By Michael d'Estries
October 28, 2008 – 3:38 pm
After enjoying success at 250 sites across Scotland, wind energy firm Cascade Engineering is ready to bring their Swift turbine to Canada and the United States.
The feature most championed on these turbines is their relative quiet. Like others, the Swift features blades for catching the wind. To reduce noise, however, those five blades are encompassed by a ring. This element brings the noise level down to 35 decibels and reduces vibration, according to the company.
Additionally, the turbine can be attached to a home — rather than require the use of a pole or tower. From CNET,
The turbine, with a 7-foot diameter, also has two fins to direct the turbine to face the wind. It can turn 360 degrees and shut down if the wind is too high. It can generate 1.5 kilowatts with 14 mile-per-hour wind and about 2,000 kilowatt-hours over a year, the company said. U.S. households typically consume between 6,500 and 10,000 kilowatt-hours in a year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Current cost before tax rebates and other state and federal incentives is $10K. Cascade estimates the payback on the upfront cost can be as low as three years, but that it varies widely. Check out their official website for more info.
via CNET
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By Michael d'Estries
October 9, 2008 – 7:37 pm
Ericsson already has an environmental winner with their Tower Tube Cell Towers (which use 40% less energy than traditional towers), but they’ve taken the idea one step further with the integration of a vertical-axis turbine.
The wind-powered version comes with a four-blade turbine with five-meter blades. The vertical advantage allows the blades to turn around the tower resulting in less noise and less visual impact than typical wind turbines. Ulf Ewaldsson, Vice President and Head of Product Area Radio at Ericsson, says: “Combining wind power with Ericsson’s Tower Tube brings further opportunities to support mobile communication in both urban and remote areas with no or limited access to the electricity grid. Ericsson’s wind-powered Tower Tube research initiative reflects our ambition to use our technical leadership to drive sustainable, telecom expansion and deliver communication for all.”
Very cool — and it’s great to see Ericsson working hard to combine different elements of sustainable tech with their towers. The addition of the vertical-axis turbine is still in the trial stages, so stay tuned to see how quickly these come to market.
Check out the full press release here.
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By Michael d'Estries
October 2, 2008 – 1:49 pm
One of the more interesting aspects of the renewable power revolution is watching how designers are taking advantage of the technology to create efficient and practical accessories for the home. Take for instance the “Flow” — which is a collection of six photovoltaic panels crafted as a vertical turbine. It’s the brainchild of designer Wang Yigang, who managed to grab top honors with his creation at the National Exhibition of Arts.
From the article,
“This dual power generating system consists of arciform photovoltaic cells that absorb all the goodness of the sun. A collection of six photovoltaic cells sums up as a shell that is used as wind concentrator. The accelerated speed of the wind enhances the performance of the rotor. Also the joints on the solar cells help to adjust them at optimum angle so that maximum solar energy is soaked up.”
Nice looking, right? I’ve no idea how much energy a system like this might generate, but it’s great to see designers thinking outside the box. Now, can we please see one turned into reality?
More photos available at Ecofriend.
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By Kate Weinkauf
July 31, 2008 – 2:02 pm
Thanks to Iberdrola Renewables, a global energy company with headquarters in Spain, Arizona will be developing its first wind farm. Salt River Project (SRP) officials said the proposed plant is to be built about 18 miles northwest of Snowflake with turbines stretching more than 300 feet high. It is expected to cost roughly $100 million and be fully operational by next year. Currently, SRP has a 20-year contract with Iberdrola to buy 63 megawatts of energy starting before 2010. One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 250 homes at once in SRP territory.
