Wind Power News
The latest wind power news headlines from our wind energy and industry news sources.
India launches search for suitable wind sites
May 21, 2019: India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is consulting with various states to identify potential renewable energy sites, in a bid to ensure timely project execution.
WindCom adds rope access to its blade service line-up
May 20, 2019: WindCom continues to build its reputation for addressing a diverse range of blade service needs by adding a new access method to its lineup. Starting in June 2019, rope access repairs will allow WindCom to provide yet another cost-effective option for completing the most demanding blade services in the industry. “Rope services will bring… The post WindCom adds rope access to its blade service line-up appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.
Xcel Energy makes clean-energy transition to end all coal use in the Upper Midwest
May 20, 2019: Xcel Energy announced plans today to retire its last two coal plants in the Upper Midwest a decade earlier than scheduled. The acceleration of the coal closures is another milestone in the company’s clean energy transition that includes expanding wind and solar, using cleaner natural gas and operating its carbon-free Monticello nuclear plant until at… The post Xcel Energy makes clean-energy transition to end all coal use in the Upper Midwest appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.
Solar-powered Ring House heals a scarred hilltop landscape in Greece
May 20, 2019: On the southern coast of Crete, Greek architectural firm decaARCHITECTURE has turned a commission for a modern residence into an opportunity for landscape preservation. Named the Ring House for its rounded shape, the house was created to follow the existing topography and looks like an extension of its hilltop location. The site had been scarred by environmentally insensitive infrastructural development but has now recovered its original morphology and has been replanted with native flora. Located...
GE secures more than 2 GW in U.S. onshore wind orders so far this year
May 20, 2019: GE Renewable Energy announced that it has secured 2,010 MW in onshore wind orders in North America through May 2019. These 728 turbines will power the equivalent of over 800,000 homes and will include wind farms across the United States, such as Engie’s recently announced 160-MW Jumbo Hill wind farm. The majority of these orders… The post GE secures more than 2 GW in U.S. onshore wind orders so far this year appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.
India will surpass Paris Agreement pledges with renewable energy investment
May 20, 2019: India will surpass Paris Agreement commitment to cut carbon emissions The Indian government has embarked on largescale renewable energy projects that are predicted to enable the world’s second most populous country to surpass their commitment to cut carbon emissions. According to a recently released report from Moody’s Investor’s Service, 45 percent of all energy produced in India will be from non-fossil fuel sources by 2022. This is impressive, considering India only committed to 40 percent...
Breezy home in Mexico uses strategic cross ventilation and natural light to reduce its energy use
May 20, 2019: Related: + Via Archdaily…
Polls show climate change is a determining issue for 2020 elections
May 20, 2019: Recent polls indicate that climate change will be a central issue for voters in the upcoming 2020 presidential elections. According to the George Mason University poll, 38 percent of participants indicated that the topic is “very important” for their decision, while the lead researcher, Anthony Leiserowitz said: “this is truly a top-tier issue for the Democratic base." The poll, released in early May only sampled 1,000 people, but the results are consistent with similar polls by Manmouth...
Geometric pine cabins house nature-minded workspaces in Vietnam
May 20, 2019: Nestled in a misty pine forest, the Ta Nung Homestay Executive Office offers employees an environmentally sensitive space to work along with breathtaking views of Vietnam’s Central Highland landscape. Ho Chi Minh City-based architectural firm MyAn Architects designed the workspace to look like a cluster of geometric cabins that have been elevated on stilts to reduce site impact and to preserve mature pine trees. Floor-to-ceiling windows sweep an abundance of natural light and views of the mountainous...
Green batteries? Renewable energy storage will cost nature
May 20, 2019: Our quest to save the world by achieving 100 percent renewable energy will unfortunately also be devastating for the environment. An increase in renewable energy means an increase in the need for batteries to power electric cars and store energy from solar panels and wind turbines. However, batteries are made from unsustainably and unethically sourced metals. A new report, released by the University of Technology in Sydney, estimates that the surge in battery production will increase the demand for...
Architects transform a residential building into a lush, green oasis in the heart of So Paulo
May 20, 2019: Related: + Via Archdaily Lorena Building, green building, local flora, local fauna…
GE already has 2GW-plus North American orders in 2019
May 20, 2019: GE secured contracts to supply more than 2GW of onshore wind turbines in North America in the first five months of 2019, it has announced.
