Domestic Fuel

You don’t expect Duke and the University of North Carolina to be together on too many things, especially when it comes to items on the basketball court. But in this case, it’s Duke Energy teaming up with the Tarheels on a wind energy project.

The Triangle Business Journal reports that the two are partnering to put up three wind turbines in Pamlico Sound that could become the first turbines placed in water in the country:

The project follows a nine-month UNC study completed in June for the general assembly that concluded the state has the potential to develop utility-scale wind energy production.

“This project is a great example of how university research can expand our understanding of an issue – in this case, wind energy,” UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp said in a prepared statement. “Then an industry partner like Duke Energy can use that research to do what they do best and develop this on a larger scale.”

The project would join Duke’s 634 megawatts of land-based wind power it currently has in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming and another 99 megawatts under construction and an additional 251 megawatts of wind projects that should start producing power next year.

Windmills might soon be going up all over San Francisco, as a a task force is recommending that the city start putting up the turbines at places like Treasure Island, the San Francisco Zoo, city parks, and the city airport as demonstration sites for how urban wind farms could help power the city.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the recommendations come after a year-long study of the potential of wind power in the city:

“We should absolutely harness the wind,” said Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who as a city supervisor in July 2008 joined Mayor Gavin Newsom in convening the urban wind power task force, which is publishing the report.

The ideas proposed in the San Francisco study are intended to help the city reach its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. While turbines are typically associated with farms and rural areas, cities like San Francisco are increasingly interested in using what is considered a cleaner energy generator.

City hall itself might even sport its own urban wind farm one day.

Researchers at Iowa State University will be able to learn more about wind turbine technology… a good idea when you consider how big wind energy has become in the state.

The school’s work with Arizona-based TPI Composites and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., to improve the process currently used to manufacture turbine blades has led to a three-year, $6.3 million project called the “Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Initiative.” This ISU press release says a third of the money comes from the Iowa Power Fund, a state program to advance energy innovation and independence, and equal shares from TPI Composites and the U.S. Department of Energy:

The grant will allow Iowa State to establish a Wind Energy Manufacturing Laboratory on campus. The lab will feature the work of four faculty researchers: Matt Frank, Frank Peters and John Jackman, all associate professors of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Vinay Dayal, an associate professor of aerospace engineering. The grant will also support the research of five graduate students and several undergraduates.

Peters said possible manufacturing improvements include developments in automation and quality control.

The researchers will be working with smaller models of the turbine blades to see what are the best ways to boost efficiency and strength. Later work will focus on the towers, the nacelles, gearboxes and other components.

With installed wind capacity at 3,043 megawatts, Iowa ranks second in the nation in wind power production.

Mark your calendar for October 1st and 2nd for the third annual Alternative Energy Symposium held at the campus of Chicago State University.

The event is put on by the folks at American Science Technology’s Center for Alternative Energy Technology (CAET):

Renewable and sustainable energy derived from natural resources could hold the key to the United States not only reducing its reliance on foreign oil, but also reducing its impact on the global environment. CAET is a joint initiative between Chicago-based American Science and Technology (AST) and Chicago State University (CSU), established in 2006, in the south-side of Chicago, to perform basic and applied research to evaluate, develop, and commercialize alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, as well as alternative energy technologies such as fuel-cells, and energy harvesting from solar, wind, and other natural resources.

The symposium will highlight the work so far by the CSU and AST scientists as well as other work by researchers at universities and laboratories from around the world.

It’s open to the public, and you can get more information and register here.

A man called “one of the most effective renewable energy advocates in Texas” is being honored with an award that has a focus this year on the environment.

Thomas “Smitty” Smith… known for his work in putting together the Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that is now being adopted all across the country and has made Texas a leader in wind energy creation, as well as putting it on the path to lead in solar energy… has been honored as a recipient of a Heinz Award and will receive a $100,000 prize:

Since 1985, Mr. Smith has served as director of the Texas office of Public Citizen, a consumer and environmental group active in areas concerning energy, environment and other socio-economic issues. His efforts in passing the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), his work on expanding solar energy generation and the passage of the RPS are three of his most noteworthy accomplishments…

Said Teresa Heinz, chairman of the Heinz Family Foundation: “When we hear “Texas,” we don’t think renewable energy. We think oil-refineries and wells. But thanks to Heinz Award recipient Thomas Smith, the Lone Star state is leading the way in both energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy like wind and solar.

