The explanation given by the local newspaper is: “While a first blade broke away from the wind and crashed into a nearby field in the course of the night, a large part of a second the right blade collapsed mast Thursday in the late morning. ”

It appears that wind gusts over 110 km / h were recorded by the meteorological services for several hours.

The turbine in question is located in the parking Widehem located between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Etaples (Pas-de-Calais) with a capacity of 4.5 MW intallée. Commissioned between 2000 and 2001, each of the six wind turbines of type “Jeumont J48/750″ develops an output of 750 kW and a diameter of 48 meters. The height of the platform is 46 meters.

The group Poweo is the developer, while the operator remains Sorgenia France.

Statistically, the number, such accidents happen inevitably. But it could be even more serious as this video shows in Denmark (Nordthank Park), where we see a wind turbine (Vestas model?) Literally explode (manufacturing problem, wear?).

The French company Vergnet examined the subject in tropical areas and has developed a concept that secures the turbine to the ground in case of cyclone!

Cambridge Consultants, a subsidiary of Altran, created Aveille, the 3D radar eliminates a major obstacle to the expansion of wind power and associated energy production. Indeed, one of the major obstacles to the deployment of wind farms is the current inability of air traffic controllers to separate aircraft turbine blades from a rotating  turbine.

Aveille will therefore provide air traffic controllers and aerodrome radar data accurate, necessary to eliminate any potential confusion.

This technology eliminates the concerns inherent in security and defense of airspace, which inhibit growth in the sector of wind energy. In the UK, 66% of all wind farm projects, the equivalent 6.5 gigawatts of electricity is currently delayed.

The approach of Aveille in mitigating the effects of wind turbines is the result of a comprehensive work alongside the major players in the UK aviation and wind energy such as wind farm developers , airport operators, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The result is a technology that promises to meet both civil and military requirements, to be profitable for smaller wind farms and create jobs in green energy.

“The launch of the technical solution of Aveille is an important step in the development of clean energy worldwide. The disruptive innovation meets the ambitious objectives set by governments in renewable energy, “said Philippe Salle, President and CEO of Altran.

To install a wind farm in Spain is necessary to adopt an environmental impact assessment and an analysis of the points is its influence on the birds of the environment, for which the procedure is to count the number of birds that fly over the area before its construction.

However, CSIC researcher at the University Pablo de Olavide, Martina Reel, has stressed that this method has a “wide margin of error” because there may be fluctuations in busy areas by birds, for example, if there is a change position of food sources. “This count does not reflect the real relationship between the abundance of birds and their mortality,” she added.

Therefore, the team proposes the use of other descriptive variables of abundance consider the distance and size of breeding colonies and roosts for the species to develop an index to establish areas where the installation of wind turbines is “highly dangerous”.

The research used data from location and size of breeding colonies and roosts vultures in the province of Cadiz, and the situation of the 34 wind turbines wind farms in operation in the area ceded by the Board of Andalusia.

Thus, during the study, which began in 1998 and completed in 2008, 342 vultures were found dead in collisions with wind turbines of these facilities. The results show, according to the CSIC, the indicator developed is able to explain faithfully vulture mortality in these parks.

“A smaller distance between the turbines and roosting colonies of the species, combined with a high number of birds that use them, increasing the probability of collision,” says Roll, who also notes that “the mortality of this species in wind farms is concentrated in a few turbines. In this particular study area, all crashes were concentrated in 11 percent of the turbines. ”

Thus, the CSIC has stated that this work demonstrates that, if you have detailed information on the distribution of vulture colonies and their size can be spatial planning of wind farms and minimize mortality of these birds, which would make “effective” tool.

He posed with the Wind Cube is a small wind aerogenarador type of easy installation, built with cheap materials that could be affordable to any pocket, it is capable of generating 100 watts.

But it does not end there can be interconnected with each other thanks to its modular design greatly increasing the power, so that only fifteen of them could cover the energy cost of a house with four occupants.

