|
Latest Issue
 |
- Category: Articles
Strategies for Increasing the Profitability of Wind Energy
In the following article several key issues relating to the optimisation of the availability and performance of wind turbines are introduced. Within the context of ‘smart grids’, it is shown that techniques exist that will increasingly support operators in optimising the profitability of their wind farms.
By Christopher Gray, Managing Partner, Uptime Engineering, Austria
In the following article several key issues relating to the optimisation of the availability and performance of wind turbines are introduced. Within the context of ‘smart grids’, it is shown that techniques exist that will increasingly support operators in optimising the profitability of their wind farms.By Christopher Gray, Managing Partner, Uptime Engineering, Austria
- Category: Articles
Patent Landscape Analysis Helps Define Wind Turbine Technology Trends
A new research report published by consultancy IntelStor has catalogued over 27,500 global patent filings related to horizontal-axis, utility scale wind turbine technology. As Philip Totaro, CEO and Principal of IntelStor, says: ‘We estimate there are ~45,000 to 50,000 global filings in total, and we are continuing our research to catalogue and evaluate them all.’
By Philip Totaro, Principal, IntelStor, USA
A new research report published by consultancy IntelStor has catalogued over 27,500 global patent filings related to horizontal-axis, utility scale wind turbine technology. As Philip Totaro, CEO and Principal of IntelStor, says: ‘We estimate there are ~45,000 to 50,000 global filings in total, and we are continuing our research to catalogue and evaluate them all.’By Philip Totaro, Principal, IntelStor, USA
- Category: Articles
Mid-Term Findings of an Information Campaign in Developing Countries
Small and medium wind turbines (SMWT) frequently offer the most environmentally friendly and cost-competitive technology for rural electrification in developing countries. But they are often left out of the energy solution options considered by decision-makers and project developers.
By Simon Rolland, Secretary General of the Alliance for Rural Electrification, Brussels, Belgium
Small and medium wind turbines (SMWT) frequently offer the most environmentally friendly and cost-competitive technology for rural electrification in developing countries. But they are often left out of the energy solution options considered by decision-makers and project developers.By Simon Rolland, Secretary General of the Alliance for Rural Electrification, Brussels, Belgium
- Category: Articles
Autonomous Aerial Sensors for Wind Power Meteorology
One of the areas of research that is attracting much interest within the wind power industry at the moment is site-specific meteorological observations for wind farms. The use of precise information on how a wind farm's local weather conditions correlate with more general regional forecasts, and how these conditions are reflected in the behaviour of the turbines at a specific site, has a profound effect on both the economic performance of the farm and its operations and maintenance plans. This article presents a new way of collecting this data; at first it may appear just a novel possibility, but, if successfully developed, it could prove an extremely cost-effective and reliable method.
By Gregor Giebel and Uwe Schmidt Paulsen, DTU Wind Energy, Joachim Reuder, University of Bergen, and Anders La Cour-Harbo, Aalborg University
One of the areas of research that is attracting much interest within the wind power industry at the moment is site-specific meteorological observations for wind farms. The use of precise information on how a wind farm's local weather conditions correlate with more general regional forecasts, and how these conditions are reflected in the behaviour of the turbines at a specific site, has a profound effect on both the economic performance of the farm and its operations and maintenance plans. This article presents a new way of collecting this data; at first it may appear just a novel possibility, but, if successfully developed, it could prove an extremely cost-effective and reliable method.By Gregor Giebel and Uwe Schmidt Paulsen, DTU Wind Energy, Joachim Reuder, University of Bergen, and Anders La Cour-Harbo, Aalborg University
- Category: Articles
Getting the Most from Your Condition-Monitoring System
This article explores the cost drivers of wind farm operations and maintenance, and strategies for boosting return on investment. Condition monitoring (CM) is a commonly used technology to prevent or even predict failures, though not all systems are created equal. Condition-monitoring systems range in price, quality and ease of use. Experience shows that early detection is the key to reducing maintenance costs. It allows an operator to schedule maintenance events well in advance and avoid more costly fixes that come as a result of escalating wear and secondary damage. Through two examples, this article illustrates how condition monitoring can be a smart investment, provided this technology is used to make well-informed and timely decisions.
