Solar Wind Energy to build $1.5 billion power tower in Arizona

Solar Wind Energy Tower Inc. won approval from an Arizona city to develop a $1.5 billion project that would use ambient desert heat to create a draft to generate electricity, in a concrete colossus that would be the tallest structure in North America.


Artist impression of the Solar Wind's colossal tower which create downdraft. Image: via REW


The 2,250-feet (686-metre) project, which resembles a nuclear plant’s cooling tower, would be capable of generating at a average rate of about 435 MWh [I suspect this would be monthly average] over the course of a year, said Ron Pickett, chief executive officer of the Maryland-based company.

In July and August, the Southwest’s hottest and driest months, the plant could produce more than 1,200 MWh.


The Solar Wind power tower: How it works

Using technology created by Solar Wind, water would be injected in a mist near the top of the tower, causing the air to cool and gain density. The draft created by the sinking air would exceed 50 miles per hour. As the air is forced through a ring of turbines at the tower’s base, electricity is generated.

How it works

“This is a game-changer in certain areas — hot, dry climates,” Pickett said. The company is proposing this project near the Mexico border to prove the concept, with the goal of licensing the process to developers. The technology would work in Africa, Australia and “you can throw a dart in the Mideast, and it works there,” he said.

San Luis, a city of 26,000 residents about 20 miles southwest of Yuma, Arizona, agreed to give the project necessary rights of way and sell it water under a 50-year contract. Terms weren’t disclosed for the agreement, which was approved by the city council on April 23.

Solar Wind expects to get the project operating as early as 2018.

Although no buyers yet for the project's power, local utilities and the U.S. Defense Department have inquired about it.

Source: Renewable Energy World

TheGreenMechanics: This ambitious project is not without criticism from the public; some readers argued that building the 686-metre tower would actually produce more CO2 than the potential avoidance in the foreseeable future.

Would be interesting to see this commissioned in 4 years' time.

You can read the full article by clicking the link provided above.

Micro-windmills to power your phone?

Fancy a portable windmill to power your phone? You may get your hands on one real soon.

Researchers in the US have invented tiny turbines that harvest energy from the wind. Hundreds of them could be embedded in the sleeve of your mobile phone, allowing you to recharge it simply by waving the phone in the air or holding it out of a window on a windy day.


"Pretty small!" One of the micro-windmills is placed here on a US penny (credit: University of Texas at Arlington)


How small?

The micro-windmills, a collaboration between The University of Texas at Arlington and a technology company in Taiwan, measure 1.8mm across at their widest point - so small that 10 of them could fit on a single grain of rice.

The tiny devices are assembled by stacking up layers of durable nickel alloy. They can be made on a single wafer using batch processes, meaning that thousands of windmills can be created for relatively low costs.


Other applications

As well as powering your mobile phone, the researchers also envisage placing windmills inside flat panels which would then be mounted onto the walls of your house.

The little windmills could then generate energy for heating, lighting, security, or even that electric barbecue you've always had your eye on. Of course, this has to be put to test yet before you could start celebrating.


Source: sciencefocus

Richard Branson shifting Necker Island to 75% wind and solar power

Richard Branson needs no introduction.

But for Malaysians, he would probably be best remembered for donning a skirt and a full face of make-up on AirAsia flight to Malaysia back in May 2013. He did it to honour his Formula 1 bet with Malaysia's F1 team and AirAsia owner Tony Fernandez.

In the renewable energy industry, his name would quickly come up as one of the wealthy men making investment in renewables. Necker Island, the Caribbean Island owned by him, is reported to be shifting to 75% percent renewable energy by the end of 2015.

Necker Island to be powered by 75% renewable energy. Photo: Virgin Hotels Group.

Richard Branson shifting Necker Island to mostly wind and solar power

Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson has struck a deal with NRG Energy to build a system that manages wind, solar and diesel power on the 74-acre island. Electricity on small Caribbean islands is extremely expensive because they must rely on imported oil to power generators.

According to NRG Energy, people on the island are paying 40 to 55 cents per kWh compared to 6 to 20 cents in the US.

By shifting to solar and wind energy his energy costs would be cut by 40%. Switching to 100% renewable was too expensive because of the cost of storing wind and solar energy in batteries, but Branson believes one day, once storage is better, it would be possible to go 100%.

The project is part of the Ten Island Renewable Challenge, in which Caribbean islands will attempt to end their reliance on fossil fuels.

Source: The Washington Post


TheGreenMechanics:

Energy cost for off-grid system such as those on islands is very high. I remember some years ago I was involved in working out a cost to supply power from diesel generators to Sabah's Manukan Island and we failed to convince the resort operator with the cost. I guess the operator is still maintaining its own generator sets, combined with Sabah Parks' own unit.

With cost of solar panel dropping fast, I believe it is high time the resort operator (Sutera Harbour) re-visit its power supply system there. Going renewable could be rewarding.

