This is an archive of articles and news on both large and small wind turbines, wind energy & the environment, and links to topics on the history of wind energy.
I've been working with wind energy since 1976 and my professional experience in the subject runs the gamut from wind resource assessment to installing and testing small wind turbines. I continue to follow the industry and analyze its growth and increasing contribution to renewable electricity generation worldwide.
Comments on Crissy Field wind turbine installation in San Francisco. . .
Examples of Wind Turbines in Boston and Boston Harbor and the Possibilities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The most sophisticated and comprehensive study of small rooftop wind turbines in the Americas concludes rooftop wind turbines are "Not cost-effective at this site". . .
Yes, anti-wind hysteria has made me sick. I got queasy in my stomach when I think of the 150,000 wind turbines operating worldwide and still no epidemic of death and disease had yet broken out...[more]
Da die von Windkraftanlagen erzeugten Infraschallpegel in der Umgebung deutlich unterhalb der Hör- und Wahrnehmungsgrenzen liegen, können nach heutigem Stand der Wissenschaft Windkraftanlagen beim...
says Paul Gipe an exclusive interview with Renewable Energy Magazine . . .
A forum for sharing information about Wind Energy and its ramifications, environmental, social and economic, for the Western New York region.
Windspire Energy, the Reno company that won plaudits for its sleek wind-turbine machines, is working to reorganize itself under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code.The company, whose majority...
(Warning: Satire) Car Concerns Ontario (CCO) today called for a moratorium on sale of new cars, citing their danger to the health of citizens. . .
THERE is much stronger public support for wind farms than media coverage of the issue would suggest, because a ''vocal minority'' who oppose wind farms secure the majority of media and political...
A prominent anti-wind-power group is under fire amid accusations it broke election financing by running a negative advertising campaign against Liberal candidates last fall.
There is insufficient evidence that the noise from wind turbines is directly (i.e., independent from an effect on annoyance or sleep) causing health problems or disease.
The study of Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) technology at Sandia National Laboratories started in the 1970’s and concluded in the 1990’s. Initial studies at SNL investigated numerous VAWT...
A voice of reason in the British Isles not connected to any trade association.
At very high penetrations, combining wind and solar power improved renewable portfolio performance over individual build-out scenarios by reducing curtailment, suggesting that further reductions may...
These are photos of the Honeywell Windtronics turbine on display at a vendors booth at the CanSIA exhibition in Toronto, December 5, 2011.[more]
Statkraft AS may have to shut two gas fired power plants in northern Germany due to the region’s surging wind capacity, according to the energy group’s markets head. . .[more]
Presentation by Paul Gipe for PG&E Zero Net Energy Homes, Introduction
Presentation by Paul Gipe for PG&E Zero Net Energy Homes, Sizing
A November 5, 2011 article in the New York Times emphasizes the “danger” of excess wind generation in Bonneville Power Authority’s service territory. A perfect storm last year poured heavy rain in...[more]
A November 5, 2011 article in the New York Times emphasizes the “danger” of excess wind generation in Bonneville Power Authority’s service territory. A perfect storm last year poured heavy rain in...[more]
Windtronics Inc. has scaled back production of small residential and commercial wind turbines at its Windsor plant because incentives for such projects have not yet been included in the province's...
San Luis Obispo, California
A series of wind turbines planned for the city of Jonestown is on hold after criminal charges were filed against one of the designers. . . Charlie Malouff, the founder of the C.M Energies, has been...
But so far, we've seen only a fraction of the total power that WindTronics says we should for our area, even after several visits from a company-authorized installer. At that rate, the Honeywell...
So far, a new wind turbine delivers little . . . Generous federal and local rebates and credits have helped put wind power on a growing list of options that use the forces of nature to trim your...
Despite my best efforts, I've been dragged into the DyoCore flap here in California. I successfully ignored Mick Sagrillo's plea to write something. I successfully ignored DyoCore's request to get...[more]
"Two Hurt in Turbine Accident" blared the headline in the Bakersfield Californian on Saturday, 23 October, 1999.[more]
Wind Turbine Syndrome (“WTS”) is an alleged condition proposed by pediatrician Dr Nina Pierpoint. . .
In peer reviewed studies, wind turbine annoyance has been statistically associated with wind turbine noise, but found to be more strongly related to visual impact, attitude to wind turbines and...
What We Can Learn from Germany's Success in Harnessing Clean Energy[more]
Wind turbines can be built in Ontario, despite opponents’ claims of adverse health effects. . .