By Brogan Morton, Product Manager for Turbine Health Monitoring, NRG Systems, USA
This article explores the cost drivers of wind farm operations and maintenance, and strategies for boosting return on investment. Condition monitoring (CM) is a commonly used technology to prevent or even predict failures, though not all systems are created equal. Condition-monitoring systems range in price, quality and ease of use. Experience shows that early detection is the key to reducing maintenance costs. It allows an operator to schedule maintenance events well in advance and avoid more costly fixes that come as a result of escalating wear and secondary damage. Through two examples, this article illustrates how condition monitoring can be a smart investment, provided this technology is used to make well-informed and timely decisions.By Brogan Morton, Product Manager for Turbine Health Monitoring, NRG Systems, USA
- Category: Articles
IRWES: New Thinking about Wind Energy in the Urban Environment
The Integrated Roof Wind Energy System (IRWES) is a novel wind energy solution invented to overcome the limitations of many of today’s available renewable energy technologies and make ‘clean’ energy a reality for our cities and our planet. This revolutionary, integrated energy system is created by using an axial array of skewed, shaped funnels, which exploit the Venturi Effect to accelerate the wind flow towards an enclosed turbine. This inventive use of shape and geometry results in an air inlet that causes the airflow to converge, and creates a flow of air with high mass and velocity, which is funnelled towards the vertical axis wind turbine in the centre-top of the roof. This high-energy air has the potential to generate a lot of power.
By Dr Rossella M. Ferraro, Dr Alexander B. Suma and Dr Faas Moonen, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands
The Integrated Roof Wind Energy System (IRWES) is a novel wind energy solution invented to overcome the limitations of many of today’s available renewable energy technologies and make ‘clean’ energy a reality for our cities and our planet. This revolutionary, integrated energy system is created by using an axial array of skewed, shaped funnels, which exploit the Venturi Effect to accelerate the wind flow towards an enclosed turbine. This inventive use of shape and geometry results in an air inlet that causes the airflow to converge, and creates a flow of air with high mass and velocity, which is funnelled towards the vertical axis wind turbine in the centre-top of the roof. This high-energy air has the potential to generate a lot of power.By Dr Rossella M. Ferraro, Dr Alexander B. Suma and Dr Faas Moonen, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Category: Articles
Special Lubricants for Use at Low Temperatures
The rapid expansion of wind energy throughout the world has been accompanied by a significant growth in wind power plant size. Rotor diamaters of more than 120 metres and nominal outputs as high as 3MW have become standard. However, the continuous increase in output and efficiency has not automatically resulted in higher reliability of the plants. The consequences are an immense maintenance effort and high costs. In this article Peter Mages of Klüber Lubrications explains how two of the company’s lubricants can help to ensure machine efficiency and trouble-free operation, even at low temperatures.
By Peter Mages, Klüber Lubrications, Germany
The rapid expansion of wind energy throughout the world has been accompanied by a significant growth in wind power plant size. Rotor diamaters of more than 120 metres and nominal outputs as high as 3MW have become standard. However, the continuous increase in output and efficiency has not automatically resulted in higher reliability of the plants. The consequences are an immense maintenance effort and high costs. In this article Peter Mages of Klüber Lubrications explains how two of the company’s lubricants can help to ensure machine efficiency and trouble-free operation, even at low temperatures.By Peter Mages, Klüber Lubrications, Germany
Stay informed with Windtech International! Sign up here for our free newsletters
| Turbine Shots
brought to you by
 |
 |
| #51 Senvion MM92 wind turbine installed in Serra do Caramulo, Portugal (courtesy Pedro Matos) |
| Every week on our website and in our email newsletter we want to show you that wind energy is more than just technology. We therefore invite you to send stunning pictures of wind turbines inspired by “light” (in the broadest sense of the word). After 52 submissions we will announce the winner of the year’s best picture! Email your photo to Include turbine model, location and name of photographer. (size of the published photo will be 336 px width x 280 px high). |
|
 Check our Instagram to see all published pictures |
Use of cookies
Windtech International wants to make your visit to our website as pleasant as possible. That is why we place cookies on your computer that remember your preferences. With anonymous information about your site use you also help us to improve the website. Of course we will ask for your permission first. Click Accept to use all functions of the Windtech International website.