Smith joins nine other award recipients in the 15th annual version of the awards named for the later Senator John Heinz.

Wind turbines could become more efficient and reliable, with some help from a $1-billion program that has just passed the U.S. House.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) is the sponsor of the measure that the San Francisco Chronicle says aims to ensure that the biggest of the wind-generating turbines will be the most cost effective… important if wind energy is to hit the Energy Department’s prediction of wind providing 20 percent of U.S. electricity supplies by 2030:

Tonko said more research is needed to overcome the “many significant technical issues” facing wind-generated electricity.

Tonko said the initiative could leverage nanoscience research by businesses and research institutions that are working at the molecular level to create lighter and more durable materials.

The program would also look for ways to make the turbines’ gearboxes more reliable and develop cheaper assembly techniques for large components. Plus, it would work on how to overcome the issue of unpredictable winds.

The USDA is handing out another $13 million in loans and grants for 233 renewable energy projects in rural areas of 38 different states.

The projects were announced in this press release and during a speech at the Farm Progress Show in Illinois, that included some of the highlighted projects:

The loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. These funds are not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

REAP funding is already contributing to increased renewable energy production. For example, in 2003, USDA Rural Development approved a $300,000 renewable energy grant to Lincolnland Agri-Energy, LLC., in Palestine, Ill. The 453-farmer cooperative operates a livestock feed production plant and a 49-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant. The grant enabled the cooperative to by a $1.4 million thermal oxidizer to control plant emissions. This critical piece of equipment removes 75 percent of the emissions from the dryer exhaust without reducing plant performance. The oxidizer has another benefit: the heat it produces is captured in a steam recovery system and turned into energy. Lincolnland’s USDA grant produced 37 local jobs.

You can read the complete list of projects here.

Getting inspiration from a fish, researchers are looking at making wind turbine blades out of advanced materials that will change shape to make the systems more efficient and longer lasting.

This article from U.S. News & World Report says the blades with changing aerodynamic profiles will best suit whatever the prevailing wind conditions bring:

“The idea was born from a simple observation of a fish in an aquarium,” said researcher Asfaw Beyene, a mechanical engineer at San Diego State University. “Many flying and swimming animals have superior efficiencies than manmade devices. The primary difference between natural motion and motion of manmade devices is lack of geometric adaptability to varying flow conditions.

“A morphing blade uses the wind to its advantage rather than fighting it, adapting its shape to get greater performance,” Weaver added. “This has the potential to significantly relieve unwanted stresses in the blades, increasing their efficiency and helping to prolong their life.”

Researchers believe that today’s glass and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic blades can be controlled by an electric signal, and future wind blades made of urethane rubber will be able to flex, bend and twist shape to reach the optimal angles that get as much energy from the wind as possible.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver is taking action to create more green jobs in Iowa.

Culver signed an executive order last week which creates the Iowa Green Jobs Task Force. “In recent years, thanks to our efforts in biofuels and wind energy, we have created thousands of green-collar jobs for Iowans,” said Governor Culver. “However, if we are to expand these industries, we must also have the workforce necessary to fill those positions. That is why I am creating the Green Jobs Task Force, which will help coordinate our state’s efforts in creating and filling the green-collar jobs of the future.”

Culver previously signed an executive order to require state agencies to purchase more flex-fuel vehicles that use up to 85 percent ethanol.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado has installed two of the biggest wind turbines ever tested at the facility.

The video above shows workers putting up the 220 tons of wind turbine parts for the 253-foot diameter blades. This story in EnergyCurrent.com says they’ll be able to generate 1.5 megawatts of power:

“This turbine is a modern, utility-scale machine that will serve as a general-purpose research platform,” said Fort Felker, director of the wind center.

“Wind energy is cost-effective now, but there are lots of opportunities to be more reliable and more efficient,” said David Simms, manager of testing and operations. “We’re trying to figure out how to get more wind turbines out there that are more effective.”

The article goes on to say that an even bigger wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 331 feet will be put up at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center later this year. Researchers believe the extreme wind conditions, along with snow, ice, lightning and severe storms, in that part of Colorado will be a great testing ground to see how much the big blades can take.