QUICK NEWS, 11-22: DESIGNING BETTER WIND; TEXANS SQUANDERING SUN; WAVES OF OCEAN ENERGY; NEW ENERGY’S $30 MIL TOUCHDOWN

DESIGNING BETTER WIND
Enhancing the Efficiency of Wind Turbines
November 17, 2010 (American Institute of Physics via Newswise)

"A milestone in the history of renewable energy occurred in the year 2008 when more new wind-turbine power generation capacity was added in the U.S. than new coal-fired power generation. The costs of producing power with wind turbines continues to drop, but many engineers feel that the overall design of turbines is still far from optimal.

"…One issue confronting the efficiency of wind energy is…[wind’s] changeability. The aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine is best under steady wind flow, and the efficiency of the blades degrades when exposed to conditions such as wind gusts, turbulent flow, upstream turbine wakes, and wind shear…[A] new type of air-flow technology may soon increase the efficiency of large wind turbines under many different wind conditions."

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"Syracuse University researchers…are testing new intelligent-systems-based active flow control methods with support from the U.S. Department of Energy through the University of Minnesota Wind Energy Consortium. The approach estimates the flow conditions over the blade surfaces from surface measurements and then feeds this information to an intelligent controller to implement real-time actuation on the blades to control the airflow and increase the overall efficiency…[It] may also reduce excessive noise and vibration due to flow separation.

"Initial simulation results suggest that flow control applied on the outboard side of the blade beyond the half radius could significantly enlarge the overall operational range of the wind turbine with the same rated power output or considerably increase the rated output power for the same level of operational range. The team is also investigating a characteristic airfoil in a new anechoic wind tunnel facility at Syracuse University to determine the airfoil lift and drag characteristics with appropriate flow control while exposed to large-scale flow unsteadiness. In addition, the effects of flow control on the noise spectrum of the wind turbine will be also assessed and measured in the anechoic chamber."

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"Another problem with wind energy is drag, the resistance felt by the turbine blades as they beat the air. Scientists at the University of Minnesota have been looking at the drag-reduction effect of placing tiny grooves on turbine blades…[T]riangular riblets scored into a coating on the blade surface… are so shallow (between 40 and 225 microns) that they can’t be seen by the human eye -- leaving the blades looking perfectly smooth.

"Using wind-tunnel tests of 2.5 megawatt turbine airfoil surfaces (becoming one of the popular industry standards) and computer simulations, they are looking at the efficacies of various groove geometries and angles of attack (how the blades are positioned relative to the air stream)…[Riblets] have been used…in the sails on sailboats taking part in the last America’s Cup regatta and on the Airbus airliner, where they produced a drag reduction of about 6 percent. The design of wind turbine blades was, at first, closely analogous to that of airplane wings. But owing to different engineering concerns…drag reduction won’t be quite the same for wind turbines…"


TEXANS SQUANDERING SUN
Texas languishes in shade on solar power development
Elizabeth Souder, November 21, 2010 (Dallas Morning News)

"Dallas renewable energy investor Panda Power Funds is developing one of the country's largest solar power plants in sunny New Jersey…Texas' second-largest power generator, NRG Energy, is investing in the world's largest solar thermal power plant in California…

"Texas is No. 9 among states when it comes to the amount of sunlight that could be used to make electricity. But the state ranks 16th in the amount of solar electric generating capacity actually installed. New Jersey is No. 2; California is No. 1…"

Texas has sun aplenty. (click to enlarge)

"Solar producers say Texas will fall behind economically without an aggressive push into solar energy. They blame state leaders for not providing the financial backing to attract the industry to Texas. And they hope a new legislative session beginning in January will create those incentives…Critics say incentives are unnecessary and wasteful. They say Texans benefit from lower prices for electricity generated with other fuels.

"During the last session of the Legislature in 2009, a solar incentive bill wound its way through committees and debates until it lacked only House approval. The bill, which called for charging electricity customers fees to pay for rebates to solar generators, represented a rare consensus among environmentalists and business leaders…[It was] killed…[by] parliamentary questions that stopped the legislation…"

Texas could get more than a third of its electricity from rooftop solar PV. (click to enlarge)

"Texas offers some incentives for small solar power installations. Oncor, the electricity delivery company for North Texas, offers rebates. And some municipal electric companies, such as Austin Energy and CPS Energy, are investing in solar power.

