New Atlas

Environment Audio available

Whistling wind turbines may save bats' lives

Ben Coxworth May 15, 2019

According to a US Geological Survey estimate, anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of bats are killed by wind turbines annually – in the US alone. New technology may help reduce those numbers, however, by causing the turbine blades to whistle at the animals.

Bats and wind turbines traditionally don't mix well

Outdoors

Giga takes campsite device-charging for a spin

Ben Coxworth April 12, 2019

While some people might say that electronic devices have no business being on camping trips, the fact is that items such as LED lanterns, GPS units, two-way radios and cameras all have batteries that need charging. The Giga is designed to meet that need, using the power of the wind.

The Giga portable wind turbine is presently on Kickstarter

Environment Audio available

System uses ultrasound to keep bats away from wind turbines

Ben Coxworth December 14, 2018

Although wind turbines may be a valuable source of eco-friendly energy, they do have at least one drawback – bats are frequently killed by their spinning blades. A promising new system is designed to help keep that from happening, however, by producing an ultrasonic acoustic field.

The Bat Deterrent System, pictured here, will be available in 2019

Energy

Omnidirectional urban wind turbine takes out 2018 James Dyson Award

Loz Blain November 14, 2018

The O-Wind Turbine has taken out the UK£30,000 (US$39,000) first prize in this year's James Dyson Awards. This crooked, vented spherical device is designed to hang from skyscraper balconies and generate electricity in the chaotic wind conditions of a high-rise metropolis.

Any way the wind blows, this turbine will spin in a constant direction

Energy

World's largest offshore wind turbine to be developed in the UK

Ben Coxworth April 25, 2018

Last month, GE unveiled its plan to build the world's largest, most powerful offshore wind turbine, known as the Haliade-X. This Tuesday, it was announced that the rig will be tested and developed over the next five years, at the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult research center.

The Haliade-X will stand 260 meters (853 ft) tall, with a 220-meter (722-ft) rotor incorporating three ...

Science

System could detect – and prevent – eagle strikes on wind turbines

Ben Coxworth March 20, 2018

It's a shame when any bird is killed by colliding with the blades of a wind turbine, but it's particularly sad when that bird is a protected species. With that in mind, scientists are developing technology that could deter eagles away from turbines, and detect when they hit the blades.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are roughly 143,000 bald eagles and 40,000 ...

Environment

Self-curing resin may make wind turbines more eco-friendly

Ben Coxworth February 20, 2018

Although wind turbines may seem like the epitome of "green" energy, scientists from Vanderbilt University are working on making them even greener. They're looking at a resin that could save energy when turbine blades are being created, and that might make those blades more recyclable.

A new thermoplastic resin could make it possible to more fully recycle wind turbine blades, and ...

Energy

World's highest wind turbine catches the breeze in Germany

Paul Ridden November 3, 2017

Max Bögl Wind has announced the construction of the world's tallest turbine in Gaildorf, near Stuttgart in Germany. The tri-blade monster has a hub height of 178 meters (584 ft), with a total height from ground to tip of the blade of 264.5 m.

The Gaildorf giant is over 800 ft tall from ground to blade tip

Energy

Combined wind, solar and storage energy park to be built in Queensland

Paul Ridden October 23, 2017

Windlab has announced that construction will soon start on a combined wind, solar and battery storage facility in north Queensland, Australia. Kennedy Phase I is reported to be the world’s first utility-scale, on-grid wind, solar and battery energy storage project.

Kennedy Phase I is expected to meet the electricity needs of 35,000 average Australian homes

Energy

World's first floating wind farm powers up off Scotland

Michael Irving October 19, 2017

Offshore wind farms can tap into the higher average wind speeds over the ocean, but can only be built in relatively shallow water. Floating turbines can help harvest wind energy from above deeper waters, and now the world’s first floating wind farm has just fired up off the coast of Scotland.

Hywind Scotland, the world's first floating wind farm, has just been fired up