Duke Energy Renewables has completed its 36-MW energy storage and power management system at its Notrees Windpower Project in west Texas. The system became fully operational in December, 2012. “Battery storage is an important innovation to address the variability of wind and solar energy generation,” said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. “Developing an expertise
Things I learned at WindTech 2012
December 3, 2012 : 0 Comments
Technical school for wind techs is usually about 18 to 24 months. But you can’t learn everything in a classroom. Sometimes you have to climb a tower, many towers. And that is good way to learn. But after a few years out of the classroom, it’s a good idea to come back and find out
WindTech 2012 delivers a dose of realworld
November 30, 2012 : 0 Comments
Who is most likely to be hurt in the nacelle: the tech just out of school or the experienced older technician? Actually, said safety expert Todd Shelton with Star Safety Services, the more complacent one. “Their guard is down and they are not expecting an accident,” he said. Shelton illustrates the answer with a
Texas university generates 60 kW from 3 VAWTs
September 26, 2012 : 0 Comments
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi President Flavius Killebrew officially “flipped the switch” recently to turn on three 20-kW vertical axis wind turbines, which make up the largest vertical-axis wind turbine installation of its kind in the United States. The site at the main campus also includes a small 4-kW campus wind turbine, which can be lowered
Texas sets a new wind record
October 31, 2011 : 0 Comments
Texas set a new record for wind-power output in October 2011 as coastal wind farms start playing a bigger role in supplying electricity to the state, the grid operator said in a report. The amount of electricity produced from wind on the afternoon of October 7 set a record at 7,400 MW, more than 78%
Chinese company commissions its first turbines in Texas
October 26, 2011 : 0 Comments
Sany Electric has commissioned it first of five 2-MW wind turbines in the U.S. in June 2011. The project broke ground in December 2010 and was undertaken by Sany Electric in Ralls, Texas, a town east of Lubbock. Baker RD helped in the construction phase of the contract. AVIC International, a strategic partner in China
Texas power commissioner: EPA rules behind summer power problems
October 3, 2011 : 0 Comments
Barry Smitherman, a Commissioner with the Texas Railroad Commission, made the following testimony to a Washington investigative committee. The Railroad Commission was founded in the Texas Constitution in 1891, and we regulate the oil, gas, and lignite coal mining industries in Texas. We are recognized worldwide for our expertise in fossil-fuel regulation. Prior to my
Texas HVDC line to reach Louisiana and Mississippi
October 3, 2011 : 0 Comments
Pattern Energy Group LP says it has reached a milestone in development of its Southern Cross transmission project in an agreement with several Texas utilities and making two applications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. “Pattern is making steady progress on the development of its Southern Cross project, which will let Texas share its abundant
Windpower helped tame the Texas heat of 2011
October 3, 2011 : 2 Comments
by Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association. In contrast to the comments on some ill intentioned blogs, ERCOT (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas) CEO Trip Doggett credited wind power with a critical contribution during the summer power emergency in Texas. He did the same after a sudden freeze stressed the Texas system in February.
Texas offshore projects to share $43 million
October 3, 2011 : 0 Comments
The Department of Energy recently announced $900,000 in funding for programs in Austin and College Station, as part of 41 projects across 20 states. The University of Texas is getting $500,000 to evaluate the potential effects of offshore wind energy facilities on electronic equipment, such as airborne radar and GPS operations. The Texas Engineering Experiment
