General Information on Wind Energy

Wind Energy
An estimated 1 to 3 percent of the energy from the Sun is converted into wind energy. This is about 50 to 100 times more energy than is converted into biomass by all the plants on earth through photosynthesis. Most of this wind energy can be found at high altitudes where continuous wind speeds of over 160 km/h (100 mph) are common. Eventually, the wind energy is converted through friction into diffuse heat all through the earth's surface and atmosphere. More…

Offshore
Wind often flows briskly and smoothly over water since there are no obstructions. The large and slow turning turbines offshore wind farms take advantage of the moderate yet constant breezes.
Offshore wind turbines are considered to be less unsightly (they can be invisible from shore), and because the winds are usually more potent offshore, such turbines don’t need to reach quite as high into the air. Offshore conditions are harsh though, abrasive and corrosive, and it’s often impossible or near-impossible to repair a broken down turbine in open waters. More…

Evaluation of global wind power
A study of Archer and Jacobson from Stanford University evaluates global wind power: For the first time, the world’s wind power potential is qualified. More…

The EuropeanAcademyof Wind Energy
The EAWE is a co-operation on wind energy R&D of research institutes and universities in four countries: Germany , Denmark , Greece and the Netherlands . The Academy is founded to formulate and execute joint R&D projects and to coordinate high quality scientific research and education on wind energy on a European level. More…

FINO – Research Platforms in the North and BalticSeas
Electricity from offshore wind turbines will make an important contribution to tomorrow's energy policy. With a view to determining the effects on the marine flora and fauna, the research project FINO was initiated:
On a research platform in the North Sea, a comprehensive series of measurements and investigations are being performed. The results are expected to yield findings of great importance for the technical and environmental assessment of wind technology. More…

Wind Power UK
Wind power has already begun to supply the UK with the electricity it needs, and wind developers are ready to increase its capacity. But sadly many wind farms are failing to get built because of small but vocal local opposition groups. So it's vital that people who support clean energy also speak out in favour of wind power locally.
This site was produced by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF, with the aim of providing information and resources for the public to support wind farm proposals locally. More…

German Energy Agency (dena)
Dena was requested by the German government's "Green Cabinet" for sustainable development, a committee of under-secretaries of state, to coordinate the "Renewable Energies and Efficient Energy Utilisation in Fuel Cells" pilot project together with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie - BMWi) with a sub-project on offshore wind farms. More…

Offshore Center Denmark(OCD)
The OffshoreBase by the Offshore Center Denmark (OCD) is a database which gives the user the ability to search for industry suppliers of know-how, production, sales, and services to the international offshore industry.
Offshore Center Danmark makes applications on behalf of its members for funding for new technology projects to various foundations, including the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, EU, as well as public and private foundations. More…

Dutch Windenergy Coalition
The Dutch Windenergy Coalition incorporates persons and organisation active in wind energy.

Wind Atlases of the World
By the end of 2004, the wind atlas methodology – in the form of the WAsP program – had been employed in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. National wind atlases exist for about 30 countries (marked in red); many of these atlases contain wind data and wind statistics on disk. More…

Windpower Monthly
Windpower Monthly is an energy news magazine - a uniquely independent information source on the world's fastest growing renewable. Articles on political, industrial, environmental and technical developments in the global wind energy arena. National news updates which analyse, inform and put the news in focus reported in every issue, along with regular charting of market forces, thought provoking editorials and incisive analyses of business and economic trends. More…