Researchers at NCAR are creating a prototype system to forecast sunlight and resulting power every 15 minutes, enabling utilities to continuously anticipate available solar energy. The project aims to improve cloud prediction accuracy, helping utilities tap into solar energy more effectively and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
A new open-source model, InVEST, provides spatially explicit information on offshore wind energy, helping decision makers quantify tradeoffs between energy, transportation, and fishing. The tool is significant for integrated marine spatial planning, enabling informed decisions on wind turbine placement.
Researchers developed a new analytical method to detect fatigue in wind turbines' parts while the turbine is in operation. This method distinguishes between mechanical properties and interfering noise, enabling precise detection of material fatigue or untightened screws.
A low-carbon hybrid energy system is proposed to integrate coal with nuclear, wind, solar, biomass, and hydro power to reduce CO2 emission and recycle carbon. The system utilizes carbon recycling to produce useful materials while increasing energy efficiency.
Researchers found that Bacteroidetes were more predominant in fine dust, while Proteobacteria were associated with coarse sediments. This knowledge can inform management practices to minimize damage to soils caused by wind erosion.
Scientists used Cluster data to study the spatial characteristics of turbulence in the solar wind, finding evidence of small 'current sheets' that dissipate magnetic energy into heat. These current sheets play a crucial role in the dissipation of turbulence, contributing to the overall heating of the solar wind.
Cyclone Evan has been blown apart by strong wind shear, a rare and devastating occurrence for the region. The storm's remnants were captured by NOAA's GOES-15 satellite on December 20, revealing the extreme impact of wind shear on its structure.
Researchers have achieved impressive results in a three-year project to develop wind turbines using superconducting wire, exceeding initial targets by 15 percentage points. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded additional funding, increasing the total project value to $4 million.
A regional team led by Case Western Reserve University has won $4 million to design a 9-turbine Lake Erie wind farm, with the potential for an additional $46 million in funding. The goal is to demonstrate cost-competitive power production and explore materials and designs to reduce costs.
Researchers found average wind speeds declined by 15% inland while remaining steady on the coast. Climate change and urbanization are potential factors contributing to this trend.
A team of Harvard engineers and chemists are working on a one-year, $600,000 grant from ARPA-E to develop a new type of storage battery that uses eco-friendly small organic molecules. The technology aims to make stationary energy storage cost-effective, enabling wind and solar power to displace fossil fuels more widely.
Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center directly observed Kelvin-Helmholtz waves in the solar wind, allowing energy transfer into near-Earth space. The presence of these waves enables charged particles to breach Earth's magnetic shield, altering the magnetosphere's behavior.
A new study from the University of Tennessee confirms that solar wind is a source for water embedded in the lunar surface. The researchers found that most of the water in agglutinates comes from solar wind, making it a valuable resource with potential use as rocket fuel.
Researchers find hydroxyl compounds in lunar regolith created by solar wind implantation, leading to widespread water presence in lunar materials. The discovery suggests ice in permanently shadowed polar craters could contain hydrogen atoms from solar wind.
Scientists at the University of Hawaii found a significant decrease in northeast trade wind days from 291 to 210 per year. This change is linked to an increase in eastern trade winds and may impact climate patterns, including droughts in Hawaii.
The Sandia Wind Plant Reliability Benchmark helps the wind industry compare performance, identify vulnerabilities and enhance productivity. The benchmark is based on data from over 800 turbines, showing that the fleet is now producing electricity or available to produce electricity at 97% of the time.
Researchers found that bigger turbines harness more wind without increasing mass or fuel needs, leading to cleaner power production. The study solidifies the trend towards larger windmills, expected to approach 10% of global electricity by 2020.
A new study suggests that wind power has plenty of potential to meet half the world's power demand by 2030, with a capacity to exceed demand by several times. Researchers used a sophisticated climate model to calculate the theoretical maximum wind power potential on Earth.
A Tel Aviv University researcher has developed a control algorithm that optimizes energy collection from waves by predicting wave height and force. The system doubles the energy previously collected by Wave Energy Converters (WECs), making marine energy more competitive.
Researchers calculated wind power potential worldwide, accounting for climate impacts and found it exceeds global energy demands. The maximum theoretical potential is over 250 terawatts globally and 80 TW over land and ocean areas.
