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CHEERLEADERS for renewable energy are fond of pointing out that patches of desert receive enough energy each year from sunlight to power the entire world. But few deign to explain how the construction of the millions of solar cells required to convert that energy into electricity would be financed. Utility bosses and policymakers tend to dismiss wind and solar power as noble but expensive distractions, sustainable only through lavish subsidies. But new studies suggest that renewables might not be as dear as sceptics suspect...These figures, of course, rely on all sorts of questionable assumptions.
Cheyenne firm's wind turbines get makeover
November 5, 2005 by Robert W. Black in Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyoming)
November 5, 2005 by Robert W. Black in Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyoming)
The new turbines are more efficient and less costly than propeller-driven machines and earlier versions of TMA's own mills, officials say.
Also filed under [
Wyoming]
Chinese developers unveiled the world’s first full-permanent magnetic levitation (Maglev) wind power generator at the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006 held June 28 in Beijing, according to Xinhua News..
A breeze of just over 5 kms an hour is sufficient to start the machine, which means it can operate for many more hours than traditional wind turbines, said Zeng Zhiyong, president of the Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Technology which developed the turbine with the help of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou.
A discussion was held in the Common Council Chamber at City Hall Monday that could make the City of Oswego the first place in America with a design of electric-generating wind turbines only seen in Belgium.
Bruce Cranston, representing the New England Windpower Corporation (NEWC), presented preliminary details on the scheme that is more efficient and affordable than the traditional wind turbines common in wind farms across the world. Instead of a large fan-like device, which once moved by the wind generates electricity, the new design resembles a tube with up to ten fans inside of it.
A WEEK before the government publishes its long-awaited energy white paper, two of the consortium looking to develop clean coal technology have announced that they will move forward with their plans.
The first to jump was Scottish Power, which said it was moving to the final feasibility study of a scheme to revamp Longannet.
A climate change expert has urged Australia to step away from the development of clean coal technology for power generation in favour of natural gas and nuclear energy.
Jesse Ausubel, director of the Program for the Human Environment at the Rockefeller University in New York, has also bagged renewable fuels like solar and wind power saying while they may be renewable they were not really environmentally friendly.
Mr Ausubel said he believed the push to develop clean coal technology would ultimately fail - because of the high cost involved and the problem of dealing with toxic waste products like sulphur and mercury.
Wind turbine manufacturer Clipper Windpower tumbled from recent highs today after it announced an issue relating to machining tolerances in its gearboxes and a short delay in turbine deliveries.
As a result of the issue, the group said it has decided to introduce an additional measurement process during machining to ensure gearbox tolerances are met.
Clipper's latest turbine concept, which is expected to move into the testing phase in 2009 or 2010, is based around a 7.5 megawatt machine. The turbine, which would be placed on a 115metre-high tower and have a diameter of 150m, is designed to be located offshore, where winds tend to be stronger and planning restrictions less strict.
But Mr Dehlsen [Clipper's CEO] is realistic about the limits of wind power to replace carbon-based energy sources such as coal, oil and gas.
"The US Department of Energy said that you would need to cover four states with wind farms to supply America's energy needs," he admits.
So while wind has a role to play, Mr Dehlsen accepts that any genuine attempt to tackle climate change must be much more holistic.
Also filed under [
UK]
Clipper Windpower Drops to 11-Month Low on Fault
September 3, 2007 by Alexander Kwiatkowski in Bloomberg News
September 3, 2007 by Alexander Kwiatkowski in Bloomberg News
Clipper Windpower Plc, the partner of BP Plc in U.S. wind-energy projects, fell to an 11-month low in London trading because a faulty component will lead to a delay in shipments. ...Production of Clipper's 2.5-megawatt Liberty wind turbine has been hampered by problems relating to the supply of externally-sourced components. The company forecast a first-half loss after turbine production was ``constrained'' by difficulties in obtaining parts.
``They have slipped up on quality issues twice,'' said John-Marc Bunce, an analyst at London-based Ambrian Partners Ltd. ``This could potentially be damaging to their sales ability going forward.'' Bunce lowered his recommendation on Clipper to ``sell'' from ``hold.''
