Inspired by the way palm trees move in high winds, a group of researchers at the University of Virginia and Sandia National Laboratory are developing an extremely long wind turbine Continue Reading
A wind farm here, along the River Trent, cranks out enough clean electricity to power as many as 57,000 homes. Monitored remotely, the windmills, 34 turbines each about 400 feet Continue Reading
Times are tough for oilfield services companies. Rigzone has spent much of the last year reporting on how the industry downturn has affected many of the larger oilfield engineers and Continue Reading
European renewables company DONG Energy said it made a final investment decision for its Hornsea project, the world’s largest offshore wind farm ever planned. DONG said it was moving forward Continue Reading
Utility company E.ON announced plans to start laying the foundation for the Rampion wind farm project slated for the English Channel. The Germany company, with help from Canadian energy company Continue Reading
In six out of 12 months, wind generated enough power to supply more than 100 per cent of household needs, claims WWF Scotland. Picture: TSPL Wind power output hit record Continue Reading
Congressional moves to keep the U.S. government funding through the middle of 2016 translate to a vote of confidence for wind energy, an industry group said. U.S. lawmakers last week Continue Reading
Solar and wind companies scored a major victory when U.S. lawmakers voted to extend lucrative federal subsidies for renewable energy late Tuesday night. The tax credits for new power projects Continue Reading
Five foundations are set after an inaugural construction season for what will become the first commercial offshore U.S. wind farm, developers said. Deepwater Wind, one of the developers behind the Continue Reading
The evolution of floating wind turbines mirrors almost exactly that of offshore oil exploration and production structures. Norwegian oil company Statoil’s decision to build the first floating wind farm represents Continue Reading
Land-based wind power now entrenched in national electricity grid, a report from the U.S. Department of Energy finds. File photo by Pat Benic/UPI WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) — With more than 30 percent of new electricity coming from wind power, the U.S. Department of Energy said the industry is becoming entrenched in the power sector. The Department of Energy published a 24-page document highlighting trends in the renewable power sector . Wind energy, the report said, is becoming a "mainstream power source," accounting for 31 percent of all new electricity capacity added to the U.S. grid between 2008 and last year. "Wind now provides 4.4 percent of total U.S. electricity generation, 23 states have at least 500 megawatts of wind installed, and in nine states, wind exceeds 10 percent of total in-state electricity generation," the report said. As of last year, there were 65,000 MW of land-based wind power […]
U.S. government auctions off the rights to develop offshore wind energy installations in the federal waters off the coast of New Jersey. File photo by Teun van den Dries/UPI WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) — Two energy companies won the rights to advance wind energy off New Jersey’s coast, where the potential exists to power 1.2 million homes, the government said. RES America Development and U.S. Wind Inc. bid more than $1.8 million collectively for the rights to consider the potential to develop wind energy in the federal waters off the coast of New Jersey. "We are optimistic about the promise of a strong renewable energy future offshore New Jersey, as well as for the entire nation," Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said in a statement. The estimated 344,000 acres off the New Jersey coast has, by the federal government’s estimate, the potential […]
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Note: Hourly averaged generation shown. Instantaneous peaks highlighted in the hour in which they occurred. Wind generation on the Texas electric system recently hit several all-time highs. The latest all-time instantaneous peak of 12,238 megawatts (MW) reached on October 22 replaced the short-lived records of 11,467 MW on September 13 and 11,950 MW on October 21, based on data from the grid’s operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Substantial additions of new wind generating capacity, coupled with strong wind conditions amid unseasonably warm early-autumn temperatures, drove the recent generation records. During the recent peaks in September and October, wind generators in ERCOT were running at an overall 75%–81% utilization of total generating capacity (called the capacity factor ), lower than the 83% capacity factor recorded during an earlier generation peak in February 2015 […]
« Hyundai delivers 50 more ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles across Europe in October | Main | Hyundai Motor launches new global luxury brand Genesis » The world’s largest 2nd-life battery storage unit will soon go into operation in the Westphalian town of Lünen. A joint venture between Daimler AG, The Mobility House AG and GETEC, it will be operated from the beginning of next year at the site of REMONDIS SE and marketed in the German electricity balancing sector. The stationary storage unit, with a total capacity of 13 MWh, uses second-life battery systems from the second generation of smart electric drive vehicles. Under the banner of “E-Mobility thought to the end,” Daimler, The Mobility House, GETEC and REMONDIS are mapping out the entire battery value creation and recycling chain with their project in Lünen. The process demonstrably improves the overall environmental performance of electric vehicles, thereby helping to […]