Toepfer is one of the pioneers of small wind in the US. He, like myself, began their careers by scouring the Great Plains for junk windmills.[more]
Wind Power: 20 Projects to Make with Paper by Clive Dobson is a great little book with a wonderful collection of photos and diagrams. I learn something every time I pick up a book, even a children's...[more]
Geothermal Power Plants is the book I'd been looking for--an engineering treatise on geothermal. I'd written about geothermal in the mid 1980s, but I hadn't kept up with the industry and needed a...[more]
While this page was created to primarily aid community college instructors in contacting each other, there are several listings from the university community and private companies that offer courses...[more]
But Energy Estimates Not Off by Much[more]
A Windtronics wind turbine under test at SEPEN in southern France was removed within the first month of operation, according to Jay Hudnall, an expert in the French small wind turbine industry.[more]
Plus Energy Building: Wind Energy, Small Wind, & Community Wind
Because of my early postings (December 30, 2008) about the Honeywell Windtronics turbine, other observers have been sending me their comments on the product.[more]
After posting my article Honeywell Windtronics WT6500 Report from the Field, the president of the company contacted me to note that their web site clearly says that they recommend using the turbine...[more]
San Francisco, California
Retired civil engineer Lynn Shafer wants to do the right thing and leave the world a better place for future generations. In 2010 he installed 5 kW of solar PV on his house near Sedalia, Missouri....[more]
Zero, Null, Nada Generation in One Year--After one full year of operation, the Elena DAWT has produced zero net electricity.
Because of the rapidly growing demand for windsmiths (wind energy technicians) in North America, several community colleges have begun offering associate degree programs. Several of these programs,...[more]
RWE, one of Germany's biggest utilities, has announced it will not build any more new coal plants. RWE currently gets 2/3 of its generation from coal. RWE by 2025 will get only 1/4 of its...[more]
You hear all kinds of propaganda about people not liking the site of wind turbines. Sure, some people don’t, but a lot of people love seeing these beautiful, massive, clean energy pinwheels. This is...
The 32-story turbines of the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm have so dramatically changed Atlantic City's skyline - perhaps more than any casino could - that tourists haven't stopped asking questions about...
Presentation by Paul Gipe for VerdeXchange, June 6, 2011, Toronto Ontario, including a proposal for revisions to Ontario's groundbreaking feed-in tariffs . . .
This report aims to correct the main myths of these anti-wind activists, using credible scientific, mainstream sources to correct the record and to give communities the information they need to make...
Windflow Technology Newsletter Nº 31, June 2011 Some people use capacity factor as the basis for comparing wind farms and turbines. Capacity factor is the average kilowatts produced over a period,...[more]
A research paper commissioned by CSE drawing on peer-reviewed articles and government-funded analysis to address some of the concerns that are expressed in relation to wind power. . .
Below the fold is a (hopefully) complete list of ET diaries and stories related to wind power. . .
Ontario’s family physicians and nurses are launching an advertising campaign to defend wind and solar power. . .
Another insightful article by a financier who raises debt for large offshore wind projects. . . "There are no "neutral" policy choices, and energy will always be political - and it's time what the...
The final outcome and cost of the nuclear accident at Fukushima are yet to be determined but the obituary of the nuclear industry has already been written, and one competing source of power has...
Conservatives Increasing New Renewables from 50% to 100% of Electricity Highest Concentration of Wind in Germany--Most Locally Owned As Much Wind Generation as California[more]
What Small Wind Needs to Make Its Mark
The media frenzy over unhappy wind-turbine neighbours is downright irresponsible mainly because multiple studies show that wind turbine critics fall squarely in the minority. . .
We have operated an Air Breeze BR0001068 since December 2007. The turbine has performed well without any problems and significantly quieter than previous versions in the Air series of micro wind...[more]
"The analysis showed that wind generation lowers wholesale prices by over €70 million, which almost exactly offsets the costs of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy and other costs associated...
Of Germany's 27,000 megawatts of wind power projects (3rd most in the world and most per capita), nearly 90% are smaller than 20 megawatts, with most between 1 and 5 megawatts.
So the conclusion can be that wind costs roughly the same as traditional power sources - with none of their drawbacks, whether troublesome exporters to deal with, dangerous mining practices for local...
Press release claiming that Cleanfield was installing its VAWTs on rooftops "around the world." The press release implies Cleanfield's association with McMaster University and Ontario's Centres of...[more]
Low Frequency Noise and Infrasound Associated with Wind Turbine Generator Systems A Literature Review. . .
A low carbon portfolio is produced for this system that is capable of achieving an 80% reduction in electric power sector carbon emissions from 2005 levels and supplying over 99% of the annual...
The acoustic noise test was conducted to the IEC 61400-11 Edition 2.1.
San Francisco, California
Washington, DC
Based on what I have been able to locate, I think this structure is another example of ‘Green Gone Wrong.’ I reiterate, I think we need to be mindful about NOT over-hyping some green(er)...
This guide is for landowners in Alberta who are considering wind energy projects on their land. Whether you are interested in erecting and owning your own wind turbine, leasing land to...
