Wind Power News

Federal judge blocks the Keystone XL Pipeline

Nov 12, 2018: In a major setback for President Trump, last week a U.S. district judge issued an order to block construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline while the State Department studies its impact on the environment. Last year, the Trump administration approved the controversial 1,179-mile pipeline, but Judge Brian Morris’ 54-page order is preventing it from being built - for now. This decision does not permanently stop construction, but it is putting construction on hold until the State Department takes...

Yves Bhar designs compact, prefab homes to tackle the housing crisis

Nov 12, 2018: Yves Béhar has designed everything from high-tech wearables to voice-activated transforming furniture—and now the prolific San Francisco-based designer is adding prefabricated homes to the list. Unveiled earlier this month at the Summit Festival in Los Angeles, the YB1 (Yves Béhar LivingHomes) is a line of prefabricated accessory dwelling units created in partnership with LivingHomes, the design studio of California-based prefabricated home producers Plant Prefab. The fully customizable modular...

A London office boasts biophilic design for a healthier, happier workplace

Nov 12, 2018: A new experimental office on the twelfth floor of The Shard in London offers a breath of fresh air—literally. Wrapped in bamboo surfaces and punctuated by living plants, facilities management company Mitie’s headquarters in London was created by local practice DaeWha Kang Design. The biophilic project—dubbed the Living Lab at The Shard—mimics nature from its natural materials palette to the circadian lighting system linked to an astronomical clock. As its name suggests, the Living Lab...

Zaha Hadid unveils futuristic designs for New Moscow

Nov 12, 2018: Zaha Hadid Architects and Russian firm TPO Pride Architects have been selected as one of the consortiums to design the new Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye neighborhood, a new development on the western boundary of Moscow, Russia that’s been dubbed “New Moscow.” As expected of Zaha Hadid Architects, the renderings of the winning design depict curvaceous, futuristic architecture. The two other consortiums selected to develop the project include Japanese firm Nikken Sekki with local practice UNK Project...

Everlane introduces long-lasting outerwear made from recycled water bottles

Nov 12, 2018: The ReNew outerwear line, launched in late October by Everlane, yanked three million water bottles out of the waste stream and turned them into fibers for the venture. The new product line offers cleaner fashion in an industry known for heavy pollution and resource consumption. This first round of renewed clothing includes four fleece pullover options, six puffer jackets, and three parkas.  While other companies have edged towards the trend of incorporating recycled materials...

The remote Blacktail Cabin offers a convenient escape in Montana

Nov 12, 2018: If you dream of escaping the hustle of daily life at a remote cabin in the woods, the Blacktail Cabin might be just your ideal getaway. Situated along the shore of Flathead Lake in Montana, a stay at the Blacktail Cabin will drop you in the middle of outdoor activities. During the summer months, frolic in the lake with an afternoon of swimming, paddling, or fishing. In the winter months, head up to the nearby Blacktail Mountain Ski Area for some skiing or snowboarding.  However...

Russia criticised for new export proposals

Nov 12, 2018: RUSSIA: The government has reportedly proposed plans to increase the amount wind turbine component suppliers should export from their Russian facilities.

Low wind yields hit EnBW earnings

Nov 12, 2018: GERMANY: Low offshore wind and hydropower yields reduced utility-developer EnBW's earnings from renewables in the first nine months of the year, it stated.

Morocco's King signals renewables expansion

Nov 12, 2018: MOROCCO: The country's renewable energy target should be revised upward, beyond the present goal of 52% of electricity to be sourced from non-fossil fuels by 2030, King Mohammed VI has announced.

Gorgeous, energy-efficient retreat rests among Utah's mountains

Nov 9, 2018: Related: + Via…

Business Network for Offshore Wind’s Executive VP appointed to Advisory Committee on renewables

Nov 9, 2018: The Co-founder and Executive Vice President of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, Ross Tyler, has been selected to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee for an 18-month term. As a representative of offshore wind, Tyler will work to ensure offshore wind continues to grow and expand its… The post Business Network for Offshore Wind’s Executive VP appointed to Advisory Committee on renewables appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

Ørsted completes the acquisition of Deepwater Wind

Nov 9, 2018: Ørsted announced that its acquisition of Deepwater Wind has been finalized. As per its announcement in early October, Ørsted made an agreement with the D.E. Shaw group to acquire 100% of the equity in Deepwater Wind at a purchase price of USD $510 million. Accordingly, the two companies’ offshore wind assets and organizations will… The post Ørsted completes the acquisition of Deepwater Wind appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