Scottish government grants license to build a floating type of wind farm off its coast. File photo by Teun van den Dries/Shutterstock ABERDEEN, Scotland, Nov. 2 (UPI) — The Scottish government said it granted a license to the operators of what Edinburgh said may be the world’s largest offshore floating wind energy development. Norwegian energy company Statoil was granted a license for its Hywind pilot project that envisions up to five turbines installed by an anchoring system that developers said would facilitate deep-water installation. "Hywind is a hugely exciting project in terms of electricity generation and technology innovation," Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney said in a statement. "The momentum is building around the potential for floating offshore wind technology to unlock deeper water sites." At full capacity, the company said the floating installation could generate 135 megawatts of power annually, enough to meet the energy demands of about […]
China’s Envision Energy announced the acquisition of a majority stake in ViveEnergia, a Mexican wind power renewable energy developer. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI MEXICO CITY, Oct. 19 (UPI) — China’s Envision Energy announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the wind energy projects of Mexico’s ViveEnergia. Low-speed wind and turbine manufacturer Envision Energy, based in Shanghai, sees itself as a competitor to the Spanish company Gamesa, which dominates Mexico’s wind energy market with a 73 percent share. Envision Energy’s deal brings it a majority stake in a portfolio of projects not yet started but designed to have a capacity of 600 MW, as well as a strategic partnership with ViveEnergia to develop 1.5 GW of wind energy capacity by 2020. The acquisition includes a plan to bring the planned projects to a ready-to-build stage by the end of 2015, the companies reported. Terms of the agreement were […]
U.S. government reviewing potential impacts off offshore wind farm construction starting with Rhode Island program. File photo by Teun van den Dries/Shutterstock WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) — Starting with a development off the Rhode Island coast, the federal government said it was studying the real-time impacts of offshore wind farm construction. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it started its Real-Time Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations — or RODEO — program with Rhode Island. BOEM Chief Environmental Officer William Brown explained the program will provide real-time data on potential environmental impacts and seafloor disturbances related to wind farm installation offshore. "The first opportunity to conduct this research is through the historic Deepwater Wind project," he said. The Rhode Island government in May 2014 signed off on environmental permits for what will become the nation’s first offshore wind farm, Deepwater Wind’s Block Island project. The wind farm will generate […]
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)—The federal government plans to lease nearly 344,000 acres of the ocean floor off the coast of New Jersey to companies interested in building offshore windmills to generate electricity. The Interior Department and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management say that if fully developed, the leases could result in enough wind-generated electricity to power 1.2 million homes. The leases are to be sold Nov. 9. “On the heels of this summer’s historic ‘steel-in-the-water’ milestone for the nation’s first commercial offshore wind farm, today’s announcement marks another major step in standing up a sustainable offshore wind program for Atlantic coast communities,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Wednesday. In July, construction started on Deepwater Wind’s $225 million, 30-megawatt offshore wind project off Block Island in Rhode Island that will provide electricity to Block Island and Rhode Island mainland consumers. So far, 13 companies have been qualified to bid […]
North Dakota expecting more wind power on its grid, touting its diversity in the era of shale oil. File Photo by UPI Photo/Gary C. Caskey BISMARCK, N.D., Aug. 26 (UPI) — In parallel with the White House, North Dakota said it was planning to connect a 43-turbine wind farm to the grid as part of an "all of the above" strategy. North Dakota Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley was on hand for a ceremony to celebrate the upcoming completion of the Thunder Spirit wind farm, a 43-turbine wind farm with a maximum capacity of 107 megawatts of power. "The completion of the Thunder Spirit wind farm marks another important milestone in North Dakota’s ‘all of the above’ energy production journey," Wrigley said in a statement. Using data provided by the American Wind Energy Association, the state government said it’s the national leader in wind energy , with wind power accounting […]
