America's wind industry is simultaneously on course for a record-breaking year of installations and on the brink of catastrophe – and a lot has to do with the boom and bust of the Production Tax Credit (PTC).
28 April 2012
Members' Content
Spurred by eligibility criteria to access a growing number of financial incentives the small wind industry is making solid headway toward consistent ratings, reliable performance estimates, and demonstrated compliance with safety standards.
28 February 2012
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
A big year is in store for the U.S. wind power industry in 2012, both in the policy arena and out in the field...
30 December 2011
As Google announces its power purchase agreement for the output of an Oklahoma wind farm, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy, Mike Ming, tells Renewable Energy Focus U.S. why Oklahoma is such a good place for renewable energy developments.
13 July 2011
Although renewable energy is usually seen as benefiting the environment, project developers must plan ahead to manage risks and environmental challenges.
11 July 2011
Offshore wind could contribute significantly to the world’s energy demand, according to wind turbine company Gamesa, which is planning an offshore wind turbine center in Virginia.
04 July 2011
The US lack of long-term policies for wind power appears to be the biggest obstacle to the nation’s wind market if we are to believe some of the top wind turbine manufacturers active in the US.
15 June 2011
The US and China could fall out over China’s domestic wind turbine market as the US files a complaint with the WTO due to frustrations with Chinese subsidies and non-transparency.
13 June 2011
A company living off licensing its wind turbine design to manufacturers – is that a viable business plan? Timothy D. Poor explains AMSC’s business model to Renewable Energy Focus U.S.’s Kari Williamson.
07 June 2011
Despite the toll of the financial crisis and lower wholesale electricity prices, the US wind power industry is expected to continue growing until 2012, but after that the future is uncertain, according to a report from Berkeley Lab.
06 June 2011
Canadian Trillium Power’s offshore wind projects for the Great Lakes are great indeed – and could even beat Cape Wind to become North America’s first offshore wind project. Renewable Energy Focus U.S.’ Kari Williamson talks to Trillium Power CEO John Kourtoff.
11 April 2011
In the wind power industry, reaching higher isn’t just a nice metaphor for achievement. It’s the industry’s future. The reach for steady, reliable, low-shear wind at hub heights of 80 m and above is the reach for success in the marketplace. Without that steadiness and reliability, wind power will continue to run second to more dependable – if mortally flawed – fossil fuels.
06 April 2011
A gas industry report misunderstands US power system and misses wind’s contribution to US electrical grid reliability, says the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
25 March 2011
Damage to wind turbine blades can significantly lower the turbine’s performance. On site repair of wind turbine blades has traditionally been time consuming and of variable quality. David Cripps, Global Account Manager, Gurit Wind Energy, describes a new blade repair system which is clean, fast and can be used in a wider temperature range.
01 February 2011
So how did 2010 play out for the U.S. wind industry? The American Wind Energy Association has produced its highs, and lows.
04 January 2011
The US Secretary of the Interior has finally approved the Cape Wind offshore plan to build 130 wind turbines on the country’s east coast. But does this wind farm, which has battled on in the face of strong opposition, really herald a new era for wind power in the US? Steve Sawyer of the Global Wind Energy Council reports.
22 November 2010
This week saw the very sad death of Dr Hermann Scheer, in many ways the father figure of German renewable energy, and a hugely influential figure worldwide. He was a fighter who seemed to relish his battles, and an inspirational, irreplaceable character.
18 October 2010
Storms and lightning strikes are a significant safety risk for wind farm workers. Don Leick examines the guidelines and best practice used by top wind power companies to mitigate the risk to their employees.
08 September 2010
The USA is seeing a shift in attitudes to renewable energy at Federal level. Bush-era oil-dominated policies are giving way to positive encouragement of sustainable energy. But, to what extent can the US capitalize on the ensuing manufacturing opportunities, enhanced by recession-induced stimulus funding? George Marsh reports.
22 April 2010