A Laboratory of the Future Human Experience
Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine
The Rotterdam-based tech firm The Archimedes has introduced its Liam F1 Urban Wind Turbine, which is said to have an energy yield that is “80 percent of the maximum that is theoretically feasible.” That’s quite the assertion, given that most conventional wind turbines average around 25 to 50 percent. (Video)
Bladeless wind turbine
A new model of a wind turbine has no blades. In fact, it has no moving parts at all. Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, the electrostatic wind energy converter (EWICON) prototype is currently on display at Delft University of Technology. (Video)
Continue reading… “Bladeless wind turbine has no moving parts”
Altaeros Energies floating wind turbine.
Altaeros Energies has developed a floating wind turbine that’s a cross between a traditional windmill and a blimp in an effort to harness strong high-altitude winds. After some successful tests, the Altaeros team is confident that this new levitating wind turbine will be a viable clean energy option for remote villages and military sites.
Continue reading… “Floating wind turbines will harness high altitude winds”
There are more than 100 giant turbines in the Thanet wind farm.
Arranged in formation like an advancing army, this is the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. The array of more than 100 giant turbines towering over the North Sea will be switched on today off the coast of Kent.
Continue reading… “World’s Biggest Offshore Wind Farm to be Switched On”
The bladeless wind turbine (left), and the stack of disks (right) which rotate and are connected to a shaft.
A bladeless wind turbine whose only rotating component is a turbine/driveshaft could generate power at a cost comparable to coal-fired power plants, according to its developers at Solar Aero. The New Hampshire-based company recently announced its patent on the Fuller wind turbine, which is an improvement on a patent issued to Nikola Tesla in 1913.
Better air dynamics
A company called Leviathan Energy has come up with a clever way to improve the efficiency of wind turbines, without making any modifications to the turbines or propellers themselves. Using aerodynamic modeling, Leviathan designed a special plastic and metal skirt structure that wraps around the base of the wind turbine and directs the flow of the air to the critical areas of the blades. The system is guaranteed to increase the power output of a wind turbine by at least 15-30%, and at lower wind speeds (0-6 meters per second) the gains can be as high as 150%.
Continue reading… “Donut-Shaped Wind Energizer Improves Wind Turbine Efficiency”
Luxury campers with blossoming eco-consciousness would not mind switching away from Airstream luxuries to the decent eco-capsule for their next adventure trip in the woods. (Pics)
Continue reading… “Rolling Stone: Eco-Capsule For The Eco-Conscious Camper”
The Crown Estate of England has just purchased the prototype of the world’s largest wind turbine, the 7.5 megawatte MBE by clipper. For comparisons sake, the monster in the picture above is Clipper’s Liberty, which produces 2.5 megawatts.
Continue reading… “World’s Largest Wind Turbine Purchased By Queen”
StatoilHydro has decided to build the world’s first full scale floating wind turbine, Hywind, and test it over a two-year period offshore Karmøy. The The company is investing approximately 400 million NOK. Planned startup is autumn 2009.
Continue reading… “World’s First Full Scale Floating Wind Turbine”