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Directory:Wind

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(Redirected from Directory:Wind Energy)
Today is Friday, May 16, 2008
Table of contents
1 Overview
2 Wind Energy Technologies

2.1 High-Efficiency Horizontal Axis
2.2 Kites & Sails
2.3 MagLev
2.4 Magnus Effect
2.5 Micro Turbine
2.6 Oscillating Wing
2.7 PiezoElectrics
2.8 Variable Blade
2.9 Vertical Axis
2.10 Wind Ribbon

2.1 Commercial
2.2 Government & Politics
2.3 Other
2.4 Past Developments

2.4.1 Of Historical Note

2.5 Research & Development

2.5.1 Plans

2.6 Tools

3 Location

3.1 Building Integration

3.1.1 Videos

3.2 High Altitude
3.3 Offshore
3.4 WindCrofting
3.5 Wind Farms

3.1 Media
3.2 Applications
3.3 Associations
3.4 Comments

3.4.1 Requires Back-up Power System

4 Cautions
5 Resources
6 See also
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Overview

Isn't it interesting how different we feel and how our attitudes change, when we realize the wind is being harnessed and doing something for us? Bring on the blustery days!

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Wind Energy Technologies

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High-Efficiency Horizontal Axis

Image:Stormblade_Turbine_95x95.jpg Image:Venturiwind_Turbine_95x95.jpg Image:Enflo_wind_turbine_95x95.jpg Image:OConner_wind_turbine_logo_95x95.jpg Image:Selsam_Wind_Turbine_95x75.jpg Image:RichardLaws DYI wind turbine 95x95.jpg


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Kites & Sails

  • Skysails - Plus - Top 10 Green Ship Designs (http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/ocean-kites-top-10-green-ship-designs/)- A freighter’s fuel consumption can be cut by 10 percent to 15 percent if a kite is used to pull the ship. (Site shows video) (gCaptain; Jan. 27, 2008)
  • Hybrid Boats and Ships (http://alt-e.blogspot.com/2005/02/hybrids-hybrid-boats-hybrid-ships-and.html) - SkySails is testing a high-tech kite to pull ship along, designed to be a retrofit for existing vessels. Copenhagen group trying airfoils on cargo ships. Danish group implementing aerospace tech for airfoils on ships. SolarSalor implements movable wing-like solar panels that double as sails. (Alt-Energy-Blog; Feb. 24, 2005)
  • KiteShip (http://www.kiteship.com/) - Very Large Free Flying Sails (VLFFS) for boats and ships provide up to 10,000 horsepower of controlled, inexpensive power from wind energy, to reduce ship owners' fuel costs by up to 25 percent, and vastly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants.
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MagLev

  • MagLev Wind Power Generator Unveiled in China - World's first permanent magnetic levitation wind power generator is expected to boost generation capacity by as much as 20% over traditional wind turbines, dropping operational costs by as much as 50%.
  • Mag-Wind (http://www.mag-wind.com/) - Magnetically-Levitated Axial Flux Alternator with Programmable Variable Coil Resistance, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. See also Turbine Company Harnesses Wind Power (http://www.bluefish.org/turbinec.htm) - Article - Mag-Wind Co. L.L.C. in February will install one of its first five pre-production models.
    • Mag-Wind Vertical Axis Turbine for your Home (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/magwind_vertica.php) - The Magnetically-Levitated Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (http://www.mag-wind.com/) solves 11 different problems of VAWTs. It is designed for home installation in urban settings, is only 4 feet high, is inaudible, doesn't mind a little turbulence, and gets a 200% increase in energy due to the 'roof effect'. It works in wind speeds from 5 to 100 mph and produces electricity for 3.5 cents per kW. (TreeHugger; January 22, 2007)
  • Colossal Magnetic Levitation Wind Turbine Proposed (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/colossal_magnet.php) - MagLev Wind Turbine Technologies (http://magturbine.com/) claims that it can deliver clean power for less than one cent per kilowatt hour using a magnetically levitated wind turbine that can generate one gigawatt of power, by reducing frictional losses. A single huge turbine would require only a fraction of the land space of conventional turbines. (TreeHugger; Jul. 27, 2007)
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Magnus Effect

  • Mehmetoğlu (http://www.mehmetoglu.com/en/haberler/mehmetoglundan_detay.asp?id=27) - Wind turbine with cylindrical blades is claimed to produce 30% more energy than similar types of turbines with the same input energy level. The video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC8Qe--wB1c) was taken under 4 m/ sec. wind conditions.
    • New prototype (http://www.mehmetoglu.com/en/haberler/mehmetoglundan_detay.asp?id=30) The function of this generator is that two or more cylinders are rotating in their own axis by giving some inferior quantity of energy. With the help of the wind stream the cylinders are causing the so-called Magnus-Effect and are turning in a constant circle.
  • Magenn - Inflatable, rotating balloon, wind turbine design had expected to be read for market readiness in 2006 (haven't made it yet); at a price close to grid power.
  • Magnus Turbine Generates Power at a Low Cost (http://www.japanfs.org/db/1776-e) - MECARO (http://mecaro.co.jp/) launched production of the Vortes-model (http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=349007) wind turbine, based on the principle of the Magnus effect, enabling the turbine to turn using lift generated by spinning cylinders with spiral fins instead of the usual propeller-like blades. The lift of the Vortes is four times that of conventional propeller-type wind turbines, and the turbine operates at any wind speed. (Japan for Sustainability; Jul. 21, 2007)
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Micro Turbine