They take advantage of air currents at low operating most of the time. The helix of each of them has the ability to rotate at different angles in order to better adapt to the wind, but being subject to a small telescopic pole allows you to easily fall back when the weather conditions, accompanied by strong winds are unfavorable.

I sincerely hope you do not run in the design and the company that sponsors the designers achieved a little while to bring the idea to market.

This is the sort ideas we need to stop relying on dirty energy and exhaustible as coal, oil, gas and nuclear power.

Longyuan Power Corporation Ltd., the biggest developer of wind energy in China, signed an agreement to acquire equity in a Canadian energy company, which is the first foray of the company in the global market for wind energy.

Under the agreement, Canada Longyuan Renewables Ltd., a subsidiary of Power Corporation Ltd. Longyuan, acquire capital stock of a 100 megawatt wind farm being built by Farm Owned Power (Melancthon) Ltd., a Canadian energy company Headquartered in Ontario. The wind industry insiders say the project will be completed in about two years but did not specify a date for the start of the project.

When completed, the project will supply electricity to 30,000 homes, said Longyuan. The agreement marks the first time a Chinese state energy company invests in wind power project located overseas. Longyuan began its efforts to acquire equity in November 2010.

Changjun Xie, CEO of Longyuan, said Canada has abundant wind energy resources and excellent support policies for wind industry, which has helped create an environment ideal for investment and operation of wind farms.

The consulting firm BTM Consult of Denmark said that by the end of 2010 Canada had the largest amount of installed wind power capacity in North America, only behind the United States. Plans for wind energy development in Canada provincial state that by 2016 there will be 12 gigawatts of installed wind energy capacity.

The wind Longyuan instalacioness totaled 6.56 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity by the end of 2010, the largest individual amount in Asia and the third largest in the world, according to a report by BTM Consult.

Longyuan has been vigorously exploring the market for renewable energy in recent years, establishing offices in South Africa, USA, Canada and Europe. Longyuan said it has made ​​substantial progress in establishing wind energy projects in South Africa, as well as its progress in Canada.

During the first four months of 2011, Siemens Energy has indeed won a total of 11 orders for the supply and installation of 151 wind turbines onshore, with a total capacity of 360 megawatts (MW). The total output of this command set enough to power 230,000 European homes with electricity from renewable sources. For two of these projects, Siemens said it will deliver 19 of its “new wind turbines with direct drive, which show 3 MW power and 101-meter rotor diameter each.

These turbines are designed for wind farms in Turkey Dagpazari (39 MW) and Millour Hill (18 MW) in the United Kingdom.

With 87,000 MW of installed capacity, Europe is now the largest wind market in the world. According to forecasts from the World Council of wind energy (Global Wind Energy Council), the installed capacity worldwide will rise to 459,000 MW by 2015.

“Siemens is the undisputed world leader in offshore wind, but we also gain market share on the mainland,” said Michael Suess, CEO of Siemens Energy Sector. “Last year, Siemens was already No. 2 in the U.S., a leading market for wind power onshore. In Europe too, we are gaining ground now. We’re getting closer to our goal of becoming by 2012 a major turbine manufacturers,” said Michael Suess.

According to the Danish manufacturer, these machines offer a significantly increased production, an integrated network compatibility and therefore an energy cost competitive. This version will be marketed initially in the U.S. markets, then those on the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean and about 70% of the African continent.

The new generation of 2 MW turbines gives a better performance with a transmission and system management costs and an improved power system based on a full power converter. It also offers a high load factor reached an integrated power of 2.0 MW with a rotor diameter of 90 meters for sites with high winds, and with a rotor diameter of 100 meters for sites with low winds and moderate . The wind is certified according to the latest IEC standards.

“With the 2 MW Gridstream wind turbines our customers can benefit from a modular wind turbine fleet dynamics, designed for optimum performance whatever the site conditions and classes of wind,” says Juan Araluce, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

Also according to Vestas, with the new multiplier design, advanced control systems, and a larger diameter rotor, these turbines can be installed on sites with strong winds. For example, with a wind speed of 8 m / sec on ​​average, V100 – 2.0 MW on a site IEC II produces about 15% more energy than the V90 – 1.8 MW. The multiplier is equipped with integrated torque arm and a fully integrated lubrication system. Being composed of fewer parts, therefore it offers greater ease of maintenance and reduced maintenance costs.

