Wind Energy really seems to be gathering wind as a viable alternate option in the last couple of years and people are starting to use it alongside solar energy to get the best possible results. But the major problem in harnessing wind energy has traditionally been the use of tall and huge wind turbines which do not fit in to modern city patterns and also require considerable and consistent wind for production of energy. But designers and engineers have put an end to that problem by creating wind turbines that suit the urban lifestyle and ‘Energy Ball’ might be the best of the lot.

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Dear readers this post is an update (well, almost) on the news piece that I shared with you all yesterday. I talked about Oregon’s announcement to build the world’s largest wind farm so far and there in I mentioned my doubts about the Pickens Plan. Business tycoon and gas magnet T. Boone Pickens had some time ago announced his mega project (to the American media) on tapping wind energy as USA happens to be one of the windiest places on earth. Beyond that announcement, no further details have been circulated and so the plan of constructing a 4000 MW wind farm in Texas does seems to be outlandish!

But as we all know these biggies of the business world work at their own pace. They like to tell the world about their plans in their own way. And this Pickens Plan is really big, so it’s a buzzword among media pundits as well. What else can one expect when a billionaire decides to invest his own money behind a project and announces his wishes? The project becomes worthy enough to be covered in the media circles – print, TV, internet etc. So, for all those who would like to know a bit more, here’s a video by ViroPOP which doesn’t elaborate excessively on what we already know. Nevertheless, it is still interesting to watch (the narration is swift) and post introduction, we get to learn a bit about sites, which facilitate eco-shopping. The viral is good enough for those who hardly know anything about the big plan. Happy watching!

Renewable energy projects are picking up pace in USA with Oregon Energy Facility Sitting Council giving it a green signal to build the world’s largest onshore wind farm- The Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm .It will be built on private land (spanning Gilliam and Morrow counties); 5 miles southeast of Arlington and will consist of 300+ wind turbines, plus a combined installed capacity of 909 megawatts. According to Michael Grainey, director of the Oregon Department of Energy, this announcement marks a tremendous day for the state’s renewable energy options.

So far, the largest single wind farm (the Horse Hollow wind farm, located in Texas) holds a capacity of 765 MW. Development of the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm will be undertaken by Sacramento (California firm Caithness Shepherds Flat LLC) and it hopes to alleviate the current energy scenario in Oregon.The wind farm will double-up the Oregon’s wind capacity. While Shepherd’s farm might seem to be the largest so far, plan to build a 4,000 MW wind farm in Texas by business tycoon T. Boone Pickens by 2014, seems a wee bit outlandish.

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In his heartfelt proclamation ‘Design is Dead’, famous designer Philippe Starck came to a realization that everything he’s ever designed is totally useless and so announced a retirement in coming days. But now the artist it seems is over with his mid-life crisis and is back with a very innovative product. This time it’s a wind turbine called “Democratic Ecology”.

The latter is a partially transparent plastic generator which the designer made alongwith manufacturer Pramac. With this product the designer has certainly used his talent to make a positive difference in the world. Atleast, one can say it’s a neat try! The turbine which was on display in a cube decorated with eco-talks (motivational messages), can generate between 20% and 60% of a typical home’s energy needs.

“Democratic Ecology” is targeted at those who are now thinking actively towards increasing sustainability and decreasing load on earth, by consuming lesser traditional energy sources. The price is however not so democratic with a single turbine costing about $630! The designer will have to come out with cheaper versions and also a way of incorporating these in households which refuse to give up on conventional methods in order to popularize his recently found eco-consciousness! However, let’s be optimistic that those who can afford “Democratic Ecology” would certainly go for it.

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Planning to hike or camp with your kids this summer but worried about battery less cell phones or iPods after a fun-filled day? Worry not anymore for Uniross (only battery brand worldwide to be endorsed by WWF) has come up with a new range of eco-friendly battery chargers for people like you.

The battery charger is powered by sun energy. This solar charger with USB adaptor can be obtained for£39.99. Others in the range include a 15 Minute charger, the Nomad- a portable power hub” with USB adaptor, a travel clock charger and a wind-powered portable charger with bike mount. Wow, quite a handful of eco-chargers I must say!

Price list:
15 Minute chargers claim to charge any battery in just 15 minutes comes after shelling £34.99.

The Nomad- your portable power hub with USB adaptor can be yours in a mere £19.99.

The travel clock charger- is also a travel clock alarm at £29.99. It charges any battery in under 3 hours while you are enjoying your siesta!

The wind powered portable charger set – includes a bike mount, integrated Lithium ion batter, USB output and phone and game connectors. All yours for just £49.99.

All the above mentioned will be available from coming August and will be available at hardware stores, electrical & departmental stores, supermarkets and even on internet!

Via PocketLint

It’s called Rock Port, located in Missouri and will be the first American town to use 100% l ‘wind energy. The wind farm of Loess Hill, cost 90 million dollars, will generate 5 megawatts each day through four Suzlon turbines from 1.25 megawatts each.

Of course, the inhabitants of Rock Port are pochini, about 1,300, but in any case already have a contract in your pocket with the Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities which will sell the excess energy. In this case we speak of 16 megawatt-hours per year: a good beginning for Rock Port and a good image for the use of renewable energies such as’ wind.

With rising developers, there is dearth of greenery around us as all the empty land is being eaten by real estate developers and converted in big structures, helping them mint money. But the story of killing nature doesn’t end there. In fact it starts from there. The dwellers cannot compromise at their lifestyle and thus consumes lot of electric power, the scarcity of which is seen as a basic problem.

But you would be surprised to know that at the same time there is a growing consciousness about saving environment and less use of energy. Developers have plans to utilize wind and solar power for erecting high-rise buildings. The Clean Technology Tower concept created by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill recommends the positioning of wind turbines at the corners of the structure to bind the high-velocity winds that hasten about the top of the tower.

A vaulted dual roof crater located at the summit of the tower will guide the wind towards a lot of wind turbines mounted at lower levels. Idea is to use the negative force shaped by the turbines to aerate internal spaces inside the structure while the field itself will be sheltered by solar cells that will focus on imprisoning the southern sun. It includes 1.8 million square feet of office space along with a 300,000 sq ft hotel, spa and street-level retail rounding off the complex.

Via MetaEffecient

The famous Northern California utility Pacific Gas & Electric has got into a power purchase agreement with Finavera Renewables. The former will be getting 2 megawatts of electricity that will come from the wave farm built by Finavera 2.5 miles off the coast near California’s Humboldt County. The wave farm will be producing power from 2012 onwards offsetting 245 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

As a result, Finavera will expand the wave farm to 100 megawatts. “PG & E’s backing will help us go to a bank and get financing once we prove that there is no technology risk involved,” says Jason Bak, Finavera’s CEO. The exact location of the wave farm will be determined by the location of onshore power lines and electrical stations.

Many companies and laboratories are trying hard to harness tides and waves to produce power. Unlike wind or sunlight, waves and tides are predictable. If the experiments are successful, tides and waves will be a major and green source of power. Also, sea water is more than 800 times denser than air at sea level. In other words, wave farms and tidal turbines can produce large quantities of power with only a little equipment and real estate.

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