  • Tiny, Plastic Wind Turbines Suitable for City Dwellers - Engineers have developed a new micro wind turbine that can generate electricity at low wind speeds, on rooftops and balconies of crowded cities. Plastic gearwheels are linked to one another and can be arranged in an array from two to thousands of square meters. A set of 20 gearwheels costs about $25. (TreeHugger; Mar. 19, 2007)
  • Pocket-Sized Wind Generator for Cell Phone (http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/24iit.htm) - Small device generates 3-4 watts of electricity from wind. Hand crank option a probable add-on. Once commercialized would cost around $4.00. (Slashdot; Rediff; Feb. 24, 2005)
  • Wind-powered Wi-Fi Sensors and Other Remote Devices (http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/12/2037243) p A 10-centimeter diameter windmill can produce the 7.5 milliwatts needed for a wireless sensor. Has application for other remote devices as well. (Slashdot; Nov. 2005)
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Oscillating Wing

  • Wings for Wind Energy (http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/aug/05/developers-trying-harness-earths-energy-new-way/) - W2 Energy Development (http://www.w2energycorp.com/) may have a more efficient answer for capturing wind energy, based on up-and-down oscillation of a wing attached to a lever. The WindWing puts more surface area in contact with the wind than a propeller, and the lever magnifies the wind power, providing 40% to 60% efficiency, W2 reports. (VenturaCountyStar; Aug. 5, 2007)
  • EconoLogica (http://www.econologica.com/) - Rotary windmills are so badly matched to pumping water that they convert only about 10% of the windpower they could capture into usefully pumped water. Their cranking cannot vary the stroke of the pump with windspeed. Variable stroke is inherent in our oscillating wing'dmills, as is our high wind protection, neither needing fallible add-on mechanisms.
  • Vortex Oscillation Technology (http://www.vortexosc.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=87) - Wind-generators with oscillating actuating bodies (wingmills) can produce several times lower cost electric power. It is possible to produce generators from 0.1 Kw up to 100 Mw, from wind, rivers, tide and sea currents.
  • BioPower Systems (http://www.biopowersystems.com/odrive.html) - O-DRIVE™ converts low-speed large-torque oscillations to AC power.
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PiezoElectrics

  • Wind-Generated Electricity Using Flexible Piezoelectrics (http://www.ece.umn.edu/groups/power/workshop_feb06/Piezo%20Wind%20Gen%20Orlando%20Feb2006.pdf) (pdf) - Flexible piezoelectric bimorph flaps in the wind like a flag. Bending stresses caused by flapping generate charges and hence voltages. Estimated efficiency 0.01 - 0.1%
  • A Novel Method of Harvesting Wind Energy through Piezoelectric Vibration for Low-Power Autonomous Sensors (http://nanopower.darnell.com/schedule.php) - As a piezoelectric fan is powered by an AC power source, wind flow is generated by the flapping of the piezoelectric fan. Using the reverse effect of the piezoelectric fan for electrical power generation, when wind flows past the flexible piezoelectric bimorph flaps, bending stresses caused by flapping generate charges and hence electrical voltages at the output of the piezoelectric flaps.
  • "Wind Tree" Electrical Generator - Imagine harnessing the power of hundreds of leaves fluttering in the wind. Richard Dickson is developing a passive wind harvesting technology that uses piezoelectric materials woven into textile-like material to form artificial leaves for a bio-mimicking "tree".


[edit]

Variable Blade

  • Mass Megawatts Wind Power (http://www.massmegawatts.com/) - The Multi-Axis Turbosystem (MAT) is capable of generating electricity at 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour at an average wind speed of 15.5 miles per hour. It can withstand 120 mile per hour winds, and level four earthquakes.
  • Energy Unlimited (http://www.eui-windfarm.com/) - Variblade™ - variable length blade is proven to increase productivity in low winds and reduce strain in high winds. It can increase capacity of a turbine by up to 20-40 percent in low winds while reducing unproductive load in higher winds. Replacing standard blades with the Variblade can turn a 108 kW machine into 140 kW overnight.
  • Eotheme Sàrl Switzerland (http://eotheme.com/) - CRWT (Counter Rotating Wind Turbine) has some advantages: Effective reduction of electricity cost by 8% to 12%. Competitive efficiency enhancement by 20% to 22%. Enhancement of “farm power density‿ (i.e. more power and revenue from the same surface of wind farm or same infrastructure cost).
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Vertical Axis

  • Directory:Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (separate page) - Vertical axis turbines have several advantages over the typical horizonal axis turbines. Generator can be on the ground for easier access, rather than up in the air. Generally begin rotating at lower speeds and are quieter. Lower susceptibility to cross-winds.