“The modular design of the 2 MW Gridstream wind turbines allows for local production which facilitates local sourcing of components and service delivery throughout the value chain Vestas” concluded Juan Araluce.

The first series of turbines will be delivered and installed in 2012.

The N117 outdoes other wind turbines by up to 20%. The production of wind turbines will begin in July 2012 in Arkansas.

Nordex USA, Inc. will debut its new wind turbine N117/2400 for the U.S. market at WINDPOWER in Anaheim, California, from 22 to 25 May 2011. The N117 is designed specifically for wind farms with light winds, which increases the potential for wind energy.

“The N117 will help to increase overall number of places in America where you can harness wind energy,” said Ralf Sigrist, president and CEO of Nordex USA. “This means a further step in ensuring that wind energy is a highly competitive alternative, even for areas with low wind speed.”

Wind turbines have a rated capacity of 2.4 megawatts (MW), a rotor diameter of 117 meters and a rotor sweep of 10,751 meters square. In a typical site has a capacity of more than 3,500 hours at full load, beating other wind turbines in this category up to 20 percent. This translates into a capacity factor of 40 percent.

Noise is limited to a maximum of 105 decibels, which allows the wind turbine is situated near residential areas and facilitate optimum turbine design for wind farms. The N117 is the result of 11 years of systematic technical improvements to the multi-megawatt platform company. It also draws on 26 years of wind engineering and experience of more than 1,500 wind turbines installed several megawatts each.

Nordex wind turbines will start producing the N117 in its new U.S. plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which opened in October 2010. Wind turbines manufactured in the U.S. contain more than 75% local components.

The new offshore wind farm Baltic EnBW 1 is located in the zone of 12 nautical miles off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, at the height of the cities of Prerow and Zingst.

EnBW Baltic 1 involves the installation of 21 turbines with a capacity of 2.3 MW each. The wind farm, with a total capacity of 48.3 MW, will produce annually about 185 GWh of electricity to the public distribution system. The project also involves installation of an offshore transformer station, connecting the wind farm at the coast by a submarine cable to high voltage. EnBW Baltic Park 1, installed in 2010, among currently operating.

“The ambitions of Germany in the field of renewable energies fall in line with the joint efforts at EU level. The EIB is committed to making the fight against climate change a priority area of intervention. For the past year alone, loans dedicated to action for climate reached a record level of 30% of total loans granted. In this regard, the offshore wind sector, precisely, is of great importance since it still has a reservoir of considerable capacity, “said Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen, Vice-President of the EIB in charge of operations in Germany.

By 2020, Germany intends to increase to 30% minimum share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. Achieving this goal relies heavily on the development of wind power navy. For the current year, it expects an increase of 300 MW of offshore wind capacity installations.

Offshore wind projects are technical challenges and require long lead times for implementation. As funding needs are they considerable. In addition to funding, the project EnBW Baltic 1 could also benefit from the participation of other donors.

This invention has won the second prize in IDEAS Cleantech Open, an international competition designed to promote and launch new ideas in the field of energy and environment, while meeting the economic challenge.

“The integration of renewable energy devices on the roofs of buildings has become a necessity in the world,” said founder and CEO of the company, Dr. Daniel Farb. And he added, “The Wind Tulip is aesthetically pleasing and does not present any danger to people or birds.”

“The product is cost-effective and simple to install. It has been studied through demonstration prototypes based in the Rotem Industrial Park in the town of Dimona in southern Israel. Now the problem is to find funding to prove their effectiveness on a larger scale and market them in larger markets.”

Farb believes that his company needs about $3.5 million to mass produce the prototype.

From his point of view, Israel does not have all the favorable opportunities for the expansion of his invention. “We do not have a large estate market, we have a lot of bureaucracy and funding from the government is not as generous as in other countries. The U.S., for example, are subsidizing cover 100% of project costs.”

