Comments on: Why the future of wind power looks better and better http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:38:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Make Them Accountable / Environment http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3481 Make Them Accountable / Environment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:26:20 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3481 [...] Why the future of wind power looks better and better My Clean Break column today takes a look at a few startups that are trying to make wind farms more reliable and productive. Most of the companies I’ve mentioned in the past — Whalepower (blade design that mimics humpback whale flippers); Premium Power (utility-scale zinc-bromide battery storage cheap enough to couple with wind turbines/farms); and Catch The Wind (LIDAR adapted for integration into wind turbines). In the column I also discuss Vancouver-based ExRo Technologies, which has developed a new kind of generator with a built-in electronic transmission rather than an external mechanical transmission. This is a potentially game-changing innovation. ExRo says its technology can dramatically improve the efficiency of turbines because its unique design allows the generator to adapt more quickly to changing wind conditions and tap a wider range of wind speeds. In addition to my column, you can find more detailed explanation of ExRo’s technology at Greentech Media and Technology Review . And let’s not forget the potential of hydraulic wind-energy storage , or EEStor’s EESU and its massive potential for storing wind energy [...] [...] Why the future of wind power looks better and better My Clean Break column today takes a look at a few startups that are trying to make wind farms more reliable and productive. Most of the companies I’ve mentioned in the past — Whalepower (blade design that mimics humpback whale flippers); Premium Power (utility-scale zinc-bromide battery storage cheap enough to couple with wind turbines/farms); and Catch The Wind (LIDAR adapted for integration into wind turbines). In the column I also discuss Vancouver-based ExRo Technologies, which has developed a new kind of generator with a built-in electronic transmission rather than an external mechanical transmission. This is a potentially game-changing innovation. ExRo says its technology can dramatically improve the efficiency of turbines because its unique design allows the generator to adapt more quickly to changing wind conditions and tap a wider range of wind speeds. In addition to my column, you can find more detailed explanation of ExRo’s technology at Greentech Media and Technology Review . And let’s not forget the potential of hydraulic wind-energy storage , or EEStor’s EESU and its massive potential for storing wind energy [...]

]]> By: carmen http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3464 carmen Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:32:56 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3464 With technology improvements wind power will definitely get better and be a more viable resource especially with improvements in the grid, battery storage, and protecting turbines. Here is a good read on wind power http://www.poweredgenerators.com/wind-power-generators.html With technology improvements wind power will definitely get better and be a more viable resource especially with improvements in the grid, battery storage, and protecting turbines. Here is a good read on wind power http://www.poweredgenerators.com/wind-power-generators.html

]]> By: Cyril R. http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3461 Cyril R. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:05:49 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3461 I don't think so; even if Eestor has short term succes, the energy storage market is quantitatively huge, so even with amazing growth rates it would take quite some time for Eestor to dominate. Plus there are different requirements for different types of energy storage. For example, a solar thermal plant can get cheaper with low cost thermal storage; even Eestor can't compete with negative costs! Although in this respect Eestor says they have all the cards: energy density, cost, cycling, materials abundance, etc. If they are for real, which is still unclear to me at least. I don’t think so; even if Eestor has short term succes, the energy storage market is quantitatively huge, so even with amazing growth rates it would take quite some time for Eestor to dominate. Plus there are different requirements for different types of energy storage. For example, a solar thermal plant can get cheaper with low cost thermal storage; even Eestor can’t compete with negative costs!

Although in this respect Eestor says they have all the cards: energy density, cost, cycling, materials abundance, etc. If they are for real, which is still unclear to me at least.

]]> By: Richard http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3452 Richard Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:37:38 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3452 What about flowdesign, a revolutionary new design in wind turbines. What about flowdesign, a revolutionary new design in wind turbines.

]]> By: Erkyl http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3448 Erkyl Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:59:22 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3448 I read an interesting blurb about cycling Lithium car batteries through wind power buffering stations prior to recyling them. So they do their 100K miles in the car, then go to wind buffering for a period of time, then to recycle when they are completely out of life. The battery lease from the energy producer helps offset the terrible cost of producing the new batteries for cars. Sounded cool. All you here probably know all about that. I'm just passing through. If a miracle happens and Eestor actually produces, all this is academic. Game over for all other storage mediums and for the internal combustion engine in automobiles. I read an interesting blurb about cycling Lithium car batteries through wind power buffering stations prior to recyling them. So they do their 100K miles in the car, then go to wind buffering for a period of time, then to recycle when they are completely out of life. The battery lease from the energy producer helps offset the terrible cost of producing the new batteries for cars. Sounded cool. All you here probably know all about that. I’m just passing through. If a miracle happens and Eestor actually produces, all this is academic. Game over for all other storage mediums and for the internal combustion engine in automobiles.

]]> By: Scatter http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2008/11/17/why-the-future-of-wind-power-looks-better-and-better/comment-page-1/#comment-3443 Scatter Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:34:45 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/?p=1293#comment-3443 And that's just for the surface turbines. Within 10 years time I hope that a good chunk of new wind turbines will be airborne. If that happens, the limitations of wind energy will be blown away. And that’s just for the surface turbines. Within 10 years time I hope that a good chunk of new wind turbines will be airborne. If that happens, the limitations of wind energy will be blown away.

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