U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on Lindoe Offshore Renewables Center Source: In July, American offshore wind developer, Deepwater Wind , installed the first foundation for what is expected to be the first offshore wind farm in the United States. The project will be located three miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island. With five turbines totaling 30 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity, the Block Island Wind Farm is expected to come online in 2016. Deepwater Wind, the developer, is also planning two larger offshore projects along the Atlantic Coast, but their timing remains uncertain. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that the United States has 4,200 gigawatts (GW) of developable offshore wind potential, compared to its estimate of 11,000 GW of onshore wind potential. Wind resources are classified on a scale of zero to seven based on their power density, and more than 66% of offshore wind in […]
Iran’s quest to rejuvenate its energy industry after decades of sanctions is attracting renewable energy developers eager to plant turbines on windy ridges across the country. Since 2012 the government Continue Reading
Chart: German Wind Power Peaks Germany’s drive to harness wind and solar power is producing so much electricity that it’s spilling over into neighbors’ grids and increasing the threat of blackouts. Poland and the Czech Republic are spending $180 million on equipment to protect their systems from German power surges, while Austria is curbing some trading to prevent regional networks from collapsing. On a windy day, the overflow east can exceed the output from four atomic reactors. Germany’s fivefold increase in green energy in the past decade has outpaced investment in power lines to move it across the country. Electricity is looping through Poland and the Czech Republic to reach southern Germany, where supply is constrained as Chancellor Angela Merkel shuts nuclear plants after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. The disruptions show the limits to the European Commission’s vision of a single power market. “A huge accumulation of […]
BLOCK ISLAND, R.I.—Beloved by locals and tourists for its soaring clay bluffs and unspoiled views, this small New England island is heading toward another distinction: home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm. Five towering windmills off the island’s southeast coast are scheduled to begin generating power late next year. The Block Island plan has moved ahead of the Cape Wind project, a much larger turbine farm planned in the waters off Cape Cod in Massachusetts, wind-energy experts said. A contract dispute with local utilities following a slew of legal fights has thrown that 14-year effort into question. Proponents of the Block Island plan hope it will help jump-start the offshore wind industry in the U.S. The American Wind Energy Association trade group estimates there are 11 projects in 10 states in various stages of development. The U.S. lags behind other parts of the world in developing offshore wind, […]
Welsh first minister on hand for inauguration of offshore wind farm, which German energy company RWE says will put it in a leadership position in the offshore market. Photo courtesy of RWE. CARDIFF, Wales, June 18 (UPI) — With Wednesday’s inauguration of a Welsh wind farm, German energy company RWE said it’s positioned to be one of the largest wind energy providers in the world. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones was on hand for the inauguration of the Gwynt y Mor wind farm, the second largest installation of its kinds with 160 turbines. "Local companies have been among those to benefit during construction and the site will bring high quality employment and opportunities for years to come," he said in a statement. The wind farm will have a peak operational capacity of 576 megawatts, which RWE says will be enough to meet the energy demands of about 30 percent […]
British government proposes end to public subsidies for onshore wind, but Scotland, which hosts most of the regional onshore wind farms, says the move is regrettable. File Photo by UPI/Pat Benic LONDON, June 18 (UPI) — Scotland said an end to subsidies for onshore wind farms will tack on extra costs, though the British government said it’s the best deal for consumers. London announced plans to end public subsidies for new onshore wind farms starting in April 2016. Last year, the $1.2 billion in government support helped onshore wind power generate 5 percent of total British electricity and bring the region closer to its climate change goals, the British government said. "We are driving forward our commitment to end new onshore wind subsidies and give local communities the final say over any new wind farms," Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said in a statement. "Onshore wind is […]
Rhode island wind farm, billed as first offshore wind farm in the United States, is moving closer to construction phase. Photo by Teun van den Dries/Shutterstock NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., May 19 (UPI) — A Rhode Island company will be the first of its kind to build a vessel to support the development of the inaugural U.S. offshore wind farm, planners said. Rhode Island Fast Ferry was contracted by developer Deepwater Wind to build a vessel and design the training for crew transfer. The ferry company will invest more than $4 million and employ more than 70 workers to build the vessel. "This will mean more jobs in the marine trades for Rhode Islanders and another way that the Ocean State will lead the growth of this new American offshore wind industry," Deepwater Wind Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Grybowski said in a statement. The ferry company will provide crew and […]