Image:TMA_vertical_axis_earlier_prototype_95x95.jpg Image:PacWind_95x95.jpg Image:Quietrevolution_wind_turbine_95x95.jpg Image:Eurowind_VAWTMU_turbine_95x95.jpg Image:Wind_Harvest_Windstar_turbine_95x95.jpg Image:Ropatec_Windrotor_95x95.jpg

  • Former Soviet Weapon Designers Take On Wind Power (http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001079.html) - Vertical axis wind turbine systems have several advantages over more traditional horizontal axis wind turbines. They scale down more efficiently, are usually quieter, and have a much lower rate of bird kills. (WorldChanging; August 22, 2004)
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Wind Ribbon

  • Humdinger's Wind Belt Economizes Low Wind Harnessing - Invented by Shawn Frayne, the Windbelt is a taut membrane fitted with a pair of magnets that oscillate between coils. Designed for low wind speeds and budgets, the device is 10x to 30x times more efficient than the best microturbines, and its cost is proportionately small.
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Commercial

  • Ming Yang (http://www.mingyang.com.cn/e_product1.aspx?i=1) - Produces energy efficient wind turbines - China.
  • AltEnergyStore > Buy Wind Turbines (http://altenergystore.com) - "Low prices on wind turbines for home, business, boat, rv, farm."
  • WindBrokers.com (http://windbrokers.com) - "First-class, second-hand wind turbines from Western-Europe."
  • Windports™ (http://www.windports.com/eeol.html) - The turbine effect windmill can withstand winds of 200 km/h when standard propeller units must be stopped at winds of 70 km/h. Absolutely noise free and without vibrations. Captures all 3 vectors of the wind when conventional windmills only capture one.
  • REPower Systems (http://www.repower5m.com/index_flash_uk.htm) - With a rated power of 5 megawatt and a rotor diameter of 126 metres, the 5M is one of the largest and most powerful wind turbines in the world.
  • Wind Turbine Harnesses Aerodynamics of Buildings (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/miniwind_turbin.php) - Aero Vironment (http://www.avinc.com/energy_lab_project_detail.php?id=81), which engineered GM's EV-1, has unveiled a compact wind turbine that sits on the parapets of a building rather than the roof, catching the wind as it travels up the side of a building, resulting in as much as 30% increase in energy production. It requires only a 7 mph (3.1 m/s) breeze to start up, and produces roughly 55kWh per month per unit. (TreeHugger; Oct. 2, 2006)
  • Skystream > Wind Energy Goes Mainstream with New Residential Small Wind Generator (http://www.windenergy.com/news/press_skystream_6-27-06.html) - Skystream 3.7™ is the first fully integrated wind generator designed specifically for the grid-connected residential market. The output would provide 40 to 90 percent of an average home’s energy needs. In states like Hawaii, where the cost of energy and wind speeds are both high, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in less than 4 years. (Southwest Windpower; June 27, 2006)
  • WindPartnersBg (http://www.windpartnersbg.com/) - - Used wind turbines 225kW - 1.5MW - Mediator and consultant for used wind turbines up to 1.5MW for Bulgaria only.
  • SkyBuilt aims to be the Dell of renewable energy systems (http://pesn.com/2005/10/20/9600192_SkyBuilt_Plop_and_Go/) - If you have a unique power need that is off grid, and you want something that can deploy quickly, is rugged, and will last for a long time, SkyBuilt is who you call. The CIA shouldn't be the only one to benefit. (PESN; Oct. 20, 2005)
  • Bergey Windpower Company (http://www.bergey.com/) - "the world's leading supplier of small wind turbines for homes, businesses, and off-grid."
  • John Deere Credit Wind Energy (http://www.deere.com/en_US/jdc/product_financing/wind_energy/about/index.html) - Currently, John Deere Wind Energy is interested in investments that involve utility-scale wind projects. This generally includes projects that involve multiple wind turbines with a manufacturer’s nameplate capacity of 1.25 megawatts or greater.
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Government & Politics

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Other

  • Gyro Energy (http://www.gyroenergy.co.nz/) - GyroTorque, also known as GVT (Gyroscopic Variable Transmission) (http://www.gyrotorque.com/) is an infinitely variable transmission that facilitates greater capture and control of input energy from wind & wave resources to reduce the cost of power generation. See also Directory:Transmissions - Other efficient transmission designs.
  • Theo Jansen's StrandBeest Kinetic Sculptures - Modern-day DaVinci-like genius has been building various contraptions that walk along via the power of the wind. Made from commonly available tools like plastic tubing, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, hose, and tape, they combine engineering with art.
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Past Developments

