Saturday, May 30, 2009

International Energy Outlook 2009


World marketed energy consumption is projected to increase by 44 percent from 2006 to 2030. Total energy demand in the non-OECD countries increases by 73 percent, compared with an increase of 15 percent in the OECD countries (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Energy Information Administration


Friday, May 29, 2009

EVT, LLC - Revolutionary Wind Turbine Design



EVT Replacement Technology: Gearboxes have been failing in wind turbines since the early 1990s; barely a turbine make has escaped. The problem reached epidemic proportions with a massive series failure of gearboxes in NEG Micon machines. At the time, the NEG Micon brand was the most sold wind turbine in the world. The disaster brought the company to its knees; it was taken over by the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, which still is challenged by gearbox failures.

When a gearbox fails, the Rotor may still continue to turn, and all the power generated by the rotor is converted to heat. The result is often a fire which destroys the wind turbine.

See EVT, LLC Technology at www.evtllc.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Nano Vent-Skin - Poetry in Motion



Nano Vent-Skin is wind power taken to the micro Nano level.

Its inventor, Agustin Otegui, currently lives and works in Mexico City. He holds a Master's Degree in Product Design and Simulation (Elisava; Barcelona). He has been working in Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, Germany and the UK for clients like BMW, Mini Cooper, Southwing, Rolls Royce, MABE, Citroen, IZI Concept, FIAT and Faurecia. His work has been internationally awarded and exhibited in Mexico City, Milan, Paris, NY, London and Barcelona.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Wave Power Gets Creative


The wave power industry is a world full of creative ideas and strange-looking machines, each more innovative (or crazy) than the other. There's no doubt the ocean holds a lot of power. The question is how to convert it to electricity. As many others in greentech, wave power companies and developers have recently seen increasing public interest for wave power (see Surf’s Up: Ocean Power Ascendant).

For example, media interest suddenly became more intense when companies like Apple and Google discussed using wave power and currents to power their facilities.

What follows is a look at some of the many solutions out there, some with huge investments at stake, others still in small-scale testing with only a few investors. The technologies are about capturing the power from waves, currents or tidal currents.

Aquamarine
The wave energy converter from Aquamarine is called The Oyster. It consists of an oscillator that is fixed to the bottom of the sea. The passing waves run through the Oyster and deliver high-pressure water to the shore where hydro-electric generators convert it into electrical power. Aquamarine says ten Oyster energy converters could provide energy to a town of 3,000 homes. Each Oyster delivers 300 kilowatts to 600 kilowatts.

For more and deeper information about the ocean power industry, read the
GTM Research Report: Wave and Tidal Power Markets and Opportunities