"Solar advocates acknowledge the technology is more costly than other types of power generation. But they see the extra cost as an investment in attracting the fledgling industry to Texas…[and say] the cost of solar power generators will drop to the level of other technology in a few years, and won't need government incentives…"


WAVES OF OCEAN ENERGY
Ocean Energy Concepts Proliferate
Tom Banse, November 17, 2010 (KUOW-NPR Oregon)

"…[M]arine energy developers love [the Oregon Pacific Coast but the]…alternative energy sector has been slow to coalesce around one technology…Unconventional ideas are…[proliferating]…

"…Huge waves crash against the jetties at the mouth of Tillamook Bay…One company is thinking about redesigning these jetties with electricity generators built inside…[so that when] waves crash or hit against this device, water…runs into the back where the turbine is…[I]t’s very similar to a hydroelectric dam…[Water] flows through and drives a turbine…"

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"Stephanie Thornton is the American program director for the aptly named Norwegian company Wave Energy AS. Thornton describes her industry as in its infancy. It’s a period of great experimentation with a panoply of creative technologies…[E]conomics may be the key issue…

"…[For] every failed pioneer company about two new startups show up on [the Oregon] coast…[Scottish firm] Aquamarine Power is one of several new foreign companies scouting…Aquamarine rep Theresa Wisner recently described her firm’s near shore device… the Oyster…[as] a very large mechanical flap resting on the sea bottom…[An ocean wave] forces the top of the Oyster down onto some pistons…[that force] water into a high pressure water line that goes ashore to a Pelton wheel…generating electricity…"

The Principle Power floating turbine (click to enlarge)

"…Seattle-based Principle Power…[has] plans for a floating wind farm offshore…Salem-based startup, M3 Wave Energy Systems…relies on wave pressure passing over air-filled pillows on the sea floor. The pulses compress air, which can then be used to spin an electric turbine…First to connect to the grid will likely be a bobbing buoy generator next year…[T]he floating wind farm also seems plausible near term because wind power is [a mature technology]…

"…[M]any fishermen and crabbers…remain skeptical of ocean energy…[who fear having] fishing ground taken…Electric generation attached to a jetty is the only idea that wins [their] favor…"


NEW ENERGY’S $30 MIL TOUCHDOWN
Philadelphia Eagles Tackle a $30 Million Wind and Solar Project
Tina Casey, November 19, 2010 (Cleantechnica via Reuters)

"…[The] Philadelphia Eagles' decision install a $30 million renewable energy system [shows how] sustainability is nothing new for the progressive football franchise…[It] established a Go Green program in 2003…The stadium's distinctive new spiral wind turbines, along with solar and cogeneration installations, will once again set a high bar for other sports venues…

"…[I]n 2007, while many sports franchises were still merely mulling over the idea of introducing their fans to sustainability, the NFL was beginning to stake out a leadership position by purchasing renewable energy for the Superbowl…[T]he Philadelphia Eagles' Go Green program was already four years into its mission, which focused on education, conservation and recycling. In 2007, the team announced that it was upping the ante by getting at least 100 of its employees to purchase wind energy…"

Artist's conception of the stadium turbines (click to enlarge)

"…[T]he Eagles new sustainable energy system… is designed for high visibility. Built by the Florida-based company SolarBlue, it will consist of 80 futuristic-looking spiral shaped wind turbines rimming the top of the stadium, and 2,500 solar panels on the facade. The system will also include a 7.6 megawatt cogeneration plant along with a ‘smart microgrid’ system to keep everything running at maximum efficiency…"

click thru for real time data on the stadium solar system

"Green means big bucks for the Eagles, because the system will generate 4 megawatts of excess energy off-peak, which will be sold back to the grid. The franchise also expects to save $60 million in energy costs over the next 20 years…

"…This year, Major League Baseball announced a comprehensive sustainability strategy, and the ski industry and golf industry are also charging ahead with conservation and renewable energy projects. Even NASCAR has begun to focus on shrinking its carbon footprint and reducing its use of toxic chemicals…"