  • UK wind research blows away myths (http://www.opensourceenergy.org/C17/News%20Viewer/default.aspx?ID=1121) - The most extensive study yet of the UK’s wind resource has found it to be the best in Europe. Research analysed hourly wind speed records collected by the Met Office at 66 locations across the U... (PhysOrg; Nov. 2005)
  • Spain Becomes World-leader in Wind Power (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35745)- Spain has overtaken Germany as the world's leader in the most installed wind power capacity, at 8.3 gigawatts, growing 30% annually since 1997. (Renewable Energy Access; Aug. 24, 2005)
  • First wind power project on Forest Service land in works (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35055)- The evergreen trees of the Green Mountain National Forest in southern Vermont could soon be topped by up to thirty 370-foot-tall wind turbines producing enough electricity to power 14,000 to 16,000 homes.. (Renewable Energy Access; Aug. 4, 2005)
  • Energy for the Residential Masses (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=27953)- Four wind companies are teaming up to develop a new generation of wind turbine/solar/LED technologies for global urban and rural settings. (Renewable Energy Access; May 2, 2005)
  • Altitude Wind Power (http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:High_Altitude_Wind_Power)- Flying Electric Generators, windmills 30,000 feet high and tethered to the ground by power lines would capture the plentiful power in the strong, steady winds that blow in the jet stream. (PESWiki; March 26, 2005)
  • UK's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Now Operational (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=24229)- The UK's largest offshore wind farm at Scroby Sands, off Caister, Norfolk, is now officially inaugurated and generating power for as many as 41,000 homes. (Renewable Energy Access; March 28, 2005)
  • UK Offshore Wind Plans Blown Off Course (http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30341/story.htm)- Obstacles range from the discovery of flocks of seabirds at sites in the Irish Sea to uncertainty about funding costs of new grid connections and difficulties getting finance. (Reuters; April 13, 2005)
  • Turbines for the Shores of Lake Huron (http://www.solaraccess.com/news/story?storyid=6980&siteid=1674)- The winds whipping up speed along lake Huron's flat expanse may soon be harnessed for power on the Canadian shores. (SolarAccess.com; June 23, 2004)
  • Unveiled - The Clean Queen Of The Sea (http://www.rense.com/general63/sea.htm)- Orcelle to be the first cargo ship in modern times to be run completely by sun, wind, and waves. Unveiling of first 820-foot long vessel, with cruise speed of 15 knots, expected next month. (Rense / The Telegraph, UK; March 13, 2005)
  • Largest Wind Turbine Blade Unveiled (http://www.solaraccess.com/news/story?storyid=6956&siteid=1674)- LM Glasfiber blade measures 126 meters in diameter. At less than 18 tons, the turbine weighs less less than smaller blades due to new design and materials composition. (SolarAccess.com; June 21, 2004)
  • Wind Power Falls Under $0.01/kwh (http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/15/0112215)- Figure refers to the premium paid for the power over conventionally supplied electricity. (Slashdot; Sept. 14, 2004)
  • Community Sees First Savings from Wind Power (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=22075)- Scottish island community of Gigha expects to cover a third of its energy needs from three turbines, each producing 225 kW. (Renewable Energy Access; Feb. 7, 2005)
  • Plans for the world's largest wind farm (http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/power/news_article.cfm?id=5178074)- 10 times bigger than the largest one currently making electricity _ are on track for South Dakota. (Energy Central) (registration required)
  • France's Highest Wind Farm Completed (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=21385)- Consists of eight Vestas 850 kW turbines, giving a total installed capacity of 6.8 MW, situated 1250 m above sea level. (Renewable Energy Access; Jan. 24, 2005)
  • China Eyes Turbines at Sea to Boost Wind Power (http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30532/story.htm)- Wind turbines stationed up to 50 km (30 miles) offshore and in waters up to 30 metres deep could be a key part of China's renewable energy programme. (Reuters; April 26, 2005)
[edit]

