WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition Is Coming To Windy City Chicago!

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) are pleased to join the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) in announcing today that the WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition, the world’s largest annual wind energy event, will be held in Chicago next year, at the McCormick Place Convention Center from May 4 – 7, 2009.

The WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition has become one of the most successful and fastest-growing industry shows in the United States. Sold exhibition space for WINDPOWER 2009 already exceeds that of WINDPOWER 2008, which was 85% larger than the previous year. WINDPOWER was recently listed in Tradeshow Week magazine’s latest installment of its prestigious 50 Fastest-Growing Shows in North America.

“We are excited to be coming back to Chicago,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. (AWEA held WINDPOWER 2004 in Chicago.) “The ‘windy city’ offers an ideal mix of hospitality and exhibition facilities in a vibrant downtown setting. We’re excited to hold this event in a state that ranked in the top 5 for new wind project construction in 2007, and where new manufacturing jobs are being created thanks to this technology’s rapid expansion.”

WINDPOWER continues to grow at a fast pace as wind energy becomes a more important part of America’s energy picture. “Following WINDPOWER 2007 and WINDPOWER 2008, we experienced an unprecedented explosion in demand for exhibition space and hotel rooms,” Swisher said. “We are grateful to officials in Chicago’s hospitality sector, as well as the office of Mayor Richard M. Daley and Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, for their efforts to accommodate the show.”

"Illinois is firmly on the path to a sustainable energy future and is proud to host the world's largest annual wind energy event next year," said Governor Rod R. Blagojevich. "By relying more on renewable energy sources like wind, we can generate the electricity we need without polluting our air or contributing to global warming, while at the same time protecting public health, saving energy and reducing our energy costs."

“The MPEA is grateful to the Governor’s Office for its assistance in bringing WINDPOWER 2009 to McCormick Place,” said Juan A. Ochoa, Chief Executive Officer of the MPEA, owner and operator of McCormick Place. “We will work to help WINDPOWER continue to grow their exhibits and attendance.”

"Thanks to Mayor Daley's vision and leadership, Chicago is a catalyst for the green meetings industry," said Tim Roby, CCTB President and CEO. "The CCTB looks forward to working with AWEA to ensure a successful conference while in Chicago."

By 2025, Illinois is expected to see $8 billion in investment in new wind projects that will generate 4,000 megawatts (MW) of power to meet the state’s growing electricity demand and its renewable electricity standard. (The state has enacted a renewable electricity standard requiring that 25% of all power for residential and small commercial customers be provided from renewable energy resources.)

Pending legislation in Illinois would extend the renewable electricity standard to larger customers, a step that would require a doubling of that investment and power generated. In addition to environmental benefits statewide, this investment would bring significant economic benefits to manufacturing towns, windy rural communities, and Chicago financial community.

New wind projects added in 2007 account for about 35% of the entire new power-producing capacity added for the year. Similar growth is taking place this year, making the U.S. the world’s largest wind power market in terms of new installations and wind energy production.

AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with a membership that includes global leaders in wind power development, wind turbine manufacturing, and energy, as well as a broad range of component and service suppliers. More information on wind energy is available at the
AWEA Web site: www.awea.org.

Tags: WINDPOWER 2009 Conference & Exhibition, AWEA, MPEA, CCTB, WINDPOWER 2008, wind energy

U.S. leads world in wind energy generation but expiring tax credit may slow down the growth.

U.S. now leads world in wind energy generation but delay in extending federal tax credit places 2009 project pipeline on hold, discourages manufacturing investment

U.S. wind farms now generate more electricity than any other nation in the world and are on track to expand by over 45% this year, but the expiration of the federal production tax credit (PTC) less than five months from now threatens this spectacular progress, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its second quarter market report.

“The U.S. is now the world’s largest wind energy producer, with wind development sparking job creation and economic opportunity in a troubled economy,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “But the current figures hide a dire reality: the pipeline of investment for 2009 has been on hold for months, with escalating risks and costs for the industry, because of the uncertainty about the production tax credit. At a time when unemployment is at a 4-year high and the economy needs every stimulus it can get, a rapid extension of the credit should be on any economic priority list for Congress.”

The U.S. is now the world leader in wind electricity generation. While Germany still has more generating capacity installed (about 23,000 megawatts), the U.S. is producing more electricity from wind because of its much stronger winds.

