Propeller wind turbines are the most common way of using one of the most abundant energy sources on Earth to generate electricity. The tall three-bladed fans are the ubiquitous symbol of wind energy, ...

When you think of a wind turbine, the image that likely pops into your mind is the classic three-bladed giant rising from farmland or the sea. But over the years, designers and engineers have come up ...

Wind turbines that swap traditional mechanical drivetrains for hydraulics could potentially be lighter, more reliable, and less expensive than those fielded today. • A nacelle-mounted hydraulic ...

Several major wind-power companies are testing a departure from the industry’s standard three-bladed turbine design by dropping one of the three blades and spinning the rotor 180 degrees to face ...

One problem when you try to field super-big wind turbines: All the components involved get super heavy as well. No surprise, then, that there are efforts afoot to figure out ways of lightening up the ...

Wind power has always been a trade off between clean energy and the visual, acoustic, and ecological cost of giant spinning blades. A new generation of radical designs promises something different, ...

Critiques of wind power often centre around the wind turbines themselves. Conventional wind turbines are comprised of long blades that spin around an axis at great speed, and at great heights. Most ...

Professor schooled in oil exploration structures has designed a platform to hold turbines dozens of miles offshore. Image: Envisioning a floating turbine Martin LaMonica is a senior writer covering ...

When most of today’s wind projects were developed, first costs were the focus; operations and maintenance (O&M) costs were largely unknown. Now, with hundreds of turbine models in operation—sometimes ...

Computer modeling technologies are being developed to help engineers design better machines. The models are being applied to wind turbines, artificial hearts and gas turbines. Three thin leaflets blew ...