Of Historical Note

  • Wind May Generate 30 Percent of Electricity by 2030 (http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/38191/story.htm) - Wind power is growing faster than any other clean energy source, such as solar, geothermal or tidal power in a shift from fossil fuels. Nations now generating most wind power are Germany, Spain, the United States, India and Denmark. (Reuters; Sept. 21, 2006)
  • .S. Wind Power Reaches 10-Gigawatt Milestone (http://www.RenewableEnergyAccess.com/rea/news/story?id=45703&src=rss) - As the U.S. wind energy industry stayed on pace for another record year, Texas for the first time supplanted historic leader California as the top state in cumulative wind power capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) Second Quarter Market Report. (RenewableEnergyAccess; Aug. 14, 2006)
  • Offshore wind could power entire U.S. (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/offshore_wind_c.php#perma) - There is as much wind power potential (900,000 megawatts) off the United States' coasts as the current capacity of all power plants in the country combined, according to a report (pdf) entitled "A Framework for Offshore Wind Energy Development in the United States". (TreeHugger; July 11, 2006)
  • Floating Platforms Could make Deep Sea Wind Generation Feasible (http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/redesign/showdoc.asp?docid=97785586&accnum=1) - A report prepared for the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory says "At some depth, fixed bottom foundations will be replaced by floating systems that have a high potential for site independence, mass production and wide-ranging wind turbine innovation" (Refocus Weekly; May 17, 2006)
  • Wind Cheaper than Conventional (http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update52.htm) - A newly published report says that wind power is now cheaper than conventional sources in at least two areas of the US: Austin, Texas and the state of Colorado, and that this is a trend that will be seen elsewhere. (Earth Policy Institute; Mar. 22, 2006)
  • Record Year for Global Wind Energy (http://www.RenewableEnergyAccess.com/rea/news/story?id=44188) - According to figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council for 2005, the installation of 11,769 megawatts (MW), which represents a 43.4% increase in annual additions to the global market, was up from 8,207 MW in the previous year. (Renewable Energy Access; Feb. 27, 2006)
  • Backyard wind turbines turn energy consumers into suppliers (http://spectrum.ieee.org/oct06/4661) - Feasibility is increasing. SkyStream (http://www.windenergy.com/) price tag is about $9,000 and lasts for around 100,000 kilowatt-hours (20 year life), which results in 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. If the market takes off, that price will drop. (IEEE Spectrum; Oct. 2006) (See Slashdot (http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/04/0447231) discussion)
  • Wind Power 2005 in Review, Outlook for 2006 and Beyond (http://www.RenewableEnergyAccess.com/rea/news/story?id=41304) - The North American wind power market is at last entering a period of sustained growth. Both the US and Canada achieved record installations of wind power projects in 2005, and both are poised for steady growth moving forward. (Renewable Energy Access; Jan. 6, 2006)
  • Assessment of Integration of Wind into Utility Power Systems (http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/?epi_menuItemID=989a6827590d7dda9cdf6023a0908a0c&epi_menuID=c791260db682611740b28e347a808a0c&epi_baseMenuID=384979e8cc48c441ef0130f5c6908a0c&ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&div=428291328&newsId=20060522005433) - The Utility Wind Integration Group report says "we don't see any fundamental technical barriers at the present time to wind penetrations of up to 20 percent of system peak demand, which is far beyond where we are today." (BusinessWire; May 22, 2006)
  • "Wind power is the world's fastest-growing energy source." - ( ABC (http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1335684.htm); March 31, 2005)
  • Global wind map identifies wind power potential (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7955412/) - Stanford University researchers conclude from more than 8,000 wind speed measurements analyzed worldwide that wind alone could answer world's energy needs inexpensively. (PhysOrg; May 16, 2005)
  • Map pinpoints wind-power centers (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7955412/) - In putting together a global and U.S. map, researchers found that wind power could provide 40 times more electricity than is needed worldwide. Data collected from about 8,000 locations on the planet. Detailed in May issue of The Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. (MSNBC; May 23, 2005)
  • Captain, we need more power! (http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20050525-wind.asx) - Video Interview with Christina Archer, the Standford researcher who helped generate recent map of potential feasible wind farms at 80 meters high. (DiscoveryChannel.ca; May 25, 2005)
  • Global Wind Power (http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/08/issue/forward_wind.asp?trk=nl) - Researchers at Stanford University have estimated the global potential for wind power at 80 meters above the ground (the approximate height of today's wind turbines). (MIT Technology Review; August 2005)
  • Scotland is the windiest country in Europe - with an average windspeed of more than 7.5 metres per second (at 50 metres altitude) (Reference (http://www.caithness.org/windfarms/whattheysay.htm))
  • Wind power becomes fastest growing energy source (http://www.teamindia.net/index.php?action=fullnews&id=45780) - Industry growing at an annual rate 20 to 30 per cent. Cost has gone from 40 cents per kW-h down to between 4 and 6 cents per kW-h, putting it in a competitive range with some conventional technologies. (Team India, California; April 23, 2005)
  • Small Wind Turbines Experiencing Strong Growth (http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=az4l8dkQGk17?id=30731)- List of US stats. Average generator size has doubled from 500 W in 1990 to 1 kW in 2004. Sales growth not as fast as solar PV, which are favored by government incentives. (Renewable Energy Access; May 23, 2005)
  • Sterling Quotient (http://www.freeenergynews.com/Directory/free_energy.htm) > Assessing the Life Cycle of Wind Turbine Production (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=25113)- Denmark team determines a 6.8-month "payback" time, taking into consideration the production costs, transport and erection costs, operating and maintenance costs, disposal costs. (Renewable Energy Access; April 19, 2005) (see also)
  • GE's 2005 wind revenue up 4-fold from 2002, when they started (http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=REDIRECT&epi-process=process_redirect.jsp&mtitle=E-Mail+Headlines&ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20050516006088&div=428291328)- GE's revenue estimated to come in at $2 billion this year, with 1,600 installations worldwide. They hold 65% of U.S. wind market. Wind power is fastest growing clean energy solution. (BusinessWire; May 16, 2005)
  • UK Govt. Debunks Top Ten Myths for Wind Power (http://www.ProcessRequest.com/apps/redir.asp?link=XcbgaiiaCF,ZdabebeadcBI&oid=UdedbBB&iclitemid=YcdghihbiEC&tid=WiaebbaBE) - Windfarms in the United Kingdom have not been associated with any major adverse effects on birds, according to a new government internet site. (Refocus Weekly; Aug. 24, 2005)
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Research & Development