The following is another submission by Stewart Russell for the worst turbine install in history. This one is on a bridge in Kansas City and uses two of Southwest Windpower's Air series turbines. As...[more]
On May 5th, 2010 two-dozen French small wind advocates gathered at the SEPEN test site near Narbonne, France. The meeting was called to discuss the future of small wind in France and whether there...[more]
Bill Koch has a nearly five-year history of opposing one of largest renewable energy initiatives in America. Cape Wind, a project to develop the country’s first offshore wind farm, has received...
Feed Laws Lead Feed Laws produced ~1/2 of world wind capacity ¾ California wind capacity from Feed Law World Wind 2009 ~150,000 MW Total ~40,000 MW added in 2009 ~300 TWh/yr 20-40% Growth/yr...[more]
The decision effectively dismisses claims of potential impact and the credibility of witnesses for the plaintiffs.
Tests from both of these configurations are included in the report, though each test was not performed on both configurations of the turbine. Testing on the Windspire was terminated before all of the...[more]
A combination of common vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) rotors was designed and tested for optimal performance in low wind speeds.[more]
In retrospect, a little more skepticism would have been in order, because this is exactly the kind of thing you see constantly in hot markets. Revolutionary technology, lots of interest that will...
The scientific evidence does not demonstrate any direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects according to a new report from Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's Chief Medical...
The review concludes that while some people living near wind turbines report symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and sleep disturbance, the scientific evidence available to date does not...
Back in December I stopped by the Boston Museum of science and checked out the public display of data from their small wind turbine experiment, and I posted some of the publicly available data here...
William A. Schmitz, Chief Executive Officer of WindTamer Corporation, said that, “The decision of the Board of Directors and me to no longer have Mr. Brock head the research and development of the...
Small Wind in North America, the Good, the Bad, the Ugly; Real Urban Wind & the Community Power Revolution
Have Parisians Drunk the Kool-Aid?[more]
What Small Wind Needs to Make Its Mark
This test was conducted in accordance with Clause 9.4 of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) standard, Wind turbines -Part 2: Design requirements for small wind turbines, IEC...[more]
Windgesichter: Aufbruch der Windenergie in Deutschland (The face of wind: Dawn of wind energy in Germany) by Jan Oelker is a joy to behold. It's one of those rare cases where you can indeed tell a...[more]
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has called on the Ontario government to offer feed-in tariffs designed for small wind turbines.[more]
L'énergie du vent : Les éoliennes au service des hommes et de leur planète Is a beautiful coffee-table book with page after page of photos sandwiched between essays on how wind turbines work and how...[more]
Subtitled "A practical guide to small-scale energy production," the book follows ground well trod before and seeks to capitalize on the odd American desire to run their kilowatt-hour meter backwards.[more]
L'éolien au cœur de l'incontournable révolution énergétique is a serious work on wind energy for francophone readers. It is my kind of book, chocked full of drawings, charts, tables, and historical...[more]
Wind Power for Dummies by Ian Woofenden is the mass-market, mainstream book on small wind turbines that the industry has long sought as a measure of respectability. [more]
Wind Power The Danish Way: From Poul la Cour to Modern Wind Turbines is a book written by a who's who of Danish wind power. It's a celebratory book and Danes have a lot to celebrate--a lot to be...[more]
The Nature of Wind Power is another celebratory book on Danish wind power leading up to the climate change conference in Copenhagen in 2009. The Nature of Wind Power is by a leading Danish landscape...[more]
I feared the worst when I saw the title. As an outspoken critic of so-called "Urban" wind and especially the British variety, I thought the book would be destined for the dust bin after the first...[more]
As I am learning, most designers tend to quietly dismiss a project's failings, and don't repeat installations like this. And so, as with folks in the USA not paying attention to the results of the...
The following data is summarized from a presentation by Paul Kühn, Fraunhofer-Institut für Windenergie und Energiesystemtechnik (IWES), at Husum, Germany, March 20, 2010 based on observations of...[more]
The French test site, SEPEN (Site Expérimental pour le Petit Eolien de Narbonne), published a performance report 28 September 2009 on Mariah's 1.2 kW Windspire. The test site is in a windy region in...[more]
A controversial report critical of the wind energy industry from conservative think tank CEPOS was commissioned and paid for by an American think tank with close ties to the coal and oil industries,...
Sierra Club Kern-Kaweah Chapter P.O. Box 3357 Bakersfield, CA 93385 http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org/ For more information contact: Tony Swan, 661 363 5106 25th Annual Walk May 8th,...[more]
In a normal wind year, Danish wind turbines generate the equivalent of approx. 20 percent of the Danish electricity demand. . .
On November 19 and 20th, 2009 York University sponsored a workshop on Spain's experience with feed-in tariffs and the large-scale integration of renewable energy. Hugo Lucas Porta describes...[more]
by a Who's Who of Danish Windpower experts--an authoritative rebuttal to the wild claims of CEPOS, a so-called Danish think tank. . .
