The Iowa Power Fund supports a three-year project to develop new, low-cost manufacturing systems that could improve wind energy production by up to 35 percent. The laboratory will focus on automation, quality control, and nondestructive inspection of turbine blades.
Researchers at UCLA have found a surprise energy transfer mechanism from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere, which could improve spacecraft safety and reliability. This discovery contradicts long-held assumptions about the control of energy transfer rate.
Wind energy could account for 30% of Spain's overall energy production by 2030, according to a study. The proposal also suggests a mix of solar energy and gas turbines to achieve this goal, while reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the sector has generated 226% more jobs in the European Union since 2003.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a new type of turbulence in the solar wind that enables plasma particles to exchange energy without collisions. This finding has significant implications for fusion power development and could provide insights into energy dissipation in solar system-sized plasmas.
A new study suggests that transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind and solar could eliminate 130 worker deaths annually. The researchers found that these industries pose significantly less risk of workplace injury and death compared to traditional fossil fuel industries.
A new study reveals that the US is home to the fastest-growing wind power market worldwide, with a 60% increase in capacity additions in 2008. The report highlights the growth of wind projects across various states, including Texas, which leads the nation with over 7,000 MW of new wind capacity.
A new study in the International Journal of Exergy provides a formula to calculate wind turbine performance and optimize energy production. The formula offers a theoretical boost of 20% efficiency at varying wind speeds, reducing wasted energy by 80%.
A new study identifies New York and eastern U.S. cities as prime locations for exploiting high-altitude winds, which contain enough energy to meet world demand 100 times over. The regions match population centers and have high wind power densities, but fluctuating wind strength poses a challenge for large-scale exploitation.
Scientists have discovered magnetic tornadoes on Mercury that could be replenishing its extremely thin atmosphere. These 'tornadoes' form when magnetic fields carried by the solar wind connect to Mercury's magnetic field, twisting into vortex-like structures.
Researchers at NIST conducted experiments on wind-driven fires in high-rise buildings, finding that conditions can quickly spread smoke, heat, and gases through hallways and stairwells. Techniques such as blocking windows with fire-resistant materials and using 'floor below nozzle' systems showed promise in reducing hazardous conditions.
Researcher identifies wind erosion, salinization, and waterlogging as major land degradation indicators in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The study suggests conservation strategies and management options to combat desertification through better resource management.
Engineers at Purdue University and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a technique to monitor forces exerted on wind turbine blades, enabling real-time adjustments for optimal efficiency. The system aims to reduce catastrophic damage from high winds and improve overall wind turbine reliability.
Researchers found that only four rest areas and six weigh stations showed promise for wind power generation in Illinois. The study determined grid parity was not achievable due to high electricity costs, but rebates and subsidies made some sites viable.
Researchers found that fruit flies use separate populations of neurons to detect wind and sound, allowing them to respond differently to each stimulus. This discovery provides insights into the complex sensory mechanisms of these tiny insects.
The NCAR forecast system will provide highly detailed, localized weather forecasts to enable utilities to make critical decisions about powering down traditional plants when sufficient winds are predicted. The system will help increase reliance on wind energy while meeting customer needs.
Researchers discovered that Martian winds create pits and hills, causing small rocks to roll forward into the wind. The process is repeated, forming regular patterns, with clusters of rocks adapting by shielding the middle or outer rocks from the wind.
Researchers discovered that Martian rock arrangements are not caused by alien hands, but rather by wind-driven processes. As the sand is eroded, larger clasts move into the direction of prevailing winds and spread out from one another.
Researchers develop a novel control method to mitigate wind speed variations by leveraging rotor inertia as energy storage. This approach reduces the need for external energy storage facilities, improving overall wind farm efficiency.
Researchers identify ideal locations for low-impact wind farms with high frictional dissipation, reducing turbulence and its effects on local hydrometeorological conditions. By optimizing turbine spacing and rotor designs, wind farm efficiency can be increased and negative impacts minimized.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study reveals that periodic 'breathing' of the Earth's upper atmosphere is triggered by cyclic solar wind disturbances, which can alter satellite drag and cause communication disruptions. The findings should improve models for tracking satellites and predicting electronic communication issues.
Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson finds wind power to be the most promising clean energy source, offering a 99% reduction in carbon emissions and water consumption. In contrast, biofuels, nuclear power, and coal are significantly polluting, causing thousands of deaths per year.
