A new concept for counter-rotating wind turbines in tandem arrangements has been developed to improve power production performance. Experimental studies have shown that this configuration can increase energy utilization by up to 20%, particularly beneficial for onshore wind farms with smaller spacing between turbines.
Wind speeds on migration predicted annual survival, male arrival date, female egg laying, and productivity of yellow warblers. Higher westerly wind speeds associated with lower apparent annual survival due to increased in-flight mortality risk.
Researchers found a significant increase in lightning rates across Europe after high-speed solar wind streams arrived, suggesting particles from space trigger lightning bolts. The study provides potential benefits for long-range weather forecasts by tracking these solar wind streams.
The Solar Wind Ion Analyzer will measure solar wind ions and density to understand Mars' atmospheric loss. Scientists believe interactions between solar wind ions and Martian particles are key to escape, leading to a barren planet.
A novel plasma actuator improves plasma authority at high wind speeds, suppressing boundary layer separation and reducing model vibration on a UAV. The study demonstrates an important role of plasma actuators in real applications.
Tropical Cyclone Jack strengthened quickly after forming on April 20, but strong vertical wind shear is expected to weaken the storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center notes that despite this, the storm continued to build thunderstorms and elongate to the southeast.
A recent study by Caltech researchers found that fruit flies use their antennae to quickly sense changes in wind speed, helping them maintain a steady groundspeed. The findings suggest the antennae are responsible for initial deceleration in headwinds and provide critical information to help the fly regain its original speed.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University developed a new method to study wake effects in wind farms, challenging conventional wisdom on the best arrangement of turbines. They found that an 'intermediate' staggering, where rows are imperfectly offset, can improve power output in some cases.
Wind shear is responsible for weakening Tropical Cyclone Gillian from hurricane to tropical storm strength, according to NASA's Aqua satellite image. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 60 knots on March 26, and it is expected to dissipate by the same day.
Researchers from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed a software platform to bring together small energy providers in a virtual power plant, ensuring reliable grid operation. The system optimizes energy use and storage, allowing for efficient management of distributed energy sources.
A Stanford University study finds that wind farms can afford lots of grid-scale storage to support up to three days of uninterrupted power. In contrast, the solar industry can only afford about 24 hours of energy storage due to the high energy required for manufacturing solar panels.
A field study and computer simulations show that forest corridors increase seed dispersal and alter wind dynamics. The research found that corridors accelerate the wind and provide conditions for long-distance seed dispersal.
Research by the University of Delaware and Stanford University shows that offshore wind turbines can buffer damage to coastal cities during hurricanes. The study found that large wind farms with tens of thousands of turbines can slow down hurricane winds, reduce wave heights, and decrease storm surge.
A Stanford-led study found that large arrays of offshore wind turbines can disrupt hurricanes enough to reduce peak wind speeds by up to 92 mph. The turbines' energy extraction also decreases storm surge by up to 79 percent.
Researchers analyzed UK wind farms and found that turbines produce three-quarters of their original output after 19 years, compared to a third after ten years. The study suggests that wind farms are an effective long-term investment and can help the UK tackle future energy challenges.
A new roadmap for the US aims to transform its energy infrastructure from fossil fuels to 100% renewable resources by 2050. The 50-state plan provides detailed information on how many wind turbines and solar panels would be needed, land area required, cost and job creation, to power each state.
A NREL study reveals that wind power technology can assist the power grid by controlling active power output, improving system reliability. The research also shows that providing active power control services to wind turbines can be economically viable and is essential for better integrating variable generation into electric systems.
Wind farms can worsen oscillations in power grids if sited incorrectly. Researchers developed algorithms that match control efforts between wind farms and energy storage facilities to mitigate these effects, restoring stable grid behavior. This approach is crucial for the increasing integration of wind energy into the US power grid.
The 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book reports a significant increase in US renewable electricity capacity, with installed capacity over 163 GW and renewables accounting for 56% of new electrical capacity installations. Wind and solar PV were among the fastest-growing electric generation technologies.
A new study from the University of Colorado Denver estimates that wind turbines killed over 600,000 bats in 2012, a significant blow to pollination and insect control. The study found that areas near the Appalachian Mountains had the highest bat fatality rates, with some species experiencing fatalities of up to 40%.
