Quiet wind-turbine comes to U.S. homes

The turbine, with a 7-foot diameter, also has two fins to direct the turbine to face the wind. It can turn 360 degrees and shut down if the wind is too high.

It can generate 1.5 kilowatts with 14 mile-per-hour wind and about 2,000 kilowatt-hours over a year, the company said. U.S. households typically consume between 6,500 and 10,000 kilowatt-hours in a year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

At a cost of $10,000 installed, it's a bit lower than the typical per-watt cost of solar electric panels. But state rebates, the cost of electricity, and the wind or solar resource make a big difference on the actual up-front cost. Cascade estimates the payback on the upfront cost can be as low as three years, but that it varies widely.

Small wind recently benefited from the extension of renewable energy tax credits, which gives consumers a $1,000 tax credit for residential systems and $4,000 for commercial buildings.

Cascade, which is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., has installed 9 Swift turbines in the U.S. and has a backlog of 25 orders, according to Jessica Lehti, the company's senior product marketing manager.

The mix of customers is spit in half between residential and commercial customers. Even with the economic downturn, the company expects that it can sell to customers who purchase renewable energy products for both economic and environmental reasons.

Cascade, which specializes in plastics, has partnered with the Scotland-based Renewable Devices, which originally designed the Swift. Cascade is selling the product in the U.S.

The company says the turbine is best suited for places with average winds and needs to be placed two feet above the roofline.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10075828-54.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0 Date: 27-10-08

Wind Industry Installs 1,400 MW in 3rd Quarter of 2008

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,389 megawatts (MW) this quarter, bringing to 4,204 MW the total of wind power projects completed in what is expected to be another record year, the American Wind Energy Association announced in its 3rd quarter market report.

With even more reported under construction, the industry is on track to surpass the banner year of 2007, when 5,249 MW were installed, with a total of about 7,500 MW this year. 7,500 MW would generate enough electricity to power equivalent of about 2.2 million homes.

In welcome news for the economy, the industry is also aggressively expanding its manufacturing base in the U.S., creating jobs and fostering investment and growth even in a difficult financial climate. AWEA’s report tallies the opening of eight new wind turbine component manufacturing facilities this year, the expansion of nine facilities and the announcement of an additional 19 facilities. As a result of recent manufacturing investment, AWEA estimates, the share of domestically made components in wind turbines has risen from about 30% in 2005 to 50% today. The new facilities will create an estimated 9,000 jobs.

“The convenient truth here is that wind power provides a stimulus for our economy, as well as a climate change and energy security solution,” said Randall Swisher, AWEA's executive director. “The market, in spite of all its turmoil, clearly points to wind power as one of the most attractive energy options available today. But if we are to keep this momentum going, the new President and Congress will need to put in place what the majority of the American people support but the country still lacks: a long-term renewable energy policy.”

Texas, repairing the benefits of its excellent wind resource and a proactive transmission expansion policy, added 693 MW - the most wind power capacity of any state in the 3rd quarter. Texas moved into the 6 GW category, which propels it into the ranks of global leaders. Only Germany, India and Spain had more wind energy capacity installed at the end of last year.

The state with the fastest wind power capacity growth was West Virginia, which more than tripled its existing capacity with the addition of a 164-MW project; another 100-MW project is scheduled to come online in West Virginia by the end of the year.

Utah added its first multi-turbine project, the 9-turbine Spanish Fork Project.

The Dakotas: Acciona Energy, a wind turbine manufacturer, brought its first U.S. turbines online at a 120-turbine project straddling the North Dakota / South Dakota border.

Based on projections for the remainder of the year, 2008 will mark the fourth year in a row that new wind capacity installations have set records, but that is not expected to continue next year. With some 8,000 MW already under construction for completion this year or next, the wind industry remains relatively strong. But because of the late extension of the wind production tax credit and the evolving financial crisis, new construction starts are expected to slow in 2009.

