Researchers discovered a previously unexplored consequence of global wind energy proliferation: wake effects from upwind facilities that can reduce downwind neighbors' energy production. The study shows that these effects are measurable and predictable, with the largest impact occurring when winds are in a specific direction at night.
Researchers discovered that vibrating stamens, pollen-bearing organs of flowers, are a key trait for understanding early stages in the transition from insect to wind pollination. This finding helps explain why some flowering plant species have evolved to rely on wind instead of insects for pollination.
A collaborative research team examined predictive models used to forecast wind farm effects, revealing the importance of model resolution in simulating weather patterns. Higher vertical and horizontal resolutions improved simulations, but more study is needed to optimize wind energy deployment.
A new study found that warming waters in the Indian Ocean are causing a decline in wind power potential in India, with western regions experiencing the steepest decrease. The research suggests that investing in wind turbines in areas with stronger monsoon winds can help minimize the impact of climate change.
A new study reveals a significant decline in wind energy resources over the Northern Hemisphere, with 30-80% of stations losing wind power potential since 1979. Climate models are found to be inadequate in simulating long-term wind energy changes, underscoring the need for careful consideration when using GCM-based projections.
Tropical Cyclone Owen weakened from a tropical storm to a depression due to wind shear, resulting in disorganized storm patterns and reduced thunderstorm development. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center notes a chance for the storm to re-strengthen after two days when wind shear relaxes.
A new study highlights the previously underexplored consequence of wake effects from upwind wind farms on downwind neighbors' energy production. The research demonstrates that these effects are measurable and predictable yet remain largely unaccounted for in current U.S. property law.
Tropical Cyclone Bouchra was weakened and elongated due to wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm was torn apart by winds, with its center appearing almost cloud-free, before making its final dissipation on November 20.
Researchers have developed a new approach to design more efficient wind farms by incorporating factors such as wind speed, turbine spacing, and land size. The algorithm uses biogeographical-based optimization to minimize computational cost while maximizing efficiency.
Scientists plan to fly a coronagraph aboard a high-altitude balloon to measure density, temperature, and speed of electrons in the corona. This will help understand how solar wind forms and accelerates, impacting space-weather forecasts and potentially disrupting power grids.
Researchers from MAGPIE laboratories simulate stellar winds interacting with planetary magnetic fields, reproducing magnetopause formation and low-pressure regions. Laboratory experiments utilize intense electric pulses to create high-speed plasma plumes that interact with targets having magnetic fields.
Scientists propose a new model, magnetic pumping, to explain the solar wind's heat persistence as it streams out of the sun and towards Earth. The research shows that particles in the solar wind are affected by magnetic pumping, including high-energy particles.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters found that large-scale offshore wind farms can decrease hurricane precipitation onshore locations, while increasing it in offshore areas. The research used Hurricane Harvey as an example, showing a 30% reduction in precipitation inland due to the presence of wind farms.
Tropical Storm Nadine is experiencing severe vertical wind shear, causing the bulk of its clouds to shift northeast. The storm's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph, with forecasts indicating it will weaken further and dissipate by Sunday.
Tropical Storm Nadine is being torn apart by wind shear in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, according to NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The storm's low-level center is nearly 50 nautical miles southwest of the nearest deep convection, indicating strong weakening.
Researchers at UCSB and Cambridge developed models to optimize wind farm productivity by improving airflow mixing and using vertical-axis turbines, potentially leading to orders-of-magnitude improvements in energy production. This could enable more efficient use of land and reduce costs.
A study published in Joule found that large-scale US wind power generation would warm the Continental United States by 0.24 degrees Celsius due to heat redistribution in the atmosphere. This warming effect could take roughly a century to offset with wind-related reductions in greenhouse gas concentrations.
Researchers found that large-scale wind farms would require five to 20 times more land area than previously estimated, and their operation would warm average surface temperatures by 0.24 degrees Celsius in the continental US. The study suggests that localized warming occurs even with smaller projections of wind power generation.
Tropical Cyclone Liua was severely impacted by strong westerly to northwesterly vertical wind shear, causing the storm to lose its structure. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued the final bulletin on Liua, which was centered near 12.0 degrees south latitude and 161.1 degrees east longitude.
Researchers at University of Surrey develop innovative Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs) that capture energy from human movements, wind, and machine vibration. The study provides a step-by-step guide on constructing efficient energy harvesters, paving the way for a future with free and renewable energy.
