Articles by

Paul Gipe

Energy from the Heavens: Franz Alt on Wind Energy

By

Paul Gipe

Theologian, popular author, renewables activist, TV personality, Franz Alt is something of a phenomenon in Germany. Unfortunately for us Anglophones, ... Read more
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A Summary of Fatal Accidents in Wind Energy

By

Paul Gipe

Update: The most current database for the number of fatal accidents in the wind industry. Below is a summary table from the spreadsheet. Note that there are four other tabs not reproduced here. . .
Twister helical Darrieus wind turbine at Crissy Field, San Francisco in an "urban wind" demonstration project,

Gorlov Helical Wind Turbine

By

Paul Gipe

The helical rotor design is reputed to reduce or eliminate the torque ripple encountered in traditional two-blade Darrieus or eggbeater turbines.
FloWind's EHD three bladed turbine contrasted to its 19 meter, two bladed commercial model.

FloWind’s Extended Height to Diameter VAWT

By

Paul Gipe

FloWind’s development of the Extended Height-to-Diameter (EHD) Vertical Axis Wind Turbine was the last gasp of Darrieus wind turbine development in the US.

More Wine Labels Featuring Wind Turbines Posted under Cultural Icons

By

Paul Gipe

Wine labels often celebrate the local landscape, the paysage in French. So it is fitting that vineyards add scenes depicting landscapes with wind turbines to their wine labels. . .

Photos of Shrouded & Ducted Wind Turbines Posted

By

Paul Gipe

Ducted or shrouded wind turbines have been invented and reinvented throughout the 20th century. Ducted turbines are often wrapped in mysterious, technical babble, such as diffuser augmentation, that is beyond the ken of most observers. Even supposedly sophisticated engineers have been snared by what at first appears to be a startling new technology "overlooked" for decades by everyone else. . .

Photos of (Real) Urban Wind Turbines Posted

By

Paul Gipe

While many misconstrue "urban" wind turbines as those mounted atop or integrated into buildings, true urban wind turbines are commercial-scale turbines placed in or near cities, towns, and villages. . .

Photos of Building Integrated and Rooftop Wind Turbines

By

Paul Gipe

Of the wind turbines shown here, only the turbines atop 12W in Portland, Oregon were probably in service. I doubt that the Windspire turbines on the side of the San Francisco Public Utility Commission building were operating, though they were "spinning". . .
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Photos of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

By

Paul Gipe

I've added photos of historical interest to my web pages on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) and Darrieus turbines of various designs. . .

Renewable Energy at Your Fingertips

By

Paul Gipe

The Energy Transition is becoming a fashion item! Painted fingernails are a popular adornment for women of all ages. Kirsten Hasberg announced the launch of her crowd-sourced venture EnergyDemocracy.TV at the Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy conference in San Francisco April 16, 2013. In doing so, Kirsten flashed her painted fingernails on which are the symbols of renewable energy technologies that make energy democracy possible, including one finger with the symbol for wind energy.

US Postal Service Circulating Wind Turbine Icon Postmark

By

Paul Gipe

Wind turbines are culturally identified with environmental stewardship, and a green, healthy future. So it is fitting that the Postal Service is celebrating Earth Day 2013 with a postmark depicting wind turbines. . .
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Opportunities Forsaken: The Iraq War and Renewable Energy

By

Paul Gipe

For the Amount Spent on the Iraq War the US Could be Generating 40% to 60% of its Electricity with Renewable Energy