The Solar Wind Electron Analyzer (SWEA) will track how charged particles, such as planetary oxygen ions, escape the planet's atmosphere. By identifying electrons in the solar wind and Martian ionosphere, SWEA can determine where the boundary layer between the two regions is located.
A new estimate suggests that more than 600,000 bats likely died from wind turbine collisions in the contiguous US in 2012. Bat populations are already under stress due to climate change and disease, making this figure particularly worrisome for their already slow growth rates.
Researchers at UTSA aim to reduce wind turbine lifespan by studying turbulence effects; they will use advanced computational modeling to simulate aerodynamics of rotating turbines. The study's findings may lower wind energy costs and improve wind farm efficiency.
A new study assesses the impact of offshore wind farm construction on marine mammals, providing a framework to mitigate potential harm. The research focuses on harbor seals and could inform climate change targets while protecting endangered species.
Researchers at the University of Delaware found staggering results in arranging wind turbines to improve performance. Staggering and spacing out turbines can increase efficiency by up to 33 percent, according to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters.
Hurricane Raymond strengthened into a hurricane again after moving into warmer waters with less wind shear, as captured by NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm then weakened due to increased wind shear, leading to its predicted dissipation in the next couple of days.
Tropical Storm Lorenzo is facing wind shear and will move into cooler waters, sapping its strength. The NHC notes that despite wind shear, Lorenzo maintains deep convection with strongest thunderstorms in its eastern quadrant.
Researchers developed a new model to measure changes in air flow patterns affecting wind turbines' output power. The study found that energy can be transferred to wind turbines from both above and below the blades, expanding our understanding of wind turbine performance.
A new study from MIT and SFI reveals a significant rise in renewable-energy patents, driven by research investments and market growth. Patents for solar and wind energy increased dramatically between 2004 and 2009, while fossil-fuel technologies showed modest growth.
Researchers have developed a numerical simulation to study wind-sand movement in straw checkerboard barriers (SCB) and their surrounding area. The results show that SCBs can decrease sand transport rates and reduce the strength of wind-sand flow eddies, leading to increased sand fixation.
The study finds that high levels of wind and solar power reduce fossil fuel costs by $7 billion per year, while incurring cycling costs of $35 million to $157 million. Cycling increases operations and maintenance costs by $0.47 to $1.28 per megawatt-hour of generation.
A new study finds that replacing coal-fired power plants with wind turbines is the most cost-effective way to cut carbon pollution and reduce health impacts. The switch can also lead to lower electricity generation costs, making clean energy a more economically viable option for powering America's electricity needs.
Wind shear significantly altered the rainfall pattern of Tropical Storm Gabrielle, with intense storms southeast of Bermuda receiving heavy rain. The storm is expected to weaken due to continued wind shear, which disrupts the heat engine and tilts the circulation center.
A study by Stanford University researchers found that grid-scale batteries make sense for storing surplus solar energy, but not for wind. This is because the energetic cost of storing wind-generated electricity is lower than curtailment, making it more energetically efficient to shut down wind turbines.
Neutral interstellar atoms flow into the solar system from a different direction than previously observed, according to IBEX measurements. The longitude of the interstellar helium wind has changed by 6.8 degrees over the past 40 years.
Data from 11 spacecraft shows a change in the direction of the interstellar wind, which may be due to turbulence near our solar system's edge. The heliosphere could be exposed to different directions of wind as it interacts with the local interstellar cloud.
A comprehensive US study of over 50,000 home sales near 67 wind facilities found no measurable impact on nearby property values. The researchers controlled for various factors using sophisticated techniques, supporting previous findings that widespread impacts from wind turbines are likely to be small or non-existent.
A new report reveals that 68% of US wind turbines installed between 2003-2012 were for distributed wind projects, generating 812 megawatts of power. This represents a significant shift towards local energy production, with large turbines being used in more distributed wind projects.
A new study reveals that Australian soils are losing significant amounts of carbon to wind erosion, with an estimated 1.6 million tonnes lost annually. This loss affects not only agricultural productivity but also the country's carbon accounts and climate change projections.
Scientists have developed a new technique to calculate wind speeds of hurricanes using distorted GPS satellite signals, providing valuable information at little additional cost. The method offers a broader view of wind speeds than traditional dropsonde measurements, which are expensive and only available over large bodies of water.
