Most of the reduction comes from switching away from Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) batteries to lithium–ion. New projected 47-mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid and EPA-certified 47-mpg C-MAX Hybrid feature lighter, more efficient, more powerful lithium-ion batteries that are expected to reduce Ford’s use of expensive, rare earth metals by up to 500,000 pounds annually. Dysprosium, the most expensive … Continue reading Ford reducing rare earth metal use in 2013 electric cars
Continue readingCategory Archives: Evwind
Offshore wind energy jobs central to ‘Blue Growth’
The ‘Blue Growth’ Communication includes offshore wind power as a key element of current and future economic activity around Europe’s coast, significantly contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and benefiting other industrial sectors. Today’s Communication by the European Commission shows clearly the potential for additional economic activity in Europe’s coastal waters and recognises the European Wind Energy … Continue reading Offshore wind energy jobs central to ‘Blue Growth’
Continue reading
CTAER presents at the SolarPaces World Conference its Variable Geometry Central Receiver Test and Research facility
A solar plant of “variable geometry”, according to estimates, may achieve around 17% more efficiency than current plants. The research facility of the Advanced Technology Centre for Renewable Energies (CTAER), located in the Tabernas Desert (Almeria, Spain) is currently in its last stage of the construction phase and will be operational during the first term … Continue reading CTAER presents at the SolarPaces World Conference its Variable Geometry Central Receiver Test and Research facility
Continue reading
Wind energy and solar is actually cheaper than energy from coal and nuclear power plants
Taking into account health and environmental damage, wind and solar power from new plants in Europe is actually cheaper than energy from coal and nuclear power plants, according to a new report. Many people find it difficult to calculate the true cost of their electricity. Special duties, taxes and subsidies all add up to influence … Continue reading Wind energy and solar is actually cheaper than energy from coal and nuclear power plants
Continue reading
Gamesa strengthens its Brazilian wind power presence with 258 MW
Gamesa will install 129 of its G97-2.0 MW wind turbines at 10 wind farms which Santa Vitória do Palmar Holding is set to develop in southern Brazil and will perform operation and maintenance (O&M) services on the machines for 20 years. It is the first contract signed with a subsidiary of the country’s national power … Continue reading Gamesa strengthens its Brazilian wind power presence with 258 MW
Continue reading
Charles Koch gets it wrong on wind power’s cost
Wind power is an American success story that is creating affordable electricity and tens of thousands of new American jobs. But we need for Congress to act to extend the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and let wind finish the job. Billionaire and Koch Industries CEO Charles G. Koch had an op-ed on … Continue reading Charles Koch gets it wrong on wind power’s cost
Continue reading
Challenging steel, concrete is now being used in wind turbines
In addition to the story on concrete turbines, this edition of Wind Directions has a special comprehensive package on EWEA celebrating its 30th anniversary and the achievements of the European wind power sector during the past three decades. It may not become the norm, but some wind turbine suppliers are beginning to switch to concrete … Continue reading Challenging steel, concrete is now being used in wind turbines
Continue reading
The 21st century can count on wind power’s incredible capacity, say scientists
“Historically, wind turbines are placed on Earth’s surface, but high-altitude winds are usually steadier and faster than near-surface winds, resulting in higher average power densities,” said the study, called Geophysical limits to global wind power. A new US scientific study released in the past few days reveals that wind energy’s vast potential could more than … Continue reading The 21st century can count on wind power’s incredible capacity, say scientists
Continue reading
New UVAC 6G receiver from Siemens boosts efficiency of solar thermal power plants
Until now, more than 500.000 receivers of the UVAC family have been successfully installed in power plants. Siemens announced at the SolarPACES conference in Marrakech the release of a new solar receiver, the UVAC 6G (Universal Vacuum Air Collector), which further increases thermal heat production for solar power plants. The improved heat generation of the … Continue reading New UVAC 6G receiver from Siemens boosts efficiency of solar thermal power plants
Continue reading
Nordex introducing new service package
“Premium Light” is positioned between the “Extended” and “Premium” contracts in terms of future-proofing investments. Unlike the conventional “Premium” contract, it does not include repairs, deliveries of spare parts or the replacement of for example gearboxes, generators, rotor blades or main converter. “Premium Light” is particularly targeted at customers who wish to minimise the administrative … Continue reading Nordex introducing new service package