Solar and wind potential power supply alternatives for Sabah

To 'revolutionise' is a bit of an over-statement especially with regards to wind turbine but with up to 36 km/h (10 m/s) of wind speed as the study found, this is not impossible to achieve. Wind turbines starts generating electricity when the wind speed is 3 m/s but to make any venture viable, the speed has to be 5 m/s or more.

The demo units constructed in the feasibility study in Kudat generate a modest 34.8 kW of power - 25 kW from wind turbines  and the remaining 9.8 kW from solar PV.

This is too small a demo to scale an installation size that can 'revolutionise'  electricity generation on Sabah, but the result of the study is at least promising.

With regards to solar PV, Sabah - in particular, Kota Kinabalu - is known for being the best location (meaning highest solar irradiation) in Malaysia for photovoltaic installation.

Daily Express, December 9, 2013 - page 2

Solar And Wind Turbine Renewable Energy Can Revolutionise Electricity Generation In Sabah

Source: Bernama, December 8

Renewable energy from solar and wind turbine is not only an excellent power alternative for the future but it can also revolutionise electricity generation in Sabah, says Science, Technology and Inovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

He said Sabah had its own uniqueness as it endowed was rich natural resources which could be used to generate renewable energy and contribute to economic development.

"Operational cost for power generation is extremelly high and power producers like Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd face a great challenge and the problem has been further aggravated by the inconsistent hike in fuel prices.

"As such, the government always welcomes any party that can come foward to explore and apply green energy and simultaneously support the government's move to develop sustainable energy," he said when launching two TechnoFund Mosti projects here Sunday.

The projects, the Application of Wind Technology System for Energy Generation and the Sustainable Thin Film PV Building and the Renewable Energy Generation, have been entrusted to Sirim Bhd by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for research and development.

Overall, the projects can generate 25 kw of wind turbine power and 9.8 kw of solar energy.

The power generated can light up a resort near the project site in Tg Simpang Mengayau and can be supplied and stored in a battery system.

Ewon said the research findings can be developed on a large scale, commercially, and can contribute towards reducing the number of power interruptions in Sabah.

It can also bring cheer to the many rural residents who live far away from grid areas.

In the long-term, renewable energy can become a big alternative to the current practice of generating electricity from fuel oil, charcoal, diesel and hydro reservoirs which incur huge operational costs.

TechnoFund is a grant scheme funded by Mosti which covers 13 projects under the Renewable Energy Task Force.

Established by the Cabinet, the scheme provides funding for technology development, up to pre-commercialisation stage, with the commercial potential to create new businesses and generate economic wealth for the nation.


TheGreenMechanics: SIRIM Berhad and Mosti have proven in their 4-year study that it is very much feasible in Sabah. Now get some fund and implement it already!

It will at least help alleviate some of the power supply issues we have in the state.

World's wind turbines to generate more than 300 GW power by year end

The global wind energy sector will soon mark a major milestone: industry figures show that by the end of 2013, wind turbines will be generating more than 300 GW of power.

That's the equivalent of 114 nuclear power plants, says Reuters, which is reporting the latest figures from the European Wind Energy Association and the Global Wind Energy Council.

Wind power moving towards 300GW mark this year. Image credit: The Telegraph

Active wind farms across the globe. Image credit: Greenchipstocks


As Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa add turbines, the figure represents modest growth compared with a year ago, when the overall total capacity was just over 280 gigawatts.

"Worldwide installed wind power will exceed 300 gigawatts of power capacity this year," Peter Sennekamp, media officer for the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), said, citing figures compiled by EWEA and the Global Wind Energy Council.

Europe, which has led the world on wind, still represents around a third of all capacity, with more than 100 gigawatts, but its growth has been stalled by uncertainty as financial crisis has meant abrupt changes to subsidy regimes.

The European Commission, the European Union's executive, has supported the idea of harmonization of subsidies across the European Union and said it will publish guidelines before the summer break in August.

The most heated debate has been in Germany, ahead of elections in September, where the cost of energy and progress of implementing the nation's Energiewende are election issues.

Heavy industry has attacked renewable subsidies, arguing they add to costs and damage competitiveness, especially when the United States benefits from cheap shale gas.

Representatives of the renewable industry say they are working to produce energy that can compete economically with traditional sources, which would lower political risk.

They say they have made progress on onshore wind and solar, but for the huge scale of offshore wind, a technology still in its infancy, subsidies are essential, probably for the rest of the decade.

Wind energy executives note conventional fuel sources have long benefited from support in the form of tax breaks for oil and gas and government help in disposing of spent nuclear fuel.


Source: Reuters

Spanish wind power industry on the decline?

Spain ranks as number 4 globally in terms of installed wind energy but has dropped to 7th place in terms of new projects, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.

For many years, Spain has been a paradise for renewable energy producers with generous incentive and government support. But since 2009 the government has slowed down the development of one of the green energies - wind power - with various regulatory measures.


