SVM GreenBits » Wind

Company Provides Innovative Approach to Making Wind Resource Assessment Painless, Profitable, and Practical

SVM — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:38:17 +0000

Second Wind, a Massachusetts-based wind energy company, is making it easier for businesses, consumers and utilities to capture wind data for the purpose of maximizing the ROI in wind turbines. Based on an innovative approach to using sodar (sonic detection and ranging), Second Wind provides a solution that sidesteps the burdens and costs associated with conventional means (erecting tall towers) while providing significant acoustic and performance advantages over the previous generations of sodar. Second Wind solutions provide a “virtual met mast up to 200m in height” by emitting and then interpreting the feedback from harmless audible ‘chirps’. This provides useful data including wind speed, wind direction and vertical wind speed – all important factors for evaluating the optimal placement of wind turbines.

Second Wind’s wind resource assessment solutions are now used in over 40 countries worldwide, including Antarctica and the Sahara. Its’ products are particularly advantageous because they work under most weather conditions and locations; can be set up easily by one person and do not need to be attended; are safe and have minimal impact on the landscape; include built-in synchronized time and location stamping; and provide the same data as a tower bristling with sensors.

Sixteen Ancient Technologies Reborn

SVM — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:31:32 +0000

This month, GreenTechMedia highlighted obsolete greentech concepts that are making a go of it…again.
In this really cool list, GreenTechMedia features sixteen ideas that are centuries old, but are experiencing a re-birth in today’s green technology startups. The old-school concepts include:
1. Mashed Earth (www.integrityblock.com)
2. Solar-Thermal Water Heaters (www.mondial-energy.com )
3. Solar Lighting (www.sunlight-direct.com )
4. The Opposed Piston/Opposed Cylinder Engine (www.achatespower.com , www.ecomotors.com)
5. “Swirly” Water / Natural Water Flow (www.watreco.com , www.parc.com )
6. Dung (www.microgy.com)
7. Ambient Cooling (www.mkd-arc.com )
8. Electric Cars (www.teslamotors.com , www.think.no )
9. Biodiesel
10. Hemp
11. Zinc Batteries (www.powergenix.com , www.zpowerbattery.com , www.poweraircorp.com )
12. Plasma Lights (www.luxim.com )
13. Tidal Power
14. Thin Clients (www.wyse.com )
15. Geothermal Cooling
16. Tribal Warfare, Malaria, Limited Life Spans

Read the details (and witty commentary here) http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/sixteen-ancient-technologies-reborn-5485/

Blue Energy lands $500 million to convert tidal currents into electrical currents

SVM — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:52:28 +0000

Listed by BusinessWeek as #1 out of the top 20 most important technologies of the next 10 years, it looks like ocean tidal power is finally becoming a reality

With all the progress solar panels and wind turbines have made to date, tidal-generated energy sources, arguably the world’s most dependable, predictable and largest untapped renewable energy source, have appeared to take a back seat. With the $500 million in financing that Blue Energy Canada Inc received from New Zealand’s World Energy Research, Blue Energy Canada will be able to commercialize turbines capable of capturing energy from ocean currents.

“The Blue Energy ocean turbine acts as a highly efficient underwater vertical-axis windmill and has several remarkable advantages conferred upon it arising from the following basic science: Sea water is 832 times more dense than air, and it is a non-compressible medium, therefore an 8-knot tidal current provides the equivalent force of a 390 km/hr wind (approximately).”

For more information go to:
http://cleantech.com/news/4671/blue-energy-rolls-500m-tidal-power
or http://www.bluenergy.com/index.html

Green Makeover Planned for Sears Tower

SVM — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:12:22 +0000

The iconic Sears Tower in Chicago is set to receive a $350 million green renovation. Wind turbines, roof gardens and solar panels are anticipated to reduce the tower’s electricity use by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water a year, according to building owners and architects. There are also plans to add a 50-story privately funded luxury hotel with its own green components next to the skyscraper in 3 1/2 to 5 years.

The project includes the installation of solar panels on the tower’s 90th floor roof to heat water used in the building. Different types of wind turbines will also be positioned on the tower’s tiered roofs and tested for efficiency.

“This endeavor is incredibly important as a role model for others to follow,” architect Adrian Smith said. “We see this as a groundbreaking opportunity.”

Other changes to the 110-story skyscraper, the tallest building in the United States, include improvements to the 16,000 window pieces along the outside of the tower to save heating energy; mechanical system upgrades; updates to the building’s 104 elevators; an advanced lighting control system and restroom renovations aimed at saving water.

Sounds like a great example for other building to follow! Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/24/sears-tower-getting-350m_n_220257.html

Wind Turbines for the Masses

SVM — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:35:31 +0000

Slow wind has always presented a problem for wind turbine companies trying to get regular people like us to invest in their turbine technologies. Now, Michigan-based WindTronics has introduced a wind turbine designed for individual homes that it says it can operate at speeds as low at 2 miles per hour. The “wind turbine in a box” is a simple, off-the-shelf wind turbine that can be purchased at Ace Hardware stores for $4,500 starting in October. According to the company, it can generate up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours in a year for a home with a very good wind resource – which translates into between 15 to 20 percent of the annual electricity consumption for the average U.S. home.
http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/eco-tech-windtronics-latest-creation-converts-the-slowest-of-winds-into-electricity/

Funding Announced for Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center

kroberts — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:00:31 +0000

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center in Charlestown, MA will receive $25 million in funding. The new center will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades to help reduce cost, improve technical advancements and speed deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace.

