For the first time in America, a company has developed an efficient battery solution to storing wind power, a clear answer to critics who claim turbines are unreliable. [social_buttons] Xcel Energy‘s “Wind-to-Battery” project is currently being tested on a Minnesota wind farm. The company believes that the 80-ton battery will … [continued]
Virginia-based Catch the Wind has an innovative solution for improving wind turbine efficiency— laser beams. The company’s fiber-optic laser system gives turbines up to 20 extra seconds to adjust to changes in gusts and wind direction. That may not sound like much, but Catch the Wind claims that its system … [continued]
The credit crunch is not just hurting the banks and the real estate market. Even the billionaire and wind energy enthusiast, T. Boone Pickens is having trouble financing his high profile 4000 MW wind farm. The proposed Texas wind farm has a hefty $10 and $12 billion price tag. Although … [continued]
Noise is one of the major barriers for homeowners considering rooftop turbines. But SWIFT’s rooftop turbine, released today in the US and Canada, claims to be “silent enough to perch on a home, yet robust enough to secure a skyscraper.” The uniquely designed turbine has five blades measuring seven feet … [continued]
The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation has announced today that it plans to build Africa’s largest wind farm. The farm, which is being built in Ashegoba, will have a relatively impressive output of 120MW— enough power to supply 15 percent of Ethiopia’s energy needs.
Earthfirst Canada has announced that British Columbia’s first commercial wind turbine—a 3 MW Vestas V90— was fully assembled on October 6th about 50 kilometers northwest of Chetwynd, British Columbia.
What if your house could simply walk away from natural disasters? This house can. Designed by an art collective in Denmark, the 10 foot high house is solar and wind-powered and can walk across a variety of terrain. It is equipped with a living room, bed, toilet, kitchen, and wood … [continued]
The 3M name is already synonymous with tape, so it isn’t that surprising to hear that the company quietly introduced Wind Tape to the market in mid-2007. The tape, which is designed to protect the leading edges of 120-foot fiberglass turbines, costs $288 per 54-foot roll.
Japanese telecommunications company NTT claims that it is developing shoes that generate electricity upon movement. The shoes generate 1.2 watts of electricity— enough to power an iPod forever if the wearer doesn’t stop walking.
We’ve written about vertical axis wind turbine company Helix Wind before at Green Options. In addition to being quiet, solid, and easy to place in urban areas, the company’s turbine is also aesthetically attractive. And if pictures don’t convince you, maybe a video of the turbine in action will.