Clipper's 2.5-MW Liberty wind turbines malfunction
January 10, 2008 by Jennifer Zajac in SNL Financial
January 10, 2008 by Jennifer Zajac in SNL Financial
The largest wind turbine manufactured in the United States is running into some technical difficulty.
Clipper Windpower Inc.'s 2.5-MW Liberty wind turbines at the 20-MW Steel Winds facility in Lackawanna, N.Y., are malfunctioning due to faulty gear sets.
"At first, we were receiving great performance from the turbines," said Michael Alvarez, executive vice president and COO of UPC Wind Partners LLC, which co-owns the facility with BQ Energy LLC. "Over the summer, a gear-timing issue in the drive train's secondary stage was detected in some of Clipper Windpower's Liberty wind turbines at the Steel Winds site. The cause was found to be a supplier quality deficiency in the drive train attributable to the suppliers' manufacturing process. As part of Clipper's warranty, upgraded drive trains will be installed into all eight turbines at the Steel Winds site. Currently, two turbines are in operation."
Coal industry develops clean technology
June 19, 2006 by Peter McCutcheon in Australian Broadcasting Corporation
June 19, 2006 by Peter McCutcheon in Australian Broadcasting Corporation
KERRY O'BRIEN: The Prime Minister has recently argued that nuclear energy is cleaner and greener than fossil fuels. He says it's one of the main reasons he's opened a debate about whether Australia should have nuclear power. But the coal industry counters that it is developing a new type of clean coal technology that will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Power stations using this non-polluting form of coal technology could come on stream in the next four to five years. But does it all add up financially? Peter McCutcheon reports.
A company plans to build a $420 million wind farm with 133 turbines in southwest Campbell County.
San Ramon, Calif.-based Third Planet Windpower is eyeing 14,000 acres for the project on both sides of Wyoming Highway 50 near the Johnson County line.
The company has begun talking to local landowners about leasing land.
Company seeks help harnessing power of sun, wind
September 8, 2008 by Dom Cosentino in Bucks County Courier Times
September 8, 2008 by Dom Cosentino in Bucks County Courier Times
An Upper Moreland company is seeking a $1 million state grant to develop a combination solar and wind turbine that it is touting as "the world's first hybrid renewable energy technology."
Precision Assembly Inc., on the 2300 block of Computer Avenue, is partnering with Bluenergy Solarwind Inc., to develop the turbines, which would harness both wind and solar energy and would be sold to owners of commercial or residential buildings to provide clean energy, according to Paul Stepanoff, the company's chief executive officer.
Also filed under [
Pennsylvania]
Company taking steps to double renewable energy generation
November 29, 2007 by Jeff Kart in Bay City Times
November 29, 2007 by Jeff Kart in Bay City Times
Consumers Energy plans to develop as many as eight windmill farms in Michigan, officials say.
The move is part of the utility's Balanced Energy Initiative, which aims in part to double the amount of renewable energy the company generates from 5 percent to 10 percent by 2015.
...''We need to add 3 million megawatt hours per year ... to go to 10 percent by 2015,'' Rasher said.
For the wind farms, Consumers is looking at installing large turbines that generate up to 2.5 megawatts each. Each wind development will generate up to 100 megawatts.
But Rasher said the wind farms can only be expected to generate power about 25 percent of the time. That's why Consumers also is planning to build an 800-megawatt coal-fired plant at its Karn-Weadock complex in Bay County's Hampton Township.
''We need some other resource that's dispatchable,'' Rasher said.
''You can't put all your eggs in one basket.''
Conference points to need for easier power plant siting
December 3, 2005 by David Gram, The Associated Press in The Burlington Free Press
December 3, 2005 by David Gram, The Associated Press in The Burlington Free Press
... spending on efficiency measures costs about 3 cents per kilowatt-hour saved, while the wholesale cost of power has climbed above twice that...
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BOSTON -- New England's economic prosperity is at risk if the region does not step up efforts to build new electrical generating plants, but much more aggressive energy conservation is needed as well, a regional conference on energy policy was told Friday.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]