Main applications:
- Flat roofs in rural and urban
- Farms
- Small Business
- Communication Towers
- Car parking, etc.

Specifications:
- Height: 4.2 meters
- Width: 2.5 meters
- Weight: approx. 350 kg
- Diameter of blade: 2.75 meters
- Generator Direct Drive 2 / 3.5 / 5 kilowatts
- Operating speed: about 1.6 m / s
- Maximum speed: 50 m / s
- Standard IEC61400

Wind Tulip

Basically, the device consists of a giant Venturi tube, which increases the strength of the wind and brings to power a wind turbine, located in areas of Patagonia, where westerly winds always blow. “As far as I could investigate the unidirectional winds are permanently south of the Colorado River, over 93 percent of the days of the year, represent a unique case in the world,” said the inventor.

In 1995, when he visited Los Antiguos (Santa Cruz), Diaz kneaded the idea to prove that “the wind is not well used.” He thought that having all the time with the same wind direction could be used to overcome the drawbacks of conventional wind generation by “European mills very expensive, complex installation, maintenance difficult, which require special wiring and needed many to meet the demand of a people. ”

Matured the idea for a couple of years and in 2010 it took “two months to shape the device.” Diaz’s invention is a wedge-shaped nozzle, which descends from the roof to the mouth takes to bring the “venturi effect.” The mouth is a rectangle, 50 by 100 feet ahead. The pipe is 82 meters long and terminates in a mouth 50 meters wide and 12.50 tall. In the wind tunnel speed increases several times before impacting on the mill, composed of eight concave blades and  a centrifuge rotor.

“A wind of 60 mph at the end of the device reaches nearly 450 kilometers per hour,” said the inventor. On impact with even pressure on “a much larger area than conventional mills” (two or three blades) greater efficiency. “The rotation of the rotor can be controlled with a discretion or power top, through a window of relief and a gate.”

Each device includes a complex of four modules, “able to supply two Kaplan or Francis turbines as installed in the Chocón (from 270 000 HP),” said Diaz. He added that “Blades are 12.50 meters long by 12″, which determines an area of greater impact. “It’s a team with a lot of torque, which prevails the power,” he said.

Today, with six wind turbines in operation, The Chocón generates 5 percent of the total energy consumed by Argentina. Diaz is “convinced that the installation of various modules in this way will the wind generator to solve the energy problems of our country.” Joined by universal joint, the modules are easily replaceable and is easily maintained. “It’s a very practical combination, define its inventor.

The initiative, valued at one million euros, aims to create a wind turbine with a capacity of 15 kilowatts that incorporates the patented variable pitch. One mechanism that has been developing Sonkyo Energy and successfully with small wind turbines WINDSPOT.

Unlike previous models, this technology is adapted to wind speed based on their strength and intensity. Thus this system can be moved to higher powers, for what is necessary to act in different technological areas, such as aerodynamics, mechanics, electronics or control.

Hence the design complexity and the need for the intervention of several agents: the Industrial Energy department for Sonkyo Energy, Setelsa, INTA (National Institute of Aerospace Technology) and Innova CT. The latter will deal with the electronics area, INTA with the business dynamics and the Cantabrian Setelsa with control process for the prototype.

Sonkyo Energy is a company based in Cantabria and has wind energy distributors in 14 countries worldwide, with offices set in countries such as Taiwan, China, India and United States. In total, the business group employs about a hundred of employees, 60 of them in the autonomous region.

Its career began in 2009 with the introduction of small wind turbine WINDSPOT specializes in the fair Windpower of Chicago, USA. Since then technology has reached agreements with companies and institutions like the University of Arkansas, SEPEN France, CIEMAT (Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology, Ministry of Science and Innovation) and the University of Masdar in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, among others.

Setelsa (Electronic Systems and Communications, Inc.) is a leading electronic engineering in Spain with extensive experience in project development information technology and communication in areas such as banking and transport, among others.