German energy company E.ON makes final investment decision to build wind farm in English Channel. File Photo by UPI/Shutterstock/Teun van den Dries. DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 18 (UPI) — German energy company E.ON said Monday it’s continuing its legacy as the largest European investor in wind by building a wind farm in the English Channel. E.ON said it made a final investment decision on the Rampion wind farm in the English Channel. Backed by a $374 million commitment by the U.K. Green Investment Bank, the project is expected to generate enough energy to meet the annual demand of 300,000 average households. The German company is the third-largest offshore wind energy operator, with 1.2 gigawatts of capacity on the regional grid. Since 2007, the company said it’s invested more than $10 trillion on renewable power. "Our Rampion project starts from a strong position," Mike Winkel, an E.ON board member, said in […]
One of the largest offshore wind farms of its kind, Nordsee Ost, inaugurated off the German coast. Photo courtesy of RWE. HAMBURG, Germany, May 11 (UPI) — Wind energy is a vital part of a German move to a low-carbon economy, the German economic minister said during the inauguration of RWE’s Nordsee Ost wind farm. German Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel hosted ministers from the Group of seven industrialized economies, along with representatives from RWE, for the inauguration of the 48-turbine wind farm off the northern German coast. "Offshore wind energy is a strategically important element of Germany’s energy and climate policy and is key to the success of the energy transition," Gabriel said in a statement. In April, German company E.ON started producing electricity from its Amrumbank West wind power project in the German waters of the North Sea . Germany is one of the world leaders in renewable […]
An employee walks between wind turbine blades at the Vestas Wind Systems A/S blade factory in Lem, Denmark. Photographer: Freya Ingrid Morales/Bloomberg Vestas Wind Systems A/S raised its sales and income forecast after strong orders in the usually weak first quarter drove the backlog at the biggest wind turbine maker to a record. Shares surged to a five-year high. The Aarhus, Denmark-based company reported net income of 56 million euros ($63 million) in the first three months, almost double the 29.7 million euro average that analysts had expected. It also enjoyed a 13 percent increase in revenue from its services business even though the year-ago period was fattened with rare contracts maintaining machines offshore. “This has been a historically strong first quarter on revenue, margins, order intake, and return on invested capital,” Chief Executive Officer Anders Runevad said. “Vestas is making good progress toward achieving its profitable growth objectives. […]
Ocean advocacy group says offshore wind could provide effective balance to U.S. energy economy with the right policies in place. (UPI/Shutterstock/Teun van den Dries) One of the main barriers to a diverse energy economy in the United States is an investment scenario that benefits oil and gas, an ocean advocacy group said. "It’s time for the U.S. to join many other parts of the world and invest in our clean energy future," Nancy Sopko, a campaigner with Oceana, told UPI in response to email questions. The European Commission this week announced some member states had already met their 2020 goals for renewable energy development . While solar power in the United States is gaining momentum, sectors like offshore wind have yet to reach commercial capacity. With high bids totaling $448,000, the Interior Department in January doubled the total acreage available for wind energy development off the coast of Massachusetts […]
Developers of what may become the first offshore wind farm in U.S. waters said all debt and equity funding for operations is now secured. Deepwater Wind said more than $290 million Continue Reading
Close to 30 UK green energy schemes have been awarded a subsidy pot worth nearly £4bn in a government auction that has set the stage for a big fall in solar electricity prices and much cheaper wind power. Two small winning solar panel projects have said they can produce electricity for nearly 60 per cent less than the maximum price the government had agreed to pay for that type of electricity and almost the same as current wholesale power prices. More On this topic IN UK Politics & Policy Prices for two large offshore wind farms off the coast of East Anglia and the Scottish Borders have come in as much as 18 per cent cheaper, though each scheme is still likely to receive nearly double the prevailing wholesale price. The auction, which is likely to set new ground rules for the way renewable energy is funded across Europe, […]
