Articles tagged with "wind-energy"
Wind Farms Outlast Expectations: Longevity Matches Nuclear - CleanTechnica
The article challenges the common assertion by nuclear energy proponents that nuclear power plants have a significant advantage over wind farms in terms of operational lifespan. While nuclear reactors typically have licensed lifespans of 40 to 60 years, often extended to 80 years, recent developments in wind energy demonstrate that wind farms can match or even exceed these durations. A notable example is Denmark’s Middelgrunden offshore wind farm, initially expected to operate for 25 years but recently granted a 25-year extension without major equipment replacement, effectively doubling its lifespan to 50 years. Other Danish wind farms like Nysted and Samsø have also received operational extensions, with potential for further life prolongation. In addition to lifespan extensions through maintenance and inspections, the practice of repowering—replacing older turbines with fewer, larger, and more efficient ones—significantly enhances the longevity and output of wind farms. The Ovenden Moor wind farm in the UK exemplifies this, having increased its electricity production by 2
energywind-energynuclear-energyrenewable-energyoffshore-wind-farmsenergy-longevityclean-energyHow Has U.S. Energy Use Changed Since 1776? - CleanTechnica
As of 2024, the United States consumed approximately 94 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy, marking a 1% increase from the previous year. Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—continue to dominate U.S. energy consumption, accounting for 82% of the total, while nonfossil sources such as renewables and nuclear energy make up the remaining 18%. Petroleum remains the most-consumed fuel, maintaining this status for the past 75 years. Notably, natural gas, once considered a waste byproduct, has become a major energy source for heating and electricity generation. Historically, energy use in the U.S. has evolved significantly since 1776. Early energy sources included water-powered mills, though their contribution is not well quantified. Coal surpassed wood as a primary energy source in the 19th century, and natural gas overtook coal in 1958. More recently, renewable energy sources such as wind and
energyrenewable-energyfossil-fuelssolar-powerwind-energyU.S.-energy-consumptionclean-energySolar News - China Leaps Forward While US Falls Back - CleanTechnica
The article highlights China's rapid advancement in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, contrasting it with the United States' lagging efforts. In May 2025 alone, China installed 93 GW of solar capacity and 26 GW of wind, equating to the energy needs of entire countries like Poland, Indonesia, or Turkey. China now boasts over 1,000 GW of installed solar capacity, nearly half of the global total. This growth is part of a deliberate national strategy to replace coal-fired power plants with renewables, despite China being the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. The Chinese government fosters a highly competitive market environment where renewable energy companies must succeed without bailouts, leading to significant financial losses for major solar firms but driving industry consolidation and efficiency. In contrast, the U.S. is extending the life of aging coal plants and dismantling plans to phase out coal, undermining its clean energy transition. The article criticizes the U.S. political landscape, particularly Senate Republicans who are pushing to
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerwind-energyChina-energy-policyclean-energyenergy-transition‘Wings’ on poles: Bill Gates-backed wind tech plant takes off in US
Airloom Energy, a Wyoming-based startup backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has begun construction on its first pilot facility in Rock River, aiming to revolutionize utility-scale wind energy. The company secured $13.75 million in funding last year to develop its innovative wind turbines, which are notably smaller and lighter than conventional models—standing at 82 feet compared to the typical 328 feet. Unlike traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs), Airloom’s proprietary design features compact, modular turbines with rectangular swept areas, enabling higher energy conversion efficiency in less space. This approach addresses growing US energy security concerns and the anticipated energy shortfalls forecasted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Gartner. Airloom Energy’s CEO Neal Rickner emphasizes the urgent need for affordable, flexible, and rapidly deployable energy systems to meet increasing electricity demand driven by factors such as AI and digital infrastructure growth. The company’s turbines, made with mass-manufacturable US components, can
energywind-energyrenewable-energywind-turbinesenergy-innovationAirloom-Energysustainable-energyRenewables as a Bridge to Gas? America's Energy Logic Goes Backwards - CleanTechnica
The article discusses a controversial statement made by John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy, at the Politico Energy Summit in June 2025, where he suggested that renewables like wind, solar, and storage should be viewed as a temporary "bridge" to expanding natural gas generation. This reverses the long-standing narrative that natural gas is a bridge fuel toward a renewable future. Ketchum’s argument centers on the urgent need for new electricity capacity in the near term, driven by rising demand from AI data centers, electric vehicles, and broader electrification. He emphasized that renewables are currently the only energy sources deployable quickly enough to prevent reliability crises, whereas new gas infrastructure faces significant delays. The delays in gas turbine deployment—often five to seven years—stem from manufacturing backlogs caused by limited production capacity, aging infrastructure, supply chain disruptions, and workforce shortages, rather than surging global demand. This bottleneck is partly a consequence of the market’s long-term shift away from
