Over the last 10 years wind turbine manufacturers have developed larger and more technologically sophisticated wind turbines. Larger wind turbines, known as "big wind" have grown in output from 1 Mw and 2 Mw and this year GE announced introduction of a turbine designed for offshore applications with an output of 4 Mw. GE's prototype 4 Mw turbine has been undergoing testing while installed in the North Sea off the coast of Norway, enduring many a harsh storm, high wind speeds and turbulence known for often squashing a Naval Admirals plans for an opponent.
This turbine uses direct drive technology which
eliminates costly gearbox parts, reducing operating expenses, and also relies on an innovative modular approach to maximize in-situ repair and reduce the need for large repair vessels.
http://www.compositesworld.com/...
The technology development arm of General Electric, GE Global Research (Niskayuna, N.Y., USA), on Aug. 30 announced that work has started on a $3 million project to develop a 10 to 15 Mw wind turbine using MRI magnet technology, and composite materials to increase performance while reducing the cost of electricity.
Keith Longtin, of GE Global Research says reducing the cost of wind turbines while delivering more electricity is a major driving force behind the new effort.
For MRI systems, we’re applying superconducting magnets to make lower cost systems with higher image quality,” Longtin said. “For wind turbines, we want to apply them to generate more wind power at a lower cost of electricity. The applications are different, but the basic technology is the same.
http://www.compositesworld.com/...
Wind power is already the second cheapest generator of electricity behind coal power, an exponential jump in performance while lowering the cost of electricity would clearly place the GE product line at the top of the heap and set the stage for wind power to be crowned as the cheapest form of electricity on the planet, while at the same time reducing the intermittent quality of wind power.
At the same time the Atlantic Wind Connection will start construction in about a years time. The AWC is a 350 mile long HVDC offshore trunkline capable of supporting 7,000 Mw of wind turbine development 12 to 18 miles offshore, out of sight from the beaches along the East coast. The AWC will start near Sawyerville New Jersey and continue to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
High Voltage DC transmission is excellent for long distance transmission, just switching the HVDC can save dozens of millions of pound of Co2 emissions.
Why HVDC is so important by itself.
More detailed information on the supergrid and HVDC.
East Coast 350 mile long offshore HVDC backbone for Wind Turbine development.
3:20 PM PT: Holy crap Batman, I just saw this diary on page 3 of the Rec list, I dont see a rec tag yet, does page 3 mean the software doesnt apply a rec tag? 20 rec's and 17 tips in the jar is an excellent ratio with only 13 comments. Thanks everyone.
3:22 PM PT: Gee, already dropped to page 4.
6:35 PM PT: Hey still holding on the 4th page of the rec list, 30 rec's, this diairy wont quite.