Tropical Depression Joyce's cloud top temperatures are as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, generating heavy rainfall. The depression is forecast to weaken and become a remnant low over the next couple of days.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite detected tropical depression Olivia being affected by westerly wind shear, which was preventing thunderstorm development and causing weakening. The post-tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate over the weekend of Sept. 15 with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
Tropical Storm Helene is battling wind shear, causing a Tropical Storm Warning for the Azores Islands. Wind shear is weakening the storm's rotation and pushing strongest storms northeast of the center.
Hurricane Helene is decoupling from wind shear due to southwesterly vertical wind shear, pushing the bulk of the storm away from its rotating center. The NHC expects wind shear to increase on Sept 13, potentially weakening the storm further.
Wind shear is affecting Tropical Storm Isaac, causing its circulation center to be displaced and potentially weakening the storm. The satellite data reveal a small area of coldest cloud top temperatures off-center, which can generate heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Barijat is being affected by northerly vertical wind shear, which can weaken the storm. The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 warning, indicating winds with speeds of 25-38 mph.
Tropical Storm Isaac's circulation center has shifted away from the bulk of clouds and precipitation, indicating wind shear is at play. NASA satellite data reveals a vertically stacked system of rotating winds, with wind shear pushing against the storm, weakening its rotation and balance.
A new study published in Science shows that large-scale solar and wind farms in the Sahara could more than double precipitation, increase vegetation cover by up to 20%, and lead to substantial improvements in rainfed agriculture. The findings have major implications for addressing sustainability challenges in the Energy-Water-Food nexus.
A new study reveals that wind and solar farms increase local precipitation and plant growth in the Sahara desert. The results suggest a positive impact on regional climate processes, with potential to produce minimal climate change at continental scales.
A new climate-modeling study finds that large wind and solar farms in the Sahara Desert and neighboring Sahel would increase local temperature, precipitation and vegetation. The effects are likely to benefit the region, with increased rainfall leading to a positive feedback loop of vegetation growth.
Researchers developed a three-dimensional model to estimate usable wind energy and found that repowering old plants with larger ones increases yields by several hundred percent. The study suggests that this approach can significantly reduce the cost of generating electricity comparable to brown coal.
A new UK-US study found that electron radiation levels within the Van Allen radiation belts can remain exceptionally high for 5 days or more after a solar wind event. This increases the risk of damage to satellites' electronic components, potentially leading to malfunctions and service outages.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's annual report, wind energy prices in the United States are at an all-time low due to technology advancements and cost reductions. Bigger turbines with increased rotor diameters have improved wind project capacity factors, while lower turbine pricing has pushed down installed project costs.
The Parker Solar Probe will directly sample solar particles and magnetic fields to resolve the origin and acceleration of the solar wind. It aims to understand how the solar wind is accelerated to speeds of up to 1.8 million miles per hour.
A new study reveals that Europe's power system can comfortably generate at least 35% of its electricity using renewable energy alone without major impacts on prices or system stability. The research, which analyzed 30 years of meteorological data, found that Europe could use renewables for more than two-thirds of its electricity by 2030.
A new type of flow battery developed by Stanford researchers uses a liquid metal at room temperature to store renewable energy from wind or solar sources. The technology has the potential to deliver energy quickly and affordably, with possibilities for further improvement in terms of cost, efficiency, size, and safety.
A team of scientists led by Craig DeForest used advanced algorithms and data-cleaning techniques to analyze images taken by NASA's STEREO spacecraft. They discovered fine-grained structures in the outer corona, which is the source of the solar wind. The study provides new insights into the Sun's million-degree atmosphere.
A recent study suggests that Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) can be the key to China meeting its climate commitments. CSP can store energy relatively inexpensively and dispatch it day or night, making it a more cost-effective option than traditional renewable energy sources like wind power and PV. The study found that substituting CSP f...
Using tree-fall patterns, researchers estimated the near-surface wind speeds of an actual tornado event in Naplate, IL, with results compared to wind speeds from residential houses and damaged infrastructure. The method also applied to crops damaged by tornadoes, providing a new approach to estimating tornado intensity.
Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University are developing a web-atlas of available wind and wave energy in the coastal zones of Russia's 13 seas. The project aims to improve the stability and reliability of renewable energy sources, providing insights for the design of hybrid power stations.