Lafarge Paulding to harness wind energy at its Ohio cement plant

Nov 9, 2018: LafargeHolcim announced plans to build three wind turbines to help power its cement plant in Paulding, Ohio. Adding the turbines is part of the company’s commitment to improving manufacturing operations, controlling costs, and operating sustainably. “Distributed wind energy is a first for LafargeHolcim in North America and something we’re excited to leverage,” said Jamie M.… The post Lafarge Paulding to harness wind energy at its Ohio cement plant appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

BIGs dramatic hillside apartments officially open in Stockholm

Nov 9, 2018: Bjarke Ingels Group has announced the official opening of the long-awaited 79&Park, a residential development with a striking stepped design. Located in Stockholm’s Gärdet district, the sculptural complex consists of 169 foliage-covered apartments constructed from prefabricated 3.6-meter by 3.6-meter modules arranged around an open green courtyard. The cascading design was developed to optimize access to natural light as well as views towards the city and Gärdet’s parklands. Inaugurated...

Reclaimed materials and a massive green wall transports Denali shoppers to the great outdoors

Nov 9, 2018: Earlier this fall, Connecticut-based multidisciplinary design practice Pirie Associates completed a “biophilic” store that evokes the image of a romantic aging barn bursting with lush greenery. Created as the eighth brick-and-mortar location for the outdoor clothing and gear retail chain Denali, the newly opened Providence, Rhode Island store that sits next to Brown University on Thayer Street brings together a massive, low-maintenance vertical green wall with a predominately timber material...

A dark, damp house becomes a sustainable, sun-soaked abode

Nov 9, 2018: Formerly cold, dim and damp, a terrace house in Northcote, Victoria has been reborn into a vibrant and welcoming dwelling with an emphasis on gardening. Designed by Green Sheep Collective for a client named Jill, the compact project, named Jill’s House, saw a modest expansion of just 22 square meters of space yet gained its bright and spacious feel thanks to a thorough renovation. Created to meet the client’s aspirations for a “very healthy home,” Jill’s House embraces recycled materials,...

Strategically slanted walls squeeze extra space out of a small guesthouse

Nov 9, 2018: Related: + Via Dezeen…

Making wind farms more efficient

Nov 9, 2018: With energy demands rising, researchers have completed an algorithm -- or approach -- to design more efficient wind farms, helping to generate more revenue for builders and more renewable energy for their customers.

Boralex losses widen after drop in production

Nov 9, 2018: CANADA: Boralex's net losses widened to C$50 million (US$38 million) in the first nine months of the year due to lower production volumes, amortisation expenses, and acquisition and financing costs, according to the company.

How to host Thanksgiving dinner in a tiny home or small apartment

Nov 9, 2018: If you have a tiny home or apartment, the idea of hosting Thanksgiving dinner can seem like a daunting task. A few hundred square feet, no dining furniture, small appliances, and limited seating can definitely present some challenges. But, if you have a plan, you can throw a successful, delicious feast. Here’s how you do it. Make A Detailed Plan for the Menu, and Keep It Simple The items you need for your Thanksgiving dinner can overwhelm your small space, so you want to plan ahead and develop...

Battery storage demonstration project commissioned

Nov 9, 2018: GERMANY: A battery storage component connected to a five-turbine wind farm could offer insights into system integration of renewable energies, researchers believe.

Turkey launches 1GW onshore tender

Nov 9, 2018: TURKEY: The energy minister has called a tender for 1GW in new onshore wind capacity next March, but no announcement has been made following a 1.2GW offshore auction scheduled for last month.

PNE's earnings down amid pipeline development

Nov 9, 2018: GERMANY: PNE made a net loss of €2 million in the first nine months of the year, down from a €16.3 million profit a year ago, as it prepares to develop and then sell a 200MW portfolio of wind farms.

New York launches 800MW tender

Nov 9, 2018: UNITED STATES: New York state has launched a request for proposals (RfP) for at least 800MW of offshore wind projects.

