Category:Wind
Wind power involves generating energy from air movement.
Wind power currently provides roughly 3% of the United States' electricity (see Wikipedia article), but current plans are to increase this to 20% by 2030. Current obstacles to greater implementation are available space, vibrations caused by windmill operation and aesthetic complaints. One problem that is being addressed is bird mortality (see below).
See also Energy
Contents
Overview
Earth Policy Institute overview/stats/status Link.
Wind 101 video overview. video.
California Plan for green energy In 2009 Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi, a research scientist at the University of California, Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, published a cover story in Scientific American outlining a plan to power 100 percent of the world’s energy (for all purposes) using wind, water and solar technologies (WWS for shorthand). Their list of acceptable technologies includes several different kinds of solar power, on- and offshore wind turbines, geothermal, tidal, and hydropower. No nukes, no natural gas, no ethanol—only the real deal renewables.
People
Saul Griffith is doing some of the most interesting work around energy. In this webcast, he'll take a scientific look (physics and chemistry based) at all of the earth's energy resources, both stored (nuclear and fossil fuels) as well as renewable (solar, wind, wave, geothermal, tidal, wave, photosynthetic). Looking at the sizes of each of these resources and comparing them to humanity's energy consumption is far from depressing. Although humanity uses a lot of energy, there are very large sources of non-carbon producing energy that can be tapped to meet our needs.this is a brilliant and funny 60 minute talk, plus 30 Q&A) at LongNow. Saul has multiple degrees in materials science and mechanical engineering and completed his PhD in Programmable Assembly and Self Replicating machines at MIT. He is the co-founder of numerous companies including: Low Cost Eyeglasses, Squid Labs, Potenco, Instructables.com, HowToons, Makani Power, and WattzOn, a free online tool to quantify, track, compare and understand the total amount of energy needed to support all of the facets of your lifestyle. Saul has been awarded numerous awards for invention including the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Collegiate Inventor's award, and the Lemelson-MIT Student prize. In 2007 he received a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant." fantastic TEDtalk on high altitude wind. Another TEDtalk on bio-mimicry, or actually, working from first principles, as did Bucky Fuller. At X Prize, he calls for a systems science for design, Terrarium Science (video). PARC talk video **** 9/12
Joby Energy is a local company looking for people to create high altitude wind. images and video. Its founder is also working on an electric flying car. Its CEO is a College 8 Fellow. More.
Inspiring story of the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life. first talk.
Paul Hansen of Santa Cruz uses geometry inspired by Buckminster Fuller for wind.
News/Reports
The small coastal city of Morro Bay is considering a proposal that would put California's first offshore wind farm about 15 miles from the city's coast. The project would likely take years to pass the state's permitting process, but the project is already raising concerns about its environmental impact. California may soon be debating many such projects as Governor Jerry Brown signed a law last month that requires state utilities to receive half of their energy from renewable sources by 2030. 11/15.
This wind turbine has no blades — and that’s why it’s better
Scott Walker's Budget Includes $250,000 To Study 'Wind Energy System-Related Health Issues 2/15
UK Wind Power Smashes Records As Scotland Eyes Fossil-Free Future Across the board, UK wind power generation is breaking records. Scotland Produced Enough Wind Energy To Power Every Home In October 11/14.
UK Wind Power Beats Coal and Nukes 9/14.
Japan to replace Fukushima plant with world's largest wind farm 8/14
This Island Is The First In The World To Be Powered Fully By Wind And Water 5/14.
WATCH: Wind Turbine Blimps Can Power Remote Locations. 4/14.
Native Americans moving to wind, also Future of Wind power 3/14.
Big energy breakthroughs of 2013. see Energy.
California Startup Turns Old Wind Turbines Into Gold 3/14.
Wind energy becoming cheaper than natural gas 12/13.
For Major Cities, Offshore Wind Farms Could Provide Both Electricity And Hurricane Protection 12/13.