  • Centripetal Dynamics (http://www.centripetal-dynamics.com/projects_wind.htm) - Developing a two-blade, variable camber rotor with “ALC‿ (Active Lift Control), Down Wind Turbine technology that will reduce the cost of energy to 3 cents/kW at Class 4 wind sites. It features a reduced drag rotating airfoil tower, flow through-hub-rotor construction, permanent magnet drivetrain and advanced composite construction.
  • Brushless Doubly-Fed Generator (BDFG) improves the reliability of wind turbines (http://www.physorg.com/news112888184.html) - A research team from the University of Cambridge have developed a new generator technology for the wind turbine industry to the point of commercial exploitation, for application in a wide spectrum of wind turbines ranging from multi-megawatt systems for wind farms down to domestic micro turbines. (PhysOrg; Oct. 29, 2007)
  • New Low-Speed Wind Turbine Blade (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/new_wind_turbin.php) - “STAR”, or Sweep Twist Adaptive Rotor, by Sandia National Laboratories (http://www.sandia.gov/news/resources/releases/2007/blade.html) promises to be more efficient and significantly reduce the cost-of-energy at low wind speed sites. Such sites are numerous in the U.S. and would increase by 20-fold the available land area that can be economically developed for wind energy. (TreeHugger; Feb. 7, 2007)
  • Researchers make advances in wind energy generation (http://pesn.com/2005/07/18/9600125_Alberta_Wind/) - Engineers at the University of Alberta have created a wind energy generator that they hope people will one day be able to use to power their own homes. (PESN; July 18, 2005)
  • Project to Produce Hydrogen from Wind Power (http://www.solaraccess.com/news/story?storyid=7389&siteid=1674) - Corporacion Energia Hidroelectrica de Navarra (EHN) of Spain is investigating ways of obtaining hydrogen from water through electricity generated from wind power. (Solar Access; Aug. 20, 2004)
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Plans

  • Build a Wind Generator (http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Build-A-Wind-Generator&id=618473) - Bill Temple decided to learn how to build a wind generator (http://www.homemade-wind-generator.com/) and you may want to build your own wind generator too. (Ezine Articles; May 2008)
  • How to Make a Wind Powered LED Out of a VCR (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Wind-Powered-LED-Out-of-a-VCR/) - It is a device that combines the renewable energy of the wind with the amazingly efficient and modern LEDs to make sure that you get spectacularly good lighting. (EcoFriend; March 25, 2008)


  • Got Wind DIY (http://www.gotwind.org/gotwind.org_whats_new.htm)
  • Wind Power Savings (http://www.windpowersavings.com/) - Wind power kits for home use. Guide to home wind power. Find used/new wind power kits, turbines, blades, inverters, how-to-guides, and more. (Thanks Detlef Warner)
  • Poor Man's Guide to Wind Power and Battery Systems (http://pesnetwork.rclewis02.hop.clickbank.net/) - Downloadable book tells you how to make a 1 kilowatt machine using off-the shelf scraps for only $150, including the tower. Tells how to find and refurbish batteries for free; and how to source a good generator.
  • MattB's Windmill - Open sourcing Matt B's "low tech" effective windmill that can be built from scratch.
  • "In my opinion, the very best plans out there right now are Hugh Piggotts Axial Flux Wind Turbine Plans (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Axial+Flux+Wind+Turbine+Plans%22+piggott) My own designs are inspired very much by his ideas there. My goal was to perhaps simplify his ideas a bit more -- *and* to build a somewhat larger machine, but the basic design is the same." DanB of ForceField (Sept. 9, 2004)
  • All-Wooden Wind Generator (http://www.otherpower.com/woodmill.html) - Full set of plans to build a functional device, as published in Home Power magazine. (Forcefield)
  • Bubble Mill (http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10823) - Simple craft for a child. Use wind power to propel a bubble-making machine. Start 'em early on free energy. (Family Fun)
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Tools

  • Using LIDAR for Identification of Wind Parameters (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51911) - Currently, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is the best candidate to replace the met mast-based wind measurements used in power curve calculations for offshore wind farms and is being tested at the Alpha Ventus (http://www.rave-offshore.de/) wind farm. (Renewable Energy; March 27, 2008)
  • Global Wind/Solar Map (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=6F24780BC219A98E4A81937846C40E11?id=51741) - The global wind/solar map can be viewed at Wind/Solar (http://firstlook.3tiergroup.com). 3TIER (http://www.3tiergroup.com/) chose to unveil its global wind map at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008 (http://www.wirec2008.gov/wps/portal/wirec2008)). (Renewable Energy World; March 3, 2008)
  • IRATA rope access safety systems for wind farms (http://www.dragonsafetysystems.com) - "The combination of our offshore and on shore maintenance and repair rope access experience, along with our NDE inspection services make us an ideal partner for a joint venture with a wind turbine management company or installer."
  • Device determines how well wind turbines operate (http://www.physorg.com/news73138777.html) - Accurate Time Linked data Acquisition System (ATLAS II) can provide a great deal of the information necessary to understand how well a turbine is performing, capable of sampling a large number of signals at once to characterize the inflow, the operational state, and the structural response of a wind turbine. (PhysOrg; July 26, 2006) }
  • Solutions to abrasion and erosion in wind generator vanes (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/ef-sta091205.php) - Gel-coat characteristics variables (type, hardness, thickness) studied to reduce degradation to vanes by erosion, particularly at their outer edge, produced by particles suspended in the air. (EurekAlert; Sept. 12, 2005)
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Location