Blades manufactured at Gamesa’s factory (outside of Spain) in Ebensburg, Cambria County.
Photo credit: Nextcity


A case in point, Spain's Gamesa, which is among the industry's world leaders, cited "regulatory uncertainty, the persistent economic crisis and financial problems in the sector" as reasons as it laid off 606 of its 4,800 staff in Spain and closed two blade factories in recent months.

"Of the 43,000 jobs we had in the wind industry in 2009, there are only 23,000 left" - Sergio de Otto, Fundacion Renovables (Renewables Foundation).

When you outgrow the local market, go global!

For the likes of Gamesa, and any other green energy producers for that matter, it is not the end of the road.

Gamesa markets its products in more than 50 countries, with Mexico, Brazil and Indiabeing key markets. Ten years ago, the company sells 90% of its renewable energy products locally. Today it is the exact opposite - 90% of sales come from abroad.

TheGreenMechanics: Putting things into perspective, our national cars have outgrown the local vehicle market, so, it's time we venture globally. But first, we'll need a world class cars to begin with. An 'okay' product with artificially protected home turf is definitely not enough.


Read more here

Living on snowy land? There is huge potential for cold climate Wind Energy

So you think nothing grows in the snow? Wind turbines sure do. As people continue to research, new innovations will surface -- and innovation does grow in the snow!

According to Science Daily, nearly 50 GW of wind energy will be built in cold climates over the next 5 years, an increase of more than 70% since 2012. Cold climates have denser air and higher winds, making them ideal for wind power.


Wind farm in the snow. Image credit: Planet Save


Cold climate wind energy showing huge potential

Wind energy capacity is growing rapidly in the cold climates of the world. According to the latest forecasts, between 45 and 50 GW of wind energy will be built in cold climates by 2017, which would mean an increase of as much as 72% since the end of 2012 and investments amounting to approximately €75 billion.

"There has been a lot of talk about the potential of offshore wind power, but the market for cold climate wind energy is more than 10 times greater. We already have the tools to harness the potential of cold climate wind energy cost-effectively, while offshore wind energy is still at the research and development stage."
- Tomas Wallenius, Research Scientist from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

VTT has conducted the first ever study into the feasibility of building wind turbines across the globe in areas where cold climate and icy conditions place special demands on wind turbine technology. In addition to Scandinavia and Canada, these areas also include parts of Central Europe, the United States and China.

The VTT study has been incorporated into the BTM World Market Update 2012 report (Navigant Research 2013). Cold climates represent encouraging potential for wind energy companies because of their sparse population and favourable wind conditions.

These areas experience higher winds in winter than in summer, and the density of cold air increases production capacity. However, turbine blades are highly susceptible to icing.

Although icing causes production losses of 3-10 per cent per year, losses can be reduced with the help of anti-icing systems.


You can read further at Science Daily

Malaysia's Hytex to develop wind farm with China’s Gezhouba

Better known as garment manufacturer in Malaysia, Hytex is making its maiden foray into energy generation. Renewable energy to be specific.

Report says that is has signed  a memorandum of understanding to develop and build a wind farm in Guizhou Province, China:

Wind farm capacity        : 50 MW
Turbine type                  : MagLev vertical Wind Turbine
Energy production         : 200 GWh annually
Cost                               : ¥500 million (RM245 million)
Project implementation  : October 2013 - October 2015
Concession period         : 30 years


TheGreenMechanics: Too bad, the wind condition in Malaysia does not permit large scale wind farming. Perhaps, when  technology permits low wind speed to turn large wind turbines, then we'll see different scenario in the local wind energy sector.


Hytex to develop wind farm in China

PETALING JAYA: Hytex Integrated Bhd is collaborating with China's Gezhouba Group Electric Power Co Ltd to develop a 500 million yuan maglev wind farm in Guizhou Province, China.

In a statement, Hytex said Gezhouba had been appointed as turnkey contractor to develop the wind farm on a build-and-transfer basis for Hytex, and it expected a final agreement to be concluded with Gezhouba in the second quarter.

The MoU was signed via Hytex's unit, Hytex Integrated (Suzhou) Co Ltd (HIS), with Gezhouba. Gezhouba is a unit of China Gezhouba Group, a Hubei-based construction and engineering company which was the main contractor of the Three Gorges Project.

“The 50MW Guizhou maglev wind farm project will cost an estimated 500 million yuan to develop and build. Upon completion, it is expected to produce more than 200GW of electricity annually for the China Southern Grid in Taijiang county which has a population of more than 60 million people,” it said.

Work on the project is expected to begin in October and will be completed by October 2015. It would be based on a projected concession period of 30 years with an option extension of 20 years.

Meanwhile, HIS and its green technology partner, Shenzhen Timar Scenery Energy Technology Co Ltd (STSET), will fabricate and supply the maglev wind turbines and other equipment required.

“HIS and STSET will also provide the technical skills and expertise required to develop and build this renewable energy facility.