Duke Energy Renewables Guilty Plea Nets Big Fine For Bird-Killing Wind Turbines 11/13.
Will Congress Blow a Great Chance to Propel Green Jobs? The wind industry's robust job growth has been dogged by a boom and bust cycle that parallels the extension and expiration of the Production Tax Credit. 11/13.
Swedish co-op creates a stake for women in wind industry. Qvinnovindar members individually invested anywhere from 500 to 300,000 Krona ($77-46,000) each, giving them an equal vote in how the company is run, regardless of the amount they put in.
Belgium to build 'battery island' to store wind farm energy
World’s first hybrid wind/current generator could generate double the power 7/13
Feds give pass on bird strikes 5/13. Eagles 6/13.
| Wind power is poised to kick nuclear’s ass | |
| 3/15 | In 2012, wind energy became the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation in the U.S., providing 42 percent of new generation capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Wind power is becoming so cheap and so commonplace that it appears poised to help blow up the country's nuclear power sector, according to a recent Bloomberg article (which you really should read in full). More |
Wind power in China: Despite recent strides toward climate action, China is still the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the biggest consumers of coal —and hence the archetypal global warming scapegoat. But on at least one count, a new study says, China is kicking America's butt, and probably will be for decades: wind energy. As of 2011, North America (predominated by the US) claimed 22 percent of the world's total wind power capacity, four points behind China, according to analysis released today by the Global Wind Energy Council. By 2015, China's lead could be up to eight percent over the US. And over the next two decades, the gap could widen even more. (Includes chart by country)
Massive offshore wind project could generate 70,000 new jobs 10/12.
Two new studies suggest wind could power the world in the future. One of the studies, from Stanford University, finds that wind could exceed the world's power demands several times by 2030. (audio of panel discussion 9/12.)
Wind on the Wharf is a UCSC project.
As Congress lets wind tax credit die, the wind industry struggles to finish key projects 9/12.
NY Times reports "the American housing market remained in the doldrums in 2009 and automakers sputtered along, but the wind industry continued to boom, according to a report released Thursday. A record 10,010 megawatts of new wind capacity was installed in the United States last year, accounting for 39 percent of new electrical generation, the American Wind Energy Association said in its annual report.
That raises the nation’s total wind energy capacity to more than 35,000 megawatts, or enough electricity to keep the lights on in 9.7 million homes. “Over the past five years, wind power and other renewable energy technologies, combined with natural gas, have provided over 90 percent of all new generating capacity in the U.S.,” the report’s authors stated..." More 4/10.
Article on farmers getting on board.
Feds change rules to encourage offshore wind and wind label encourages development. 2/12
Segway inventor's inflatable wind turbine: The inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen (who has also worked on clean water and green energy) has come up with an idea for an inflatable wind turbine. Its main advantage is that it's mobile: imagine parking your EV and sending your inflatable wind turbine up into the sky to charge it while you're at work. It could be moved to take advantage of the best winds as they shift, and, more to the point, It could also be mounted on top of a building or on the side of the road in order to double as a billboard.More
Germany has so much wind energy, they’ll pay you to take it More 10/11.
California captured an early lead in wind power, thanks to ambitious tax incentives in the 1980s. In recent years, we've fallen behind states like Texas and Iowa. But nobody beats Denmark. It generates fully one fifth of its electric power from wind. audio 12/09
NY Times reports "the American housing market remained in the doldrums in 2009 and automakers sputtered along, but the wind industry continued to boom, according to a report released Thursday. A record 10,010 megawatts of new wind capacity was installed in the United States last year, accounting for 39 percent of new electrical generation, the American Wind Energy Association said in its annual report.
That raises the nation’s total wind energy capacity to more than 35,000 megawatts, or enough electricity to keep the lights on in 9.7 million homes. “Over the past five years, wind power and other renewable energy technologies, combined with natural gas, have provided over 90 percent of all new generating capacity in the U.S.,” the report’s authors stated..." More 4/10
Residential Power Flowers, a vertical turbine design.