A new study found that wind turbines do not significantly affect the distribution of seed-eating birds and corvids. However, common pheasants were the only species whose distribution was impacted by the turbines. This research is crucial for reconciling EU energy targets with biodiversity conservation efforts.
Researchers found that 90% of deceased bats showed internal hemorrhaging consistent with barotrauma, highlighting the vulnerability of these mammals to wind turbine hazards. The unique respiratory system of bats makes them more susceptible to air pressure drops, which can cause fatal injuries.
Montana State University will incorporate more wind-related topics into existing engineering courses, educating students about wind energy and preparing them for jobs in the industry. The university aims to support Montana's growing wind industry and provide valuable technical experience.
Researchers use twin STEREO spacecraft to detect neutral atoms and map the energized particles at the edge of the solar system. The findings clear up a discrepancy in energy dumped into space by decelerating solar wind, and provide new insights into the heliosheath and its structure.
Researchers have developed a mobile lidar station that can measure wind fields more accurately, which could help world-class athletes compete in international competitions. The technology is being tested in conjunction with the XXIX Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Qingdao.
Scientists have found that migratory moths use various strategies to control their flight direction and speed, including selecting favorable wind directions and compensating for wind drift. These findings provide the first conclusive evidence for a compass mechanism in nocturnal insect migration.
Researchers used a NYC high-rise as a fire laboratory to study wind-driven flame, smoke, and gas spread through corridors and stairways. Positive pressure ventilation fans and prototype devices helped control deadly heat and smoke from wind-driven fires.
Nikolai Pogorelov, a UC Riverside researcher, has been awarded 850,000 processor hours on the seventh fastest computer in the world to study the outer heliosphere and its interaction with interstellar medium. The research will help plan future space missions and analyze fluxes of galactic cosmic rays.
Researchers use a foot-long model in a quiet wind tunnel to study airflow over the X-51A vehicle, focusing on turbulent flow into the engine's combustor and smooth airflow over the upper surface. The findings will aid in designing vehicles that can fly at hypersonic speeds, reducing friction and heat generated during flight.
A Stanford University study examines California's coast for offshore wind energy potential, estimating that a Northern California site could supply 5% of the state's electricity. However, high water depths and varying wind speeds make it challenging to harness wind power off the coast.
Voyager 2 has entered the heliosheath, a vast region at the edge of our solar system where the solar wind meets interstellar space. The spacecraft's Plasma Science instrument provided direct measurements of the solar wind, revealing an unusual shock wave with lower temperatures than predicted.
Hinode satellite data sheds light on sun's magnetic field and solar wind formation, revealing Alfvén waves play a critical role in driving the solar wind. Magnetic reconnection and convective motions also contribute to its creation.
Scientists at Stanford University found that connecting wind farms can reduce the variability of wind energy, making it suitable for baseload power. On average, 33% of yearly-averaged wind power from interconnected farms can be used as reliable, baseload electric power.
Scientists analyzed neon and argon samples from NASA's Genesis mission to determine the isotopic composition of noble gases in the sun. The results show that the isotopic composition is consistent across different regimes of solar wind, indicating that measuring solar wind samples can represent the solar corona.
Wind power variability poses a challenge for grid systems. Researchers are developing methods to measure wind farm capacity contribution and establish energy storage systems to manage this variability. The goal is to enable more efficient integration of wind power into existing power systems.
The Kansas Wind for Schools program has selected several rural schools to receive Skystream 3.7 wind turbines as part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's initiative. The small turbines will become part of the curriculum at these schools, teaching students about wind energy and its applications.
The University-National Park Energy Partnership Program has funded nearly 70 projects at over 30 national parks, saving energy bills and educating future energy professionals. Students conduct energy audits, data analysis, and implement renewable energy measures such as solar and wind turbines in historic sites.
Researchers developed a method for assessing wind turbine removal and recycling, considering future impacts up to 2050. The study aims to reduce negative effects of wind power by adopting an interactive approach.
ESA's Envisat and ERS-2 satellites track Hurricane Dean's path and strength, providing timely warnings with high-resolution cloud structure and wind field data. The satellites' instruments also measure sea surface temperature and height, allowing researchers to predict the hurricane's potential impact on the Yucatan Peninsula.
A life cycle assessment reveals that renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal have valid green credentials in electricity production. However, the efficiency of these systems is comparable only when considering the entire life cycle, not just materials production and running.