Researchers developed a stochastic modeling method to evaluate wind power impact on power systems, considering extreme outliers and computational efficiency. The method enables quantitative risk assessment and contributes to improving power system reliability and economic efficiency.
Scientists from FAU are investigating a novel approach to storing solar energy in a single molecule, enabling the creation of an 'energy-storing solar cell'. The research focuses on the use of norbornadiene-quadricyclane storage system and intramolecular reactions to store and release electrical energy efficiently.
Spiders sense wind characteristics before takeoff and launch when conditions favor a successful flight. Large crab spiders use up to 60 nanoscale fibers averaging 3 meters long to float on the wind.
Researchers from TU Wien discovered that solar wind particles can cause drastic effects on rock surfaces, leading to an 'exosphere' of shattered atoms. The findings are crucial for the ESA mission BepiColombo, which aims to study Mercury's composition using this exosphere.
VTT's research reveals that new-generation wind turbines are reasonably efficient in low winds, allowing for more flexible turbine locations. The new technology increases the potential offered by wind power, covering up to 86 TWh of Finland's electricity consumption, fivefold more than previous technology.
A new system developed by UC3M researchers allows for efficient energy transmission from offshore wind farms to the mainland electrical grid. The system uses a distributed control system and diode rectifier stations to synchronize wind turbine voltage and frequency, reducing costs by up to 30%.
The solar wind pressure increase in 2014 led to a change in the shape of our heliosphere. The boundaries of the heliosphere expanded outward as particles rebounded off their edges. This expansion can be seen in the increased density of energetic neutral atoms detected by IBEX, which have been traveling through space and returned to Earth.
A recent study in Canada investigated the relationship between wind turbine proximity and human health, finding no direct correlation. However, respondents closer to turbines reported lower environmental quality of life ratings, suggesting potential indirect effects.
Scientists have discovered dunes made of solid methane on Pluto, defying expectations due to the dwarf planet's thin atmosphere. The findings were made possible by New Horizons' detailed images and modeling, which suggest that wind can create these unique landforms through a process involving sublimation.
A University of Maryland-led study has observed the electron heating process in Earth's bow shock, revealing a new mechanism for converting energy from the solar wind to heat. This breakthrough provides valuable new insights into Earth's magnetic field and its ability to protect the planet from harmful particles and radiation.
The FLASC prototype is a world-first offshore renewable energy TLP with integrated energy storage. It stores energy generated by wind turbines, solar PV, and other sources using pressurised seawater and compressed air.
Researchers have designed a robotic glider that can skim along the water's surface, riding the wind like an albatross while also surfing the waves like a sailboat. The system can cover a given distance using one-third as much wind as an albatross and traveling 10 times faster than a typical sailboat.
A team of scientists has responded to criticisms on the feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems, finding that technical solutions exist to address concerns about grid stability and variability. The study reveals that these solutions are affordable, especially given the decreasing costs of wind and solar power.
A new study suggests that wind could be a more significant source of energy generation due to increased winds in the UK and northern Europe. The research predicts a 10% increase in onshore wind energy generation, enough to power an additional 700,000 homes per year.
Scientists developed a predictive model to assess wind farm construction noise impact on harbor porpoise population. The DEPONS model evaluates disturbance effects on animal movements and foraging behaviors.
A new study by ICTA-UAB analyzes the impacts of substituting fossil fuels for cleaner energies on lifestyles. The researchers conclude that renewable energy sources must grow at a rate two to three times current projections to maintain net energy per capita.
The prototype manganese-hydrogen battery can generate 20 milliwatt hours of electricity and is expected to cost $100 per kilowatt hour. The researchers aim to create an industrial-grade system that can store up to 10,000 times, making it suitable for grid-scale energy storage.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Tropical Cyclone Flamboyan, revealing northwesterly wind shear pushing the storm southeast. The coldest cloud tops were highest in the atmosphere, indicating strong storms capable of producing heavy rainfall.
Researchers at UT Dallas developed a new control strategy using supercomputers to extract more power from wind turbines. The approach has the potential to increase wind energy production by up to six percent and generate $100 million in value per one percent improvement.
The USGS and DOE have released a comprehensive dataset of U.S. wind turbine locations and characteristics, enabling accurate planning and research. The database contains over 57,000 turbines and allows users to search and sort the wind fleet by various criteria.