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Building Integration

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Videos

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High Altitude

  • Directory: High Altitude Wind Power (Separate page) - The energy in winds miles above us is sufficient to provide all the world's energy needs. It can be captured with Flying Electric Generators at two cents per kilowatt hour or less. This is less than the cost of producing electricity using fossil fuels or nuclear fission.
  • Wind Power "Laddermills": High Altitude Kites to Replace Turbines (http://alt-e.blogspot.com/2004/12/wind-power-laddermills-high-altitude.html) - Concept of 5-mile-into-the-sky cable with chain of controllable wing-like kites attached to a looped cable, generating 100 MW. Developers at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands hope to build a working model in the next four years. (Alt Eng News; Dec. 19, 2004)
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Offshore

See Directory:Wind:Offshore (separate index page) - includes floating wind turbine designs.

Image:Floating_wind_turbine_concepts_NREL_95x95.jpgImage:Norsk Hydro illustration 95x95.jpgImage:Off shore wind farm 95x95.jpgImage:REpower 5M wind turbine 95x95.jpg

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WindCrofting

  • The emergence of windcrofting (http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/448/) - An alternative to large scale wind farms is "windcrofting (http://www.provenenergy.co.uk/wind-turbine-windmill-wind-power-windcrofting.html)," installing rows of smaller-scale turbines between fields on rented farmland, so no productive land is lost. Proven Energy (http://www.provenenergy.co.uk/) is beginning a program for windcrofting in the UK, and has already installed more than 1000 of their turbines on farms. (EcoGeek; Feb. 2, 2007)
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Wind Farms

  • Wind Farms (separate index) - Wind farms resent an economy of scale, enabling them to produce electricity in the price range of grid power.
  • Two oil giants plunge into the wind business (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/02/two_oil_giants_plunge_into_the_wind_business/) - Two of the world's leading oil producers, Shell and BP, have almost overnight joined some of the biggest players in wind power in the United States, accelerating a trend of large corporations investing in the rapidly growing alternative-energy field. (Boston Globe; March 2, 2007)
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Media

  • Clearing the Air: Wind Power and Reliability (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51767) - Our studies and experiences show that wind energy integrates effectively and reliably into our power systems with regional market operations to mitigate the impact of wind variability. (Renewable Energy; March 25, 2008)
  • 70% Of Navarra's Power Comes From Wind, Solar (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/70_of_navarras.php) - The region of Navarra, in Northeastern Spain, gets approximately 70% of its electricity from the wind and the sun. With 1,100 windmills, this tiny region is capable of generating more electricity from renewable sources than France or Poland. Navarra plans to reach 100% renewable energy generation by 2010. (TreeHugger; Mar. 22, 2007)
  • Compressed air wind turbines (http://www.insidegreentech.com/node/910) - General Compression (http://www.generalcompression.com/) thinks it's found a way to make wind power available on-demand using turbines to compress air and store it underground. A pipeline network collects and stores compressed air and a power plant of expanders and generators produces electricity when needed. Wind farms could sell power during peak demand, making them grid compatible. (Inside Greentech; Mar. 20, 2007)
  • Efficient Wind Tunnels: Could Be Big? (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/efficient_wind.php) - Green Energy Technologies (http://www.getsmartenergy.com/) has developed a wind tunnel product that captures wind and pulls it into the center where the turbine is, increasing the velocity of the wind by Bernoulli's Principle. The WindCube is the urban-friendly rooftop application and the WindMAX is the tower application for high power users, with a payback period of 3-7 years. (TreeHugger; Mar. 16, 2007)
  • ‘Windy City’ is testing rooftop turbine power (http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=89116&version=1&template_id=48&parent_id=28) - "Aeroturbines" (http://www.aerotecture.com/), with double-helix rotors caged in cylinders instead of exposed blades, is intended to limit bird kills, ice buildup, roof-rattling vibrations and howling noise. (Gulf Times; May 30)
  • New Advanced Propeller / Rotor System (http://www.hiqproducts.com/) - Hi-Q Products has been awarded a grant from the California Energy Commission to develop “cutting-edge‿ advanced wind rotor system. The Mamikon Spinner, based on single strip geometry, is stronger and more stable than 3 blade designs. Able to spin in the slightest breeze, it is designed for sites with a high percentage of low wind days. (Hi-Q Products; March 23, 2005) See also Hi-Q Rotor (http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions/pdfs/hiq.pdf) (pdf file) at DOE
  • Breakthrough, low-cost wind turbine technology moves closer to commercialization (http://www.windturbinecompany.com/news/index.html) - The Wind Turbine Company has been awarded a contract with the U.S. DOE NREL to continue prototype testing and development of the WTC 750 kilowatt wind turbine. "Our new wind turbine technology provides the potential to reduce wind electricity cost by approximately one-third," said Larry Miles. WTC's 750 turbine features 2 rotor blades, oriented on the downwind side of the tower. (The Wind Turbine Company; July 6, 2006)
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Applications