Total U.S. installed wind power capacity now stands at 19,549 megawatts (MW). The industry installed 1,194 MW in the second quarter, down from 1,532 MW during the first. This brings the year’s new capacity to 2,725 MW, more than was installed in any year except 2007. More is under construction for completion either by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, depending on when the PTC is extended. Uncertainty regarding the PTC is causing a rush to complete projects by the end of the year, with increased risks and costs for the industry and eventually for customers. Under the best-case scenario for the industry, Congress will move quickly in September to extend the credit and the pressure will be eased for immediate project completion while reopening the pipeline for 2009. Under that scenario, AWEA projects at least 7,500 MW of new capacity to be added in 2008.

AWEA also reports a strong increase in domestic investment in wind turbine and wind turbine component manufacturing facilities over the past year and a half. At least 41 facilities have been announced, opened, or expanded over that period of time. These facilities will create over 9,000 jobs when they are at full capacity. Uncertainty about the PTC threatens that level of investment as well.

“It’s clear that wind power is not only a major technology with which to fight climate change, but also one of the most promising and dynamic economic engines we have today,” said Swisher. “The nation needs an ambitious plan to promote the deployment of wind and other renewable energy technologies—and the urgent first step it must take is to rapidly extend the expiring renewable energy credits, which are the primary incentive that the nation provides for these technologies today.”

The report is available on the AWEA Web site at www.awea.org/publications/reports/2Q08.pdf

Tags: wind energy, AWEA, wind farms, wind turbine

Architectural Wind System Installed At Boston’s Logan International Airport

MONROVIA, Calif., July 22, 2008 – AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a  leader in unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy systems, has announced that its Architectural Wind system has been installed at Boston’s Logan International Airport Office Center as part of a project commissioned by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).  The installation comprises 20 five-bladed wind turbines and ties in with a comprehensive energy management plan that Massport has established for all its facilities. 

“At Massport, we are continually striving to improve our facilities – making them more energy efficient as well as environmentally and user friendly,” said Project Manager Terry Civic.  “The installation of the Architectural Wind turbines at Logan Airport is one of the many initiatives underway designed to exceed national standards for energy efficiency, and we look forward to significant energy-saving results.”  Logan International is home to the nation’s first airport terminal awarded Gold Level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

AV’s Architectural Wind is a small, modular building-integrated wind turbine system. It is designed for quick and easy installation onto the parapet of a concrete tilt-up, pre-cast, or other low-profile building.  Installation results in little or no structural impact and tall support towers are not required. For the Logan Airport installation, AV worked closely with Massport to incorporate the turbines on their building without any occupancy disruptions.  The patented design and positioning of the system on a building takes advantage of the natural acceleration in wind speed resulting from the building’s aerodynamic properties.  This increased wind speed can increase the turbines' electrical power generation by more than 50% compared to the power generation that would result from systems situated outside of the acceleration zone.

Architectural Wind systems have been installed on buildings throughout the country – including the new Kettle Foods potato chip factory in Beloit, Wis.; Laughlin Air Force Base near Del Rio, Texas; and the St. Louis County Government Service Center – providing not only reliable, non-polluting, renewable energy, but also a visual demonstration of customers’ commitment to clean energy.  AV’s sleek-looking wind turbine recently won the Red Dot International Design award (for design concept in the “green” category) and the Annual Design Review award (in the equipment category) from I.D., The International Design Magazine. 

More information about the Architectural Wind system is available via email at wind@avinc.com or on the Web at www.avinc.com/wind. 

AV is a pioneer in advanced energy system technologies.  Since 1977, it has maintained a continuous presence in wind power technology, conducting more than 250 sponsored projects and investing in and developing wind farms.  AV’s new building-integrated Architectural Wind wind-turbine system provides an attractive clean-energy-generating technology for use in both urban and suburban environments and is especially suitable for airport facilities.

Tags: wind power, Integrated Wind Turbine Power Source,  wind turbines, Renewables,

Sandia Labs, Kirtland Air Force Base Plans To Build 30MW Wind Farm.

A Wind farm on the Aragonne Mesa southwest of Santa Rosa, N.M.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base may soon share a wind farm that will provide as much as one-third of the electricity used by the two entities.