The CDTI support this project will incorporate a dozen qualified external work on the design of the prototype with the intention to start operating in 2012 and, finally, to enter the market.

Under the plan that has the multinational to expand its portfolio of renewable energy, has also begun installing solar panels at its factory in Cologne (Germany), according to the company in a press release. In this case is estimated to produce 796 megawatt hours per year, allowing a reduction of 544 metric tons of CO2. This facility will start producing power in early summer.

“These investments are another example of P & G’s commitment to sustainability and our continuing drive to operate more sustainably while reducing energy costs,” said Keith Harrison, global head of P & G products “Adding wind energy to our portfolio allows us to have a diversified portfolio of renewable energy, which enhances our flexibility to maximize efficiency and reduce dependence on conventional sources of energy from oil.”

Procter & Gamble has uploaded a video to YouTube where you can see the installation of the turbine at its plant in Coevorden: P&G\’s First Wind Turbine

Wind ISM filed recently in the Masnou Pau Casals park (Catalonia, Spain) the prototype of the world’s first lamp that combines two energies: wind and solar. With innovative design work of the renowned French designer Philippe Starck, features a vertical shaft connected to a generator bladed and does not require any labor to install. The innovative light system comes into operation when it receives an order from a programmer equipped with a light sensor.

Thought to be released soon in the Masnou promenade, the Revolution Air, a trade name that receives the invention, has a cost of 2,500 euros “that pays 75% at the time and does not require any work or electrical connection points Álvaro Ibanez IGS manager detailing the gadget generates a light output of 600 watts and a range adaptable, in the case of the prototype presented yesterday is five days.

Equipped with lighting technology through minileds, the innovative energy-saving lamp allows for a kilowatt per hour, avoiding the emission of two tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere in one year and may be located in small installations such as irrigation systems public parks or drive pumps, as the system installed on Caldetas vertical wind to power the extraction pump the accumulated water at the mouth of the stream, and even private homes, as have other models from 400 wind turbines watts.

It is quieter elements that “in no case exceed 42 decibels” when the maximum allowed by law is 45 db, since the directional blades are designed to “make less noise than the wind itself.” A system according to Ernest Suñé, Councillor for Environment and Landscape Masnou allows us to meet with the mayors signed to reduce C02 emissions “and while” championing the forefront of sustainability and cost savings with an energy project clean. ”

El Masnou is the first city to host the prototype wind-solar as the company is located in the municipality, but according to Ibanez, numerous governments and public entities have expressed interest in new technology. Thus, IGS systems Wind will be seen soon as energy sources for public toilets and areas for relaxing in the lounge areas of the highways that manages the dealership ACESA, pursuant to a request from the European Union to improve the quality road facilities. On another matter, the Andalusia facility studying its autonomous public buildings and new facilities in Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz), Malaga and Santander.

Indeed, the new models are designed to increase annual energy production compared to existing 2.5-megawatt wind turbines. These new facilities include:

The GE model from 2.75 to 100 is more powerful than the current 2.5-100 wind without modification of the mechanical part. It has undergone some minor electrical system. The 2.75-100 GE Wind has an annual production of higher energy sites for wind class 2 IEC.

The GE model is a combination of 2.75-103 model rotor 2.75 and 103 meters using the properties of blade design type GE 50.2 with the latest improvements in aerodynamics, reduced noise emissions and a strong performance . The new wind is from 2.75 to 103 sites optimized for wind class III CIS.

“These changes have been undertaken to enhance customer value, while maintaining performance and proven reliability of our 2.5 megawatt wind current. These recent additions to our range of wind turbines increase significantly our ability to cover a wider range of wind conditions, making the annual energy production of the highest class and increase the success of GE’s 1.5 megawatt model The wind turbine used in the world with over 14,000 units installed to date.” said Ricardo Cordoba, president of GE Energy Western Europe and North Africa.

GE noted that the range of 2.5-megawatt GE wind turbines is available worldwide.

This range is used on two of the largest projects in the world: the wind farm Fantanele CEZ Romania completing the largest project of European land and the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm of Caithness Energy Company under construction in Oregon, largest wind farm ever built in the United States.

