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

India gets a solar plant in 100 days India gets a solar plant in 100 days

A 5 MW solar PV project has recently been commissioned in 100 days - in the Rawra village near Jodhpur, in India’s northern desert state of Rajasthan.
10 February 2012

PV technology developments 2011 and beyond PV technology developments 2011 and beyond

Part three: Materials is another area where solar manufacturers are looking to improve performance and reduce costs.
08 February 2012

PV technology developments 2011 and beyond PV technology developments 2011 and beyond

Part two: The industry needs to continue to innovate and address costs, so what are the equipment manufacturers doing to address this need?
07 February 2012

Five reasons to be pessimistic for solar PV Five reasons to be pessimistic for solar PV

Not yet in full swing, the year 2012 has already hit the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry with several unpleasant reports. The discussion about a tough cap on Germany, the most important sales market, or a temporary suspension of renewable energy incentives in Spain are only two of the news items now posing challenges to the international solar PV branch.
06 February 2012

Restored Italian mill generates power from micro hydropower scheme Restored Italian mill generates power from micro hydropower scheme

A former water mill, sited on the River Cosa at Travesio in northern Italy, has been renovated and converted into a micro hydropower scheme using the Archimedes’ screw concept.
03 February 2012

PV technology developments 2011 and beyond PV technology developments 2011 and beyond

Part one: despite a tough market last year, innovation in PV was alive and well. We look back at some of the developments that were making (and in some cases continue to make) the headlines...
03 February 2012

Speeding up small scale anaerobic digestion Speeding up small scale anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion has been cited by the UK Government as a way of reducing carbon emissions, providing energy security and generating green jobs. A new project aims to push the technology forward...
02 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