Current wind farm technology requires a lot of space between blades. A new report proposes that "counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbines" would draw power more efficiently on less land.
Hamish Pritchard at BBC News explains that although the vertical-axis turbines are "less efficient individually than the propeller-style turbines, they are able to use turbulent winds from many directions." The technology is currently being tested in the California desert by engineers from CalTech.
The "school of fish" influence is reflected in the momentum gained, rather than lost, by clumping the turbines close together. Current blades are less efficient when close together because of turbulence, but the new turbines benefit from the funneled wind because they can gather gusts from all directions. The next step for CalTech's team is to see if the effect will work on a larger scale.
FULL STORY: Schools of fish help squeeze more power from wind farms
Northern California Port Seeks Offshore Wind Lease
The Port of Humboldt has proposed a plan to modernize its facilities to accommodate offshore wind energy production, hoping to stimulate the local economy and create sustainable jobs.
Can Maine Follow Denmark to Energy Independence?
Visitors from small islands off the coast of Maine traveled to Samsø, a larger island off the coast of Denmark, to learn how to emulate its transformation into a model of renewable energy.
Transmission is Key for Wind Energy From the Sea
Building wind farms in the ocean is an ideal way to generate electricity, but it's not so easy to get that energy back to shore efficiently. This article looks as a transmission project that could address that issue.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie