Wind Power News
The latest wind power news headlines from our wind energy and industry news sources.
Borrowing from whales to engineer a new fluid sensor
Mar 2, 2015: Researchers have borrowed from biological structures called tubercles that humpback whales use to maneuver in the ocean to make a piezoelectric energy harvester for use as an airflow or fluid speed and direction-sensing device.
India enters top five in EY attractiveness index
Mar 2, 2015: WORLDWIDE: India rises one place to fifth as the UK slips from seventh to eighth in Ernst and Young's (EY) latest renewable energy country attractiveness index as Egypt enters the top 40.
Nordex continues double-digit growth, significantly increasing consolidated net profit
Feb 27, 2015: According to preliminary figures, the Nordex Group increased its sales by some 21% in 2014 to EUR 1,734.5 million (2013: EUR 1,429.3). Nordex has, therefore, reached the upper end of the guidance range, which the Management Board had most recently revised upwards in November 2014. With a margin of 4.5%, EBIT also matched the Company’s Windpower Engineering & Development…
UpWind installs vortex generators at six wind farms to boost energy production
Feb 27, 2015: UpWind Solutions, a comprehensive operations and maintenance (O&M) service provider, has installed vortex generator (VG) technology on turbines at six of BP Wind’s wholly-owned U.S. wind farms: Titan 1, in South Dakota; Edom Hills in California, Flat Ridge 1 in Kansas; and Trinity Hills, Silver Star 1 and Sherbino 2 in Texas. When several hundred Windpower Engineering & Development…
NREL researchers advance wind energy systems engineering
Feb 27, 2015: In recent years, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been making progress in multiple avenues of wind systems engineering. This includes the study of how to integrate wind energy engineering and cost models across wind plants, finding the important interactions between various subsystems to achieve a better understanding of how to improve Windpower Engineering & Development…
Acciona Windpower earnings increase
Feb 27, 2015: SPAIN: Acciona's wind division posted an increased pre-tax profit of €39 million in 2014, reversing a €52 million loss in 2013.
Wind-powered freighters
Feb 27, 2015: To make ships more eco-efficient, engineers have been working with alternative fuels. A Norwegian engineer is currently pursuing a new approach: With VindskipTM, he has designed a cargo ship that is powered by wind and gas. Software will ensure an optimum use of the available wind energy at any time.
Goldwind maintains hold on domestic market
Feb 27, 2015: CHINA: Goldwind's share of the Chinese market in 2014 has fallen slightly although it continues to hold the number one spot.
Goldwind net profit up 327%
Feb 27, 2015: CHINA: Goldwind has announced a preliminary net profit of CNY 1.83 billion ($297 million) in 2014, up 328% on 2013.
Gallery: A view from the top
Feb 27, 2015: WORLDWIDE: This week's Windpower Monthly gallery brings a selection of pictures showing the sights few will get to see.
Nordex announces 21% increase in sales
Feb 27, 2015: GERMANY: Nordex has announced a 21% increase in sales to €1.73 billion in its preliminary figures for 2014.
IRENA workshop to develop energy storage roadmap
Feb 26, 2015: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will host their fourth workshop “International Energy Storage Policy and Regulation” at the Energy Storage Europe 2015 Conference and Expo, March 10 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The workshop will collect input and feedback on IRENA’s technology roadmap for electricity storage, due to be launched this summer. The roadmap will guide Windpower Engineering & Development…
Wind generation seasonal patterns vary across the U.S., says EIA
Feb 26, 2015: Wind -plant generation performance varies throughout the year as a result of highly seasonal wind patterns. Nationally, wind-plant performance tends to be highest during the spring and lowest during the mid- to late summer, while performance during the winter (November through February) is around the annual median. However, this pattern can vary considerably across regions, Windpower Engineering & Development…
Siemens highlights cost-cutting innovations for offshore wind at EWEA Offshore 2015
Feb 26, 2015: The international wind energy conference EWEA Offshore 2015 in Copenhagen in early March will see Siemens, the market leader in offshore wind turbines and grid access, focusing on innovations supporting cutting the costs of offshore wind power. In addition to further developing the technology of its wind turbines, the company is advancing the efficiency of Windpower Engineering & Development…
UK-based Roxtec targets wind-farm sector with innovative new cable seal
Feb 26, 2015: SAFETY seal manufacturer Roxtec has extended its range of cable seals with an innovative new seal specifically for underground power cables serving structures including electricity substations and wind turbines. Roxtec UK managing director Graham O’Hare said the new Roxtec UG sealing system is ideal for power cables entering foundations or basements because it protects against Windpower Engineering & Development…
Power Climber Wind promotes Colby Hubler to sales manager
Feb 26, 2015: Power Climber Wind, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, has promoted Colby Hubler to Sales Manager. In this new role, Hubler will be responsible for managing Power Climber Wind’s entire sales cycle by developing strong customer relationships throughout the Americas. Hubler joined Power Climber Wind in 2012 as Key Account Manager, effectively managing the turbine access Windpower Engineering & Development…
What are the problems and solutions to better gearbox reliability?
Feb 26, 2015: This section submitted by Ashley Crowther, Global VP – InSight, Romax Technology Modern gearboxes provide greater reliability to the wind-energy industry thanks to improvements in their design and operation. These include better bearing selection, design process, manufacturing quality, transportation, lubrication systems, and end-of-line testing. Reliability issues will never completely go away, but staying on top of Windpower Engineering & Development…
Sakor Technologies announces accudyne ac dynamometer to test wind power components
Feb 26, 2015: SAKOR Technologies, a manufacturer of instrumentation products for dynamometer testing, announces the availability of its complete accudyne ac dynamometer system for wind power testing applications. The system can be used by multiple engineering groups to test and verify designs, as well as for quality control testing after manufacturing. Well suited for testing active and passive Windpower Engineering & Development…
Strong dollar pushes down EDPR revenue
Feb 26, 2015: PORTUGAL: Regulatory changes in Spain and higher costs from a stronger dollar resulted in EDP Renewables' revenue dropping by 3% to €1.27 billion in 2014.
UGE’s Vertical Axis Wind Turbines now provide green power for the Eiffel Tower
Feb 25, 2015: UGE VisionAIR5 "The location for the wind turbines, 400ft (120m) above ground level, was strategically chosen to maximize energy production, allowing the wind turbines to harvest the steady winds at the height of the installation and offset the Tower’s…
Vestas boosts 2014 revenues
Feb 24, 2015: DENMARK: Vestas has posted strong financial figures for 2014, with revenue increasing by 13.5% to €6.9 billion.
Legal path cleared for UK offshore terminal
Feb 24, 2015: UK: A struggle over the rights to develop an offshore maintenance terminal on the banks of the Humber River in north-east England has come to a close.
European offshore: Glimmer of hope in Sweden
Feb 24, 2015: New government ready to redesign system for offshore support, writes Sara Knight.
European offshore: Health & safety case study - Gwynt y Mor shows how to build offshore safely
Feb 24, 2015: Lessons from the London Olympics, a focus on occupational health and full engagement with contractors helped RWE to build its Gwynt y Mor project with an exemplary safety record. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's Marcus Boocock reports on a site visit…
European offshore: France learns as it progresses
Feb 24, 2015: The government is reviewing the latest tender and updating legal procedures, reports Jan Dodd.
European offshore: Changing plans in Denmark
Feb 24, 2015: Schedules have slipped, but a tender for Horns Rev 3 is set for this year, writes Sara Knight.
European offshore: Belgium tackles grid delays
Feb 24, 2015: A long-awaited grid upgrade will enable 1.4GW of stalled projects to proceed, reports Jan Dodd.
European offshore: Netherlands rethinks system
Feb 24, 2015: The government has restructured the tender process for quicker, cheaper results, says Jan Dodd.
European offshore: Turbine models - The magnificent seven
Feb 24, 2015: Europe's offshore wind developers now have a increasingly wide range of supersize turbines to choose from as projects become larger and further from shore. Eize de Vries compares and contrasts the turbines of 5MW and over that are suitable for this market.
European offshore: Installed capacity - Ambitious plans but limited activity in 2015
Feb 24, 2015: Our offshore installed capacity map below shows the UK is still the European leader, although activity slowed significantly in 2014. The pipeline map, shows Germany, which doubled its online capacity last year, is set for an even busier 2015, with more than 2.5GW under construction…
European offshore: Europe's offshore leader faces slower year
Feb 24, 2015: New build cemented the UK's position as offshore market leader, and two major turbine manufacturers are setting up production facilities in the country. But a new support system is creating uncertainty, particularly for the biggest developments, reports Shaun Campbell.
European offshore: Germany tops 1GW milestone
Feb 24, 2015: Europe's second-biggest offshore market expects to add 2GW more this year, says Sara Knight.
Apple to build 100 percent renewable energy-powered data centers in Denmark and Ireland
Feb 23, 2015: Apple has just announced plans to construct two new data centers in Europe, and like all current Apple data centers, the facilities will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Constructed at a total cost of $1.9 billion, the data centers will each measure…
World’s largest offshore wind farm approved for the U.K. coast
Feb 18, 2015: Wind power in the U.K. is about to get a big boost, as the world’s largest offshore wind farm was just approved for the Yorkshire coast. The Guardian reports that the U.K. energy secretary just approved an array of 400 turbines to be built about 80 miles…
China increases wind power by 23 percent in pursuit of clean energy goals
Feb 17, 2015: pic Of all the nations on the planet, China is not the first place that comes to mind when the subject of green energy is on the table. Yet, China is trying. In 2014, wind farms created 23 percent more power than the previous year. Although China still…
Meet LIAM: A Mini Windmill Ideal for Any Home
Feb 17, 2015: Rotterdam company Archimedes has created a small windmill that can be installed on just about any roof, anywhere. Meet LIAM: a quiet, affordable wind energy source that's ideal for urban settings; it's compact and quiet, and its yearly output averages between…
Sinovel warns on stagnant offshore sector
Feb 17, 2015: China may have the largest offshore capacity outside Europe but with no commercial projects in operation, the sector remains in an embryonic state.
Numerous bats killed by German wind turbines: Migratory bats at risk
Feb 11, 2015: Numerous bats are killed by German wind turbines. The number of such turbines, already very high, is planned to be increased further. More than two-thirds of bats being killed by wind turbines on German ground are migrants on their way between summer and winter habitats. Due to its geographical location in Europe, Germany has consequently a central responsibility for the conservation of migratory bats.
Fishing vessel transformed into a wave power plant
Feb 9, 2015: Researchers are demonstrating that it is possible for a redundant fishing vessel to be used as a power plant. The first vessel of its kind is now anchored offshore in the Stadthavet area west in Norway, with the aim of generating electricity from the natural forces of the sea.
Wind-Powered Pavilions in Shanghai Are Fun Candy-Coated Play Houses
Feb 8, 2015: Parks in China are used extensively by residents throughout the day to practice tai chi, dance, meet friends, relax or eat. Bailanjing Park along the river is a new development to increase the urban green space and includes a number of interactive art installations…
Solar and wind power will be the cheapest forms of energy in the future
Feb 5, 2015: A new study demonstrates that an energy system based completely on renewable forms of energy will be economically viable in the future. Within ten years, solar and wind power will be the cheapest forms of energy production for Asia's largest energy markets.
Obama seeks billions in funding for clean energy development and emissions cuts in 2016 budget
Feb 3, 2015: President Obama's fiscal budget for 2016, which was release on Monday (2/2) afternoon proposes an impressive $7.4 billion in funding for clean energy technologies as well as the creation of a $4 billion fund "to encourage U.S. states to make faster and deeper…
How is noise produced by wind power plants experienced?
Feb 3, 2015: The disruptiveness of the noise generated by wind power plants in Finland is the focus of a new study that combines the measurement of the noise produced by wind power with the noise experienced by humans in relation to sound pressure levels and the time and frequency behavior of sound. …
Renewable energy costs to drop 40 percent in next two years
Feb 2, 2015: A new report released by the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi has exceptionally good news for the future of renewable energy. Costs are set to drop by almost 40 percent in the next two years, with solar PV leading the pack in…
Spain reveals plans for first ever public streetlight system powered by wind and sun
Jan 28, 2015: Spain will be home to the first public lighting system to be powered exclusively by solar and wind energy. Researcher Ramon Bargalló is the man behind the development, and he worked alongside the company Eolgreen to design his autonomous lighting system.
SunZia wins federal OK for 515-mile wind energy transmission line
Jan 27, 2015: The SunZia Southwest Transmission Project has passed its final environmental review by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Record of Decision (ROD) carrying the approval is the culmination of a 7-year effort by SunZia. The company…
Streetlights powered by solar and wind could be lighting up your neighborhood soon
Jan 22, 2015: The world’s first independently powered street lighting system could be lighting up a neighborhood near you someday soon. Barcelona-based researcher Ramon Bargallo, has developed a 10-meter-high street lamp powered exclusively by wind and solar power. The…
First public lighting system that runs on solar and wind energy
Jan 20, 2015: Scientists have developed the first autonomous industrialized public lighting system that works with solar and wind energy.
Despite falling oil prices, renewables still cost less
Jan 20, 2015: Despite falling oil prices, a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that renewable energy is highly competitive with fossil fuels. But solar power isn’t where the savings is at, believe it or not. This report shows that…
Germany more than doubled its wind power capacity in 2014
Jan 19, 2015: In 2014, Germany’s capacity for wind power generation jumped to more than double the previous year’s figures. The work of 543 offshore wind turbines establish Germany’s offshore wind power capacity at 2.35 gigawatts (GW). This is just a stepping stone…