I mentioned this on hugg a while back-- I've just been floored, am totally in love with this and have great plans for the moment the ice thaws!! Woop Woop is all I can say-- this rocks my world. Say hello to THE eco-conscious extreme sport!
See two things; one is that I used to love water skiing like there was no tomorrow. When i was a kid i taught skiing, i ate skiing and dreamed about getting through the slalom course at 28mph so I could get my gold badge.. I actually loved the smell of gasoline in the morning because i had a Pavlovian association between that olfactory sensation and the feeling of a mirror-smooth lake at sunrise about to get shredded by me, the boat and my slalom skis. But as I grew an ecological consciousness i had to forgo that passion. You just can't justify the wastefulness.
So now, I live on the beach, about 40 minutes by bike outside of the downtown core, and while taking this most awesome bike path to the GreenLiving HQ-- i get mesmerized daily by these freaks in dry suits who are booking across the water, cutting 10 ft spray off the boards and basically shredding. And without a boat!!! I've dreamed of this.... So, after asking everyone I could about what they think it's called, I finally found it on wikipedia, and even better yet, have found this school right down the street from my house, and am signing up for classes, like i said as soon as it thaws. I can't wait! A new addiction!!! Wooo hooo!!
And that's why I was pleased as a peanut this morning to read the PR Release from Torrence CA's PacWind Technologies. as they announced today the availability of its patented, scaleable Vertical Axis Wind Turbine the Sea Hawk.
The SeaHawk, the first turbine in a series, has a power output of 1 kilowatt and a maximum power output of 3.4 kilowatts (retails for $4,495-- batteries not included). The SeaHawk measures 55 inches high by 30 inches in diameter. This PacWind VAWT is scaleable to megawatt class turbines. The compact SeaHawk design enables freedom of choice and flexibility for installations, and allows one or more units to mount on a single pole. The unit is also roof-top mountable, and can be set as high or low as the winds demand. Custom mounts are also available. It "incorporates PacWind's patented, permanent magnet, three-phase A.C. generator, containing the most powerful rare-earth magnets in the industry. This allows the VAWT to produce more power at lower wind speeds compared to propeller driven generators,"
Sure there are some questions about using AC and storing it (ok you wont need an inverter to run your house, and it's easier for grid connecting). And it isn't quite as hot as the Texan MagWind. But it does look like a winner. AC makes it about 1/2 price, and they are looking for distributors and dealers... so this is kinda a groundfloor opportunity for someone out there.... I am wondering though.. to me it looks a lot like Quebec's CataVent a 12 year old VAWT: what do you think?
The U.S. Department of Energy, NREL, and Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) recently signed an agreement for a "wind to hydrogen" research, development and demonstration project. Pretty cool. As the focus is electrolizing water into Hydrogen with air power :DDD
The new wind-electrolysis system will be at NREL's National Wind Technology Center, where hydrogen will be produced, compressed and stored to be used as a vehicle fuel or to generate electricity. The project will compare electrolyzer technologies and researchers will examine issues related to system efficiency, integration, compression, storage, cost and the use of a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas. "One unique feature of this system is the direct connection between the wind turbine and the electrolyzer, which will make the system more efficient," (yeah.... fairly unique... in Toronto on the lakeshore there's one of those that's been making H from wind for almost 2 years now). Still a good bigger-than-a-baby step!
ok you know me, you know i love vertical axis wind turbines so I'm happy to say that there seems to be yet one more design that is now getting some nice attention! yay!! it's from a show Globe2006 and they talk a bit about this groovy gyroscopically stabilized VAWT! it's the SRI and while it looks big, apparently they have a model that will do your home, and cost only $4,000 (thats canadian, so it's a little under $3,500 US). Not bad....
Fallsbrook Technologies and Valvoline announced today that they've entered into a trademark licensing and development agreement to design, test and market specialty fluids designed to optimize the performance of Fallbrook's NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmission technology. The NuVinci technology is the most practical, economical and universally adaptable CVP for human-powered and motor-powered vehicles and machines. It is also ideally suited for applications in many major industries, ranging from bicycles, light electric vehicles (LEVs), and automobiles to trucks, agricultural equipment, and utility-class wind turbines, among others. CVPs use a set of rotating balls between the input and output components of a transmission. Tilting the balls changes their contact diameters and varies the speed ratio. I know it sounds complex but here's what it means to you: Seamless, instant shifting over an infinite number of gear ratios, up to a 400% ratio range with no steps or pulsation & no gaps between gears, and improved vehicle range, acceleration and hill climbing capability.
My old partner the lovely and talented dj semira just sent me this news bite:
It appears that Quebec's provincial utility company Hydro-Quebec has issued a call for tenders for 2 GW of new wind power generation. The new capacity is to be staggered in annual blocks of 300-450 MW. Individual wind projects may account for all or part of a year's block, while contracts between the project developers and the electricity distributors will range from between 15-25 years, depending on the regulator. By 2014 Quebec's total installed wind capacity will be 3500 MW, representing an investment of approximately 5$billion, and nearly 10% of Hydro Quebec's total installed capacity. The deadline for the submission of bids is 17 April 2007, with preference being given to projects that benefit local communities or native peoples in Quebec. Got a great idea for a wind farm? You still have some time to make it, as Hydro Quebec says, all bidders interested in submitting a bid must register for the call for tenders and pay the registration fee ($1,000) by 4:00 p.m. (Montréal time), December 15, 2006. Aiiiight! Get crackin!
welcome to the wacky world of Vertical Axis Wind Turines! treehugger has this super cute pic on their site today talking about The QuietRevolution; these really hot vertical turbines that light up at night! And, being the TH-junkie that i am, went to comment right away. And i was going to splather the comments with a bunch of links (like I often do- under my typekey pseudonym du jour) 'bout all of these different types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.. instead I simply wrote: "VAWTs ROCK THe HOUSE!!" and that was it(!) Besides, it was a really hot VAWT: Carbon fiber ...only one moving part... I may have a new winner in my favorite VAWT catregory. " There were others... I used to have a thing for that one up there-- still do. My first vawtlove, the Windaus (which BTW STILL has the best homepage for any vawt) was a local one. But like I said, there have been others.. See, here's the deal. They make no noise (ok the mega-huge 1.5MW turbines don't iether), and kill no birds or bats --again with most new mega turbines that isn't a problem, but if you live in the country and want to have a 2KW Bergy or SouthWest Windpower, you will have noise and you will have dead birds... and you don't go to the country to hear a windmill whine.. So again, VAWTs ROCK THe HOUSE!!
...and they have cool designs like mad!! ( Read more... )
more DayStar news more DaySTar news, more!! It appears that DayStar is getting new digs. If you've been here for a while you know just how much i love Day Star technolgies, and who couldn't love em?
But now heer's the new secret... it appears that the developer who's building their shiny new new factory just got the approval ($$$) and the building's coming up soon. And i still swear that within one year, Day Start is going to be a fairly common (if not household) name...
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