Source: http://www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com/rea/news/story?id=53932&src=rss Date:24-10-08

Britain has enough offshore wind farms to provide power to 300,000 households.

Britain now has enough offshore wind farms to provide power to 300,000 households. The UK has become the world's leading producer of offshore wind power, toppling Denmark from the top spot. The completion of the latest wind farms off the Lincolnshire coast has take the industry past 3 gigawatts capacity mark.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the news in a video message to the British Wind Energy Association's (BWEA's) conference this week. Total wind capacity from onshore and wind farms at sea is enough to provide power for the equivalent of 1.5m homes, the British Wind Energy conference was told.

In the message he told delegates at the conference that Britain has know for a long time that it has the best wind energy resources in Europe. He added that the UK is well on its way to making full use of the wind around its shoreline. Brown anticipates that by 2020 the North Sea will be to wind power production what the Gulf of Arabia is to oil production.

The prime minister also pledged that the economic crisis wouldn't derail Government plans for cleaner and cheaper forms of energy. "You may have heard some people say that these difficulties economic times should or will reduce the Government's commitment to building a low carbon economy. They should not and will not," he said.

Within ten years offshore wind farms in Europe will be producing 40GW of power and about 50 percent of the total will be in British waters. Mr. Brown told the conference that there was a potential ￡100bn market for renewable energy which would create huge opportunities and create 160,000 jobs.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/10/22/eawind122.xml Date: 22-10-08

Hyundai Buys Into Wind Power

Korea based Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the largest shipbuilder in the world and a major engineering conglomerate, is set to enter the global wind energy market. Hyundai signed a deal to build wind turbines designed by American Superconductor (AMSC), a leading U.S. energy technology company.

American Superconductor Corporation has licensed two of its proprietary wind turbine designs to South Korea-based Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Under the terms of the contracts, AMSC’s wholly owned AMSC Windtec™ subsidiary will license designs to HHI for its proprietary 1.65 megawatt (MW) and 2 MW doubly fed induction wind turbines. HHI plans to commence production of 1.65 MW wind turbines by the end of 2009 and will initially target the United States market. HHI’s marketing and sales rights for both wind turbines extend to dozens of countries around the world.

In addition, to receiving upfront license fees, AMSC will receive royalty payments for the first several hundred 1.65 MW and 2 MW turbines that are sold and has also a deal to HHI with some of the components featured in the turbines. Resembling the push of its rival engineering giant General Electric (GE,) HHI is investing heavily in breaking into the booming market for renewable energy technologies. HHI is a global leader in turnkey power plants and offshore projects, and a major global supplier of high voltage electrical equipment.

“Having dominated the shipbuilding market and built a very strong presence in the broader power, offshore and industrial sectors, we view renewable energy as one of Hyundai Heavy Industries’ next great growth opportunities,” said Young N. Kim, Senior Executive Vice President & COO, HHI Electro Electric Systems. “Wind power is being adopted at a rapid pace worldwide as nations seek to enhance their energy independence and reduce carbon emissions. After an extensive global search, we selected AMSC Windtec based on the strength of its technology and its ability to create the fastest, most effective pathway for HHI to enter the global wind market.”

The Korean company is also working on its second solar cell manufacturing plant in Eumseong, south of Seoul, Korea, which is expected to boast an annual capacity of 300MW.

The deal with American Superconductor comes just days after the conglomerate announced that it has received $30m order to supply 7MW of photovoltaic solar cells to Italian solar panel from Albatech. HHI is in the midst of investing approximately $1 billion to expand its renewable energy business. In addition to producing wind turbine generators and complete wind turbines with AMSC Windtech's assistance, the company is constructing its second solar cell-producing plant, which can produce 300MW annually, in Eumseong, south of Seoul, Korea.

Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081015/20081015005151.html?.v=1 Date: 15-10-08

Global Wind Power To Grow By Over 70% by 2012

According to the "Global Wind Power Report 2008" released by Research and Markets, the global wind industry is estimated to grow by more than 70% and reach 160 gigawatts by 2012. The report states wind is the world's fastest-growing energy source with an average annual growth rate of 29% over the last ten years, while power generation costs of wind energy have dropped by 50%. This represents a twelve-fold increase from a decade ago, when world wind-generating capacity stood at just over 7.6 gigawatts.