HIS teamed up with STSET earlier in February under a joint venture wind farm agreement to develop a wind farm project.


Source: The Star biz

Huge wind turbine snaps in Kyoto, Japan

While it's not extremely rare for such occurrence to happen, you could not help but think about the possibility of lack of maintenance here.

The more wind farms you open up, the higher the chances of failure to happen simply due to the number of wind turbines you erect. Even in Japan where nano-precision and high-technology are daily words and the maintenance mentality is respectable, you can hear that the Fukushima nuclear facilities could have been better maintained.

A windmill lies wrecked in the town of Ine. Photo by AFP/The Japan Times

Anyway, here's what was reported by The Japan Times:

Kyoto wind farm turbine falls after pylon snaps
Mar 16, 2013
A 38-ton wind turbine crashed 50 meters to the ground in Kyoto Prefecture after the steel column supporting it snapped, according to officials.

The massive Dutch-made turbine, which sat atop a Japanese-made steel column, was part of a mountain wind farm. It was put up in 2001 with an expected life of at least 17 years.

“We are asking experts to look into the cause of the problem. We suspect metal fatigue might have played a role,” a local government official said Thursday, adding no one was injured.

The smashed turbine was discovered Wednesday although it is not known when it fell at the remote facility. A strong windstorm struck wide areas of the nation around that time.

Wind farms have sprouted across large stretches of Japan over the last two decades as the resource-poor country seeks to capitalize on its natural bounty.

The drive for alternative energy has intensified since the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster started two years ago.

Only two of Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors are in operation and public opposition against restarting reactors remains strong.

Sizing up wind turbines: How big are they?

For those staying nearby a wind farm, the mighty tall hub with giant fan blades may be your familiar view. But for the rest of us, here is how to get the hint of how big is a standard 1.5MW - 2MW wind turbine.

Study shows that that, the larger the turbine is, the greener the electricity, i.e. smaller carbon footprint. This effect was due both to size of the turbine as well as the learning and experience gained with the technology over time. Currently, as at end-2012, the largest wind turbine is Siemens 6 MW (megawatt) SWT-6.0-154 offshore turbine in Denmark.

Siemens 6MW wind turbine is the largest to date

Siemens 6MW wind turbine Specifications

Rotor
Type                    : 3-bladed, horizontal axis
Position               : Upwind
Diameter              : 154 m
Swept area           : 18600 m²
Speed range         : 5-11 rpm
Power regulation : Pitch regulation with variable speed
Rotor tilt               : 6 degrees

Blade
Type                        : Self-supporting
Blade Length            : 75 m (B75)
Aerodynamic profile  : Siemens proprietary airfoils
Material                   : GRE
Surface gloss           : Semi-gloss, <30 / ISO2813
Surface colour          : Light grey, RAL 7035

Tower
Hub height      : Site specific, could be up to 130 m




The giants are getting bigger!

However, current trend is that wind turbines are getting bigger. In January 2013, British company, Blade Dynamics, announced it was developing blades of up to 100 meters in length dwarfing the size of existing Siemens 75-meter turbine blade. Sitting on top of a tower 170 meters high, the structure will be 270 meters in total.

In comparison, KL Tower stands at 421-metre high while Petronas Twin Towers at 452 metres. So, when completed, Blade Dynamics' 270 metres structure is pretty tall.


Size comparison

Comparing these turbines with other structures, it is easy to see why many people are protesting against large wind farming due to noise pollution and their unsightliness.

How much power can they generate:

Estimated capacity with good wind, i.e. wind blowing within designed range.

Researchers say that bigger wind turbines are more cost effective, but there should be limit somewhere when the cost of building the towers are more that the selling price of electricity generated.

Let's hope they are not near your home.


References (image credits and facts):

1) Wind turbine with the world's largest rotor goes into operation - Siemens
2) Wind Energy - The Facts
3) Solvent Green - Windfall
4) Siemens 6.0 MW Offshore Wind Turbine

Old traditional windmills compared with modern wind turbines

Wind mills have been around for hundreds of years but the earlier ones were believed to have been used more to produce mechanical power rather than electricity.

Today, wind turbines are built mainly to generate electricity both in the sea and on land. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2.5 metres in diameter and 1 kW for residential applications up to over 100 metres in diameter and over 3.5 MW for offshore applications.

Veldkamps Meul'n mill. Photo credit

Modern onshore wind turbine. Photo credit

One of the windmills that is still working is Veldkamps Meul'n mill in Bellingwolde, Netherland. The mill was built in 1855, with four-blade rotor in the traditional dutch design. At that size and height it remained the tallest structure in the neighbourhood for sometime.

The windmill is thought to be able to generate about 18kW of usable mechanical power. If this was hooked up to an efficient alternator, it might be able to convert up to 80% of that, i.e. 14kW or so into electrical power.


Big gap in efficiency is expected. But by how much?