Article claiming that McMaster improved the VAWTs performance 50% based on wind tunnel tests, according to Dr. Stephen Tullis, leader of the research project and Assistant Professor at McMaster.[more]
Energy Self-Reliant States: Second and Expanded Edition by John Farrell and David Morris came out in October, 2009 and it packs a punch. I chewed on it a little at the time but wanted to delve...[more]
Finally, after decades of effort, the American Wind Energy Association has established performance and safety standards for small wind turbines.[more]
You have to give them credit, small turbine manufacturers are a competitive lot, especially small VAWT suppliers. They are tripping over themselves to see who can win the award for worst turbine...[more]
Mike Nelson call this the worst turbine install in history. It certainly ranks right up there with some recent installations by Mariah, a Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine manufacturer.[more]
Portugal's national grid operator, REN, announced at a workshop in late November that wind generation delivered 71% of the nation's electricity on November 15, 2009. REN estimates that wind will...[more]
Below is a tabular list of the micro and mini wind turbines tested at the Wulf Test Field and the type of tests performed. [more]
During the winter of 1998 through the spring of 1999, I installed equipment to measure the power curve of first mini and then eventually micro wind turbines. The description of this effort and the...[more]
Poor Albert Betz, the German physicist must be turning over in his grave. He's been beaten yet again.[more]
Specifically, neither the view of the wind facilities nor the distance of the home to those facilities is found to have any consistent, measurable, and statistically significant effect on home sales...
The present research collected data on almost 7,500 sales of singlefamily homes situated within 10 miles of 24 existing wind facilities in nine different U.S. states. . . Specifically, neither the...
Again, data collection was not completed with the last wind speed bin (14 m/s) not filled. In both configurations, the inverter experienced failures and the tests were not finished.[more]
I appreciate the vote of confidence in the Small Wind Certification Council's board of directors in appointing me to the Council. It is an honor to be nominated to be part of the commercialization of...[more]
Several misunderstandings and myths have arisen due to the characteristics of wind generation, particularly because wind-energy generation only occurs when the wind is blowing. . .
Presentation by Paul Gipe for ASES Solar 2009
Presentation by Paul Gipe for CanWEA 2009 Conference, Toronto, Ontario. Includes a summary of feed-in tariffs for small wind turbines worldwide and a review of small wind program performance in the...
The turbine had failed sometime in the spring of 2009. We were living in Canada for most of the spring and early summer. When we returned it was the fire season and we didn't drive onto the site...[more]
First, here’s a view of the installation from the north bank of the Charles river,
The review concluded that there is no evidence of noise-induced health effects at levels emitted by wind turbines . . .
Danish Renewable Energy Policy by Preben Maegaard recounts the historic development of Danish policy from the perspective of one its participants. Maegaard, director of the Nordic Folkecenter for...[more]
Mag-Wind is back. Grab your children. Bar the door. The dead walk. . . Worse Ed Begley and Jay Leno, those omnipresent endorsers of all things "green", have leapt to the aid of the undead. Their...[more]
I've reviewed the series of preproduction wind turbine designs from Earthtronics twice before. See below.[more]
Long-time renewable energy advocate Paul Gipe was selected by the Canadian Wind Energy Association for its Individual Leadership Award at its 2009 conference in Toronto September 22. The Canadian...[more]
Ducted or shrouded wind turbines have been invented and reinvented throughout the 20th century.[more]
A podcast interview with Paul Gipe, author of Wind Energy Basics
Contains a very good summary of wind penetration in Europe.
Rebuttal of the Centre for Policy Studies' (CEPOS) so-called report on wind energy in Denmark.
A podcast interview with Paul Gipe
This article explores the threats that wind farms pose to birds and bats before briefly surveying the recent literature on avian mortality and summarizing some of the problems with it. . .
Confirms That Rooftop Mounting Doesn't Deliver[more]
One of the most spectacular developments of industrial wind power technology occurred in the Zaan district, a region situated just above Amsterdam in the Netherlands. . . From 1600 to 1750, when the...
This is a book that was done right. It was written by the right people for the right reasons and printed on quality paper in full color.[more]
The World Wind Energy Association's "Wind Energy International 2009/2010" landed on my desk with a reassuring thump. I picked it up simply to move it somewhere else until I could get time to thumb...[more]
Press release using a common ploy to confuse amateurs by announcing UL certification. UL only certifies electrical performance not whether the wind turbine will work as a wind turbine or work well at...[more]
Shame on Pierpont for using such deceit to prop up her case. Shame on the Independent for not even bothering to read the Pierpont website carefully enough to detect this poorly concealed...
This study provides no conclusive evidence that wind turbines have an effect on health or are causing the set of symptoms described here as "wind turbine syndrome". The study design was weak, the...
Scams, Frauds, & Flakes--Tell-Tale Signs[more]
Anti-wind activists often claim that nuclear is more reliable than wind energy and, therefore, we should just use nuclear and forget wind energy, solar energy, and renewables in...[more]
Performance monitoring of rooftop wind turbines in Great Britain
If further proof is needed that mounting wind turbines on rooftops is a bad idea, the final report on the Warwick Wind Trials is it.[more]
The time for that choice is now. Do we allow our health to suffer by continuing to rely on coal? Do we gamble on nuclear? Or do we choose a less harmful path toward renewable energy? How do we...