Both SRP and Arizona Public Service Co. have been buying electricity generated at New Mexico wind farms. Thus, Arizona maintaining its own wind farm provides an alternative to buying energy generated from farms elsewhere while simultaneously creating more job opportunities within Arizona’s struggling economy. And frankly, the wind farm proposal could not be more timely as Arizonans are clamoring for more renewable energy sources and cost-effective energy alternatives.
via azcentral
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By Michael d'Estries
April 5, 2008 – 2:31 pm
Man, every week there is something new out there that completely takes me by surprise. Take for instance this Coastal Fog Tower that may potentially be erected on the northern coast of Chile. Standing 400 meters tall, the tower is a seaside spire that traps airborne water molecules and channels them into the Huasco River valley — one of the driest places on the planet. From Inhabitat,
Its construction as a stacked weave serves to trap and wick moisture into the tower, while its spiraling structure provides a large surface area that funnels water into the basement. Here, trace minerals from the sea are filtered out via a reverse osmosis system, which is much more efficient than processing sea water into potable water via desalination plants. The end result is a water distribution system with a planned performance of 2-20 liters per square meter of vertical surface, producing from 20,000 to 200,000 liters of water per day.
Pretty incredible. Apparently, cloud-catching technology has already been proven to work in Chile — so perhaps it’s only a matter of time before we see these towers assisting with agriculture development. It would truly be a site to behold.
Check out Inhabitat for the full article.
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By Michael d'Estries
March 3, 2008 – 2:13 pm
Back in September, I mentioned a giant battery being developed in the UK to help store energy during times when a wind farm’s output decreases due to calm winds. One of the critiques of wind energy generation is that it can be fairly fickle. Developers therefore, are looking to alternatives to capture energy during peak hours and release it when needed. Now it appears a wind farm in southwest Minnesota will be one of the first to experiment with this idea; employing the use of two 80-ton tractor-trailer size batteries to provide power to over 500 homes for seven hours when the wind isn’t blowing. From the article,
“Xcel also will see whether it is profitable to store wind-generated electricity at night, when power is cheaper, and release it to the grid during peak hours when it is needed more and is more costly. ‘If it turns out these batteries can store enough electricity to use the electricity on the peaks when the demand is highest and the wind is not blowing, that really is a game changer. If they can do that cost effectively, it could spur the development of renewable energy even beyond the 20 to 25 percent most people now think we could integrate onto the grid,’ says Rolf Nordstrom, executive director of the Great Plains Institute.”
Beyond massive batteries, there are also plans in motion to store wind energy underground in massive chambers. When the grid demands more, these chambers would release their pressurized air into a turbine which would then generate electricity. Iowa is looking to make this a reality by 2011. Obviously, this is highly dependent on geography to even be practical; which might make giant battery trailers that much more effective for wind farms all around the world. Minnesota hopes to start the ball rolling this coming October. We’ll keep you updated.
via Argus Leader
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By Michael d'Estries
February 16, 2008 – 12:06 pm
I just caught a really cool video on the architectural idea of integrating vertical and horizontal-axis turbines into urban design and planning. From a company called Aerotecture comes the Aeroturbine — a quiet, vibration-free, bird-safe, turbine that can be installed on existing rooftops or built into the architecture of new buildings to provide clean renewable electricity at its site of consumption. According to the site, the unique characteristics of these turbines allow them to be self-regulating in the face of changing wind speeds and also utilize multi-directional and gusting breezes. From the site,
The structural features of the Aeroturbine allow for its easy integration into new or existing buildings: the modular/stackable cages are additive and can be mounted in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal orientation. There are currently two models of Aeroturbines available, the 510V and the 520H. Both models of the Aeroturbine may be easily integrated with solar photovoltaic systems.
In order to operate efficiently, Aeroturbines must be installed 40 ft. above the ground, above or away from surrounding trees and other obstruction, and in an area with average wind speeds of at least 10 mph.
Already this year, we’re starting to see some new structures incorporate turbines into their designs. It’s a welcomed trend that shows renewable energy isn’t something that needs to be hidden. It can be celebrated and beautiful — as well as practical and useful to a building’s energy footprint.
For more information, check out the company’s official site.
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By Michael d'Estries
February 8, 2008 – 5:30 pm
The Windspire Vertical-Axis turbine is set to become one of the first low-cost, fully-integrated wind systems available to the public. Thanks to a recently passed ETL (safety) certification for the U.S. and Canada, the company is now on the fast-track to releasing the product in early 2008 at a price of $3,995.
