Wind power News for July 2009

Wind power News Archive

UK Vestas staff occupy Vestas wind turbine blade factory on Isle of Wight

Staff at the Vestas wind turbine blade factory on the Isle of Wight has started an occupation of the factory in response to Vestas’ plans to cut 1900 jobs in Northern Europe announced in April.

Wind energy industry weathers the storm Wind energy industry weathers the storm

The second quarter of 2009 presented the expected slowdown in wind energy project activity as banks underwent stress tests, governments reshuffled budgets to deploy stimulus packages, and the industry adjusted capacity accordingly, says Emerging Energy Research’s (EER) Research Director Keith Hays.

Two-atom lead superconductor thinnest ever Two-atom lead superconductor thinnest ever

Paving the way for smaller and more efficient devices, a superconducting sheet just two atoms thick has been created at The University of Texas at Austin by Dr. Ken Shih and colleagues [Shengyong Qin, et al., DOI: 10.1126/science.1170775].

Report: WWEA conference in Korea

International Solar Energy Society (ISES) member Dieter Holm attended the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA)'s 8th World Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition, which took place on Jeju Island in Korea.

juwi group launches major project in the USA

juwi is to set up its first large-scale wind farm on US soil in south-eastern Nebraska.

Companies announce hybrid projects in Canada

Atlantic Wind and Solar (AWSL) and Centripetal Dynamics (CDI) are to collaborate on hybrid wind/solar energy projects in Ontario, Canada.

Nordex begins construction of its first US wind turbine plant

German wind turbine maker Nordex has begun construction of a US$100 million manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA. It is expected to start production in 2010.

China to be number one on wind power

China could become a major player in wind energy – not just in instalment, but also in producing wind turbines and components, according to a report from analyst McIlvaine Company.

DoE invests in community renewables, CSP and wind

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced several funding opportunities over the last week including up to US$22 million for community renewable energy deployment, up to US$52.2m for concentrating solar power (CSP) and almost US$14m for wind energy projects.

Vestas to supply 75 MW of wind turbines to China

Vestas will supply a total of 75 MW of wind turbines to a large Chinese Independent Power Producer (IPP).

Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm starts producing power Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm starts producing power

RWE npower renewables' Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm started generating renewable wind energy at the North Wales coast, UK, early July.

North Africa’s deserts could provide 15% of Europe’s electricity North Africa’s deserts could provide 15% of Europe’s electricity

A large number of networked solar thermal power plants in the Middle East and North Africa could produce sufficient renewable power to meet around 15% of Europe’s electricity needs and large parts of the power needs of the producer countries.

European Commission: template for national renewable energy roadmaps

The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) template, published late June by the European Commission, gives governments a binding framework for drawing up the steps they will take to meet binding national renewable energy targets set out in the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC).

Intermittency of wind power – just a myth?

Three reports published over the last month dismiss the variability of wind as an obstacle to large scale deployment of wind energy, says the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA).

Pickens scraps mega windfarm

T. Boone Pickens is scrapping plans for his 1000 MW windfarm in Pampa, Texas, USA, due to lack of transmission lines, and is instead planning three to four smaller windfarms.

European governments help Egypt to build Zafarana windfarm European governments help Egypt to build Zafarana windfarm

The Danish, German and Spanish governments have helped Egypt set up the 360 MW Zafarana windfarm near the Gulf of Suez.

WWEA predicts 25% wind energy growth in 2009 WWEA predicts 25% wind energy growth in 2009

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) has published an updated forecast for worldwide wind installations in the year 2009 predicting a 25% growth in wind energy.

Nordex wins 90 MW wind turbine contract for Turkey Nordex wins 90 MW wind turbine contract for Turkey

German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has won a 80 MW contract to supply turbines for a wind farm in Turkey.

The US House approves the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) legislation.

Some – most notably Al Gore - are hailing the decision as the most important legislation Congress will ever pass. It sees the US pledging to cut emissions by 17% (below 2005 levels) by 2020, and 83% by 2050.

REpower and Valorem agree to supply 21 wind turbines to France

The REpower MM92 wind power plants, each with a rated power of 2.05 megawatts (MW) and a hub height of 80 metres, are intended for five wind farms projects in the Vendée and Loire Atlantique regions in the West of France.

VC investment in green technologies "rebounds" with US$1.2 billion in Q2 2009

Greentech Media Inc., the online media company covering green technology news and analysis, has released the most recent quarterly data showing that venture capital (VC) investment in green technologies totalled US$1.2 bn in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009.

June's top 5 stories

What were the top 5 stories at www.renewableenergyfocus.com during June?