The document below is a scanned copy of Adopt an Anemometer: A Unique Anemometer Loan Program created circa 1980 by the Center for Alternative Resources for the US Department of Energy. The...[more]
This is a quick survey of some of the sources for wind turbine performance statistics, that is, how many turbines, how many MW, and how much electricity they produce. There are no doubt more...[more]
The Muncie (Indiana) Star recently reported that the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission awarded almost $1 million to a relatively little known German company.[more]
It was interesting to compare the behavior of the various turbines.
The Boston, Massachusetts, Museum of Science, is installing a rooftop Wind Turbine Lab in the summer of 2009.
One of the small wind turbines selected for testing was Mariah Power's Windspire Giromill. The Windspire is a 1.2-kW vertical-axis wind turbine. The turbine tower is 9.1 meters tall, and its rotor...[more]
Data on actual measured performance of small wind turbines at the Test Field for Small Wind Turbines in Zeeland, the Netherlands. The site has a very low average wind speed of only 3.8 m/s during the...[more]
Yes, windmills and dams deface the landscape but the climate crisis demands immediate action. . .
I've been putting off writing anything about the "Energy Ball" simply because there are too many of these "inventions" for one person to track, analyze, and report on. Like many of these...[more]
Conclusion? Again, it's unlikely that this wind turbine will produce the reported generation anywhere in Michigan by a large margin.[more]
So, which concerns are real and which aren't? Let's investigate whether utility-scale wind energy is as green and economical as the industry and politicians paint it. . .
The known and well-documented health effects from coal use and the threat that climate change poses to humans and other species must be weighed against the unproven links between wind turbines and...
The Skystream uses a 3.72-meter diameter, three-blade, downwind rotor. Southwest Windpower claims that this rotor will deliver 1.8 kW at its rated speed of 9 m/s and generate 4,800 kWh per year at an...[more]
Twice now on our way to Pearson International Airport in Toronto we've passed two Skystreams in operation at a shopping center. They've both been operating both times. That's plus, we need a lot more...[more]
An excellent primer on why wind energy (and solar PV) needs feed-in tariffs. . .
An excellent primer on the value and integration of wind into utility systems.
Presentation at the CanWEA conference i 2007 by S. Tullis at McMaster University.[more]
A thorough analysis of the concept by an experienced renewable energy journalist.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation supported the project with a $400,000 grant.
Opposition to wind power used to be the province of NIMBY’s who quailed at the supposed intrusion into their viewsheds and soundsheds. No more. Wind power is big — its share of U.S. electricity...
Another insightful analysis by Craig Morris of the American Spectator's "critique" of renewable energy . . .
[W]hen wind turbines are operated as parts of an interconnected grid for which the dominant share of energy is provided by generators burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), wind power...
Dr. David Colby doesn't doubt that some people are bothered by the noise generated by a wind turbine, but the acting medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent says there's no direct link between...
The Danes have an expression, as do most European cultures, to wish one good fortune on parting. The expression comes from the days of sail: God Vind or Good Wind! The wind is good in Denmark, and...[more]
Gaia-Wind II kW--Power curve and annual energy output
Lansing, Michigan
James Lovelock says the government’s enthusiasm for wind farms approaches fascism.--By George Monbiot in the Guardian . . .
In summary, wind power prices are comparable to those of fossil fuel ppower plants, but (i) that price is guaranteed not to change over the next 20 years, (ii) when wind is blowing, it brings down...
On Noise from Wind Turbines and Wild Claims
Product brochure by a British company for Cleanfield's 3.5 kW VAWT shown on an unusual monopole tower. To my knowledge the Cleanfield turbine was never certified under the British FIT program. This...[more]
Two videos of Cleanfield VAWTs spinning. The first shows two of its small VAWT on the roof of a what looks like a school in Ontario, Canada. The second shows a group of five turbines at an airport in...[more]
Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, & Business (2004) Corrections If you find further errors or want to suggest changes or corrections, post a message to Paul Gipe. Your help is...[more]
Praise for Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, & Business (2004) by Paul Gipe Advance Praise "If you only buy one book on wind energy, make it this one. . . Paul Gipe has made a great...[more]
There are a several sources of information for landowners on the typical terms and conditions for leasing land for wind energy development. The newest is by the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association...[more]
Juliette Jowit The Guardian, Tuesday 13 January 2009 Home wind turbines are generating a fraction of the energy promised by manufacturers, and in some cases use more electricity than they make, a...[more]
Arne Kildegaard on the Merit Order Effect
As the title suggests, this version of Chelsea Green's original 1999 version expands the scope to include commercial-scale wind turbines used in distributed applications. As such, this book includes...[more]
Stewart Russell captured these photos of a Mariah Windspire installed at the College School in St. Louis. Stewart is an experienced wind hand and noted that the Windspire, which is an unguyed,...[more]
Britain's Renewable Devices introduced its "Swift" micro turbine several years ago to criticism that its estimates of annual production were inflated. See Roof Top Over the Top in Britain. Since then...[more]
It's unlikely that this wind turbine will produce the reported generation anywhere in Michigan.[more]
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Presentation on Integrating Renewable Electricity into the Grid by a French authority on renewable energy. Chabot's conclusion: Think Big! We already have the technology we need to go to 100% RE.