3XN unveils a sustainable redesign for the Sydney Fish Market

Nov 8, 2018: Danish design practice 3XN has revealed their competition-winning redesign for the Sydney Fish Market, a waterfront marketplace that will undergo a $250 million expansion and, in the process, revitalize the waterfront. Topped with an undulating wave-inspired roof, the contemporary building will emphasize connections with the outdoors while improving visitor access. Sustainability has also guided the design of the structure, which will feature smart water-saving strategies including rainwater harvesting,...

A gloomy house is revived as a modern solar home built of recycled materials

Nov 8, 2018: A dark and gloomy non-insulated dwelling with zero views to speak of has been dramatically transformed into a bright and sustainable new home thanks to the work of local architecture studio Urban Creative. Flanked by 6-meter tall-walls and set on a long and narrow lot in inner Melbourne, 2 Halves Make a Home is a three-bedroom family residence that comprises two structures centered on a light-filled courtyard that allows daylight to penetrate deep into the living areas. Bricks sourced from the original...

This holiday home in Montauk produces all of its own electricity

Nov 8, 2018: East of the Hamptons sits a stunning solar-powered summer home that celebrates indoor/ outdoor living. Wrapped in exposed concrete, and fire-resistant charred timber, the home—dubbed the Montauk House—is the work of Desai Chia Architects, a New York City-based design practice that created the two-story home (with a basement level) for a family with two children. The roof of the house also conceals a large photovoltaic array that harnesses enough energy to power the entire residence, while passive...

'Single-use' is announced as the Word of the Year 2018

Nov 8, 2018: Collins Dictionary has announced their choice for 2018 Word of the Year - single-use. This term describes items, often plastic, that are made to be used just once before throwing them away. And, the frequent use of these items has been blamed for damaging the environment and negatively affecting the food chain. Since 2013, use of the word has increased fourfold because of a rise in public awareness, thanks to news stories, images of plastic items adrift in oceans, and the global campaign to reduce...

GE sharpens blade research facilities

Nov 8, 2018: UNITED STATES: LM Wind Power has unveiled its expanded US blade research centre at the NASA Michoud Campus near New Orleans, Louisiana.

Eco-friendly geodomes provide a luxurious stay in an idyllic Quebec forest

Nov 8, 2018: Related: + Bourgeois / Lechasseur Architects Photography by Maxime Valsan…

Illness and supply delays hit Sif's profits

Nov 8, 2018: NETHERLANDS: Sif Group made an operating loss in the third quarter due to a delayed start to the production of foundations for Borssele III and IV and a "relatively high absence rate due to illness", it stated.

Wind takes a beating from solar

Nov 8, 2018: FRANCE: As predicted, solar PV projects have won the entire 200MW of capacity offered in a technology-neutral tender pitting it against onshore wind.

TPI Composites net income halved

Nov 8, 2018: UNITED STATES: Blade manufacturer TPI Composites returned to profit in the third quarter as it reduced capital expenditure and increased its earnings and net sales.

Australia 'looking for state leadership', says CEC

Nov 8, 2018: AUSTRALIA: The energy sector needs leadership from state governments while the federal policy "remains in chaos", Clean Energy Council (CEC) chief executive Kane Thornton has said, after the Labor party in Victoria pledged to increase its renewables target.

An ancient Jaipur palace property is transformed into a modern restaurant

Nov 7, 2018: New Delhi-based multidisciplinary design practice Studio Lotus has transformed a portion of Jaipur’s lavish City Palace Museum into Baradari, a contemporary fine dining restaurant that pays homage to its rich architectural roots. Formerly used as a fairly nondescript palace cafe, the 14,000-square-foot property has been given a sumptuous revamp using traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. The adaptive reuse project is not only a hybrid of centuries-old elements and modern aesthetics,...

The votes are in for key environmental issues of the 2018 midterms

Nov 7, 2018: Most of the results are in from Tuesday’s election, and when it comes to environmental issues, the outcomes sent a lot of mixed messages. Changes In Washington On the national stage, the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives puts up a roadblock to any major environmental legislation President Trump would like to pass. In the past two years, the POTUS has pushed for an attack on the Endangered Species Act and a farm bill that would have limited controls on water pollution and...

Calgary Central Library is wrapped in a striking, snowflake-like facade

Nov 7, 2018: Calgary’s new Central Library has just opened its doors to the public—and it’s a thing of elegant energy-efficient beauty. International architecture firm Snøhetta teamed up with North America-based multidisciplinary design firm DIALOG to create the new main branch of the Calgary Public Library, one of the largest library systems on the continent. Wrapped in a dynamic, triple-glazed facade overlaid in a modular and hexagonal pattern, the eye-catching library provides 240,000 square feet of...