This Veldkamps Meul'n mill has a sail diameter of 20 metres, whereas modern wind turbines used for large-scale power generation are generally at least 40 metres across. They have a power output of about 500kW.

Let's assume that power (P) generation rises with the square of the diameter (D), [suggested by Sciencefocus],

          P ∝ D²

Hence, a scaled-down modern turbine would still generate 125kW.

         125kW/14kW = 8.9

Modern wind turbines are nearly nine times more efficient.

The point is that, technology advances with time and with this technology, man generates electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. But not without public complaint though.

I don't live near wind farm and I can't testify, but from readings, huge wind turbines produce unwanted noise and some people think they are unsightly, too. I suppose there's a price to pay for everything. Nothing is free!


Do we have wind turbines in Malaysia?

Yes, but they are at best for educational purposes only. Our location near the equatorial line means we have less usable wind compared to countries further up or down the globe.

We have the 100kW wind turbines in Pulau Perhentian Kecil Terengganu, the 0.3kW - 3kW wind turbines at UPM-Serdang main campus, etc., but nothing on large scale.

Wind farms anger native Mexicians

Not everyone likes green technology.

This is especially true when the people's view and welfare are not thoroughly examined and considered. I am not implying that what happened in Mexico is a case of local inhabitants being sidelined, but from the following piece of news by AP, the locals seem like being let down by big companies investing in wind energy.

This reminds me of the big conglomerates opening up vast area of land in Sabah to plant palm oil at the expense of the small holders (local population).

Lots and lots of fans can't keep everyone happy. Wind farm in Santa Teresa, Mexico. Photo credit: Marena Renovables


If you read this article, you will find that big portion of the frustration is due to lack of participation of the local community.

Nonetheless, a remarkable work by Mexico government in promoting renewable energy. The following is the cumulative amount of energy derived from wind:

2006 - Mexico has only 6 MW of wind power
2011 - 519 MW
2012 - 1.3 GW

By comparison, global installed capacity is estimated at 244 GW, with China as one of the biggest investors.


Indigenous vs. multinationals in Mexico wind power
via AP
Mexico is putting up wind power turbines at a breakneck pace and the expansion is pitting energy companies against the Indians who live in one of the windiest spots in the world.

The country is posting one of the world's highest growth rates in wind energy, and almost all of it is concentrated in the narrow waist of Mexico known as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where winds from the Pacific meet winds from the Gulf of Mexico, spawning places so wind-blown that one town's formal name is simply "Windy."

The largely indigenous residents of the Isthmus complain that the wind farms take control of their land, affect fish and livestock with their vibrations, chop up birds and pit residents against each other for the damage or royalty payments. They also claim they see few of the profits from such projects.

President Felipe Calderon has made the inauguration of wind parks one of the main focuses of his administration's ambitious pledge to cut Mexico's carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2020, and on Tuesday — as he has done before — he stopped by the state of Oaxaca to inaugurate a new clutch of wind turbines, praising the extra income they provide for some farmers.

"Yes, you can fight poverty and protect the environment at the same time. This is a clear example," Calderon said at the opening ceremony.

But as in the past, he did so under tight security, as local protesters threatened to mar the inauguration. The president's office normally publishes a detailed schedule of his planned activities, but didn't do so with Tuesday's inauguration, keeping it under wraps until the event took place.

So far in 2012, Mexico has posted a startling 119 percent increase in installed wind-power capacity, more than doubling the 519 megawatts it had last year, the highest annual growth rate listed in the magazine Wind Power Monthly's "Windicator" index. Mexico had only 6 megawatts when Calderon took office in 2006.

While Mexico, with a total of around 1.3 gigawatts of wind power, is still a tiny part of the world's estimated 244 gigawatt capacity, it offers an insight into what happens when the industry focuses overwhelmingly on large farms dominated by large companies that are concentrated in a small, desirable area.

It has been mainly Spanish firms like Iberdrola, Union Fenosa and Gamesa, and U.S. firms like Sempra Energy, that have built the huge wind towers that now crowd the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, leaving the local population feeling invaded. Only 4 of Mexico's 17 wind farms are located outside the isthmus.

It raises the question of whether bigger is always better.

"We are asking these multinationals to please get out of these places," said Irma Ordonez, an activist from the Zapotec Indian town of Ixtepec, Oaxaca. "They want to steal our land, and not pay us what they should."

"When they come in they promise and promise things, that they're going to give us jobs, to our farmers and our towns, but they don't give us anything," said Ordonez, who traveled to Mexico City in October to protest outside the offices of a Mitsubishi Corp.

Industry sources say the distrust is unmerited, given the potential benefits to the poverty-stricken farming and fishing towns on the isthmus.

The latest battle focuses on a huge, 396-megawatt off-shore wind farm planned for a narrow spit of land in a lagoon near the village of San Dionisio del Mar, Oaxaca.

A source close to the project, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the project had been approved by village assemblies, would have little impact on fishing activities in the lagoon and would contribute an amount equal to about half the township's annual budget in coming years in compensation and royalties.