Any wind turbine and tower that cannot be safely lowered to the ground for servicing should have a fall arresting system for ascending, descending, and working atop the tower, a sturdy work platform,...[more]
I knew Terry Mehrkam. I wrote about him. I also wrote his obituary. I hope I never have to write another obituary about someone working on a wind turbine.[more]
Or How to Increase the Power of the Skystream 3.7 with the Stroke of a Pen[more]
October 30, 2008 Despite rumors to the contrary in the Anglophone world, French wind energy development is continuing. In fact growth is accelerating according to data published by France Énergie...[more]
Despite rumors to the contrary in the Anglophone world, French wind energy development is continuing. In fact growth is accelerating according to data published by France Énergie Éolienne, the French...[more]
Press release touting the hiring of an engineer from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario as a specialist in wind energy in urban areas.[more]
The following tables are provided as a public service. Feedback is welcome. [more]
Finally, a detailed-some would argue exhaustive-treatment of how to build your own backyard wind turbine. The authors, do-it-yourselfers who actually know what they're doing, are the powers behind...[more]
AeroVironment has installed 20 units of its AVX 1000 rooftop turbines on a building at Boston's Logan International Airport. The 20 kW installation, part of what AeroViron[ment calls its...[more]
This is a classic example of how not to install wind turbines to best advantage. The best that can be said about this installation is that at least they were not mounted on top of the building.[more]
(ASPO US Sacramento)
Lansing, Michigan
I thought I'd comment on the technical feasibility of the plan, and the underlying economics of such an endeavour. . .
The World Wind Energy Association presented its 2008 World Wind Energy Award to Paul Gipe at its 7th annual conference. The trade association also elected Gipe to its board of directors. Gipe shared...[more]
Consultants to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative have issued a damning report on the performance of small wind turbines installed under the MTC's subsidy program.[more]
WWEA Conference, opening plenary session, Kingston, Ontario
Presentation by Paul Gipe for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, June 2008
opposition to wind farms on the basis of potential adverse health consequences is not justified by the evidence. . .
Washington, DC
Specifically to inventors of vertical axis wind turbines and rooftop wind 'technology breakthroughs'
Despite the problem among the thousands of medium-size turbines in the Altamont Pass, there's little data on the impact from single medium-size turbines, small clusters of machines, or small wind...[more]
February 25, 2008 Below is summary of principle characteristics of mini- and household-size Vertical Axis Wind Turbines on the international market. It is not intended to include every VAWT marketed...[more]
Related to the interest in rooftop mounting of small wind turbines is that of integrating wind turbines into the building structure itself.[more]
Below is summary of principle characteristics of mini- and household-size Vertical Axis Wind Turbines on the international market. It is not intended to include every VAWT marketed worldwide.[more]
Cleanfield’s first prototype small-scale Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) has been tested in the wind tunnel at National Resources Canada’s laboratory in Ottawa.[more]
Applachian State University has tested a number of wind turbines at its Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility. ASU has published reports on both performance and noise. It is...[more]
Portion of a presentation made January 10, 2008 to Al Gore's Solutions Summit To significantly address the United State's contribution to climate change and to prepare for the diminishing supply of...[more]
Tests on the Whisper H40 at Applachian State University's Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility by Brent Summerville confirm earlier power curve tests on the H40 at the Wulf...[more]
Tests on the Air X at Applachian State University's Beech Mountain Small Wind Research and Demonstration Facility by Brent Summerville differ inexplicably with power curve tests on the Air X at the...[more]
How to say yes to wind energy. . .
Debunked by the Canadian Wind Energy Association
Portail de l'énergie en Région wallonne
1% to 38% of supply[more]
We installed an Air Breeze at the request of Southwest Windpower in mid December. The turbine was provided by SWP at no charge. We are testing the turbine pro bono.[more]
Grid integration of renewable energy, especially wind energy, is a controversial topic-and has been for nearly three decades. Frankly, I think the subject has been beaten to death and for my part the...[more]
The following documents were made available to the public in Great Britain. They refer to the field trials of several dozen micro and mini wind turbines installed on buildings in urban and rural...[more]
The Air X s/n ABeta004 was installed for noise testing in December 2003. It ran unattended until the fall of 2007 when it failed.[more]
Presentation by Stephen Tullis, McMaster University.[more]
In this presentation, Stephen Tullis of McMaster University calls attempts to use Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines in urban environments "promising," but notes they are too new to conclude much.[more]
Audubon strongly supports properly-sited wind power as a clean alternative energy source that reduces the threat of global warming. . .