Scroby Sands offshore wind farm in the North Sea off Norfolk, south of the planned superfarm The world’s biggest offshore wind scheme has been given the go-ahead off the coast of Yorkshire, in a move the government said was likely to create hundreds of jobs. The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project is expected to be one of the UK’s biggest power stations, second only to the Drax coal-fired plant in North Yorkshire and capable of supplying about 2.5 per cent of the country’s electricity. More On this topic IN UK Politics & Policy The scheme’s developers have yet to take a final investment decision and the project will almost certainly have to secure backing under the government’s renewable energy subsidy system. But the government’s planning consent for such a large development was welcomed by the industry. “This is an awesome project,” said Nick Medic, director of offshore renewables at […]
German wind farm readies for mid-2015 service after installation of turbines at deep-water site. Photo courtesy: E.ON With 80 wind turbines in place, German utility company E.ON said Wednesday it was one step closer to activating a deep-water wind farm off the German coast. The company said turbines were installed during the weekend at the site of the Amrumbank West wind project, situated about 20 miles northwest of the German island of Helgoland. Infrastructure construction began in January 2014. "We are confident that we will soon be able to feed electricity generated by the first turbines into the public grid as planned," Dominik Schwegmann, lead project manager of Amrumbank West, said in a statement. The project is slated for mid-2015 completion . At its peak, Amrumbank West will supply 288 megawatts of wind energy to the German grid, enough to meet the annual electricity demands of 300,000 average households. […]
U.S. Interior Department holds auction for wind energy development off the coast of Massachusetts. Photo by Teun van den Dries/Shutterstock WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) — Wind energy potential in the Atlantic holds promise as a new source of renewable energy and economic stimulus, the U.S. Interior Department secretary said. With high bids totaling $448,000, the Interior Department said it doubled the total acreage available for wind energy development off the coast of Massachusetts in the fourth-ever auction of its kind. "Offshore wind along the Atlantic holds great potential to help power our nation with renewable energy while adding jobs to the economy," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a Thursday statement. The U.S. government estimates the leased area, a combined 354,409 acres, could support around 2 gigawatts of commercial wind energy, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of 700,000 homes if fully developed. Wind energy development up and […]
Advocacy group Oceana says wind energy developments in the Atlantic would bring more benefits than offshore drilling. Photo by Teun van den Dries/Shutterstock WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) — A U.S. ocean advocacy group said an offshore wind sector in the Atlantic Ocean could produce twice as many jobs and twice as much energy as offshore drilling. "The American public deserves to know the facts when it comes to expanding this dirty and dangerous practice to the East Coast, and what alternatives there are for clean energy generation," Andrew Menaquale, an energy analyst at advocacy group Oceana, said in a Wednesday statement. The National Ocean Industries Association, an industry group lobbying for more offshore work, said about 1.34 million barrels of oil equivalent per day could be produced from the Atlantic basin by 2035. Oceana instead found an offshore wind energy sector in the Atlantic could produce more energy than […]
Despite years of successful experience, dozens of studies, and increasing utility support for clean energy, urban myth holds that electricity from renewable energy is unreliable. Yet over 75,000 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar power have been integrated, reliably, into the nation’s electric grid to date. That’s enough electricity to supply 17.9 million homes. And, as a new NRDC fact sheet published today illustrates, the electric grid can handle much higher levels of zero-carbon wind and solar power, far more than what’s necessary to achieve the relatively modest carbon emission reductions in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to limit pollution from existing power plants. But first, a little background on how our nation’s electric system works. Grid basics The nation’s high-power transmission system is made up of three largely separate grids: one on either side of the Continental Divide (roughly) and the third in Texas. The two largest […]
Virginia government considers research project to explore offshore wind energy potential. UPI/Pat Benic WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) — Virginia’s plans for offshore wind installations will be weighed against the environment and socioeconomic impacts, the federal government said. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it was assessing the potential impact of a planned 12 megawatt project backed by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Described as a research project, BOEM said the two wind turbine generators planned by Virginia would set the course for a future offshore wind industry in the state. The federal department said its environmental assessment of the proposed project considers whether or not there will be any "environmental and socioeconomic consequences associated with the approval of the offshore wind research activities." Public comments on the assessment will be vetted before the BOEM signs off on the project, the agency said Monday. Opponents of […]