Source: AP

Global Wind Installations: China dominates in 2011

Amazing reality!

No matter from which perspective you look at it, China's wind power is marching in leaps and bounds leaving the few pioneer in wind energy. As you may remember, China's wind initiative started less than 10 years ago, and it is now the world leader.

Isn't China an economic powerhouse that need to be reckoned with? I mean in renewable energy industry.

Wind farm in Yantai, China. Photo credit:news.sciencemag.org

Asia Report: China Dominates 2011 Global Wind Installations
via REW
China dominated the global wind market in 2011, installing three times as many wind rotor blades on its wind farms than the U.S., its closest rival.

According to research published by Global Data, China held 59 percent of the global market in 2011, with 37,385 installations, compared to just 18 percent of the market, with 11,085.

The data comes as China’s deputy director of the National Energy Bureau (NEB) predicted the nation’s grid-connected wind capacity will exceed 60 GW by the end of this year, making wind power the third largest power source in China, after thermal power and hydropower. By the end of June, China had 52.58 GW of wind capacity connected to the grid.

But China's wind companies have all struggled this year as installations were slowed by the government as a result of grid-access issues, said NEB deputy director Liu Qi. He told a conference in Beijing that China would innovate by adapting to the intermittent characteristics of wind power generation. The country will use more wind power for heating in winter, irrigation of farmland and have more wind power consumed locally.

Liu added that China should enhance cooperation with other countries with advanced wind power technologies. Chinese wind power companies should strengthen innovation capacity and participate in establishing international norms and rules.

The Global Data analysts predicted that global cumulative wind power installed capacity will show steady growth until the end of the decade, increasing to 658 GW by the end of 2020 from 238 GW last year. It also noted that blades for offshore wind farms will take a far greater slice of the market. In 2011 blades destined for offshore wind farms accounted for just 1 percent of the global market — by 2020 this will rise to 11 percent.

Market researchers BTM said about 470 MW of new offshore wind capacity was brought online last year, comprising of 127 turbines in four countries, with the UK and China representing the two largest markets.

By 2016, the global offshore market will expand 5.6 GW annually, with a quarter of the capacity going up in Asia. And by 2021 China will be the world’s largest market, followed by the UK and Germany — with Europe still accounting for 63% of the overall market, BTM predicts. - Wind Energy News.

Germany's Clean-technology industry to more than Double by 2025

Germany's clean-technologies industry is set to more than double in volume by 2025, creating jobs and maintaining its global market share, a study shows.

Installation of offshore wind mill. Photo: REpower Systems, one of the leading international manufacturers of wind turbines.


Green Technology continues to grow rapidly

The volume of German companies in areas such as resource efficiency, sustainable transport and recycling will rise 125% to €674 billion ($862 billion), Roland Berger Strategy Consultants said. They’ll keep a market share of about 15 percent while creating an expected 1 million jobs, it said.

“Green technologies are growth technologies,” Environment Minister Peter Altmaier, who commissioned the study, said today in Berlin. “We still have a leading position in clean technologies and we will do everything to defend that.”

Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, plans to increase its reliance on renewable sources of power such as solar and wind as it phases out nuclear generation. Domestic technology companies such as Solarworld AG must contend with rising competition from Asia, where investment in clean energy has soared.

The German clean-tech industry is dominated by small- and medium-sized businesses that have helped stabilize the nation’s economy, Altmaier said. The country has a target to raise energy efficiency and lower greenhouse-gas emissions 40% by 2020 from 1990 levels.

The global clean-tech market will more than double to €4.4 trillion by 2025, according to the Roland Berger study.


TheGreenMechanics: As mentioned, the market for green technology will continue to grow rapidly and is becoming the driving force for growth in traditional industry sectors of many developed nations. Malaysia must take cue and not risk itself of missing out on clean energy boom.


The reporter on this story can be reached at snicola2@bloomberg.net. For additional information, visit:
http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/article/green-tech-market-to-double-by-2025-20120910

Powering half the world with Wind by 2030

Is it possible? Will nations with good wind potential (and those with money) go for it?

In 2011, nearly 200,000 wind turbines around the world met 2.5% of global energy needs. But according to RenewableEnergyWorld, new study tells that there is every possibility that wind could power half the world with clean energy by 2030. That is pretty impressive.

Giant wind-turbine blades belong to GE Energy Financial Services. Photo: GE


Wind power fast growing

Wind power is now the fastest-growing and one of the cheapest renewable energy sources, and in last year 40.5 GW of new wind power was brought on line, bringing the global total capacity up to 238 GW. This is translated into offsetting over 600 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Researchers estimated that 4 million 5MW turbines operating at a height of 100 meters could provide over 7.5 TW of power, at no risk to the environment. This is more than half of our energy needs (which is estd. 5.75 TW) in 2030.