Since emerging as a fuel source a decade ago, wind energy has grown rapidly into a mature and booming global industry. The power generation costs of wind energy have fallen by 50%, moving closer to the cost of conventional energy sources. The future prospects of the global wind industry are very encouraging and it is estimated to grow by more than 70% over the next five years to reach 160 gigawatts by year 2012.

Global Wind Power Report 2008 analyzes this industry, starting from the basics to what is driving this industry. The report starts off with a brief overview of the global energy market which contains data on global energy statistics, outlook for the industry, the growing focus on renewable energy worldwide, and of course, the potential of wind energy. The report then moves on the discussing the basic technology behind wind turbines. The section looks at component and principles of wind turbines and the various types of wind turbines available today.

Further, the report discusses in details the global wind industry with current wind turbine installations, recent industry developments and future prospects of the technology. The document also presents insights into the factors that are encouraging this industry along with challenges that need to be addressed for future growths. A detailed cost analysis is presented to give current and future generation costs and its costs are compared with other technologies.

The Research and Markets report further investigates developments and trends in various countries across the world. For each of these countries, report covers current development, factors driving growth, policy to support wind energy and future prospects of wind energy in that country. Brief profiles of leading vendors and developers including - Suzlon, Enercon, Gamesa, Ge, Nordex AG, Siemens, and Vestas - is also presented. The report also presents a study of some recent and important wind power projects across the globe.

For more information, pls visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a1c452/global_wind_power

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/27159236/ Date: 13-10-08

British Columbia's First Wind Farm

British Columbia's first commercial wind turbine has been erected on a ridge west of Chetwynd for the Dokie Wind Project, and construction is advancing at the Bear Mountain Wind project site outside Dawson Creek. British Columbia is making its debut as a wind energy producer, long after other provinces have begun harnessing wind to help light homes and industry. The Dokie Wind Project aims to produce power from seven turbines early next year, with 48 huge windmills spinning by the end of 2009 and phase two to follow at a nearby site.

Bear Mountain Wind near Dawson Creek is on time and on budget for completion of its 34-tower wind farm next November. Both companies should be at their full 100 megawatt capacity around the same time next year. Each will provide enough power for 30,000 or more average homes.

Despite British Columbia's reputation as clean, green and nuclear free, there are already dozens of wind farms in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, across the prairies to Alberta and even one in Yukon. It wasn't until the B.C. government required BC Hydro to reach self-sufficiency with new clean energy from independent sources that investors turned to this province.

Bear Mountain was conceived by a local cooperative in Dawson Creek. It's now 100 per cent owned by Calgary-based AltaGas Income Trust, which is diversifying its natural gas production with power projects, including B.C. run-of-river and its first wind farm.

David Huggill, Canadian Wind Energy Association policy manager for Western Canada, says there are several factors making wind a better investment in B.C. One is a recognition that wind and hydro work well together, with utilities able to hold back water when the wind is blowing. Another is that the best hydro sites are now being developed and both their construction cost and environmental impact are better recognized.

Once it has an environmental certificate to proceed, "a wind farm can be on the ground and generating power to the grid within two yeas," Huggill said. "I think you'd be hard pressed to find a hydro project that could match that kind of time frame."

On the horizon is another incentive, wind projects as a carbon offset for energy companies such as AltaGas. AltaGas expects to gain revenues from offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, but until a carbon market evolves in Canda, projects like Bear Mountain have to stand on their own.

B.C. Energy Minister Richard Neufeld said BC Hydro's latest call for clean power produced bids that average around $75 a megawatt hour, with wind on the high side compared to run of river. Tidal and wave generation, by comparison, is estimated to cost $250 to $400.

Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1430/43/ Date: 15-10-08

U.S. – Offshore Wind Investment

Even with today's credit crunch and falling energy prices, money continues to flow for new U.S. wind farms. Offshore wind has particular potential for rich rewards in the wind energy business. Atlantic coast and other offshore wind locations promise clean, ample energy in areas that fetch some of the highest electrical rates in the U.S. So while offshore turbines are expected to cost 50% to 70% more to build than land-based systems, they may generate 100% more revenue.

Major onshore wind developers are also dividing into the offshore wind craze in some capacity: Babcock & Brown, Energias de Protugal (EDP Group), Iberdrola Renewables, FPL Group, Inc and Gamesa, among others.

While no pure-play wind companies trade in the U.S., there are a few ways for investors to tap into any future success in the emerging business. Utility giant FPL Group Inc. is the largest company developing U.S.-based manufacturer of turbines. Vestas, the world's leading manufacturer of wind turbines, and Nordex, another turbine marker, both trade on the Copenhagen Exchange. Mitsubishi, which trades in Japan, makes some of the largest turbines now in use. Several environmentally-oriented mutual funds and exchange traded funds also provide exposure to wind energy. One such vehicle is the First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy ETF. Babcock & Brown bundles up wind farms assets for its Babcock & Brown Wind Partners, a publicly traded wind energy fund in Australia.
Industry proponents also point out that the most convenient way for Americans to support wind power development is by participating in green power programs offered by utility companies. Usually more expensive now, green energy rates could become more competitive if the environmental costs of carbon emissions from coal-fired electric plants and other sources get factored into rates under cap-and-trade programs now underway in parts of the U.S. The cost of alternative energy will also come down as it gains in economies of scale.

In the global race to build offshore wind turbines to feed a power-hungry grid, Europe leads the U.S. by a score of 1,110 megawatts to zero. With the potential to supply as much as 20% of the U.S.'s growing and critical electrical power needs, proponents often refer to America as the Saudi Arabia of wind. But while giant turbines star in political ads this fall, the U.S. still gets only about 1% of its electricity from breezes.

That's starting to change as Texas, California, and many other states complete new land-based wind farms, prodded along by state-enforced renewable portfolio standards. With carbon emissions now auctioned off under the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, wind power could soon offer an additional value as a carbon offsetting vehicle.

So far, U.S. offshore wind projects have been scuttled by community opposition, such as the notorious Cape Wind development about five miles off the Massachusetts shore, stymied for years by opponents that included some of the wealthiest residents along Nantucket Sound. Despite the chilly reception, Babcock & Brown moved to leverage its sizeable presence in the onshore market and moved to buy offshore wind developer Bluewater Wind of Hoboken, N.J., for an undisclosed sum in 2007. At the time, Bluewater Wind had been selected to negotiate a contract to provide power in Delaware.

The effort paid off this summer as Bluewater Wind inked the nation's first offshore power purchase agreement in a pact with Delmarva Power, a unit of Pepco Holdings Inc. With the project's 440-foot towers planned for construction some 12 miles out at sea, Armistead said the wind turbines will be much less visible than others already proposed around the country. The Delaware project and others will take another step forward after the end of the year, when the U.S. Minerals Management Service completes leasing rules for offshore energy projects.

Other projects off the Atlantic coast are also under review in New York and elsewhere, with participation from Bluewater Wind and others. Last month, the State of Rhode Island chose Deepwater Wind to develop a $1 billion wind farm off its coast. Deepwater Wind lists deep-pocketed investors such as First Wind, asset management giant D.E. Shaw and Ospraie Management, an alternative energy asset manager.
The economics of offshore wind development continue to make sense, although the cost of construction could range 50% to 70% higher than on-shore development. Babcock & Brown's biggest land-based project, Gulf Wind in Texas, will cost about $600 million to build 118 giant turbines to generate 283 megawatts of electric power. Factoring in the current U.S. production tax credit, and a cost of about $5 million for each giant turbine, Babcock & Brown will recoup its investment within seven to nine years.