energyrenewable-energynatural-gassolar-powerwind-energyenergy-storageelectricity-demandSenate GOP bill spares nuclear and geothermal energy while hammering wind and solar
Senate Republicans have introduced a budget reconciliation bill that significantly scales back renewable energy incentives established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), particularly targeting solar, wind, and hydrogen energy. The bill proposes ending residential solar tax credits within 180 days of enactment and disqualifying solar leasing companies from receiving credits, which would severely impact the residential solar market. Commercial wind and solar projects would face a shortened timeline for tax credits, with full credits only available for projects starting within six months of the bill’s signing and phased reductions thereafter, disappearing entirely after 2027. Hydrogen tax credits would also end this year, creating additional challenges for hydrogen startups. In contrast, the bill largely spares geothermal, nuclear, hydropower, and long-duration energy storage technologies, with only slight extensions to their tax credit phase-outs. Carbon capture incentives would be modified to eliminate distinctions based on the use of captured carbon, making all projects eligible for the same credit level. Notably, the inclusion of long-duration energy storage could
energyrenewable-energysolar-powerwind-energynuclear-energygeothermal-energyenergy-policyA Primer About Wind On Global Wind Day - CleanTechnica
Global Wind Day, observed annually on June 15, aims to raise awareness about wind energy’s role as a clean, renewable, and sustainable power source. Wind is generated by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun, causing air to move from high to low pressure areas, creating wind. This natural phenomenon has powered human activity for millennia, from ancient Egyptian sailboats to modern wind turbines that convert kinetic energy into electricity without greenhouse gas emissions, thus supporting the global transition to net-zero carbon emissions. Wind turbines, typically three-bladed and mounted on horizontal axes, vary in size and capacity—from 100 kilowatts to 12 megawatts—and can be installed in diverse environments including land, offshore, and deep waters with floating designs. Key factors influencing electricity production include wind speed, blade radius (with power increasing exponentially as blade size grows), and air density, which depends on altitude, temperature, and pressure. The wind energy sector also presents significant job growth opportunities; for example
energywind-energyrenewable-energywind-turbinesclean-energysustainable-energywind-powerIndia's Coal & Gas Decline Signals Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition - CleanTechnica
The article highlights a significant shift in India’s energy landscape, marked by a steep decline in coal usage as of May 2025—the largest year-over-year drop since the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline is driven by economic slowdowns, rapid expansion of renewables, and increasingly cost-competitive solar and wind projects, signaling a potential tipping point toward decarbonization. Despite coal’s entrenched role in powering India’s industrial sectors and accounting for nearly half of the country’s primary energy input in 2023, its inefficiencies—where about two-thirds of coal’s energy content is lost as waste heat—underscore the urgency for a transition to cleaner, more efficient energy sources. Renewables, while growing, still made up less than a quarter of electricity generation in 2023, reflecting the substantial scaling challenges ahead. Looking toward 2050, the article envisions a fully electrified Indian economy predominantly powered by renewables such as wind, solar, and hydro, with nuclear energy maintained at current levels. This future energy system would leverage the efficiency gains of electrification, particularly through widespread adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, which significantly reduce energy demand in transport, residential, and commercial sectors. The strategic use of ambient environmental heat via heat pumps and the integration of geothermal energy could further reduce electricity needs, transforming India’s energy consumption into a highly efficient and sustainable model. This transition offers not only environmental benefits but also economic resilience by addressing inefficiencies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
energyrenewable-energycoal-declinesolar-powerwind-energydecarbonizationIndia-energy-transitionAikido Technologies Full-Scale Floating Wind Demonstrator to Be Tested in Norway - CleanTechnica
energywind-energyoffshore-windrenewable-energyfloating-platformsAikido-TechnologiesMETCentreWindRunner: US eyes world’s largest plane for military cargo needs
energywind-energymilitary-logisticscargo-transportaerospacewind-turbinedual-use-technologyHauling Renewable Energy Around By Freight Car -- Not A Prank!
renewable-energyfreight-railenergy-storageelectric-locomotivessolar-powerwind-energybattery-technologyTrump Should Be Held Accountable For Defunding Renewable Energy Projects
renewable-energyclimate-changesolar-powerwind-energyenergy-policyclean-energygreenhouse-gas-emissionsBlue States Sue Feds Over Halt To Wind Energy Projects
energywind-energyrenewable-energyclean-energyfederal-regulationsenergy-policyjob-creationPhát triển Cơ chế hỗ trợ giá FIT cho năng lượng tái tạo Việt Nam Lịch sử thành tựu thách thức
energyrenewable-energyfeed-in-tariffsolar-powerwind-energyVietnam-energy-policyenergy-investment$2.5 Billion Says US Just Can’t Quit Renewable Energy
renewable-energyclean-powerwind-energysolar-energyUS-energy-policyenergy-marketclean-technologyPhase-Shifting Hot Bricks Pack More Energy Storage Punch Into Smaller Spaces
energyenergy-storagethermal-energyrenewable-energysolar-energywind-energyindustrial-processes