  • Wind walkers (video) (http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20051018-beachwalker.asx) - Animari are animals that can walk without having to eat. One engineer has designed a light-weight robot that can walk along the beach, powered only by the wind... (Discovery.ca; Oct. 18, 2005)
  • Max Whisson's Gust Water Trap Apparatus - The Whisson vertical windmill cools the air passing through the whirling blades. As it does so, a proprietary process collects condensate, yielding fresh water from the air.
  • Clean Patagonian Energy from Wind and Hydrogen (http://www.sustain-online.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?MenuId=1&ClickMenu=&doOpen=1&type=DocDet&ObjectId=MTQ2MTA) - A laboratory situated in the southern Patagonia region of Argentina is producing hydrogen from wind energy to supply power to a village -- and prove that it is possible to replace the polluting fuels derived from petroleum. (Sustain Online; May 13, 2005)
  • Sun and wind bring power to Navajos for the first time (http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2826331) - The systems are portable, running on both solar and wind power, and composed of an 800 watt photovoltaic cell, 400 watt wind turbine, 10,000 watt hour batteries and an AC inverter. Added to the package is a high efficiency refrigerator and energy efficient light bulbs. (Salt Lake Tribune; June 27, 2005)
  • Wal-Mart Deploys Solar, Wind, Sustainable Design (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=34647) - New store outside of Dallas, Texas could revolutionize how leading world retailer builds and powers their stores. Experimental design combines a host of renewable energy technologies including numerous solar PV arrays, two, small wind turbines, a bio-fuel boiler to recycle and burn recovered oil from store operations and a nearly endless list of energy-saving and sustainable design principles. (Renewable Energy Access; July 22, 2005)
  • Hydrogen Generated by Antarctic Winds (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=19236) - The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) received a grant of half a million dollars from the Australian Greenhouse Office to demonstrate the use of hydrogen generated by wind in Antarctica. (Renewable Energy Access; Nov. 29, 2004)
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Associations

  • Wind Power Goes Global (http://www.tblog.com/templates//index.php?bid=enki&static=427381) - The Global Wind Energy Council, launched Wednesday, is the new global forum for the wind energy sector, uniting the wind industry and its representative associates. Members represent all the world’s major wind turbine manufacturers and 99 per cent of the world’s 47,317 megawatts of installed wind power capacity. (H2O Power; March 27, 2005)
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Comments

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Requires Back-up Power System

On Nov. 17, 2007, Abla Gado <Eng_a_g {at} yahoo.com> wrote:

The energy output of a wind generator is variable due to the variability of wind speed at the installation site through the day hours and year months. Therefore, a back-up power supply (BUPS) is necessary for operating WG to supply isolated loads. This BUPS could be a diesel generator and/or an alternative sources of renewable energy system at the installation site.

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Cautions

  • Country Guardian (http://www.countryguardian.net/) - A UK conservation group which, since 1991, has campaigned against the construction of wind turbines in environmentally sensitive areas.
  • Wound Up Over Windmills (http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,69971-0.html?tw=rss.index) - Gov. George Pataki has taken drastic measures to help combat energy-supply problems and decrease the Empire State's ecological footprint; but many residents are not happy about widespread plans to install wind farms. (Wired; Jan. 6, 2006) (See Slashdot (http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/01/15/0146240) discussion)
  • Lightning at wind farms 'could start fires' (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=966462004) - Direct lightning strikes on wind farms could create power surges that damage the electricity network and start forest fires, according to campaigners against the proliferation of turbines in Scotland. (Scotsman; Aug. 20, 2004)

Reply: "Think of how many hits the electric grid take each year. There are miles upon miles of electric wires strung around that lightning can hit - and has." -- Sheldon

  • A Campaign That's For The Birds (http://www.cbsnews.com/track/sumhtml2005070615/stories/2005/07/06/tech/main706910.shtml?cmp=EM8707) - Environmental activists, once reluctant to take on an industry that provides an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, are suing nine wind farm operators. The reason: migrating birds are being killed by the fast-rotating turbine blades. (CBSNews; July 6, 2005)
  • Wind companies sued over bird deaths (http://www.cbsnews.com/track/sumhtml2005070615/stories/2005/07/06/tech/main706910.shtml?cmp=EM8707) - California environmental group seeks to force the operators of one of North America's largest windmill farms to take steps to reduce the number of birds killed in the turbines' propellers. (Reuters; Nov. 4, 2004)
  • Will Wind Power Change Earth's Climate? (http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/11/0056217) - Recent wind power study models the effects of introducing massive amounts of wind farms into North America. According to their results, while still having only 1/5th the impact of fossil fuels, wind power will still adjust the earth's climate with the equatorial regions warmed while the arctic grows colder. (Slashdot; Nov. 10, 2004)
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Resources

  • Second Hand Wind Turbines (http://www.repoweringsolutions.com/wind_tubines_broker/index.htm) - Repowering Solutions is a supplier of second hand wind turbines and new. In the last years we have given wind turbines to countries of all the continents. Madrid Spain.