Photo Smog returned to Beijing after emergency measures to clear the air during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting were lifted. Credit Fred Dufour/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images When Beijing experiences bouts of pollution that blacken the skies and burn the lungs, residents often joke that the Chinese capital needs to build giant fans to clear out the toxic air. Mountains to the north and west help trap smog in the city, and a stiff breeze from Mongolia is the surest way to ensure somewhat cleaner air. Beijing officials are now considering ways to help that process. Though giant fans are not on the menu, at least not yet, city planners are looking at ways to create corridors that encourage wind flow through the capital. The plan is inspired by research on urban heat islands, which shows that large buildings that block the wind are one of the causes […]
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It’s clear that fossil fuel industries have been pursuing the latter strategy for quite some time now. But as awareness of the true costs of climate change and air pollution grows, this position becomes increasingly precarious. The latest indication that things must change comes in the form of a European Union commissioned report—written about over at Recharge—which finds that onshore wind is the cheapest energy source of all , once externalities such as climate change impacts and health effects are taken into account. With onshore wind costs coming in at about €105 ($133) per MWh, this figure compares favorably to gas (€164/MWh), nuclear (€133) and, most dramatically, coal (€162-233). We should note that onshore wind also beats offshore wind (€186/MWh) and solar (€217) by a considerable margin. However, while the cost of coal and other fossil fuels is likely to go up as supplies get harder to reach and […]
German energy company RWE said Wednesday half of the turbines at what will be the second-largest offshore wind farm are operational. More than half of the 160 turbines planned for the Gwynt y Mor wind farm off the coast of North Wales are in service. The second half could possibly be in service in time for a final commissioning at the end of the year. Project Director Toby Edmonds explained the offshore facility is already the largest renewable energy source in Wales , but final operations are contingent upon circumstances beyond the company’s control. "We hope to have all 160 turbines commissioned this side of Christmas but with the impact that the winter weather can have on our program, it may be the early part of 2015 before the wind farm is fully operational," he said in a statement Wednesday. The wind farm will have a peak operational capacity […]
| License Photo The federal U.S. government said it outlined three areas off the coast of North Carolina as potential sites for commercial wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said more than 307,000 acres off the coast could be developed for wind energy. So far, the agency has awarded five commercial wind energy leases for the Atlantic coast, though none of the projects are in service. "We look forward to working with the state of North Carolina, industry and a broad range of stakeholders as this exciting process continues to further commercial wind development in the United States," U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement Monday. The Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Institute estimates the region could host the development of enough wind energy to support the annual electricity needs of more than 50 million homes. BOEM said it’s only considering the issuance of leases and […]
Germany ’s push toward renewable energy is causing so many drops and surges from wind and solar power that the government is paying more utilities than ever to help stabilize the country’s electricity grid. Twenty power companies including Germany’s biggest utilities, EON SE and RWE AG, now get fees for pledging to add or cut electricity within seconds to keep the power system stable, double the number in September, according to data from the nation’s four grid operators. Utilities that sign up to the 800 million-euro ($1.1 billion) balancing market can be paid as much as 400 times wholesale electricity prices, the data show. Germany’s drive to almost double power output from renewables by 2035 has seen one operator reporting five times as many potential disruptions as four years ago, raising the risk of blackouts in Europe ’s biggest electricity market while pushing wholesale prices to […]
| License Photo The British government said Wednesday it signed off on plans to build the 700 megawatt Rampion wind farm off the coast of Sussex. German utility company E.ON is leading development of the offshore installation that should be completed by 2019. The British government said it expects the project to bring in more than $3.4 billion worth of investments to its economy. Signing off on the project Wednesday, the British government said the Rampion wind farm would generate enough energy to meet the annual needs of 450,000 households. The government said the consent decision is a testament to its commitment to renewable energy resources. "We’re driving investment in our energy security, and our plans have made us number one in the world for investment in offshore wind energy," British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said in a statement . DECC in a recent assessment said […]