“This is part of President Obama’s broad agenda to make sure that our country leads the world in capturing the clean energy jobs of the future,” said Chu. “As the world moves toward a significant expansion in wind power, the test blade facility will help make sure that the best, most efficient wind turbines are built right here in America. Not only will it create jobs and help us achieve energy independence, it will mean cleaner air, cleaner water and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

Intel Tops EPA's List of Top 50 Purchasers of Green Power

kroberts — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:12:54 +0000

The EPA released its list of the top 50 purchasers of green power today, naming Intel as number 1 due to its purchase of 1,301,200,000 kWh of wind power a year in order to run 46% of its total operation. This is Intel’s second year in the number one spot. Other tech bellwethers on the list include Dell at number 4, Cisco at number 9, Motorola at number 44 and AMD at number 46.

Here are the Top 10 green power buyers listed by company, number of kilowatt hours bought, percent of energy needs met by green power, and kind of clean power used.

1. Intel Corporation 1,301,200,000 – 46% – Wind
2. PepsiCo 1,144,773,154 – 100% – Various
3. Kohl’s Department Stores 600,990,000 – 50% – Biogas, Biomass, Small-hydro, Solar, Wind
4. Dell Inc. 553,708,000 – 158% – Biogas, Solar, Wind
5. Whole Foods Market 526,995,000 – 100% – Solar, Wind
6. The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. 470,216,838 – 100% – Various
7. Johnson & Johnson 434,854,733 – 38% – Biomass, Small-hydro, Solar, Wind
8. U.S. Air Force 426,233,001 – 5% – Biogas, Biomass, Solar, Wind
9. Cisco Systems, Inc. 400,996,000 – 46% – Wind
10. City of Houston, TX 350,400,000 – 27% Govt. (Local, Municipal) Reliant Energy Wind

For more information see: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/purchase-green-power-top-50-buyers.php

Complete list: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm

How Would Nature Do It?

kroberts — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:20:47 +0000

As the saying goes, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” Or in this instance, it’s a case of artificial trees mimicking those found in nature. London-based SolarBotanic is banking on the concept of Biomimicry, which it describes as “innovation inspired by nature.” Attempting to capitalize on the designs and processes already found in nature, SolarBotanic has taken nature’s design and combined it with high-tech materials to engineer the Nanoleaf, which when put together with other Nanoleaves create a new tree species of sorts called Energy Harvesting Trees (EHTs). Capable of harvesting multiple energy sources, these EHTs take the sun, wind and heat collected in their tree canopies and convert the energies into clean electricity, without causing visual pollution or long-lasting damage to the environment or ecosystems.

The concept is promising, especially when you consider how far reaching the possibilities for this technology truly are. In late March, SolarBotanic announced a plan that would place its aesthetically pleasing EHTs along city highways throughout Europe.

“Each kilometre will be able to generate approximately 350,000 kWh per year, enough electricity to power approximately 60 average size houses and protect the environment by preventing the release of up to 500 tons of CO2 annually…Imagine if you can, highways and freeways lined with beautiful looking trees that not only create a barrier against the elements, but at the same time generate electricity 24 hours a day 7 days a week.”

Yes. Imagine, indeed!

Wind Power Pays for Itself – and Then Some

kroberts — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:54:51 +0000

New Wind Turbine in Portsmouth, RI to Deliver Green Energy- And an Estimated Three Million Dollars in Revenue

The island town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island recently constructed a 340-foot, 440,000-pound wind power turbine at the local high school.

According to material published by the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee, “the turbine pays for itself.” The green energy produced by the turbine is expected to net the town a nearly $200,000 dollar profit in the turbine’s first year of operation. Over a 20-year life (a conservative estimate since turbines are projected to have about a 25-year useful life), the project is expected to generate three million dollars in revenue for the town.

Portsmouth’s new wind turbine is expected to provide three million kilowatt hours per year of electricity. We applaud the efforts of this local community in harnessing the power of green energy to help create a better environment for all.

More Information: http://portsmouthrienergy.com
CNN Video: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2009/03/18/dcl.se.windmills.cnn?iref=24hours

Wind vs. Water – Predicting the Winner

kroberts — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:07:14 +0000

Marine renewable energy — it has great potential, but is yet unproven. That’s changing. Today we have the US Navy erecting tidal turbines off the coast of the state of Washington, and Verdant Power’s Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project http://www.verdantpower.com/what-initiative is being operated in New York City’s East River. The validity of this approach might seem questionable; after all, tide waters typically move at only a fraction of the speed as wind, there is no commercial-scale production, no standard technology, and it could cause havoc with divers, fishers, boaters and marine life. And, as anyone who owns a boat knows, anything “made for marine” tends to be much more expensive to purchase and maintain. On the flip side, water density is 832 times that of air, so it only takes 1/10th of the speed to generate equivalent power. Also — and most significantly — unlike wind, tides are predictable.

What an opportunity for the tech-savvy graduates of leading oceanography organizations like URI, Woods Hole, and the University of California – San Diego.

My prediction is, after significant advancements in tidal turbine technology and a better understanding of its limitations, both wind and tide (along with other innovations) will help tip the monetary scale in favor renewable energy.

For more on the Navy turbine project, read Navy to Explore Turning Ocean Currents Into Electrical Currents http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/16/navy-to-explore-turning-ocean-currents-into/