Iowa State U lab helps build a better turbine blade

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Excerpt:   A laser in Iowa State University’s Wind Energy Manufacturing Laboratory scanned layer after layer of the flexible fiberglass fabric used to make wind-turbine blades. A computer took the laser readings and calculated how dozens of the layers would fit and flow over the curves of a mol …

Wireless cellular networks help monitor remote wind projects

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Excerpt:   Xenon announces the T925 Wireless Cellular Controller for connecting remote wind-project sites with central control and monitoring stations through cellular networks. A T925 remote communications network eliminates need to make hardwired Ethernet connections to the Internet or to an in …

MIT profs look offshore for better wind

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Excerpt:   This article comes from MIT News   Of all the zero-carbon energy sources available, wind power is the only one that’s cost-competitive today: A 2006 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration put the total cost for wind-produced electricity at an average of $55.8 …

Series production soon for “most efficient” 2.4 MW turbine

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Excerpt:   Turbine manufacturer Nordex says it has passed a major milestone towards the series production of the N117/2400 onshore turbine:  On 16 December 2011, it installed the first version of this model at the “Stadum” citizens’ wind farm in Schleswig-Holstein. With a 117-m rotor diame …

Gearbox rebuilder selects Wisconsin

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Excerpt: Three power transmission and wind energy veterans have banded together to create Gearbox Express, an independent business focusing on the repair and remanufacturing of wind-turbine gearboxes. Founding partners Bruce Neumiller, CEO, Brian Hastings, CFO, and Brian Halverson, COO, have a combined 4 …

60% of U.S. businesses: Higher cost power OK to reduce imported oil

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Excerpt:   Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, and its impact on oil prices, 44% of global businesses would now support increased government investment in renewable and alternative energy, according to the latest research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). In th …

Silicon terminations for 15 to 35kV cables

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Excerpt:   Elastimold Ranger2 indoor Shrink-Fit Terminations provide easy-to-install, economical devices for medium voltage, TRXLP, and EPR cables in interior and exterior applications. The Ranger2 Shrink-Fit Terminations come in 15kV indoor design, and 15, 28 and 35kV outdoor designs for 2 AWG t …

Power-storage control for islanding, peak shaving, and more

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Excerpt: The Smart Grid SMS Storage Management System provides an interface between a stored power source and the utility grid. It consists of a master control system and a 2-MW, 2.5-MVA power conversion system (PCS). The PCS is comprised of two inverters, each rated 1 MW and 1.25 MVA. When coupled with …

Lincoln logs one of North America’s largest

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Excerpt: Cleveland-based manufacturer of arc-welding products Lincoln Electric recently hosted a dedication to show off their 2.5-MW turbine, one of the largest urban wind turbines in North America. The turbine is also the first on the continent from German manufacturer Kenersys. The company says thei …

Wind projects soon to benefit from U.S. permanent magnet generators

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Excerpt: A developer of permanent magnet generators has passed a major milestone in the company’s growth following initial successful up-tower operation of its PM generators by a leading wind-turbine OEM. The milestone – the first up-tower validation of Danotek’s PM generator technology – followe …