Vattenfall's Hall appointed Eurelectric CEO
May 20, 2019: Vattenfall CEO Magnus Hall has been appointed as president of Eurelectric, the European industry association for the electricity sector, for the next two years.
Orix plans to buy out cash-strapped Indian partner
May 20, 2019: Japanese financial service firm Orix Corporation has announced it intends to buy the 51% stakes cash-strapped Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) holds in seven Indian wind farms co-owned by the two companies.
US military demands NextEra scrap two Oklahoma wind farms
May 20, 2019: NextEra Energy has scrapped plans for 470MW of new capacity across two wind projects in central Oklahoma due to fears that they could interfere with low-flying military aircraft.
Nordex launches new 155-metre rotor diameter turbine
May 20, 2019: Nordex has unveiled a new turbine with a rotor diameter above 150 metres, targeting sites "without strict noise requirements".
Even the most remote islands are victims of plastic pollution
May 17, 2019: Plastic hasn’t taken much more than a century to conquer the entire world. Since plastic’s invention in 1907, it’s infiltrated even the remotest island chains, according to a new study by marine biologist Jennifer Lavers and her associates. When the researchers visited the Cocos Keeling Islands—six square miles of land 1,300 miles off Australia’s northwest coast—they found a staggering accumulation of plastic waste. Humans don’t live on the Cocos Keeling Islands. So the plastic bags,...
Sublime net-positive energy farmhouse pays homage to the local vernacular
May 17, 2019: Related: + Zero Energy Via Zero Energy Lincoln Net Positive Farmhouse, net-positive energy…
Labour Party launches solar panel program for 1.75M homes
May 17, 2019: Britains Labour Party is set to announce a major new green program today, pledging to install solar panels on up to 1.75 million government and low-income houses. In what has been called the start of a UK version of America’s Green New Deal, the goal of the project is to radically address climate change while creating green jobs. Solar panels and savings The Labour Party will provide free solar panels to one million government subsidized homes and offer grants and interest free loans for panels...
Playful gable-roofed home in Atlanta champions the power of CLT
May 17, 2019: Jennifer Bonner, architectural designer and director of MALL, has completed Haus Gables, a new ground-up residential project that was built almost entirely out of cross-laminated timber (CLT), an exceptionally strong wood material made from glued layers of solid-sawn lumber. Located in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, the 2,200-square-foot, two-story home is one of only a few residences constructed from cross-laminated timber in the United States. Named after its cluster...
Looking to make your mornings greener? Try these 7 tips for a sustainable morning routine
May 17, 2019: We all have our favorite ways to start the day, but how eco-friendly is your morning routine? You might be surprised to learn that most people waste a lot of energy and resources in the first few hours they are awake. Luckily, you can make your mornings more eco-friendly with a few easy steps. From drinking a more sustainable cup of coffee to saving on water, here are seven ways you can go green in the mornings. Sustainable Coffee A hot cup of coffee has become the staple of many morning routines....
Portuguese parliament slams excessive payments to generators
May 17, 2019: The Portuguese parliament has approved a report calling for the government and regulators to curb excessive profits of electricity generators, including a €950 million alleged over-payment to EDP for guaranteeing supply from its Sines coal-fired plant.
Indian auction momentum slows further
May 17, 2019: Three recent wind auctions in India with a cumulative capacity of 3.4GW were undersubscribed by nearly 1.1GW as prices stabilise.
NASA Mars Habitat Challenge winner is a 3D-printed pod made of biodegradable materials
May 17, 2019: Related: + AirSpace Factory Via Archdaily SpaceFactory, Mars Habitat Challenge…
Futuristic treehouse in Arkansas is designed to inspire imagination
May 16, 2019: Heat-treated pine and steel were used to create this unique treehouse inside the Garvan Woodland Gardens in central Arkansas. The space, a 210-acre nature park with botanical gardens owned by the University of Arkansas, borders the Quachita River. The structure itself resides inside a children’s garden full of native trees such as oak and pine, and serves as an interactive experience for the kids. The treatment process to create the "thermalised" southern yellow pine uses heat and steam to...
