Wind Energy Cost-Competitive with Coal in Some Regions
In many parts of the world, onshore wind power is now completely cost-competitive with coal.
Wind Energy
Another ARPA-E Winner: General Compression’s Renewable Energy Storage Ramps Up in 30 Seconds
[Updated correction: Per GC, this can ramp-up in under 6 seconds!] One of the success stories at the recent Department of Energy ARPA-E summit held to highlight innovators funded under the $400 million to find renewable energy innovations in the Recovery Act, is General Compression (GC). The start-up is developing … [continued]
35% Fuel Savings in Store for World’s Largest Kite-Powered Ship
Agribiz giant Cargill is planning to test a giant kite on a “handysize” shipping vessel later this year, making it the largest kite-powered ship in the world. The use of wind power is expected to cut the ship’s use of low grade bunker fuel by up to 35%, depending on … [continued]
How Denmark Will Integrate 50% Wind Power by 2025
Denmark gets 20% of its energy from wind power, and plans to get to 50% by 2025. So it is frequently debunked by the opponents of wind power (the extractive energy industry) as “having to export most” of its wind power across its borders. Others claim the export figure is … [continued]
Did the US Tea Party Drive Out Wind Investments by Giant Iberdrola?
With the latest change in the US policy environment, Iberdrola now plans to install only 350 MW over the next two years in the US, NAW reports. Investment banking consultants for Jeffries, say that due to the inconsistency of its renewable policy, the US no longer provides a stable investment … [continued]
Hard Smoke Could Play Key Role in Sustainable Energy Storage
Wind and solar power are surging these days, but with great power comes a great problem: how to guarantee a steady stream of energy when the source comes and goes. The solution, of course, is to find more efficient ways of storing energy. Among the new developments is a light-as-air … [continued]
Wind-Powered Cargo Ships Make a Comeback
Sailing ships once carried much of the world’s cargo across the seas, until canvas sheets were replaced by low-grade “bunker” oil. Now it appears that wind power is about to make a comeback, in the form of rigid “sails” that double as solar panels. The patent-pending technology, called the Aquarius … [continued]
1st-of-Its-Kind Floating Wind Turbine Technology to be Deployed by Vestas & WindPlus [VIDEO]
Floating wind turbines really seem to grab our attention. I imagine this is for three reasons: 1) they break through the clear limits other technologies cannot, 2) they greatly expand wind energy potential, and 3) we like things that float (OK, maybe it’s mostly the first two reasons..). Now, … [continued]
Family Owned Ski Area Saved by Wind Power
As if it wasn’t already hard enough to run an independent, family owned ski business, rising energy prices can put a chokehold on the whole operation. One ski family in Massachusetts has found a way to survive. The Berkshire East Ski Area has apparently become the first ski area in … [continued]
Vestas, Wind Energy Giant, Expecting 2011 to be a Good Year
Vestas, a world-leading wind energy company, had a “rough” 2011, but is expecting 2011 to be very good, according to Vestas’ 2010 annual report. Orders rose 182% last year the company, from 3,072 MW in 2009 to 8,673 MW in 2010, meaning that it has a significant pipeline of projects … [continued]