The Labs’ Wind Energy Technology Department and the U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program have embarked on a project to determine if such a plant is viable and to build a roughly 30-megawatt (MW) farm on the air base. A private company would design, build, and operate the farm, and DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration, Sandia and Kirtland would buy the electricity.

Wind Energy Department Manager Jose Zayas says the project — called Sandia Wind Farm Feasibility Project — is part of the DOE Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) initiative. According to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, the TEAM initiative goal is to “maximize installation of secure, on-site renewable energy projects at all DOE sites.” In addition to installing renewable energy, other DOE goals are to reduce energy use by 30 percent and use third parties to finance the projects. The project would also be a way to reduce energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions, increase use and efficiency of renewable energy technologies, and adopt sustainable design practices as called for in President Bush’s January 2007 Executive Order 13423.

Sandia is a National Nuclear Security Administration laboratory.

A Request For Information (RFI) was recently placed on a Sandia procurement website in an effort to make commercial, utility-scale wind farm developers, owners, operators, energy service companies, and financiers aware of the potential opportunity to build a wind farm on the base. Deadline to respond to the RFI and be eligible to compete for the partnership is July 3.

In addition, Sandia is holding an “Industry Day” on June 10 in Albuquerque where interested developers can obtain information and ask questions. At the meeting Brian Connor of DOE’s Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program will address the federal goals and objectives of the TEAM initiative and how they will apply to other DOE sites, including Sandia. The location and time of the meeting will be announced on the Wind Energy Technology Department website at www.sandia.gov/wind.

Project engineer Roger Hill says this project is highly unusual for a variety of reasons.

“Usually, private companies build wind farms to sell power to utilities or utilities install wind turbines for their own system use,” Hill says. “Here we are looking for a private company to build a wind plant on federal land for federal [Sandia and Kirtland] consumption.”

The initial stage of the project will involve investigating the feasibility of building the farm on federal lands and/or the adjacent Isleta Pueblo. In the next couple of months Sandia will install a meteorological station on a ridgeline in the Manzano mountains near Albuquerque to measure wind speed and direction. A second will follow.

Hill says that the Manzano mountain site is believed to be one of the best locations of all DOE facilities for a wind farm. Its wind yield is in an indicated class 5 or 6 on a scale of 1 to 7, falling just short of superb.

As part of the feasibility effort, the study team will spend a year assessing the wind characteristics, as well as looking at accessibility to transmission lines, base substations, and PNM’s Sandia switching station. Hill anticipates that as the feasibility study moves along, issues will be identified that will need to be addressed. For instance, the wind turbine installation or operation might conflict with current or planned base operations. Also, an environmental assessment must be performed to ascertain and perhaps mitigate impacts on wildlife.

Together Sandia and KAFB use 72 MW during peak loads and about 40-50 MW at any given time. Sandia’s share of the electricity usage is about 60 percent and Kirtland’s is 40 percent. If a wind farm is built, the two may split the electricity produced in the same 60-40 equation. Construction time from inception to finish could be as little as two years.

Wind farms in New Mexico are located in Guadalupe County (Aragonne Mesa), Quay County (Caprock Wind Ranch, Phases I and II), Roosevelt County (San Juan Mesa), and Quay and DeBaca counties (New Mexico Wind Energy Center).

Zayas says the idea of a Sandia/Kirtland wind farm “is as exciting as it gets” because it provides the opportunity to showcase Sandia and be one of the first DOE sites to have a utility-scale wind farm where power is being consumed.

“This is a pioneering effort that meets the national initiative for renewable energy deployment,” he says. “Plus it contributes to our self-sufficiency and sustainability. We are using a natural indigenous resource to meet our own needs. And it can be replicated elsewhere. It’s a big deal.”

---

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.

Sandia news media contact: Christine Burroughs, coburro@sandia.gov, (505) 844-0948

Tags: Sandia Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Wind Farm, renewable energy

MARS, A Wind Power Anywhere™ Solution

We all are good at innovation when the need arises. We develop thin film photo voltaic cells that are printed and we create inflatable solar collectors, all in the name of efficiency and ease of renewable energy generation. But all these companies and technologies are relatively new. Then I found a company that has been perfecting wind energy conversion for last 28 years. I like the concept and the implementation of MARS.

Magenn Power's MARS is a Wind Power Anywhere™ solution with distinct advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating Systems including: global deployment, lower costs, better operational performance, and greater environmental advantages.

The Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) is an innovative lighter-than-air tethered device that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems. This electrical energy is transferred down the tether to a transformer at a ground station and then transferred to the electricity power grid. Helium (an inert non-reactive lighter than air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an altitude for best winds and its rotation also causes the Magnus effect. This provides additional lift, keeps the device stabilized, keeps it positioned within a very controlled and restricted location, and causes it to pull up overhead rather than drift downwind on its tether.

The distinct advantages of the Magenn Air Rotor System design are as follows:

• Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems.
• Magenn Power Air Rotor System will deliver time-averaged output much closer to its rated capacity than the capacity factor typical with conventional designs. Magenn efficiency will be 40 to 50 percent. This is hugely important, since doubling capacity factor cuts the cost of each delivered watt by half.
• Wind farms can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission line loses.
• Conventional wind generators are only operable in wind speeds between 3 meters/sec and 28 meters/sec. Magenn Air Rotors are operable between 1 meter/sec and in excess of 28 meters/sec.
• Magenn Air Rotors can be raised to higher altitudes, thus capitalizing on higher winds aloft. Altitudes from 400-ft to 1,000-ft above ground level are possible, without having to build an expensive tower, or use a crane to perform maintenance.
• Magenn Air Rotors are mobile and can be easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns. Mobility is also useful in emergency deployment and disaster relief situations.

These points are mutually inclusive. The advantages above combine to make Magenn the most cost-effective wind electrical generation system.

tag: wind energy, wind turbines, lighter than air wind turbines, Wind Power Anywhere, Magenn Power Air Rotor System, MARS, Magnus effect,

Global Wind Energy harnessing pass 100 GW, and may rise to 240 GW by 2012

Wind energy is booming worldwide. Following another record year in 2007 with over 20 GW of new wind capacity, and additional installations at the beginning of 2008, the global wind market has now passed 100 GW. On the second day of the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Brussels, the opportunities and challenges facing the world’s leading wind energy markets, plus the huge potential for the future, were discussed. Steve Sawyer, Chief Executive of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), opened the session by presenting GWEC’s new publication, Global Wind Energy Report 2007, which provides an overview of the situation worldwide and its impressive recent expansion.

“Due above all to the stronger than anticipated growth in the US and China in recent years, and China’s emerging manufacturers, which are helping ease global supply, there has been an unexpectedly strong increase in wind deployment all round the world,” he explained. “As a result, GWEC now foresees the global wind power market growing by over 155% to reach 240 GW of total installed capacity by 2012”.

Birger T Madsen, from BTM Consult, explained that his company forecasts 140,000 MW of annual installations over the next thirteen years, which will give a cumulative installed capacity of nearly 1 million MW (1,000 GW) by 2020.

“1,000 GW of capacity will enable wind power to provide 7–8% of the world’s electricity demand by 2020,” he added.

There are many markets worldwide whose development will help ensure this wind energy expansion. Senior Energy Specialist from the World Bank, Søren Krohn, looked at some of those with the most potential. Mexico is a “fully developed market for independent power producers”, but has transmission issues and supply bottlenecks to overcome. Turkey has a “feed-in tariff system, which gives access to a wholesale market”. Meanwhile in Morocco “there is a strong government commitment to wind energy, with a target of 1,000 MW of installed capacity by 2012, up from the current total of 124 MW”.

One country which has already started installing significant amounts of wind energy is the US, which in 2007 added a record 5.2 GW of capacity to reach 16.8 GW. This accounted for about 30% of the country’s new power-producing capacity in 2007. In Europe, wind energy made up 40% of new energy installations last year.

Rob Gramlich, from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), presented a new draft report, entitled 20% wind vision – a collaborative technical report. The document shows that it is technically and economically possible for 20% of US electricity to come from wind by 2030, up from just over 1% today.

Rob Gramlich stated that “we need to install over 16 GW annually in order to reach the 300 GW by 2030 that will give us the 20% of electricity from wind. We need to change people’s perceptions so that they see that benefits such as jobs and a stronger economy are closely linked to our choice of power-generating technology.”