Wind power is the least damaging option

The research team is confident that of all the sources of energy, wind is one of the sources of energy with the least environmental impact. Energy from wind would come from the mixture of onshore and offshore wind turbine, with offshore likely to be more important to the future of wind due to several advantages:

• It’s right there on the coasts, where the people are. Hence lower cost to install,
• Offshore wind tends to peak in the afternoon, which is when people peak with demand for electricity,
• Offshore sites tend to be windier than onshore sites.

Wind turbines are expensive now but at the rate technology is advancing today, it would not be too far-fetched to think about 'affordability' in the near future.

TheGreenMechanics: No doubt, offshore wind turbines are less expensive in a long run, but with gigantic 100m high unsightly poles in waters near you, you'd be in for a less than desirable sea view. Of course you have to compromise a thing or two to get clean energy.


Further readings, please go to: RenewableEnergyWorld

Renewable rankings of the G20 nations

The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.


Image credit: Natural Resources Defence Counil, NRDC

Leaders from the group of 20 developed and developing nations will meet in Los Cabos, Mexico on June 18-19, 2012. While they are preparing for it, Renewable Energy World (REW) gives some interesting statistics of ho these countries are faring on renewable generation and clean energy investment.



The United States, China and Germany are the top three producers of clean energy in G20



Understandably oil wells such as Saudi Arabia would pretty much be uninterested in renewables.


REW noted that although investment is growing, the clean energy sector is still struggling to carve out a larger slice of the overall energy mix. Since 2002, the amount of wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and wave power integrated into the grids of the G20 nations has grown three-fold.

However, this represents just 2.6% of the those nations’ total energy consumption. With the current rate of growth, that would equal less than 4% of total consumption by 2015 and about 6% by 2020. With consumption itself is also expected to grow, any reductions in carbon emissions would be quickly negated.


Set targets and guidelines

NRDC thinks that each member country should:
a) put in place plans to pass laws that would require at least 15% of their energy is produced from renewable sources by 2015
b) have strong commitments to create a framework for cooperation between countries that would help achieve the 15% goal
c) devise monitoring method that will ensure the guidelines are clear and the targets are met.

£365mil onshore windfarm - The biggest yet in England and Wales

The Guardian reported that the government has approved plans for the giant onshore wind farm in England and Wales which could power 206,000 homes a year. While this is a completely green energy source, it has come under criticism from countryside lovers, who said that the farm would be ugly and that it will ruin the beautiful landscape of the proposed site.

With wind turbine standing at 475ft tall, I can't help but saying "Wow! This is one monster mill!"

By comparison, London Eye is 443ft tall (135m). Closer to home, the Singapore Flyer's (big wheel) height is 541ft (165m).

Image: The Telegraph. These wind turbines (Beinn An Tuirc wind farm) in Scotland has been criticised by many as unsightly.



The farm details in brief

Cost                            : About £365mil (RM1.82bil)
Location                     : Pen Y Cymoedd development, south Wales
Area                           : 155 acres across countryside
Number of turbines    : 76, each with 3.3MW max output
Turbine height            : 475ft (145 metres)
Generating capacity   : 299 MW by 2016
No. of homes served  : 206,000
Developer                  : Vattenfall

Vatenfall, the developer behind the project, also operates the largest offshore wind farm in England and Wales, which produces 300 MW of energy with 100 turbines.

Another big offshore project near Margate, Kent, is already in the works by London Array and this farm would produce 1,000 MW from the 341 turbines. We know that the UK is a country suitable for harnessing energy from the wind. Last month, The Independent carried an article on British engineer Offshore Group Newcastle's optimism of creating up to 1,000 jobs from wind farm.


TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

It seems that erecting the bigger turbines are better done offshore, where the mixture of environment and the turbines can be better tolerated.

Unsightly as some say it is, wind farming is more sustainable compared to the generating energy using fossil fuel. It is an idea, and people can continue to debate it but in the end one still need to decide what's acceptable to the bigger population in a long run.


Facts source: The Guardian

Wind turbines as RE source

Apart from solar PV, wind mills and hydro-electric are the other two Renewable Energy sources that interest me. They offer different kind of challenges but could also be very rewarding.

I mentioned in my previous article about Sabah's good potential in harnessing energy from wind by putting up wind turbines offshore on its northern tip. Recently, a local company thought that Sabah could be the beneficiary of its RE initiative in testing the viability of vertical wind turbine power generator.

Daily Express - April 25, 2012

Apart from Pulau Perhentian in Terengganu, Sabah has the right geographic factors to generate enough wind for wind-turbine projects that can be worked out between corporate bodies or private investors and SESB.

Pernec Corporation Berhad, one of the exhibitors at the popular MSAM 2012 currently on-going at Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas, told the media that it is planning a further discussion with SESB on a possibility of using vertical axis wind turbines as an alternative renewable energy source. One of the RE industry solutions offered by Pernec is wind turbine. Pernec claims that its wind turbine emits low noise and can generate between 300W and 25kW; most suited for windy and coastal areas or islands.