Koalas declared "functionally extinct"
May 16, 2019: The Australian Koala Foundation declared koalas officially “functionally extinct,” a term which means that though there are still about 80,000 koalas, they are unlikely to reproduce another generation. The iconic Australian animal is on a fast track to extinction and has suffered from deforestation, disease, climate change-driven drought and a massive slaughter for fur in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Australian government listed the species as "vulnerable" in 2012 when there was thought...
A Chinese highway becomes a vibrant, community-centered 'livable street'
May 16, 2019: Related: + Via Yannan Avenue Highway Adaptation…
Phoenix Earthship features a food garden and jungle in off-grid fashion
May 16, 2019: An earthship is an accommodation with low-environmental impact. The design of an earthship incorporates natural and recycled materials in the architecture and decor. It is built with conservation of natural resources in mind so that it produces its own water, electricity, and food. Most earthships reuse discarded tires and/or cans and bottles for wall construction. Mud is common for wall plaster and floors. The energy savings through self-heating and cooling properties are remarkable. Most earthships...
Penalties for protesting pipelines increase in 15 states
May 16, 2019: At least 15 states have passed or proposed bills that further criminalize trespassing on fossil fuel infrastructure, a trend that environmental and free speech advocates argue unnecessarily targets pipeline protesters and indigenous leaders. In 2018, Louisiana passed a bill that makes trespassing on so-called “critical infrastructure” a more serious offense than existing trespassing laws. While trespassing has long been considered a misdemeanor, the law now specifies that the same act on particular...
How National Parks benefit the environment
May 16, 2019: The U.S. has over 400 national parks across the country, which host a combined total of 330 million visitors every year. National parks have clear economic benefits for national and local economies but they also have important benefits for the environment within and outside of their borders. Here are some reasons why national parks are great for the environment: Biodiversity like nowhere else National Parks are often designated to protect threatened or unique ecosystems and geography. It is...
A Dutch village inspired the design of this solar-powered home
May 16, 2019: Within a cluster of traditional Dutch homes in The Hague, local firm Global Architects has designed a single-family home that stands out from its neighbors with its contemporary design yet relates to the surroundings with a layout that references the concept of a village. Aptly named the Hidden Village, the modern house also distinguishes itself with its use of energy-efficient technologies that span passive solar principles to the use of solar panels and an air-heat pump. As a potential forever...
Acciona trials solar modules to power wind turbine
May 16, 2019: VIDEO: Acciona has installed flexible carbon-based photovoltaic (PV) modules on a turbine in Spain in an attempt to make wind power more efficient.
Benefits of upgrading US grids far outweigh costs
May 16, 2019: "Some of our transmission lines are over 100 years old. Think about that -- we're charging iPhones and powering smart TVs with infrastructure built when large portions of the country still didn't have access to the electricity needed for a simple light bulb," said AWEA's Amy Farrell, as the trade body called for greater investment in grids to help reduce bills.
Beautiful vacation home in Brazil is crafted from upcycled stone and salvaged bricks
May 15, 2019: Related: + Solo Arquitetos Via Archdaily…
Ocean explorer finds plastic waste during worlds deepest dive
May 15, 2019: This May, American Victor Vescovo broke the standing record of the world’s deepest ocean dive, venturing seven miles into the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench where he discovered four potential new species as well as plastic and candy wrappers. Vescovo is a wealth banker with an interest in ocean exploration. He traveled in a high-tech submersible that can withstand enormous amounts of pressure from the 35,849 ft descent. In fact, the submarine is capable of withstanding the weight of “50...
AUDIs new electric car will have autonomous vehicle capability and a roof that holds real plants
May 15, 2019: AUDI revealed the concept for a new electric car with autonomous driving capabilities at Auto Shanghai 2019, and this vehicle really pushes the limits when it comes to connecting technology with nature. Apart from the AI technology implemented to take most of the effort out of driving in general, the AI:ME autonomous vehicle is completely electric. On the interior roof of the car, a wooden pergola roof allows climbing plants to grow and thrive. According to the company, the AUDI AI systems are...
UN lists plastic as hazardous waste, votes to control international trade
May 15, 2019: On May 10th, 187 countries voted to list plastic as hazardous waste and tighten control over its international trade. The governing agreement, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal dictates legally binding standards for importing and exporting toxic materials. For the first time ever, the agreement now includes plastic, with the exception of PE, PP and PET plastics. The new agreement gives lower income countries – particularly...
