Articles tagged with Wind Power
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have discovered a novel form of air bubble that enhances the drag on dandelion seeds, allowing them to travel great distances without power consumption. This breakthrough could inspire the development of small-scale drones for remote sensing or air pollution monitoring.
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.
Scientists develop visual pattern that triggers long-term avoidance of high-risk areas by raptors, improving collision detection and reducing plane and wind turbine collisions. The 'looming' effect created by concentric black circles on a white background is effective in repelling birds from specific areas.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
MIT researchers have developed a passive, solar-powered system to prevent ice buildup on surfaces, using a three-layered material that absorbs sunlight and spreads heat to melt boundary layers of ice. The system has been tested extensively and shows great promise for commercial use in various applications.
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.
Researchers have developed a new organic molecule that can store and release energy tens of thousands of times over multi-year periods. The 'Methuselah' quinone molecule avoids degradation problems of previous molecules, providing long-term stability and high energy storage.
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 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...
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.
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%.
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.
Researchers from Imperial College London found that investing in existing low-carbon energy technologies now can save 61% of future costs compared to waiting for a mythical future technology. Delaying investment can lead to grossly oversized and underutilized power systems, or those that are far from being decarbonised by 2050.
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.
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.
Hoary bats exhibit unusual silent behavior during their fall mating season, potentially to avoid eavesdropping from competitors and mates. The study suggests that this 'inconspicuous echolocation' may provide an advantage in the mating game but poses a deadly risk when encountering obstacles like wind turbines.
Researchers found that private electric vehicles can reduce CO2 emissions by incentivizing slow charging, while electrifying buses and taxis is the most effective option for improving air quality in Beijing. The study's strategy aims to maximize the benefits of renewables by managing vehicle charging.
ETH Zurich scientists have discovered two new materials that could advance the development of aluminum batteries: a corrosion-resistant titanium nitride material and a flexible polypyrene material for the positive electrode. These advancements aim to improve the energy storage capacity, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of sustainabl...
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.
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.
The Chain Reaction Innovations program at Argonne National Laboratory aims to accelerate the development of sustainable energy technologies. Eighty-three innovators from 26 states have been selected to participate in a two-year program focused on enhancing energy efficiency or sustainability, and overcoming complex scientific challenges.
A new impact detection system uses vibration sensors and acoustic sensors to identify bird strikes on wind turbines. The system has shown positive results in detecting collisions, with the potential to improve safety for protected species like bald eagles.
USU chemists design a molecule featuring a pi-electron conjugation unit as a two-electron storage anolyte for AORFBs, enabling total use of organic materials. The battery delivered high voltage, impressive energy efficiency, and capacity retention.
Researchers have developed an advanced hydrogen-bromine flow battery that can store electricity from solar farms and discharge it overnight when needed. The battery, designed by the University of Kansas, has a high surface area and could be used in large-scale remote energy storage systems.
The study found that wind and solar resources have natural variability, making it challenging to generate all electricity from these sources. Reliable electricity generation with 80% solar and wind requires a continent-scale transmission grid with at least 12 hours of storage.
Scientists at UCI, Caltech, and Carnegie Institution for Science found that US can reliably meet 80% of electricity demand with solar and wind power generation. However, meeting 100% demand would require significant investment in energy storage and transmission capabilities to overcome seasonal and weather variabilities.
Researchers have developed two initiatives to minimize bird-human interactions, using acoustic deterrence technology. Sonic Nets uses sound to make gathering birds uncomfortable, while Acoustic Lighthouse alerts flying birds to avoid collisions with wind turbines and other structures.
Researchers explore alternative reuse of wind turbine blades in architectural structures to reduce non-biodegradable waste. The project aims to provide valuable information on wind energy and best practices for industry and communities.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have developed a promising compound that can transform the energy storage landscape for large electrical grids. By modifying a metal-oxide cluster, they were able to nearly double its electrochemical energy storage in redox flow batteries, making it an ideal candidate material.
The study proposes three methods for consistent power among all sectors in 20 world regions, matching supply and demand in 30-second increments. It suggests solutions with no added hydropower turbines and no storage in water, ice or rocks, avoiding blackouts at low cost.