The company also provides environment-friendly solutions for our everyday needs such as power (solar PV), lightings (LED), refrigeration & air-conditioning (green HC refrigerant), as well energy saving and conservation through efficient energy management system.

Wind turbines

Coming back to wind turbines, in Hawaii, there have been complaints from residents staying nearby wind farm. It was reported that the noise from the wind turbine blades is very loud and sometimes intolerable. Hawaii government is currently actively  perusing RE initiatives, particularly wind farming, to reduce it dependence on fossil fuel.

Pernec claims that the company's turbines emit  low noise, so, it is very interesting to find out how they make this possible. But looking at the highest capacity of 25kW, noise level may not yet be an issue. Vertical construction may also play a part in keeping noise level in check.

The company is believed to be planning a pilot project on vertical axis wind turbine in Sabah and if this materialises, SESB should take it seriously. Not just because it helps in preserving the nature but also the possible long term profitability of such venture. 

Let's harness energy from 'thin air'.

British OGN to create 1000 wind farm jobs

This is very interesting. The British government is giving out grant for a company willing to venture into something new, creative and at the same time create job opportunities.

Already for sometime now, we know of at least two areas in Malaysia where wind is blowing at speed viable for tapping of electricity 'from thin air'. These are Kudat/Banggi in the northern tip of Sabah and Pulau Perhentian in Terengganu. Pulau Perhentian (Besar & Kecil) are two resort islands but building some industrial scale wind turbines, if carefully crafted, should not ruin the beautiful scenery and serenity of these places.

Offshore wind mills. Image: Skynews

The rest of the news @The Independent
The Independent, April 13, 2012

LONDON: British engineer Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN) announced on Friday that it would create up to 1,000 jobs after receiving a government grant to help build offshore wind farms.

OGN said in a statement that it had been handed a grant worth $1.02 million (£640,000) to help stimulate employment prospects in Tyneside, northeast England, where the group is based.

The firm said it will build a prototype steel-jacketed foundation at its site in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, starting later this year. The foundation structures will be designed for large wind turbine generators in waters over 30 metres (100ft) deep.

"OGN has received a vote of confidence from the Department of Energy and Climate Change for its move into offshore wind technology," it said in the statement.

"And the northeast economy shares in the benefit with the creation of up to 1,000 long term jobs."

Malaysian perspective

If wind farm is too costly to erect in the mountainous terrains of Malaysia, we should consider building them offshore. Never shut down an idea until a detailed study is carried out. Allocate some grant and ask someone willing to do the study to be given the money.

Japan is doing it now in the waters near Fukushima following of the recent catastrophic tsunami and nuclear reactors failures. Also, in the northern island of Hokkaido, a large scale solar PV farm is already in the pipeline.

Hawaii Clean Energy

Hawaii is one of the world's premier travel destinations. However, if visitors look beyond the views of Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, palm trees and the blue Pacific, they'll see a renewable energy transformation under way that could be a model for others around the world, RenewableEnergyWorld.com reported last week.

Kahuku wind farm. Image by- npr.org

90% of Hawaii's energy for transportation and electricity comes from fossil fuel, making it the highest in the US. This cannot go on forever with the depleting oil reserve and the ever increasing cost of obtaining such energy source.

Caring for nature and concern for emission of carbon, Hawaii took several measures in adopting green energy source such as using biofuels to generate power, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, drilling for more geothermal energy, and integrating more solar and wind power. Latest in its list of initiatives is the testing of the smart-grid by Hawaiian Electric Company, HECO together with its subsidiaries.

In 2010, the Solar Electric Power Association ranked HECO third in the United States for growth in solar power. According to RenewableEnergyWorld, Hawaii has more solar watts per customer than all but a few U.S. states.

Wind farms provide power on our three largest islands and additional projects are in the pipeline.According to Clean Technica, Hawaii is currently developing its 69MW Kawailoa wind power project, dubbed the largest in the tourist island on Oahu’s North Shore. The wind power installations consists of 30 nos of 2.3MW Siemens wind turbines, enough to power approximately 14,500 homes on Oahu Island. This makes about 5% of the island’s total power demand.

Another renewable energy source - geothermal energy - provides about 17% of the electricity on Hawaii island. Collaboration between authority and the local communities, and renewable energy developers also helps in shaping the future of the island's geothermal development.

Go green

Common sense tells us that if clean energy technology can be made to work on the small independent grids in Hawaii, it can work anywhere. Solutions developed and tested in Hawaii is said to feature the most advanced technology. It will be constructed in ways that are environmentally friendly.

Hawaii encourages the use of Electric Vehicle developing 'discounted overnight charging rates', and the government is working with electric vehicle manufacturers and service equipment suppliers to ease broader adoption of such vehicles there.

Let's hope that Malaysia could make similar effort to encourage the use of more electric vehicles, such as lowering the cost or owning the New Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.