true for endangered species like the whooping crane, golden eagle or sage grouse.

Tweety Was Right: Cats Are a Bird’s No. 1 Enemy

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:30:27 +0000

While public attention has focused on wind turbines as a menace to birds, a new study shows that a far greater threat may be posed by a more familiar antagonist: the house cat.

Why Birds Fly into Power Lines and Similar

Andy Soos, ENN — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:06:00 +0000

Birds are different from human beings obviously. Birds have been known to fly into objects and knock themselves out. Why does this happen? A sensory ecology framework is used in a new research study to seek to assess why flying birds collide with prominent structures, such as power lines, fences, communication masts, wind turbines and buildings, which intrude into the open airspace. Such collisions occur under conditions of both high and low visibility. It is argued that a human perspective of the problems posed by these obstacles is unhelpful. Birds live in a different visual world. When in flight, birds may turn their heads in both pitch and yaw to look down, either with the binocular field or with the lateral part of an eye’s visual field. Such behavior may be usual for them and results in certain species being at least temporarily blind in the direction of travel.

Green: Testing Your Environmental Principles

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:26:09 +0000

Why do people who say they care about the environment sometimes act as though they don't when it comes to a specific change?

Green: Washington Invests in Making Wind Pay

By MATTHEW L. WALD — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:56:46 +0000

The Obama administration plans to establish four "wind energy areas" off the mid-Atlantic states and provide information to potential investors about their geophysical attributes.

Green: For Devotees of Wind Power, a New Product Label

By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:26:25 +0000

The label would guarantee that a product was manufactured with some wind power.