A recent study by MLU psychologists found that nearly a third of residents near wind farms experience little to no annoyance from the noise, while one in ten suffer from stress symptoms. The researchers recommend proactive addressing residents' concerns during planning phases and providing early information campaigns.
Microgrids in Alaska provide electricity for over 200 communities, generating more than 2 million hours of operating experience annually. Renewable energy sources reduce energy costs and improve resilience in the face of grid failures or sabotage.
A study of medical cannabis dispensaries in Washington and Colorado reveals how communities vote affects marketing strategies, with traditional approaches dominating counties where recreational use was rejected. Dispensaries in favor of recreational sales adopted more risk-taking marketing tactics, emphasizing convenience and price.
A study predicts that global wind power resources may decrease in the Northern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes and increase in the Southern Hemisphere and tropics by 2100. However, if emission levels are mitigated, wind power production in these regions may not see a corresponding increase.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new catalyst that increases the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis to 64%, converting electrical energy into chemical energy. This innovation addresses two major challenges in renewable energy production, capturing carbon emissions and storing energy from solar or wind power.
The U.S. Department of Energy's INCITE program awards large-scale research campaigns to researchers, allocating 5.95 billion core-hours on three powerful supercomputers. Domain scientists and computational experts provide support to aid in code development, optimization, and data analysis.
Sandia engineers have designed a control system that doubles the power absorbed by wave energy converters, making electricity produced from wave energy less expensive. The team applied robotics and aerospace engineering design principles to refine how a wave energy converter moves and responds in the ocean.
Researchers have identified the most favorable areas for harnessing high-altitude wind energy in the Middle East, where abundant and reliable winds are available. The study's findings suggest that regions over Saudi Arabia and Oman could be ideal locations for airborne wind-energy systems.
A new battery powered by sulfur, air, water, and salt has been developed to store twice as much energy as a lead-acid battery while being nearly 100 times less expensive to produce. The invention aims to help integrate more renewable energy into the grid, addressing variability challenges.
Engineers at MIT developed a new model to simulate dynamic soaring in albatrosses, finding that shallow arcs help birds stay aloft with less effort. The research also sheds light on the optimal flight pattern for wind-propelled drones and gliders.
New research from Carnegie Institution for Science suggests that North Atlantic wind farms can generate at least three times more power than onshore wind farms, tapping into winds throughout the atmosphere. However, this tremendous wind power is seasonal and primarily available during winter months.
Researchers suggest open-ocean wind farms can sustain higher electricity generation rates than on-land wind farms due to kinetic energy reservoir access. Annual global energy demand could be met with commercial-scale open-ocean wind turbines spanning approximately 3 million square kilometers.
A study by Columbia University researchers suggests that U.S. lakes and reservoirs can generate 325 gigawatts of power through evaporation, which is nearly 70% of the country's current energy production.
Researchers from UK and China collaborate on five projects to tackle key challenges in offshore renewable energy, maximizing environmental and socio-economic benefits. The projects will inform technology development and structure resilience to extreme events.
The New European Wind Atlas aims to reduce overall uncertainties in determining wind conditions by improving competencies on atmospheric flow and data guidelines. The atlas should be able to predict wind conditions with accuracy better than three percent in uncomplicated regions and ten percent in complicated regions.
Researchers created algorithms that allow homes to use and share power from renewable energy sources during outages. The system improves grid reliability by prioritizing distribution of power based on forecasts and energy storage availability.
Researchers are developing software called ThermalTracker to automatically categorize birds and bats in thermal video. The system can help developers and regulators make informed decisions about siting and operating offshore wind projects, reducing uncertainty about potential impacts on wildlife.
Distributed wind power has grown significantly in the US, with the nation's cumulative capacity reaching 1% of total wind power capacity. The 2016 report highlights the success of third-party financing and leasing options, which have made it more accessible for companies and individuals to install wind turbines on their properties.
The US Department of Energy's Wind Technologies Market Report reveals that wind power additions reached a record high in 2016, with 8,203 MW of new capacity. Bigger turbines are enhancing project performance, while low turbine pricing continues to push down installed project costs.