Sixteen companies are cleared to take part in an upcoming lease sale to develop wind energy off the Maryland coast, the U.S. government announced. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Acting Director Walter Cruickshank to announce nearly 80,000 acres off the Maryland coast go on the auction block Aug. 19. The Department of Energy says the area up for auction has the potential to support as much as 1,450 megawatts of wind energy, which could be enough to meet the annual demands of 300,000 homes. "Maryland is a leading force for building a clean and sustainable energy future," Jewell said in a statement Wednesday. The 16 companies cleared for the auction were determined by the federal government to have the legal, technical and financial qualifications to compete. Maryland has a goal of using renewable energy to provide 20 percent of […]
U.S. President Barack Obama says natural gas can be a bridge from coal to a cleaner energy future. Investors are showing it’s more likely a bridge to nowhere. The country’s embrace of natural gas means less love for wind and solar. New investments in renewable energy sources declined 5 percent in North America last year to $56 billion, the lowest since 2010, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. By comparison, North American oil and gas companies spent $168.2 billion on exploration and production last year, more than double 2009, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Fracking — the process of blasting water, sand and chemicals into miles-deep shale rock to extract fuels — has helped push U.S. natural gas production to new highs in each of the past seven years, according to the Energy Information Administration. It’s also more expensive than traditional drilling and contributes to global warming, according to […]
The developer of a controversial offshore wind farm in the English Channel announced this week it has reduced its size and moved it farther from shore. Eneco Wind U.K. Ltd. and EDF Energy Renewables, developers of the Navitus Bay wind farm, are seeking planning permission to begin construction by 2017 in hopes of generating energy by 2019. Following complaints it would despoil the natural beauty of the England’s Hampshire coast, the companies said Thursday they have instituted changes that would reduce its generating capacity from 1.1 gigawatts to 970 megawatts with 23 fewer turbines, while cutting the area of the farm from 67.5 to 60 square miles. Its revised boundaries would put the farm up to 2 miles further away from Christchurch, England, and 1 mile further from Bournemouth. However, critics noted the new boundaries wouldn’t alter its proximity to Swanage, England, or […]
hawaii maui wind project hawaii maui wind project Energy storage is often heralded as the “holy grail” of the energy market. It seems that a number of researchers and companies have worked hard and long enough that this holy grail is ready to see the light. According to market research firm IHS, the energy storage market is set to “explode” to an annual installation size of 6 gigawatts (GW) in 2017 and over 40 GW by 2022 — from an initial base of only 0.34 GW installed in 2012 and 2013. The IHS report pits the US as the largest market for grid-connected energy storage installations through 2017. It projects that the US will install 43% of the capacity additions from 2012–2017. Germany and Japan are projected to be other top markets, as any regular reader, long-time of CleanTechnica would surely assume. What will rule the day in the energy […]
This state’s tree-filled hinterlands, long known for producing forest products and potatoes, are also suited for an export that has churned up debate: wind power. The recent appetite for wind power comes largely from Massachusetts and Connecticut, where laws require use of more renewable power. The two states combined have 70% of New England’s population but little open space to build wind farms. Developers have turned to Maine, where they say land is expansive and strong winds plentiful. Maine already leads the region with more than 400 megawatts of wind power installed, according to the American Wind Energy Association, which said 1 megawatt of wind power can cover about 290 homes. Recently signed long-term contracts with utilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut could more than double that output in the next few years. Many locals welcome the development, helped by financial rewards tied to the projects, and the […]
The U.S. Interior Department said it planned to auction off nearly 80,000 acres off the coast of Maryland next year for wind energy development. The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management worked with state, local and federal authorities in identifying acreage about 10 miles off the coast for wind energy development. BOEM said it plans to auction off the acreage in two tranches next year. The bureau said the offshore areas could support the commercial development of more than 850 megawatts of wind energy. "The wind energy potential offshore Maryland is significant," BOEM Director Tommy Beaudreau said in a statement Tuesday. More than 100,000 acres off the coast of Virginia were auctioned for $1.6 million for wind energy development in September. A summer lease sale for 164,750 acres off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts secured $3.8 million in bids for […]