The demand for such projects remains relatively strong, with the value of the electricity and power purchase agreements with utility companies forming the foundation. With offhshore wind, similar economics could make thebusiness viable, especially when factoring in the significantly higher price and demand for electricity on the Eastern Seaboard. Traditional oil and gas drilling rig operators may try to sell their wres to boost the offshore wind, since the industry plans to build in area less than 400 feet deep -- already in the realm of hte shallow water jack-up rig market. Oil services firm Vetgo Gray Inc. with plans to develop patents and methods for installing wind turbines on offshore oil rigs. A lot of oil service firms have old rigs that could possibly hold a wind turbine. The jack-up rigs can go in up to 400 feet of water. Some of the proposed offshore wind farms are only in 200 feet. Even if the old jack-up rigs aren't used, the offshore wind turbines will require some drilling to lay down undersea foundations. Offshore wind business could provide a lift for Hercules Offshore or Oceaneering International.

The U.S. has a long way to go to catch up to Europe, led by Britain and Denmark, which both boast more than 400 megawatts of offshore wind power. Still, the offshore wind power potential in the U.S. is impressive, as are the investment opportunities.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/energy-pioneers-eye-offshore-wind/story.aspx?guid={EF09C51D-AC5A-4306-8F7A-B736425C107D}&dist=TQP_Mod_mktwN Date: 08-10-08

Brazilian Wind Power Potential

Wind energy in Brazil could increase capacity by 1GW annually in the next 10 years, according to Lauro Fiuza Jr, president of Brazil's wind energy association ABEEólica. He believes the Brazilian government needs to come up with a long-term wind power program for that to happen.

Fiuza contends the program must include holding seperate wind power auctions, linking transmission lines directly to wind farms and ensuring the freedom to sell carbon credits and PPAs running at least 20 years.

ABEEólica believes a long-term policy would attract major companies to Brazil, increasing the sector's competitiveness. "Brazil has limited suppliers and its curcial to increase the number of investor to boost the sector," he said at an energy conference in Rio. "Current installed capacity in wind power in Brazil is only 256MW and the country has 143GW of estimated potential, not including offshore."

The belief in Brazil that wind energy is expensive is a major obstacle for the renewable soucr. "Wind power is less expensive than imaginable because it costs less than a third of a fossil liquid fuel-fired thermo plant," he said.

Brazil's government has said it will hold a wind power auction next year.

Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1427/45/ Date: 09-10-08

New Jersey’s Big Offshore Plans

New Jersey’s Governor called for a tripling of the state’s commitment to develop offshore wind energy. “We will be changing the objective from 1,000 mega watts to 3,000 mega watts by 2020,” says Governor Jon Corzine. That would mean about 13 percent of New Jersey’s electricity needs would come from the ocean’s breeze.

Experts say all this make sense given the fluctuating cost of foreign oil and concerns over green houses created by burning fossil fuels. “We think this is a very important commitment when moving into alternative energies,” says Corzine.

Last week the State Board of Public Utilities granted $4million out of an earmarked $19 million dollars for developing wind energy to a joint venture of PSEG and Deepwater Wind called Garden State Offshore Energy. At least $15 million could still be up for grabs.

“We have the ability to build a second industry side by side ours,” says Daniel Cohen president of Fishermen’s Energy, a group made up by those who harvest the sea. He hopes today’s announcement means his company will get another serious chance to start building a wind farm. “We have the docks; we have the men, the employees who want to be re-trained. And we can deliver to the state a significant portion of that offshore energy,” says Cohen.

Cohen says Fishermen’s project could be built more quickly than others and nearly all the jobs it creates would be in South Jersey. Something he has discussed with the Governor. Several other groups join Fishermen’s desire to help kick start a massive wind energy industry, but the most concrete plans as of now are for 96 turbines from GSOE about 15 to 20 miles off the local coast.

Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1426/43/ Date: 08-10-08

Bluewater To Erect Wind Turbine Park To Be Built Off New Jersey Coast

Bluewater invited to meet with officials about additional off-coast energy projects

New Jersey utility regulators chose a PSEG-backed wind-power venture Friday for a 350-megawatt offshore pilot project, potentially giving Bluewater Wind's Delaware startup a new neighbor in the booming industry.

Bluewater, a company that already plans to build more than 60 turbines off Rehoboth Beach, was a runner-up in the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities competition for up to million in state assistance.

Bluewater spokesman Jim Lanard said more offshore wind opportunities already have emerged in New Jersey and elsewhere. Gov. Jon Corzine's office, he said, invited the company to meet with energy officials after the utilities board meeting Friday "to talk about state policies that would support additional wind parks off the coast."

"We're feeling really optimistic and excited about the prospect of developing a Delaware and a New Jersey project, perhaps simultaneously, so that our mobilization of resources can provide the best economies of scale for ratepayers," Lanard said.

Meanwhile, the state of Maryland earlier this week collected formal "expressions of interest" for alternative energy projects to serve state and county government buildings -- including offshore wind. Bluewater submitted its entry Wednesday.

"This is a great day," said Jeff Tittel, chairman of the Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter. "We'd like to see at least another wind-farm project, or more. It's a lot cheaper than building a new nuclear plant."

New Jersey's utilities board chose Garden State Offshore Energy for that state's first ocean wind farm. The .1 billion plan by Garden State -- a joint venture of PSEG Renewable Generation and Deepwater Wind -- calls for 96 turbines off Atlantic City and Avalon, supported by the state's million startup subsidy.

Bluewater had proposed a 348-megawatt wind farm off Atlantic City.

"PSEG believes that to meet the challenges of climate change, we need to move forward in three areas -- expanding energy efficiency and conservation, investing in renewables and planning for additional clean central station power," said Ralph Izzo, chairman, CEO and president of PSEG. "We believe that offshore energy has great potential to bring clean energy and jobs to New Jersey."

PSEG spokesman Paul Rosengren said the wind farm's electricity would be sold to the regional market, or possibly to individual wholesale buyers, such as food-store chains hoping to market their businesses as environmentally friendly.

Corzine was expected to address the state's long-range energy plan separately as early as next week, possibly with an increase in the state's long-range wind goal, now set at 1,000 megawatts. Environmental groups have urged a 3,000-megawatt target by 2020. Current goals call for at least 20 percent of electricity needs to come from renewables by the same year.

Bluewater already has a contract to build an 0 milllion wind farm with a capacity of 200 megawatts in federal waters off Rehoboth Beach, with electricity earmarked for Delmarva Power. The company is seeking other business, including with Maryland, that could triple the size of the operation and expand to a second wind farm off Ocean City, Md.

Delmarva's contract with Bluewater includes assurances that the utility will get "most-favored" rates if an expansion creates lower costs for other buyers. Under the current deal, Delmarva customers will pay about extra per month over the 25-year life of the contract, compared with electricity from conventionally fueled plants.

Wind-power advocates have argued that rising fossil fuel costs and tougher pollution controls will drive up rates for regular plants, eventually making wind and other clean fuels more competitive.

Also in the running in New Jersey was Fishermen's Energy of New Jersey LLC, which planned to build eight turbines three miles off Atlantic City and 66 turbines six miles out.

In Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary John A. Hughes said he hopes Bluewater considers development of consolidated on-shore work and management centers for wind projects across the region. The wind company's parent, Babcock & Brown, already has made some commitments to making Delaware a hub for offshore wind enterprises.

"We can offer really advantageous shore facilities," Hughes said. "There's no particular reason to build two assembly sites capable of handling 400-ton objects 50 miles from each other."

Five countries currently have operating wind turbines offshore: Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Ireland. Germany also is developing offshore turbines.

Onshore turbines currently dominate the American wind market, producing 19,500 megawatts across 35 states, or about 1 percent of national electricity consumption.

Source: http://www.windfair.net/press/5318.html Date: 03-10-08