Experts surveyed by Near Zero identify reliability as the primary barrier to airborne wind energy, citing need for long-term stability in shifting winds. Government funding is seen as key to accelerating industry growth, with $10 million annual investment potentially cutting years off significant scale deployment.
Large-scale high altitude wind power generation is unlikely to substantially affect climate, according to a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory study. The researchers found that wind turbines could extract kinetic energy at a rate of at least 400 terawatts on the surface and over 1800 terawatts in high-altitude winds.
New research suggests that more than 400 terrawatts of power can be extracted from surface winds and over 1,800 terrawatts from high-altitude winds, meeting or exceeding global energy demand.
Research by University of Warwick physicist Dr Kareem Osman reveals that magnetic turbulence is the key to the solar wind's surprising heat. The study shows how turbulence in current sheets heats and accelerates plasma, accounting for 50% of the solar wind's internal energy.
Despite looming policy uncertainty, the US wind power market expanded rapidly in 2011, with new installations exceeding 6.8 GW and contributing $14 billion in investment. The study predicts continued strong growth in 2012 but warns of significant layoffs if demand for turbines does not pick up after 2012.
The study reveals that horizontal convective rolls affected fire behaviour, introducing variability in wind, temperature, and humidity conditions. This new understanding has the potential to improve fire management and warning systems, providing a better guide for public warning systems and firefighting resources.
Researchers studied the effects of wind speed, altitude, and other environmental factors on athletic performance. They found that a tailwind of 2 meters per second and racing at an altitude of 999 meters could improve Usain Bolt's record time to 9.48 seconds.
Researchers aim to reduce turbine center of gravity, machine complexity, and maintenance costs. Curved VAWT blades pose manufacturing challenges, while unsteady loading and lack of aerodynamic braking systems remain hurdles for large-scale offshore power generation.
Theoretical physicist Dima Shepelyansky found that energy flows from large to small scales can be prevented under specific conditions, similar to the way electron currents are stopped in disordered solids. This discovery links chaos theory and turbulence, highlighting a phenomenon where energy threshold plays a crucial role.
Researchers from Drexel University have developed a novel electrochemical flow capacitor that combines the strengths of batteries and supercapacitors, addressing scalability issues. The technology allows for rapid charging and discharging ability, enabling efficient storage and delivery of renewable energy.
Iowa State University engineers are building a strong expertise in wind energy through various initiatives, including grants, research projects and partnerships. The goal is to increase wind energy production by at least 10 times over the next 18 years to reach 20% of electrical energy from wind by 2030.
Bigger wind turbines harness more wind with increased efficiency and reduced material needs. Scientists conclude that larger turbines make greener electricity, a trend expected to grow in the coming years.
Scientists have discovered that the moon's presence affects the solar wind, creating turbulence and changes in direction and density. Computer simulations explain this phenomenon by showing an electric field near the lunar surface generated by sunlight and solar wind flow.
A study using NASA satellite data found that the four largest wind farms in Texas experience an increase in land surface temperature over nine years, likely due to turbulence caused by turbine wakes. The warming occurred mainly at night and during times of high turbine activity.
Researchers found a significant warming effect over wind farms, up to 0.72 degrees Celsius per decade, attributed to turbine wake interactions. The study uses satellite data to quantify the potential impact of wind farms on weather and climate.
The University of Minnesota has developed an innovative isothermal compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology, licensed to SustainX. This solution can stabilize renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, making them more predictable and reliable.
Case Western Reserve University has erected its third and largest wind turbine, a 1-megawatt utility-scale power generator, to provide working laboratories for researchers. The turbines are being used to develop better products and improve efficiency, with the ultimate goal of establishing a wind-energy supply chain in Northeast Ohio.
Harold H. Kung's analysis finds Investment Tax Credit to be more attractive for consumers and investors due to lower electricity prices and faster returns on investment. The study aimed to mitigate the high capital cost of wind power, benefiting both parties.
Researchers developed a biologically inspired control system that uses memory of past control experiences and outcomes to generate new actions. This approach shows promise for enhancing wind power conversion efficiency, outperforming traditional methods in simulations.
University of Cincinnati researchers have developed predictive software to analyze two years' worth of operating data from a commercial wind turbine, identifying key components with high failure rates and average downtime. The study aims to establish real-world performance metrics for turbines, enabling optimal scheduling of maintenanc...
