Optimizing Lubrication
Since each rolling bearing in a wind turbine operates under different conditions, it often is assumed using a variety of lubricants is essential for...
Cutting the Concrete
An Oregon startup is developing a new foundation system for wind-turbine towers that cuts the amount of concrete used by 75 percent – reducing...
MARKET OUTLOOK: A Win for Wind Power
The winds of fortune are shifting rapidly for the energy sector. The rise of hydraulic fracturing and the ongoing OPEC-driven supply glut have pushed...
MARKET OUTLOOK: Breathing New Life into Wind
The five-year extension of the Production Tax Credit has breathed new life into the wind industry, and as a result, new wind-plant additions are...
MARKET OUTLOOK: Iowa: A Leader in Renewable Energy
When you imagine a future for wind energy nationwide, you don’t have to look farther than the state of Iowa as a shining example...
MARKET OUTLOOK: A Strong Wind Blows Deep in the Heart of Texas
No one said Texas doesn’t try to do everything big.
So obviously, the Lone Star state’s “bigness” is a point of pride in everything it...
MARKET OUTLOOK: Wind Future Grows Stronger
American wind power is on track to supply 20 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030, a goal set in the Department of Energy’s...
Trained Personnel Are Key to Safe Wind Farm Operations
Wind farm owners are doing their best to control spending, and, unfortunately, safety issues can be unintentionally overlooked, exposing contract workers and the wind...
Simulation: A Shift and Advancement in Wind Energy Training Methods
Historically, the wind energy industry has been unreceptive to implementing simulation training as a viable alternative for standard training methods. Trade leaders have acknowledged...
The Growth of Drones in the Wind Energy Industry
Smaller computers and sensors, better battery technology, and vastly improved algorithms for managing flight and safety have transformed drones from a niche hobby into...
A Stronger, Cleaner Steel for Applications in Wind Turbines
High-performance steel is used for fasteners to hold wind turbines to the ground, to assemble the modules of the tower, and to attach the...
Data-Driven Main Bearing Maintenance Strategies To Reduce Unplanned Maintenance Costs
Main bearing failures can wreak havoc on a wind farm’s annual operating budget. Operators are experiencing high numbers of main bearing failures resulting in...
Dropped Object Prevention: Tools with Engineered Attachment Points Can Increase Safety and Productivity
The wind power industry, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has recognized dropped objects as a significant safety and productivity concern....
Generation Wind Comes to New Orleans
Last spring, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) set an ambitious goal that, if achieved, would usher in a new era in American...
Profile: Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) is a comprehensive, fully accredited public two-year college with approximately 13,000 students currently enrolled. It offers...
Retooling America’s Workforce for the Wind Energy Industry
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the wind turbine technician profession — and opportunities for employment therein — is expected to...
How the U.S. Wind Industry Can Benefit from the Advancement of Educational and Training...
There is a broad range of professions that make up the workforce needed to drive the wind energy industry forward, including jobs in the...
Wind School Graduates Have a Competitive Edge in the Applicant Pool
As a wind energy instructor at Ecotech Institute, I’m envious of my students. They are at an exciting place in their careers, and the...
The Importance of Encouraging Women to Pursue Careers in Wind Energy at an Early...
The United States Department of Energy’s Wind Vision Report suggests that we as a nation can achieve 20-percent wind-generated energy by 2030 and 35...
Siemens 7-MW Offshore Wind Turbine Reaches Final Stage in Development Process
The development of Siemens’ 7-MW offshore flagship wind turbine has successfully passed final type certification. Field testing of the SWT-7.0-154 was recently extended with...