While the North American wind industry is booming, South America has been slower taking off. Despite its vast natural resources, there is only 530 MW of wind capacity currently installed there. Christian Grütte from Leonardo Venablers in Spain presented the South American wind market. He outlined the reasons for the continent’s slow start, citing political instability, lack of attractive incentives, limited grid access and restricted turbine supply as the major barriers.

He concluded that “South America has a potential wind energy capacity of more than 300 GW. In the coming years, governments should start introducing the reliable investor incentives and objectives the region’s industry needs, in order to begin to fulfil this potential”.

One of the South American countries with the best wind resources is Chile. Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro from Centinel presented the development of wind energy in Chile. Initially dependent on gas from Argentina, the country was left stranded when its neighbour cut off supplies in 2004. This eventually led to discussions on a renewable energy law, which came into force in March 2007. The law obliges generators with over 200 MW of installed capacity to meet a 10% renewables target.

Chile’s first ever wind farm began operations in December 2007. Currently at just 18 MW, an additional 70 MW should come on line soon, and a second wind farm project is under development.

The chairman of the session, Peter Brun from Vestas, concluded by underlining, as all the speakers had done, the strong worldwide potential of wind energy.

He said, “Globally, we can see strong market trends, but there are still a lot of unclear areas and obstacles. The trends alone are not enough. We need policy stability and transmission planning. In this way, we can show policy-makers that wind is not a niche or ‘alternative’ form of energy, but a mainstream source of power.”

In a later session, various awards were presented. Four Poster Awards went to René Cattin, Florian Bertsch, Simon Watson and Gabriele Michalke for their innovative and interesting designs.

The Scientific Award was presented to Stig Oye for his outstanding work in wind energy technology. The Excellent Young Wind Doctor award, given for the first time at this year’s EWEC, aims to bring recognition to recently graduated PhD students. It was won by Dr. Jason M. Jonkman and Dr. Tonis Sant.

For more information on EWEC, please click here.

tag: wind energy, EU, GWEC, Global Wind Energy Council, European Wind Energy Conference, EWEC, Global Wind Energy Report 2007, American Wind Energy Association, AWEA,

European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition 2008

European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition 2008

tag: wind energy, EU, European Wind Energy Conference

European Energy Commissioner opens European Wind Energy Conference.

European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs took part in a major international conference on wind energy which opened today in Brussels, Belgium. The Commissioner chaired the opening session where together with high-level speakers from the Member States and the European Parliament he discussed the role wind energy will have in achieving the EU's target of reaching its 20% renewable energy (RES) target by 2020.

"In the fight against climate change renewable energy sources are going to play a key role. Reaching the 20% RES target for EU by 2020 will require a substantial contribution from wind energy. It is an area where Europe is in the front worldwide and it should stay that way – wind energy is good for the environment, good for improving energy security and good for the EU economy" declared Commissioner Piebalgs. In his speech he also outlined initial thoughts about an EU Offshore Wind Action Plan planned for adoption by the Commission later in 2008.

The European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC^[1]) is organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA^[2]) and is among the most important of its kind, bringing together policy-makers, industry representatives, researchers, project developers and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss topics related to wind energy.

The European Commission has recently made a far-reaching package of proposals that will deliver the European Council's commitments of March 2007 (IP/08/80) to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. The EU aims to demonstrate to its global partners that strong action to fight climate change and increasing the use of renewable energy is compatible with continued economic growth and prosperity.

^[1] http://www.ewec2008.info/index.php?id=442

^[2] http://www.ewea.org

tag: European Energy Commission, wind energy, European Wind Energy Conference, EWEC, European Wind Energy Association, EWEA,

Horizon Wind Energy, GE Energy Signs Wind Turbine Supply, Service Agreements

Horizon Wind Energy Signs Wind Turbine Supply, Service Agreements With GE Energy

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - January 29, 2008 : – Horizon Wind Energy LLC, a leading wind project developer, has signed wind turbine supply and service agreements with GE Energy for future U.S. projects. Horizon also announced today the establishment of a regional headquarters in Albany, N.Y. to oversee its future projects in New York State and the Northeastern United States.

GE will supply Horizon with 201 1.5-megawatt wind turbines, to be shipped during 2010. Under a separate, two-year agreement, GE will provide operations support, parts and maintenance for those units.

"We see strong potential for future wind projects throughout this region, and our new Albany office positions us to better serve this promising market," said Antonio Martins da Costa, CEO of Horizon Wind Energy. "In addition, our local presence will reinforce our strong relationship with GE Energy's renewable energy business, based in nearby Schenectady, NY."

