MORE NEWS, 8-6 (NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF WIND SYNDROME; SOLAR POWER TOWER COMES ONLINE; NISSAN LAUNCHES ITS EV)

NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF WIND SYNDROME
Industry slams reports of "Wind Turbine Syndrome"
James Murray, 4 August 2009 (Business Green)

"The wind energy industry has vigorously rejected new research from the US suggesting some residents living close to wind farms are susceptible to a collection of health risks dubbed "Wind Turbine Syndrome".

"The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) accused the study of being based on an "unscientific" sample and running counter to wider-ranging research that suggests wind turbines do not pose health risks."

Is excessive exuberance a symptom of the syndrome? (click to enlarge)

"…Dr Nina Pierpont, a New York paediatrician, will this autumn publish a book detailing her research into the impact of the noise and vibrations caused by wind turbines on the health of nearby residents…She [said] her research showed that Wind Turbine Syndrome exists and that the infrasonic to ultrasonic noise and vibrations emitted by wind turbines caused about 12 different symptoms, including abnormal heart beats, sleep disturbance, headaches, tinnitus, nausea, visual blurring, panic attacks and general irritability…

"However, according to a draft copy of the section of the book intended for non-clinicians that is available on Dr Pierpont's web site, much of the research appears to be based on interviews with just 10 families living near wind turbines ranging in size from 1.5MW to 3MW, resulting in a sample of 38 people."

Doesn't seem to spoil the milk. (click to enlarge)

"A spokesman for the BWEA said that the size of the sample group and the methodology for the study "simply does not stack up scientifically…This is research based on the symptoms of 38 unspecified people in a small number of unspecified locations…" …[A] recent, more extensive study by acousticians at Salford University had concluded that there were no health risks arising from the noise from wind turbines.

"…The BWEA also pointed out that there was no evidence of the existence of Wind Turbine Syndrome from [countries like Germany and Denmark].with the highest density of wind turbines… "In Germany, they have deployed 15,000 turbines in the past 20 years, and yet there has been no detectable increase in any of these health symptoms identified as being caused by turbines…" …[T]he BWEA [said] the wind sector was fully engaged with health concerns and had invested millions in researching noise issues…"


SOLAR POWER TOWER COMES ONLINE
eSolar Ushers in New Era of Solar Energy with Unveiling of Sierra Power Plant; Company’s Breakthrough Technology Enables New Blueprint for Solar Thermal Deployment
August 5, 2009 (Idealab/eSolar)

"With 24,000 mirrors glimmering under the Antelope Valley summer sun, eSolar, a leading provider of modular, scalable solar thermal power technology, today unveiled its 5-megawatt (MW) Sierra SunTower solar power plant. The full-scale power plant, the only power tower of its kind in the U.S., produces electricity for Southern California Edison…and can power more than 4,000 homes…

"The eSolar technology resolves many of the problems that have held back large scale solar in the past including cost, speed of deployment and proximity to existing transmission lines. eSolar uses advanced software algorithms to precisely focus thousands of mirrors on a single point to efficiently harvest the sun’s energy and achieve economies of scale with a smaller footprint than anyone else in the business…"

Sierra SunTower, now online. (click to enlarge)

"Constructed in less than one year, eSolar’s Sierra SunTower power plant marks the first of several developments in the Antelope Valley region using eSolar technology. Over the course of construction, this project created 300 jobs…[with] the support and cooperation of the City of Lancaster throughout the construction process…

"eSolar develops its California projects on parcels of previously disturbed private lands, avoiding many of the permitting and environmental pitfalls of development on pristine desert lands. Located in northern Lancaster, Sierra SunTower is built on private land designated for heavy industrial use. The decision to site projects solely on private land is unique within the utility-scale solar industry, and the distinction has garnered support from local environmental advocates…"

click to enlarge

"Sierra SunTower was fully financed and developed by eSolar, proving the rapid deployment, pre-fabricated method eSolar patented and pioneered. Building on Sierra’s success, eSolar will deploy many more plants around the country and around the world.


"In February, eSolar announced an agreement with NRG Energy, Inc…to develop three plants in California and New Mexico that will generate up to 465 megawatts of electricity…[I]n March, eSolar licensed its technology to India-based ACME Group for approximately 1 gigawatt of eSolar solar thermal capacity…"


NISSAN LAUNCHES ITS EV
Nissan gives electric car the go ahead; Battery-powered four-door hatchback unveiled in Japan
Andrew English, 5 August 2009 (UK Telegraph)

"Nissan's new electric car broke cover…in Japan, with European sales expected to start next year.

"Launched by Renault Nissan boss, Carlos Ghosn, the Nissan Leaf is a lithium-ion battery-powered, four-door family hatchback that will cost a similar amount to a conventional C-segment car of the same size; think Nissan Qashqai, which costs between £14,000 and £22,000."

The Leaf. (click to enlarge)

"Nissan's plan is to sell the car but merely rent the battery pack. It claims that when all additional costs are factored in, the cost of running the Leaf will be 20 per cent less than that of an equivalent petrol-powered car.

"The 24kWh battery is made by Nissan partner NEC and is a sandwich construction mounted under the Leaf's seats and floor giving a range of more than 100 miles and a recharging time using a domestic 200-volt supply of less than eight hours."

click to enlarge

"The 80kW/206lb ft motor delivers a maximum speed in excess of 90mph… [The] 14ft 6in long Leaf has been designed with a new chassis floorpan to take advantage of the packaging qualities of its electric driveline…[It] will be built in Japan and eventually Tennessee in the US.

"…Sister company Renault will be launching a range of electric vehicles at the Frankfurt motor show in September using the same technology as the Nissan Leaf."