Continue readingU.S. solar power market more than doubles to 742 MW in 2Q 2012
GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) today released U.S. Solar Market Insight: 2nd Quarter 2012. The report finds that U.S. solar achieved its second-best quarter in history, having installed 742 megawatts of solar power, and the best quarter on record for the utility market segment. Utility installations hit 477 megawatts in the … Continue reading U.S. solar power market more than doubles to 742 MW in 2Q 2012
Continue reading
Renewable energy attractiveness indices
Spain and Italy’s sovereign credit crises have continued to drag them further down the index, while the UK’s plethora of policy announcements this quarter have garnered little clarity for investors. Welcome to the 2012 global economy. Growth in many countries is faltering and unemployment rates are stagnating. Even the rapid growth countries are showing signs … Continue reading Renewable energy attractiveness indices
Continue reading
The Wind-Hydro-Pumped Station of El Hierro
The El Hierro Sustainability Plan, approved on the 27th of November, 1997 by the Council of the island of El Hierro, poses the idea of making the island a self-sustained location. This possibility has been backed up in the “White Paper for a Community StrategyAction Plan” developed by the European Commission, which includes the following … Continue reading The Wind-Hydro-Pumped Station of El Hierro
Continue reading
Nordex wind power placing store by close partnerships with its suppliers
The “Best Partner” award went to tower supplier Win&P, Korea, for its short and on-schedule delivery periods. The award winner in the “Service” category was Nanjing High Speed Gear, China. The world’s largest producer of transmissions for wind turbines, it was praised for its extremely short service response times. Nordex presented the “Innovation” award to … Continue reading Nordex wind power placing store by close partnerships with its suppliers
Continue reading
Transporting blades by train for Vestas
One of the first blade-by-train transports in Europe, consisting of nine blades for Vestas’ V112-3.0 MW turbine, went from Vestas’ blade-factory in Lauchhammer, Germany, to the port of Esbjerg, Denmark, Friday 7 September. The train of cars had a total length of almost 700 meters, underlining the sheer size of this massive logistic challenge. Vestas, … Continue reading Transporting blades by train for Vestas
Continue reading
Real-time wind data allows conscientious consumption of energy
For conscientious consumption of energy in Ireland, visiting www.energyelephant.com allows you to see the current status of electricity production from wind energy in the country, updated every 15 minutes. For those who realise the necessity of caring about where energy comes from, the internet is making things easier. People now have access to real-time information on … Continue reading Real-time wind data allows conscientious consumption of energy
Continue reading
Indonesia to set prices for wind energy to lure investment
Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Rudi Rubiandini said that the government expected the new policy would increase the proportion of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix. The Indonesian government is preparing a new pricing regulation for micro-hydro, wind power and solar energy plants as an effort to lure investment in the … Continue reading Indonesia to set prices for wind energy to lure investment
Continue reading
Wind energy in Nicaragua: MIGA backs wind farm with Gamesa’s wind turbines
The Eolo de Nicaragua project consists of 22 Gamesa G90 2-megawatt wind turbine generators, as well as the facilities and equipment required to connect the generators to a high-voltage substation. This wind farm will decrease greenhouse gas emissions, address the need for additional generation capacity in the country, and reduce the cost of electricity for … Continue reading Wind energy in Nicaragua: MIGA backs wind farm with Gamesa’s wind turbines
Continue reading
Enercon to launch 2.5MW low wind turbine at HUSUM WindEnergy 2012
The rotor diameter of this new wind turbine is 115 metres with a rated power of 2.5 megawatts. The new E-115 series will be the main attraction at the ENERCON stand during this year’s HUSUM WindEnergy Fair (18-22 September). Designed for average wind speeds of 7.5 metres per second and gust intensities of up to … Continue reading Enercon to launch 2.5MW low wind turbine at HUSUM WindEnergy 2012
Continue reading
Food price crisis looms because of extreme weather events
Climate change and extreme weather events caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions will result in rapidly increasing global food prices that will negatively affect millions of people. That’s the central message of a sobering new report — Extreme Weather, Extreme Prices; The costs of feeding a warming world — that was published Wednesday by Oxfam … Continue reading Food price crisis looms because of extreme weather events
Continue reading