The Wulf Test Field is situated at latitude 35° 4'20.64"N and longitude 118°23'40.12"W and is at an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,400 m) on the north facing flanks of the Tehachapi Mountains in the...[more]
Technical paper by S. Tullis and his students at McMaster University examining the wind flow around and over buildings. The work was funded by the Ontario's Centres of Excellence.[more]
Another technical article by S. Tullis on what was the Cleanfield 3.5 kW VAWT.[more]
Another research paper by S. Tullis and his students at McMaster Univeristy. The paper acknowledges funding from the Ontario Centres of Excellence and Cleanfield Energy.[more]
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Lansing, Michigan
The building houses exhibition on water and now on energy. There are two wind turbines installed on the roof as shown in the photos below.[more]
In 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, the alliance [Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound] took in almost $3.3 million in donations, including $1.1 million from oil magnate Bill...
Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center installed a 225 kW Vestas V27 wind turbine in 2006 on the city's harbor front between the Cleveland Brown's football stadium and the science museum. The V27 is...[more]
For more than a decade, senior environmental leaders in North America have been waiting for Germany's renewable energy market to collapse, an expectation tinged with schadenfreude.[more]
Community Wind--The Third Way--Wind Energy As If People Matter
The pyramids have always been thought to contain some magical power. Maybe they do. Maybe Mag-Wind has found a way to tap into this magical power, because they certainly are not going to get much...[more]
Presentation to CanWEA's 2007 Conference
Based on these findings, [the British] Government does not consider there to be a compelling case for further work into AM [Aerodynamic Modulation] and will not carry out any further research at this...
This book serves as a guide to the many legal issues faced by farmers and rural landowners who seek to develop wind energy projects. . .
Various estimates of the running costs of large wind turbines. . .[more]
The following worksheets were developed for the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative in 2007 for the report Renewables without Limits: Moving Toward...[more]
Performance testing of the Cleanfield VAWT in the 9 m NRC wind tunnel. The test results showed nothing unusual and because they were performed in a wind tunnel are not considered comparable to real...[more]
Has something happened to the water in Britain since they privatized the water companies? Someone should check because the British government has gone berserk.[more]
Miguel Mendonça's Feed-in Tariffs takes his place alongside Craig Morris' Energy Switch in explaining the success of Feed-In Tariffs to English speakers. Feed-in Tariffs joins a growing list of...[more]
Lansing, Michigan
The North American Market is Like a Bucking Bronco at a Texas Rodeo--"Yee Ha! Ride Em Cowboys!"
The effect seems much less marked – if at all – for detached houses. The research also highlighted that, to some extent, wind farm developers are themselves avoiding the problem by locating their...
Le Grand Livre de l'Éolien est le livre de référence pour tous les acteurs du secteur et pour tous ceux qui souhaitent y prendre part à l'avenir. Il donne au lecteur une vue exhaustive sur une des...[more]
Le Grand Livre de l'Éolien est le livre de référence pour tous les acteurs du secteur et pour tous ceux qui souhaitent y prendre part à l'avenir. Il donne au lecteur une vue exhaustive sur une des...[more]
Another version of the paper by S. Tullis and his students at McMaster University on the wind tunnel tests of Cleanfield's 3.5 kW VAWT.[more]
The following is a response to an article written by Paul Gipe in July 2005 titled Beating Swords into Wind Turbines-or Solar Panels if You Like that argued if an equivalent amount of money had...[more]
At 8 pm on January 12, 2007 Danish wind turbines produced 58% of total Danish consumption or 2725 MW of a 4735 MW load. There is 3,100 MW of Danish wind turbines on line. Danish turbines produced...[more]
The following is an open letter by Hugh Piggot to BWEA calling for action on the unsubstantiated claims by promoters of rooftop wind turbines in Britain. Hugh Piggott is one of the world's most...[more]
by Frank Sensuss, Massimo Genose, Mario Ragwitz (on the Merit Order Effect)
Greg Pahl's idea of shifting the debate from Not In My Back Yard to Please, In My Back Yard with community ownership is an idea whose time has come. That's the central theme of his The Citizen...[more]
The Midwest Wind Integration Study, which was required by the Minnesota legislature in 2005 to evaluate reliability and other impacts of higher levels of wind generation, found that the total...[more]
Hugh Piggott is one of the English-speaking world's true experts on small wind turbines, especially for off-the-grid applications. [more]
Ok, we liked this book because it has lots of pictures: pictures of wind turbines, pictures of people, pictures of a Danish table cloth, all sorts of pictures. We admit it. We also liked it because...[more]
Ollivier is journalist living in southern France's Languedoc-Roussillion region, the country's premier wind resource area. As a journalist, Ollivier is all-too-familiar with the controversy...[more]
Volkmar Lauber is one of the world's pre-eminent academics specializing in renewable energy policy. Lauber, a professor political science at the University of Salzburg, writes fluenty in English,...[more]
Massive. That's the first word that comes to mind when picking up the 600-page tome by John Twidell and Tony Weir. Of course the broad subject of renewable energy deserves the treatment and I can't...[more]
The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) issued a bilingual CD-ROM on wind energy at its New Delhi conference in 2006. [more]
Yes, Franz Alt's powerful little book is in German. And yes there's perhaps only 100 million native German speakers in the world. But that's no excuse for ignoring this book. With rudimentary German...[more]
Adapted from Wind Energy Comes of Age, by Paul Gipe, John Wiley & Sons, 1995. All rights reserved. Much of this was written in 1993 and relied on reports published in the early 1990s. Studies...[more]
There is no one setback from residences for large wind turbines in California. Setbacks are regulated by individual counties. In 2006, the University of California at Davis did a survey of setback...