A study funded by ESRC found that community renewable energy projects are largely based in the countryside, revitalizing local economies and alleviating poverty. The projects generate energy renewably at a local level, involving wind turbines, solar panels, and shared heating systems.
A trend analysis from the UN Environment Programme reports a surge in investment in renewable energy, with wind, solar, and biofuels attracting the greatest investment dollars. The sector's growth is driven by global concerns such as climate change, increasing energy demand, and energy security.
A new method for predicting cross-pollination between GM and conventional crops has been developed by the University of Exeter. The study reveals huge variation in cross-pollination levels depending on wind direction and speed, highlighting the need to increase minimum field-to-field distances.
CMEs can produce radiation storms, but detecting them through radio signals may provide warning to astronauts and satellite operators. Strong CME shocks accelerate particles in the solar wind, producing both radio signals and radiation storms.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have found fractal patterns in the solar wind that correspond to the Sun's 'storm season', indicating complex magnetic field activity. This discovery could improve our understanding of space weather and its impact on cosmic ray flux, as well as inform the development of fusion power.
Climate model simulations indicate a robust increase in wind shear in the tropical Atlantic, which could counteract global warming's effects on hurricane intensity. The study suggests that increased wind shear may inhibit both hurricane development and intensification.
Astronomers have identified an X-ray-emitting binary star system in the Small Magellanic Cloud, 170,000 light-years from Earth. The system, HD 5980, features two stars with intense winds that collide and produce multimillion-degree gas radiating brilliantly in X-rays.
Researchers estimate that thousands of wind turbines could generate up to 330 gigawatts of average electrical power off the Mid-Atlantic coast, reducing carbon emissions by 68% and greenhouse gases by 57%. The study's findings suggest a significant potential for offshore wind energy in the region.
A study by Stanford University researchers found that aerosol particles slow down winds, reducing the availability of clean energy from wind power and leading to decreased precipitation. This can result in droughts and reduced water supplies, with potential impacts on global food security and energy systems.
A survey conducted by University of Delaware researchers found that over 90% of Delawareans support offshore wind power, even with increased electric bills. The study suggests that increasing public awareness and concern about climate change may contribute to this strong support.
Researchers found that plasmaspheric drainage plumes can overload the dayside reconnection site, reducing solar wind coupling and influencing auroral activity. Climate models also predict increased carbon emissions due to rising temperatures, especially in southern regions of the US. Additionally, remote wind forcing played a role in t...
The MIT researcher's design allows for the installation of huge offshore wind turbines in deeper waters, reducing public opposition and increasing electricity production. The floating platforms can be assembled onshore, towed out to sea, and adjusted to stabilize the turbines, resulting in cost savings and improved efficiency.
Florida Tech associate professor Dr. Jean-Paul Pinelli has received a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop a wireless sensor network monitoring wind impacts on structures. The three-year research project will provide full-scale data on wind-induced structural stress during hurricanes.
Montana State University has developed a massive database of wind turbine material tests, spanning over 17 years and involving 150 different composite materials. The MSU/DOE Fatigue Database for Composite Materials is now one of the world's largest open-access libraries on wind energy research.
A study by the University of Sussex and ESRC found that radical niche initiatives in wind energy, organic food, and eco-housing significantly influenced mainstream activities. Although activists' original ideas were not fully adopted, their influence contributed to the development of climate change solutions.
A new study by Georgia Tech researchers confirms the link between rising sea surface temperatures and increasing hurricane strength. Sea surface temperatures are found to be the dominant influence on global and North Atlantic hurricanes, with no significant trend in wind shear or other factors over the past 35 years.
Researchers use Purdue's unique wind tunnel to study airflow and turbulence, aiming to design aircraft that heat up less from atmospheric friction. The goal is to create lighter-weight, lower-cost vehicles for space planes using scramjets.
Researchers studied hurricane-force wind estimation using synthetic aperture radar and found a newly-developed model outperforms previous methods. Additionally, weakened thermohaline circulation led to increased snow cover over Europe due to reduced atmospheric circulation and changed climate influences. The Arctic Ocean's change also ...
Researchers discovered the physics behind coastal wind jets, which can gust up to 40% higher than normal wind speeds. This knowledge could aid sailors in planning strategies and improve weather forecasting for wind energy and flood prevention.