World Wind Industry Threatened by US Shale Gas Exports

World Wind Industry Threatened by US Shale Gas Exports
The setting was the Cape Town International Convention, South Africa. The occasion was Windaba 2013, the third wind industry conference presented by the SA Wind Energy Association and the Global Wind Energy Council.  The speaker was Steve Sawyer, Secretary-General of the GWEC.  In an opening speech defininitely to make one sit up and take notice he… Read the rest

US Wind and Solar Energy will be Cost Competitive in 12 years

US Wind and Solar Energy will be Cost Competitive in 12 years
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a study, called ‘Beyond Renewable Portfolio Standards: An Assessment of Regional Supply and Demand Conditions Affecting the Future of Renewable Energy in the West’ It predicts that wind and solar electricity generation installations will become cost-competitive, without the help of US Federal subsidies, by 2025. In the words… Read the rest

Wind Power Cost-Competitive with Fossil Fuels in United States

Wind Power Cost-Competitive with Fossil Fuels in United States
Some very interesting statistical data had just been released. It is contained within the US Department of Energy’s study on US Wind power. 1.  During 2012 about 13 gigawatts of new capacity was installed. For comparison purposes this is more than twice the UK’s total wind power. It provided about 43% of the net additions to… Read the rest

Prairie Chickens Safer Near Wind Farms

Prairie Chickens Safer Near Wind Farms
The effect of wind turbines on wildlife can cause anxiety to those with green credentials. However the greater prairie chicken, a wild inhabitant of the United States,  is largely unaffected by the wind turbines they share areas of the Great Plains of Kansas with. There’s no ruffling of coats or spitting of feathers necessary, because this… Read the rest

Golden Age Coming for East Coast United States Offshore Wind?

Golden Age Coming for East Coast United States Offshore Wind?
It seems a match made in wind heaven: The Atlantic winds blow strong and regular against the East Coast of the States. Offshore wind harvested there is close to the densely populated urban areas that need electricity- the corridor from Boston-New York-Philadelphia-Washington. But a number of States have realised the opportunity and are gearing up to… Read the rest