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Category: Research

US DoE funding next generation wind turbine research with USD 7.5 million

June 30th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

The US Department of Energy announced the availability of USD 7.5 million as funding for six research project in four states – California, Colorado, Florida and New York – aimed at producing next generation designs for wind turbine drivetrains. This core component of a wind turbine is what transfers the mechanical energy of rotor rotation to the electrical generator, and is usually made up of a gearbox and a generator. The goal of the research is to provide new technology that could give a competitive edge to the US wind industry, and further reduce the cost of wind generated electricity. Additionally, these new technologies could be used for deployment in the US offshore wind sector.

Gamesa will build its Offshore Wind Technology Center at Strathclyde Business Park

June 27th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

Gamesa is making good on its announced plans to build the Offshore Wind Technology Center in Scotland. The company announced it has secured the site for the center at Starthclyde Business Park, in Glasgow. The company is actively recruiting engineering staff, which should result in about 40 engineers employed by the end of summer. This number could grow to about 100 by the end of the year, however, and then to 180 within three years of center operation.

Ming Yang enters strategic partnership with Danish Wind Industry Association

June 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Wind

China Ming Yang Wind Power announced the company has entered into a strategic partnership with the Danish Wind Industry Association (DWIA) which will result in the expansion of research and development activities involving technology and products. The partnership will also cover offshore wind power development and supply chain management. Ming Yang's existing partnerships with Danish wind turbine component suppliers will serve as the base for further expansion of the company's efforts in expanding its technology and business cooperation. The company is already collaborating with the University of Copenhagen, where they have jointly established the Ming Yang Wind Power European R&D Center.

Germany building nacelle laboratory in Bremerhaven

June 23rd, 2011 | Posted in General Wind

Fraunhofer's existing blade testing facility in Bremerhaven.

As part of the country's effort to further expand the use of wind energy, Germany is making further investments into wind energy research and development facilities. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy System Technology (IWES), the German government is building a new research and testing facility in Bremerhaven called the Dynamic Nacelle Laboratory (DyNaLab). The facility will do research and testing on drive powers up to 10 MW in capacity. It will occupy about 2000 square meters of area, and will be used initially to test nacelles with capacities between 2 and 7.5 MW in capacity, covering a broad range of wind turbines aimed at the offshore wind sector.

Siemens investing EUR 150 million into R&D and production facilities in Denmark

June 15th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

Siemens announced the company is planning an expansion of its wind energy business, by investing EUR 150 million into two R&D facilities in Denmark, in Brande and Aalborg. Additionally, the company will beef up production output of its Danish production facilities to match the rising demand for offshore wind turbines in Europe. The EUR 150 million of investment funding will be spread out over the next two years.

Finnish wave power device soon in Orkney for testing

June 15th, 2011 | Posted in Hydro

Finnish marine energy developer Wello's wave energy device called Penguin, is being hauled to Orkney, where it will be installed at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) for testing. The device has left the Riga shipyard in Latvia, and is now well on its way to reach EMEC early next week. The device itself uses the oscillatory movement of waves on the sea surface, converting it into rotary movement of a flywheel installation with the housing of the device. The flywheel produces torque which turns an electrical generator, also mounted on top of the flywheel structure within the device hull. Check out more device images after the jump.

German JV to tackle noise issues with offshore wind farms

May 19th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

A joint venture of eight German offshore wind farm builders and operators, overseen by the German Offshore Wind Foundation, will research innovative solutions for reducing noise resulting from offshore wind farm operation. The companies involved in the JV and the research project are:

Bard Engineering
DONG Energy
EnBW Erneuerbare Energien
E.ON Climate Renewables
EWE Energie
RWE Innogy
Stadtwerke München (Munich City Utilities – SWM)
Vattenfall Europe

ETI calls developers to build 90+ meter wind turbine blades

May 19th, 2011 | Posted in Wind

Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has commissioned a project to develop wind turbine blades with lengths in excess of 90 meters. The new blades, to be the longest used in the industry, are aimed at new generation 8-10 MW offshore wind turbines. These giants will be used for large scale offshore wind projects, increasing energy yield, and reducing the cost of electricity produced from wind energy.

US DoE aims more funding at clean energy reserach projects in US

April 25th, 2011 | Posted in Biomass General

The US Departmnet of Energy announced more funding, USD 130 million from the Advanced Reserach Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), for the development of five programs that could bring benefits to the US energy industry.

US gov investing in solar manufacturing and hydropower technologies

April 9th, 2011 | Posted in Hydro Solar

The US Department of Energy (DoE) announced two investment batches, totalling up to about USD 139 million, for solar photovoltaic manufacturing processes througout the US, as well as advanced hydropower technologies. Solar manufacturing could receive up to USD 112.5 million, while hydropower will receive about 26.6 million.