Stewart C. Russell sent these photos of a Windsave installation in Scotland. The turbine is near his parents house and is installed on an expensive home. Note the sheltering effect from both the...[more]
I am a retired IBM engineer living in a very remote area of Alaska who is hooked on renewable energy. I am not soliciting advice just merely passing along some photos and very limited experiences you...[more]
First, they raise questions about the role of wind as a source of electricity against America's main source of electric power today - coal, much of which is mined and burned in Appalachia. Second,...
Robert Skarski died in 1993 while installing a small wind turbine at his Illinois home. He was killed when the tower he was on buckled and fell to the ground. [more]
This is an exchange on a message board by a student engineer at McMaster University displaying the VAWT they had developed and installed on a rooftop of the campus in Hamilton, Ontario. This VAWT...[more]
Neue Energie, 8/2006, reports that where in the past German projects would contain 30 to 40 turbines, the trend is toward projects with fewer turbines, from three to six each. The reason is not...[more]
New Energy reports (2/2006) that on 16 February, 2006 during the peak of consumption in Spain at 9:25 pm, Spanish wind turbines delivered 20% of total generation. This was during a period of low...[more]
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
How North America Can Learn From Renewable Energy Success Stories in Europe[more]
With the flap in early July about roof top wind hype in Great Britain, I was surprised to find the controversy dogging my steps into the Sierra Nevada.[more]
Your claims cannot be substantiated by the data made available to the public and it is likely they cannot be verified in the field. [more]
We returned to the site to remove the turbine for repair. The blades were removed without incident. However when removing the generator-yaw assembly the entire assembly came off in my hands without...[more]
he U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service has a long history of testing wind turbines at its research station near Bushland, Texas. They do good work. They're fair and...[more]
For a review of Wind Energy Handbook by Tony Burton and for ordering information see Wind Energy Handbook. [more]
Event Draws Attention to Pacific Crest Trail in the Tehachapi Pass Event Held 21 Years in 2006![more]
You can't get something for nothing. North Americans who think a micro or mini wind turbine will meet all their household consumption are in for a rude surprise. A wind turbine with a rotor 1-2...[more]
Urban wind turbines. The image is immediately appealing. Most people live in cities. Most people want to use wind and solar energy. Thus, there must be ways for those living in cities--urbanites--to...[more]
Generator Size and Swept Area Newcomers to wind energy and even some old-timers who should know better often equate the size of a wind turbine to it's generator rating. A Vestas V80 for example...[more]
Are you one of the many people who have read or heard that the next generation of roof mounted wind turbines will provide all the electricity needs of the average semi in the UK?
Why You Shouldn't Do It[more]
University of Quebec a Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
December 4, 2005 Typical of rooftop turbines, the rotor is tied down on this non-operating WE-10 Algaier turbine in Holzhausen, Rheinland-Pfalz, 2005. The turbine is noteworthy in its own right. The...[more]
News item from McMaster University's student newspaper announcing the development of a Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine.[more]
(in English), University of Quebec a Rimouski, Colloque Eolienne Eloigne
Long-time wind energy advocate Tore Wizelius is one of the Swedish pioneers of the technology. Finally his thoughtful book on wind energy and its integration into communities is now available to...[more]
Government report says Ontario coal-fired power plants cost nearly $0.13 CAD/kWh ($0.10/kWh) in environmental and social impacts. Ontario's ruling party swept to power in the fall of 2003 on...[more]
The renewable lists buzz with discussions about net metering. Renewable's advocates spend hours, days, years even trying to implement net metering over utility objections. Why bother? Net metering is...[more]
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Wind Power in Power Systems is edited by the very capable Thomas Ackermann. It is a massive 691 pages on the status of modern wind turbines and how they are integrated into power systems. The book...[more]
For New Zealand's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ottawa, Ontario