A new study published by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council seems to say otherwise. “There is currently no scientific evidence published in great detail that shows an alleged link between wind and adverse effects on human health.

Even the World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no evidence “irrefutable” that could substantiate this claim.

Interestingly, the study indicates that a wind farm (10 turbines) located 350 meters from a subject is less noisy (35-45 dB) that a car traveling at 100 km / h (55 dBA – 100 meters away) or remains well below a noisy office (60 dBA).

Furthermore, the noise levels of a wind farm are negligible – “when it does not seem to be any differences between those (Editor’s note sounds) found in other everyday situations,” notes the study.

Another complaint against the turbines on the sun’s rays are reflected by the blades causing a potentially dangerous glare. Contradicting this anxiety, the study states “that all the blades of large wind turbine manufacturers undergo treatment with low-reflectivity coating … the risk of glare of the blade on modern wind turbines is considered very low.”

Opponents also formulate assessments are often subjective (and negative), such that the ugliness of the masts, the confiscation of the beauty of landscapes or sea by the wind.

Wind power also raises questions such as the danger of blades for the safety of birds and other small animals or weakness of the average production estimated by the associations to 30% of installed capacity (eg for 1 MW of power, Average production is 2,500 MWh over the year).

But compared to other energy sources, the arguments in favor of wind power are quite convincing: no inherent waste, no need to water unlike solar panels, wind turbines occupy less land.

The project Vertiwind Water Lily, already well known to readers of this blog and who was running for Fund support research demonstrator screened by ADEME last June, already has considerable support from Technip for the design and manufacture floats upon which the generator and blades, but also support of EDF France, Seal Engineering (a subsidiary of Technip), Bureau Veritas and the Ecole des Arts et Metiers ParisTech.

For the past three months, a 0.5-scale prototype is being tested on the site of the Careers Boulogne. Built in the laboratories of the Ecole des Arts et Métiers de Lille, has a power of 35 kW. With funds Idinvest Partners Waterlily will be able to manufacture and test a model-size, first on land then Wed If all goes as planned, the first commercial achievements should be born in the Mediterranean Sea and in England and Scotland, once the technology is proven. I recalled the main technical characteristics of this wind turbine floating French already described in previous articles:

- 90 meters high against more than 100 meters for traditional offshore wind

- A waterline requiring only a shallow draft, a dozen meters, which makes its tow from the land where it fully assembled and equipped, the less complex.

- Vertical blades, which rotate around a vertical axis itself as a tourniquet to ride

- A rotation speed of the wind, which varies depending on the wind through an electronic system of enslavement removing any risk of vibration of the blades.

Charles Smadja said: “The handling of this wind turbine has nothing to do with large projects required for assembly of wind turbines at sea that weight 200 tons. I would add that performance against the wind proved identical and they might be even higher very quickly.”

The company has used the visit of the head of the German government, Angela Merkel to Ekaterinburg, capital of the Urals, to finalize the powerful framework agreement. This optimizes the synergies of the engineering activities of Siemens in the transport and energy sectors, since it also covers the supply of 240 regional trains to RZD, the public railway company, over the next ten years.

The wind component the agreement provides for the establishment of a joint venture that will create a production center in the country, whose location has not yet been determined. The company is led by Siemens and owned by public corporations and Russian RusHydro and Rostechnologii. In this way, Siemens opened a market that aims to install five gigawatts of wind power by 2020. Under the agreement, the company will manufacture and supply wind turbines for Russian projects totaling at least 1.2 GW of power in the next five years.

Also this week, the German multinational company has signed a supply agreement with renewable energy subsidiary of Scottish & Souther Electric Energy (SSER). Under the agreement, Siemens allocated 68 machines for 2.3 MW Griffin Park, located 30 kilometers from the city of Perth and whose implementation is expected in 2012. In addition to supplying and installing the machines, Siemens is also responsible for its maintenance during the first five years.

