Push and pull – testing wind turbine blades Push and pull – testing wind turbine blades

The world wind turbine market is set for continued growth, with the Global Wind Energy Council forecasting up to 1 TW installed by 2020 in its most optimistic scenario. As wind turbines go offshore and into more extreme environments, the demands put on their blades increase. To ensure the blades meet design requirements, they are tested – both internally and by full-scale testing facilities. We see how the testing is done and why.
09 February 2012

Wind turbine blade production – new products keep pace as scale increases Wind turbine blade production – new products keep pace as scale increases

Production challenges grow as wind turbines get bigger, and some blades now exceed 80 m in length. So what are some of the new products and processes being developed to meet the needs of utility-scale blade producers?
02 February 2012

Could the renewables industry suffer from a lack of scarce metals? Could the renewables industry suffer from a lack of scarce metals?

It is not just in laptop computers, mobile telephones and LED screens that scarce metals are to be found but also in solar cells, batteries for mobile technologies and many other similar applications. And the rising demand for these metals increases the risk of a bottleneck in supplies...
01 February 2012

U.S. blade test facility to aid U.S. competitiveness U.S. blade test facility to aid U.S. competitiveness

America's first commercial large wind turbine blade test facility opened in May last year, its aim being to help the U.S. industry remain competitive with its overseas counterparts.
20 January 2012

Wind Power: 200 BC to 2010... Wind Power: 200 BC to 2010...

Wind devices date all the way back to vertical axis wind mills from the Persian-Afghanistan borders around 200 BC, to today’s efforts to develop 10 MW wind turbines...
18 January 2012

Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets? Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets?

Part one: In the last days of 2011 the UK government submitted its first report to the European Union, detailing progress towards its 2020 renewables targets. So is it on the right path to achieving its legally binding targets?
17 January 2012

Renewable energy project monitor Renewable energy project monitor

November/December: Our regular column, written by the Energy Industries Council, reports on project development in the renewable energy marketplace...
16 January 2012

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Conclusion: how much renewable electricity capacity was installed worldwide at the end of 2010, and which technologies were the most popular?
12 January 2012

Offshore coup, China style Offshore coup, China style

Despite some high profile WTO successes for the West, China plans to dominate its offshore wind sector in the long term.
11 January 2012

Book Review - Daniel Yergin: The Quest Book Review - Daniel Yergin: The Quest

In his new book, Daniel Yergin can't quite fully support wind, but tries hard.
05 January 2012