The ozone is finally healing and could be completely repaired by 2060

Nov 7, 2018: Finally, some good news about the environment. Earlier this week, the United Nations announced in a report that the ozone layer is on the road to recovery. If the current recovery rate continues, parts of the ozone could be fully repaired by the 2030s. And, the entire layer - even the highly damaged parts over the North and South Pole - could be completely healed by 2060. Over the past few decades, humans have done significant damage to the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from the sun’s...

A gorgeous houseboat with a shockingly spacious interior can be yours for $375K

Nov 7, 2018: Related: + Via…

Ex-SGRE CFO joins 10MW generator designer

Nov 7, 2018: UK: Former SGRE chief financial officer (CFO) Andrew Hall has been appointed the new chairman of a company planning to unveil an up-to 10MW generator design early next year.

Clean energy 'main driver' of Enel's earnings

Nov 7, 2018: ITALY: Renewable energy was the main driver behind Enel's growth in operating profit, the power firm stated, and was its largest recipient of investment in the first nine months of the year.

Saudi Arabia enters EY's attractiveness index

Nov 7, 2018: WORLDWIDE: EY (Ernst & Young) named two new countries in its latest renewable energy country attractiveness index (RECAI), including Saudi Arabia in 39th place.

Vestas profits fall despite increase in orders

Nov 7, 2018: DENMARK: In a recurrent theme for OEMs, increasing competition squeezed Vestas' profits in the third quarter despite a rise in orders and revenue.

Carbon-neutral home in Australia conceals its energy efficiency with minimalist design

Nov 6, 2018: Related: This super-insulated concrete “cabin” hides a surprisingly cozy interior + Whispering Smith Via Dwell Whispering Smith, House A…

Luminous LEDs transform Pragues historic Mirror Chapel into an interactive art space

Nov 6, 2018: The lavish interiors of Prague, Czech Republic’s Mirror Chapel was recently transformed into a psychedelic arts space thanks to New York-based design studio SOFTlab. Commissioned by the 2018 Signal Festival that concluded last month, the designers had inserted an interactive and circular art installation made of responsive mirrors and LEDs. Dubbed Iris, the luminous artwork reacted to ambient sound and the movement of people through the rotation of mirrors, creating vertically fragmented images...

Hydroponic gardens and a mini mountain promote fun and well-being in this creative office

Nov 6, 2018: A running track, elevated hydroponic gardens, and a miniature “mountain” combine in this fun new office headquarters for the non-profit Leping Foundation in Beijing, China. Designed by the prolific local design practice People’s Architecture Office (PAO), the mostly open-plan office landscape was created to foster health and wellness. Covering an area of 1,100 square meters, the Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation Headquarters unites four of the company’s departments with a suspended vegetated...

A third of people in the UK are now eating less or no meat

Nov 6, 2018: A new report on food shopping in the UK shows that one in eight Brits is now vegetarian or vegan, and another 21 percent claim to be flexitarian. This means that a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced or eliminated meat from their diets, and it underlines a revolution in the eating habits of UK citizens. Vegetarians have a diet that eliminates meat, poultry, and fish, while vegans eat a plant-based diet and completely avoid all animal products. Flexitarians eat a largely vegetable-based...

A couple builds a fairytale-like rental cabin near a volcano for $30K

Nov 6, 2018: When Caroline and Julien traveled across South America in their Volkswagen Kombi, the couple noticed a dearth of quality accommodations and decided to fill that hospitality gap by building a beautifully crafted rental cabin in Chile. After 19 months of construction, the couple realized their dream on the slopes of the Calbuco Volcano in Ensenada. Designed and constructed for an approximate cost of $30,000, the cozy handcrafted home—dubbed Casa Nido—has been listed on AirBnB starting at $116 a...

Renewables growth to pressure prices

Nov 6, 2018: AUSTRALIA: A strong growth in renewables generation across Australia's national electricity market (NEM) should put pressure on the country's electricity prices, according to a new report by The Australia Institute (TAI) thinktank.

Ireland 'missing out' on offshore wind benefits

Nov 6, 2018: IRELAND: Offshore wind is the only technology with the scale and deployment capability to help Ireland meet its future energy demand and EU renewable targets, according to a new report.