Not only will this turbine work in wind conditions that are prevalent through almost 60% of the United States, but it will also be much easier to install than previous wind systems. Windspire features a fully integrated, plug ‘n produce design, including a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, and wireless performance monitor. It incorporates a slow speed giromill rotor for virtually silent operation and improved safety and durability. From the article,
Windspire features a new design that incorporates a tall, slender vertical style rotor that maximizes efficiency to produce strong, reliable performance. It is expected to produce about 1800 kilowatt hours per year in 11 mile per hour average wind speed conditions.It is 30 feet tall with a two foot radius, sized below typical residential zoning restrictions. Guidelines for installation sites are generally half an acre of land and relatively windy locations. It is priced at half to a third the cost of comparable renewable power options, and can be quickly and easily installed by authorized dealers.
Sounds like a great system to me. Savings for the average American home are expected to be about 25% per year. Throw in the quiet operation, limited height requirements, and current tax breaks — and wind is looking like a much more agreeable option for those without consistent access to solar.
Check out the official website here.
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By Michael d'Estries
January 25, 2008 – 10:42 am
It’s been a long, winding road for the development of commercially-viable vertical-axis wind turbines. The advantages over their horizontal-axis brethren are significant: Only 50ft high or less, bird-friendly, low, rigid steel frames, low drive train for easy maintenance, and — most importantly — low cost. A recently-incorporated California wind company called Wind Harvest International is is ready to commercially produce two models of its turbines and is raising funds toward that goal. The first testing grounds for their technology will be Palm Springs — a locale which the U.S. Department of Energy considers to be “one of California’s primary wind-generating regions”. From the article,
Company CEO Kevin Wolf said the last prototype built in 2004 gained Wind Harvest new patents that allow the company to place the turbines close together, which lowers costs and maximizes land use on a wind farm. The patents fit in with the company plan to produce low-cost, low-maintenance turbines that generate profits rather than losses. For the next few years, said Wagner, the company will focus solely on wind farms. ‘Our market is underneath the existing turbines,” he told Cleantech.com. ‘It’s like drilling for oil below where the others drill.’”
A utility-scale conventional wind plant generally requires about 60 acres per megawatt of installed capacity. Granted, only about 5% of this is actually taken up by the turbines themselves. With Wind Harvest’s turbines requiring less space between installations, the environmental impact would be considerably less; not to mention the visual improvements of verticals only reaching 50ft tall. Nice.
For more info, jump over the Wind Harvest’s site.
via cleantech
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Merrill Lynch forecasts these companies to be wind winners
By Beth McKenna
December 15, 2007 – 9:53 pm
By most accounts, there is a strong tailwind behind wind power.
Merrill Lynch in Europe recently published a report predicting that global wind energy capacity will soar at a compound annual growth rate of 22% between now and 2011.
Three of the megatrends Merrill forecasts in this same report:
1. By 2011, the US will be the world’s #1 wind energy market, surpassing current #1, Germany.
2. The global wind energy industry will grow so fast that key component manufacturers will struggle to keep pace.
3. Despite rising demand, there isn’t likely to be a significant number of new market entrants, in large part because of the value buyers place on manufacturers with a proven track record.
It doesn’t take a Nobel-winning economist to realize that if, indeed, demand exceeds supply, and there are few new entrants, there will be some major winners among the existing component manufacturers.
The turbine manufacturers Merrill forecasts to be winners and why:
- Siemens AG, a German company — has a strong position in the growing offshore markets (out in oceans).
- Suzlon Energy, an Indian company – has a considerable home advantage on its turf.
How to invest in these companies:
- Siemens — which is not a “pure play” as it has many different business operations — trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol SI. So, US investors can easily purchase this stock.
- Suzlon — doesn’t trade on a US exchange. It trades on the Indian exchange (NSE), as SUZLON.
Wish I could hook you up with the entire Merrill report, but I’d imagine it’s pricey. You may want to check out my source below as it contains some great articles pertaining to wind and solar energy companies.
Source: Energytechstocks.com
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