Of the 68 turbines, 61 will have a 101 meter rotor, as will the remaining seven of 93. This is the second contract that Siemens achieved with SSER, following a commitment to supply 350 MW to the Scottish electricity last year for Clyde project, which will also become operational in 2012.

Wind turbines are rather ancient device as they had been used for water elevating, sawing up logs, grinding flour – that is, in modern terms, to obtain mechanical energy. Owing to wind turbines the civilization received an evolution impulse. Then the decline came on. Windjammers don’t range the seas and oceans and wind turbines hardly can find its place in the energetics. Why did it happen?

There are definitely more powerful and handy energy sources. The demands for the quality of energy have definitely been stepped up as the lack of voltage or even voltage drops irritate consumers.
But material and device technology is not at a stop! Nowadays it should come as no surprise that there are composites and energy converters. Automatic machines and robots are doing hard and dangerous work for humans.

So why modern wind turbines are so expensive? Why an owner of a Jeep that has a few hundreds of HPs under the hood can’t afford having a wind turbine and his grandfather could build a windmill to grind flour for the whole community.  Windmills had been standing at almost every village for tens or even hundreds of years. There are lots of reasons for that but I think the main ones are wrongly interpreted or being hushed up.

The modern energetics inclines to big stuff. The most powerful reactor or the most powerful turbine is a matter of the country’s international image! There is the same approach for wind turbines: the biggest wind turbine or the most powerful wind power generator is the pride and envy. One of the indicators of wealth and success of a country is quantity of energy per capita – the more, the better!

On the other hand centralized networks are just another way to control population or even the whole world. A law abiding citizen consumes energy working to pay the energy bills and keep his head down.  If something goes wrong, the master switch goes down! Nowadays the one who has energy, rules the world.

But it’s not the case with the environmentally safe, alternative, green energetics. On one hand the energy is everywhere – sun, wind, waves are all around us. On the other hand the thickness is not that high and to harvest it energy receivers of large area are needed. Two approaches are possible here. A “sky-high” generator could be constructed which is oversized and very expensive (that’s the common thing with them) or to make hundreds of little ones scattered over a vast territory literally in every backyard.

But only the oversized giant fits into the total control centralized system and the hundreds of little ones could cause losing of the control and in the long run, the loss of the power itself. Sure enough no one is willing to give up on power! This is the reason for the evident and concealed opposition to the “small energetics”.  No one has a stake in research and development of compact moderate-priced devices. Some models are developed and produced by efforts of few enthusiasts. But these models usually are copycats of the commercial giants just on a considerable scale.

There is the following issue behind it – integrity of the design characteristics. Actually design calculations recently become more available and the necessity of experimental verification was pushed to the sideliners.  If you look through any of the online forums focused on engineering, you may notice that a great deal of trained (and not) users lock horns with each other on theoretical topics and no one sets about having a field test made. Those who actually make it to the metal are being watchful of as well as their practical results. The rule of good theory being tested by practice is somehow forgotten. As a result clueless schemes emerge just to discredit smart ideas.

If you put the abovementioned in wind energetics terms, you could see that the vast dry land territories are not perspective for setting up wind turbines as the wind intensity is insufficient. I beg you pardon! If this approach had been used by shipping companies, no one would have designed off-roaders as the railway is more advantageous for shipping the goods. But there is an approach for every task. If the wind was not sufficient for flour grinding, our ancestors used to spread sails between the blades and carried on. But modern “connoisseurs” can’t stand a wind sail turbine just because it doesn’t look too much of a propeller and they go on with shooting the bull! The airplane propeller theory is really well developed but why to apply it to an almost static mechanism? For different areas with different wind intensity different designs of wind turbines should be applied! A Formula 1 car cannot do the same thing a heavy-duty dump truck does!

Thus, the task of building a good wind turbine is transformed into a task to build the right kind of a wind turbine for a certain place and a certain consumer. Here it would be useful to do a research of the existing market and to define the goods and the bads of the designs available.

To be continued in “Perfect wind turbine criteria”…

Vadim Belyaev, “Vetronet”,
Design Manager

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