"Albany and the Capital Region have a rich history in the energy industry," said Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings. "It's great to see that we will continue to play an integral role in the future as clean energy technologies from companies like GE Energy begin to change the way we produce energy. I'm thrilled that Horizon Wind Energy has chosen Albany as the site to manage its northeastern activities."

"With their new presence in the region, we look forward to working even more closely with Horizon Wind Energy," said Victor Abate, Vice President-Renewables for GE Energy. "The new agreements with Horizon are further evidence that the wind industry continues to embrace our 1.5-megawatt wind turbine technology and support services. We have provided more than 7,700 of these machines for projects worldwide."

Headquartered in Houston, Horizon Wind Energy is a fully owned subsidiary of Energias de Portugal S.A. (EDP), a major Portuguese utility and one of the world's largest generators of electricity from renewable energy sources. At the end of 2007, Horizon was operating wind power plants with a total installed capacity of more than 1,300 megawatts, and the company currently is developing a portfolio of more than 10,500 megawatts in more than a dozen states.

The new agreements with Horizon Energy follow the October 2007 announcement of a global frame agreement between GE and with Horizon's parent company, EDP, for the supply of 500 megawatts of wind turbines for 2008 and 2009 projects in the U.S. and Europe.

In addition to its relationship with GE Energy, Horizon Wind Energy is receiving a $300 million equity investment from GE Energy Financial Services in four of its wind farms. The investment will go to a 600-megawatt portfolio of wind farms in Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois and Texas.

GE Energy's wind turbine technology is a key component of ecomagination, the GE corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water.

http://www.gepower.com/about/press/en/2008_press/012908c.htm

tag: wind energy, wind turbines, Renewables, GE Energy, wind farms, Horizon Wind Energy, Energias de Portugal

Worlds Frirst Floating Wind Generator.

BERLIN (AFP) - A floating wind turbine that its makers claim could significantly boost the renewable energy sector was officially launched at a trade show in the German capital on Wednesday.
Dutch company Blue H Technologies said its invention, which adapts technology used in offshore oil rigs, was a world first.
It will soon go into operation off the coast of Puglia in southern Italy. Unlike normal offshore wind turbines it does not need to be anchored to the seabed and can be used in waters deeper than 50 metres (164 feet), depths at which installation costs for fixed turbines become prohibitive. The German government on Wednesday approved a major package of measures to fight climate change, including a target to make renewable energy from sources such as wind contribute between 25 and 30 percent of the country's energy needs by 2020, compared to the current level of 12 percent.

Tags: wind turbine, Blue H Technologies

Alternative Energy Blowing Towards Wind?

According to Wall Street Journal, more and more investors are snapping up wind energy properties, in USA and the investors are also coming from Europe. For instance In October, Germany's E.On AG announced the acquisition of $1.4 billion of North American wind assets from Airtricity, an Ireland-based wind-farm operator.
Southern California Edison made three recent demand-response deals, with Comverge, EnerNOC Inc. of Boston and privately owned Energy Curtailment Specialists Inc. of Buffalo, N.Y. EnerNOC's deal to manage approximately 160 megawatts of capacity for SoCal Edison was its largest to date, valued at $50 million to $75 million. Comverge and Energy Curtailment each struck deals to manage 50 megawatts of SoCal Edison's power.
But Solar power also getting more attention in cases. Ausra Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., plans to build at least 1,000 megawatts of solar thermal power plants at a cost of roughly $3 billion, says David Mills, the company's chairman and chief scientific officer. Ausra is benefiting from ambitious solar-thermal investment plans on the part of electric power provider FPL Group Inc., which said recently it plans to invest $2.4 billion over several years in solar-thermal and renewable energy projects.
The WSJ Article; Power Plays

Tags: wind energy, Wind power, energy investments, solar thermal projects

Who will build wind farms? Enel will, in USA and Canada

Enel to Build Wind Farms in U.S., Canada from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Enel SpA, Italy's largest utility, said Friday it will build two wind farms in the United States and Canada with a combined capacity of 277 megawatts as part of a euro4 billion ($5.2 billion) investment in renewable energy.

[...]

Tags: renewable energy, wind energy, wind farm