Power and publicity trump protection in large marine protected areas
May 15, 2019: Nations have just one more year to reach the global marine conservation goal to protect 10 percent of the world’s oceans by 2020. Although seven percent is already legally protected, many new declarations are massive, offshore areas. Some conservationists argue these offshore achievements fail to protect more critical coastal waters and may even be aggressive ocean-grabs by colonial powers. The goal to legally protect ten percent of the ocean was ratified under the Convention of Biological Diversity...
SCAD students fight food insecurity in Georgia with organic farming and beekeeping
May 15, 2019: For a break from schoolwork, students at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) have been swapping their laptops for shovels and seedlings at SCAD Back40, the university's new one-acre “farm”. Created as a legacy project to celebrate SCAD’s 40th anniversary, the agricultural initiative features a wide range of seasonal, organically grown crops as well as a growing apiary with 16 beehives actively managed by students. Produce is regularly donated to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal...
CIP targets Asia and Latin America with new fund
May 15, 2019: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has established a new fund with a primary focus on greenfield renewable energy projects in Asia and Latin America.
RWE prepares for renewables growth with €5 billion loan
May 15, 2019: RWE has secured a €5 billion credit line as it prepares to take over E.on and Innogy's renewable energy and gas storage businesses.
Germany and India slip in latest EY rankings
May 15, 2019: The ongoing permitting issues in Germany and India see two of the leading wind markets fall in the latest renewable energy country attractiveness index (RECAI) from advisory firm EY.
Architects to transform two old railway yards into eco parks in Milan
May 14, 2019: OMA and Milan-based Laboratorio Permanente have won a competition to transform two abandoned railway yards in Milan into public parks that will act as “ecological filters” for the car-centric city. Titled Agenti Climatici (Climatic Agents), the master plan would use the natural air-purifying power of plants and the filtering capabilities of water to clean and cool the environment while adding new recreational spaces for the public. The project is part of a larger effort to redevelop disused post-industrial...
Study calls budding octopus farm industry unethical and unsustainable
May 14, 2019: A new study by an international group of scientists denounces the up-and-coming octopus farming industry as both detrimental to fragile marine ecosystems and unethical given the specie’s high intelligence. As countries like Japan announce that they will have farmed octopus ready for sale in 2020, the researchers are calling on companies and governments to discontinue funding and support for the new industry, claiming there is still an opportunity prevent the same unethical and destructive mistakes...
How to mend and repair your clothes
May 14, 2019: There are many benefits to repairing your clothes. Fixing a hole in your favorite jeans or re-attaching a broken button can extend the life of the piece, which is better for the environment and your wallet. From hemming jean bottoms to fixing zippers, here is a quick look at all of the ways you can repair your clothes. Jean Repairs Jeans often develop holes after extended use. Before you toss your favorite pair of pants, you can extend their life by repairing those rips and tears. All it takes...
California restaurants add carbon emission surcharge
May 14, 2019: Sustainable restaurants in California are going a step further by adding a farm-to-table and back-to-farm-again surcharge that allows patrons to support climate smart farming practices within the state. This Fall, participating restaurants will begin adding the optional one percent surcharge intended to offset emissions by paying farmers to store carbon in healthy soil and vegetation. The initiative is a joint partnership by the Perennial Farming Initiative, the California Department of Food and...
Round, minimalist cabins with sliding glass walls take glamping up a notch
May 14, 2019: Related: Solar-powered glass PurePod cabins provide the ultimate connection with nature + LumiPod LumiPod…
The Sparkle Paper Saver Notebook teaches kids about recycled paper and sustainable living
May 14, 2019: Australian-based company Paper Saver has been using its product to help recycle paper since 2015. Their original designed Paper Saver notebook has a plastic sleeve inside where leftover scratch paper can be inserted and used as pages. When the pages are full, the paper can be easily taken out and replaced with new pieces. It’s an innovative idea that has since allowed tens of thousands of customers reduce their paper waste, according to the site. Now, the company is supplementing their sleek,...
Renewables spending 'inadequate for sustainability goals'
May 14, 2019: Stalled investments in renewable energy are jeopardising sustainable development goals set under the 2015 Paris Agreement, with wind power spending particularly weak.
Nordex ramps up production ahead of busy H2
May 14, 2019: German turbine manufacturer Nordex has increased its manufacturing output ahead of a busy second half of the year, after installations in Q1 halved compared with 2018.