The article mentions Altamont Pass, which beginning in the early 1980s became one of the first, and until relatively recently one of the largest, wind farms in the world. It became a very familiar landmark to residents of the Bay Area, and still exists today, with older (and generally smaller) turbines being upgraded to modern, larger, and environmentally safer (largely to birds) models.
Until the late 2000s / early 2010s, it was rare to encounter wind turbines other than at Altamont and the Tehachapi Pass site (in Southern California, also begun in the early 1980s). Towers are now a fairly common site across the country, though more often in rural areas. Texas now dominates the country, and with two other states (Oklahoma and Iowa) exceeds California's installed capacity.
No mention of GROWIAN , which in 1976 was conceived to generate 3MW. Not a success, but was providing invaluable lessons for future wind turbine developments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growian: The partners as well as the BMFT also had political motives connected with the project. Günther Klätte, management board member of RWE, stated during a general business meeting: "We require Growian [in the general sense of large wind turbines] as a proof of failure of concept"
Tangential, but what happened to the Darrieus wind turbine? Those seemed so futuristic, but the excitement died down fairly quick.
They are less efficient and require larger/more robust bearings than standard horizontal turbines. They look neat, but a "standard" turbine will produce more power in the same footprint and require less material to produce. One advantage of the vertical axis turbines is that the "business end" is at the bottom, making it easier to maintain without climbing up a tower. They just stink at the one thing they are supposed to do.
My dad used to work as an electrician at the "Wind Research Institute" in Romania, back when the communists were still in power. So of course, I was regaled with all sorts of stories on wind turbine deployments all throughout childhood.
One of them was when this huge vertical axis turbine research prototype suffered a destructive failure while he was in the control room underneath because of a flaw in the emergency braking system. Apparently, when the blades (that normally are under tension) break off they make a loud noise and having that thing fall on you is super dangerous.
Only mildly related, but thought I'd share since only now, as a grownup, I realize it's actually interesting, whereas as a small child I really did not appreciate it. And, well, not sure how many times vertical wind turbines come into discussion.
Can't wait for my kid to roll his eyes at my stories.
The article mentions Altamont Pass, which beginning in the early 1980s became one of the first, and until relatively recently one of the largest, wind farms in the world. It became a very familiar landmark to residents of the Bay Area, and still exists today, with older (and generally smaller) turbines being upgraded to modern, larger, and environmentally safer (largely to birds) models.
Until the late 2000s / early 2010s, it was rare to encounter wind turbines other than at Altamont and the Tehachapi Pass site (in Southern California, also begun in the early 1980s). Towers are now a fairly common site across the country, though more often in rural areas. Texas now dominates the country, and with two other states (Oklahoma and Iowa) exceeds California's installed capacity.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Pass_wind_farm>
<https://howmuch.net/articles/wind-power-in-the-united-states...>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_United_State...>
Great article! Paul Gipe’s website is also a great resource for anyone interested in the history of wind energy.
https://wind-works.org/wind/history-of-wind-power/
No mention of GROWIAN , which in 1976 was conceived to generate 3MW. Not a success, but was providing invaluable lessons for future wind turbine developments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growian: The partners as well as the BMFT also had political motives connected with the project. Günther Klätte, management board member of RWE, stated during a general business meeting: "We require Growian [in the general sense of large wind turbines] as a proof of failure of concept"
Tangential, but what happened to the Darrieus wind turbine? Those seemed so futuristic, but the excitement died down fairly quick.
They are less efficient and require larger/more robust bearings than standard horizontal turbines. They look neat, but a "standard" turbine will produce more power in the same footprint and require less material to produce. One advantage of the vertical axis turbines is that the "business end" is at the bottom, making it easier to maintain without climbing up a tower. They just stink at the one thing they are supposed to do.
My dad used to work as an electrician at the "Wind Research Institute" in Romania, back when the communists were still in power. So of course, I was regaled with all sorts of stories on wind turbine deployments all throughout childhood.
One of them was when this huge vertical axis turbine research prototype suffered a destructive failure while he was in the control room underneath because of a flaw in the emergency braking system. Apparently, when the blades (that normally are under tension) break off they make a loud noise and having that thing fall on you is super dangerous.
Only mildly related, but thought I'd share since only now, as a grownup, I realize it's actually interesting, whereas as a small child I really did not appreciate it. And, well, not sure how many times vertical wind turbines come into discussion.
Can't wait for my kid to roll his eyes at my stories.
Cool story