Researchers have identified a new type of landform on Mars, periodic bedrock ridges, which provide valuable information about the planet's geological past. The ridges, formed by wind erosion of bedrock, offer a unique window into Martian history and potentially allow scientists to study the planet's ancient layers.
A new NOAA study helps New York state officials identify favorable wind energy development sites while protecting critical bird and fish habitats. The report provides a valuable tool for coastal managers to better understand the interactions between renewable energy development and natural resources.
A team of Stanford engineers has developed a weather model to recommend the optimal placement of four interconnected offshore wind farms off the US East Coast. The grid would have a total maximum capacity of 2000 megawatts, with each farm delivering an individual maximum capacity of 500 megawatts.
A new online resource, Energy Harvesting Open Access Data Repository, provides detailed data on energy availability and characteristics for researchers worldwide. The repository aims to standardize the evaluation of energy-harvesting devices and systems by offering a common dataset.
Scientists have found evidence of 'hot flow anomalies' on Venus, which are similar to those observed on Earth. These events release massive energy and can even deflect the solar wind back towards the sun.
A new study shows that incorporating multiple stakeholder interests in comprehensive ocean planning reduces conflict and enhances cultural, conservation, and economic benefits. The study found that designing offshore wind farms with multiple ocean users in mind can prevent losses to incumbent fishery and whale watching sectors while ge...
Tropical Depression Iggy is being battered by wind shear, causing its strongest thunderstorms to be pushed away from the center. This leads to the storm's collapse, as convection must be stacked like a haystack to maintain the cyclone's structure.
Researchers found that power generated at a set wind speed is higher under stable conditions and lower under strongly unsteady conditions. Wind shear plays an important role in assessing turbine efficiency. The team's study provides valuable insights for better estimating power generation, especially when including atmospheric stabilit...
Researchers have developed an interactive tool to visualize how changes in date and weather conditions affect bat presence at wind energy facilities. The tool can help reduce bat fatalities by maximizing energy production on nights with low fatality risk while minimizing impacts on migratory bats.
Researchers are using mini wind turbines and advanced flow measurements to understand the impact of hilly terrain on wind turbine performance. Preliminary results show that turbines on hilly terrain experience higher wind loads and recover power potential more rapidly than those on flat ground.
Tropical Storm 5A is weakening due to strong wind shear in the Arabian Sea. The storm's convection and thunderstorms are waning, with no visible bands of thunderstorms in NASA satellite imagery. Forecasters predict the storm will dissipate late tomorrow as a shortwave trough steers it away from the Oman coast.
RUB researchers have solved the puzzle of the solar wind's temperature and energy equipartition by incorporating particle collisions into their model. This new approach explains experimental data significantly better than previous calculations, with implications for other dilute cosmic plasmas.
The NCAR wind forecasting system has improved the accuracy of wind energy forecasts by 35%, allowing Xcel Energy to harness wind more effectively and save ratepayers millions of dollars yearly. The system uses cutting-edge computer models and real-time observations to provide high-resolution forecasts, updated every 15 minutes.
A recent study suggests that increasing air pollution in the Indian sub-continent is intensifying tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea. The weakening of wind-shear patterns over the sea allows stronger storm development, resulting in more intense storms.
New formulas and methods have been developed to analyze across-wind loads and effects on super-tall buildings. These achievements have been adopted in national and local load codes and applied to the structural design of many actual super-tall buildings.
Researchers at Iowa State University's Wind Energy Manufacturing Lab are working to develop new manufacturing methods that can improve the productivity of turbine blade factories by up to 35%. The lab uses advanced technologies like lasers and nondestructive evaluation to analyze and improve wind blade edges, fabric manipulation techni...
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that wind energy production can be compatible with wildlife conservation in Kansas. The researchers identified areas to avoid and quantified offset projects needed to make up for ecological effects, allowing for the potential development of up to 10 million hectares of land.
The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize has been awarded to Altaeros Energies for their innovative airborne tethered wind turbine technology, which can supply 100 kilowatts of electricity without using fossil fuels. This technology has the potential to revolutionize remote energy needs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A public-private research team led by the University of Houston will develop an efficient and low-cost high-temperature superconducting wire for use in future advanced wind turbine generators. The goal is to make superconducting wind generators more practical for widespread use.
A new study from CSIRO Australia has found that Australia's average wind speed is increasing, contrary to recent international studies showing a decrease. The research provides valuable insights into the causes of variations in near-surface wind and long-term wind speed trends over Australia.