A 7-year Kansas State University study found that wind turbines have little effect on greater prairie chicken populations. Female survival rates increased after turbine installation, possibly due to reduced predator presence. Conservation management practices, such as grazing and fire management, had the strongest impact on bird habitats.
The US Department of Energy has commissioned the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility to investigate and develop technology for wind plants. The facility will host research on improving wind plant performance, with a focus on reducing energy losses due to complex wind interactions.
Researchers developed equations governing trajectory of spinning ball as it moves through air in presence of wind. The study reveals how cross-wind affects spin-bowler's delivery, changing pitch point on wicket.
A new study provides conclusive proof of a space wind first proposed 20 years ago, detected by the Cluster spacecraft in the Earth's magnetosphere. The wind releases almost 90 tonnes of plasma into space every day.
The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is a new research center that aims to boost clean energy technologies on a smarter grid. The facility will house experimental laboratories and outdoor test beds, including a petascale supercomputer, to support large-scale modeling and simulation. Advanced Energy Industries has already sign...
Researchers found that hydropower could accommodate unexpected variations in wind energy, but only if operating guidelines were relaxed over a two-week period. Changing these guidelines is complex and may require congressional action, according to Penn State researchers.
Researchers at PNNL and BPA identified two unique methods and two sites in eastern Washington for compressed air energy storage. These plants can store wind energy produced at night and release it when demand is high, providing flexibility to balance the region's highly variable wind energy generation.
Researchers have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that can regulate natural fluctuations in solar and wind energy. The new battery uses lithium and sulfur molecules and has excellent energy-storage performance through over 2,000 charges and discharges.
The NASA Wind spacecraft has detected 'SLAMS' waves in the region between the Earth's magnetosphere and the sun, showing that these structures may accelerate narrow jets of charged particles. The discovery provides new insights into how radiation and energy from the sun can cross the magnetosphere and impact near-Earth space.
Cyclone Imelda's weakening is attributed to strong wind shear in the Southern Indian Ocean. The storm's precipitation has been pushed southeast of its center, exposing the low-level circulation center.
NREL employees Debbie Lew, Greg Brinkman, Maureen Hand, Trieu Mai, and Brian Parsons were awarded for their contributions to wind and solar integration studies. The Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group recognized their work on grid operations with high renewable power shares.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have developed a new, affordable catalyst for converting electricity into chemical energy, enabling the efficient storage and reuse of solar and wind power. The breakthrough technology has the potential to support a large-scale clean energy economy.
Researchers propose a new strategy to optimize power-generation efficiency in fluctuating wind conditions by predicting maximum turbine generation capacity and incorporating various factors. The approach shows promise in improving power-generation efficiency, but further refinement is needed based on local conditions.
The Particles and Fields Package has been integrated onto the MAVEN spacecraft, which will study the solar wind and ionosphere of Mars. The package includes six science instruments that can process up to one million events per second, measuring properties such as solar ultraviolet flux and energetic particles produced in solar storms.
A new study proposes converting New York's all-purpose energy infrastructure to renewable energy sources like wind, water, and sunlight. The plan aims to reduce pollution-related costs, create local jobs, and save the state billions of dollars annually.
Researchers at Stanford University have found that the majority of grid-scale battery technologies have high embodied-energy costs compared to pumped hydroelectric storage. Improved cycle life can reduce long-term energetic costs for batteries, making them a more practical option.
Scientists have underestimated the impact of large numbers of wind turbines on energy production within large farms, suggesting a more limited capacity than previously thought. The new modeling results indicate that wind power production may be as low as 1 watt per square meter at wind farms larger than 100 square kilometers.
NASA's Aqua satellite data reveals Tropical Cyclone 18S continues to experience wind shear, pushing precipitation away from its center. The storm's main convection is being hindered by strong easterly vertical wind shear, affecting its ability to consolidate and intensify.
Research suggests that large-scale wind farms' generating capacity may peak at between 0.5 and 1 watt per square meter, significantly lower than previous estimates. This limitation could impact the feasibility of scaling wind power to meet a third of global energy needs within the next half-century.
Cyclone Haruna is being blown apart several hundred miles away from La Reunion Island due to increasing wind shear. The storm's eye has elongated as a result of wind shear, causing the main precipitation to be pushed south of the center.