Joby Energy is a local company looking for people to create high altitude wind. images and video. Its founder is also working on an electric flying car.
Video
Saul Griffith is doing some of the most interesting work around energy. In this webcast, he'll take a scientific look (physics and chemistry based) at all of the earth's energy resources, both stored (nuclear and fossil fuels) as well as renewable (solar, wind, wave, geothermal, tidal, wave, photosynthetic). Looking at the sizes of each of these resources and comparing them to humanity's energy consumption is far from depressing. Although humanity uses a lot of energy, there are very large sources of non-carbon producing energy that can be tapped to meet our needs.this is a brilliant and funny 60 minute talk, plus 30 Q&A) at LongNow. Saul has multiple degrees in materials science and mechanical engineering and completed his PhD in Programmable Assembly and Self Replicating machines at MIT. He is the co-founder of numerous companies including: Low Cost Eyeglasses, Squid Labs, Potenco, Instructables.com, HowToons, Makani Power, and WattzOn, a free online tool to quantify, track, compare and understand the total amount of energy needed to support all of the facets of your lifestyle. Saul has been awarded numerous awards for invention including the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Collegiate Inventor's award, and the Lemelson-MIT Student prize. In 2007 he received a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant." fantastic TEDtalk on high altitude wind. Another TEDtalk on bio-mimicry, or actually, working from first principles, as did Bucky Fuller. At X Prize, he calls for a systems science for design, Terrarium Science (video). PARC talk video **** 9/12
If You Build It follows a group of young Canadians strive for a more sustainable way of life by figuring out how to generate their own power via a homemade wind turbine. 9/14. See Sustainability.
PBS Global Focus special segment on Denmark, which bought wind energy industry the US abandoned and is now the world leader. Includes segment on Samso Island, which is now carbon neutral after ten year effort.
UC's Lawrence Livermore National Lab's Julie Lundquist explains how wind turbines convert the forces of the atmosphere into electricity for our homes, businesses, and even cars. UCTV video 3/10 one hour. video.
Inspiring story of the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.
Joby Energy is a local company looking for people to create high altitude wind. images and video.
Prospecting for wind (video).
New documentary Cape Spinon the Cape Wind project, the largest offshore in US 8/11. link w/ trailer.
PBS Global Focus special segment on Denmark, which bought wind energy industry the US abandoned and is now the world leader. Includes segment on Samso Island, which is now carbon neutral after ten year effort.
UC's Lawrence Livermore National Lab's Julie Lundquist explains how wind turbines convert the forces of the atmosphere into electricity for our homes, businesses, and even cars. UCTV video 3/10 one hour
Inspiring story of the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. At age 14, in poverty and famine, a Malawian boy built a windmill to power his family's home. Now at 22, William Kamkwamba, who speaks at TED, here, for the second time, shares in his own words the moving tale of invention that changed his life.
Books
Winds of XChange [electronic resource] : the environmental movement and the global development of the wind energy industry / Ion Bogdan Vasi. 2011
Audio
California captured an early lead in wind power, thanks to ambitious tax incentives in the 1980s. In recent years, we've fallen behind states like Texas and Iowa. But nobody beats Denmark. It generates fully one fifth of its electric power from wind. audio 12/09
Scotland's Wind Farms Have Environmental Drawbacks Loe.org 5/12
Birds
California Wind Farm Will Become First To Avoid Prosecution For Eagle Deaths see Birds 6/14.
Duke Energy Renewables Guilty Plea Nets Big Fine For Bird-Killing Wind Turbines 11/13.
Wind Industry Responds To Troubling Report On Eagle Deaths 9/13.
a rather disturbing video, but also what can be done.
New wind turbines reduce bird fatalities. 1/11
Bird strikes 3/11
