Paul Gipe Speaks!

Paul Gipe is a fellow greybeard in the wind field. His book on wind energy basics, Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business (2004), was my text for my most recent wind energy classes. Folks interested in putting up a wind system for their home will find this reference to be very helpful in sorting things out. Nice interview (audio and transcription). MP3 file here.

Weekend Energy Listening: Wind Power with Paul Gipe - The Oil Drum: Canada - 08 Jun 08

"Ben : Just as a quick biography, Paul has been around the wind power industry since the 1970s and he has written a number of books and articles, which everybody can find on his website wind works.org. He was named Person of the Year in 1988 by the American Wind Energy Association. He was given pioneer status by the World Renewable Energy Congress. Paul, actually you were first described to me as the guy that David Suzuki goes to for wind power answers, so I just have this vision of David Suzuki having you on speed dial, calling you up in the middle of the night to talk about things like capacity factors. Does that ever happen?

Paul Gipe: I wish that was true, but no. David and I do talk and we do discuss this issue, but there are lots of wind power experts in the world and I have my own take on how renewable energy is being developed or should be developed.

Paul Gipe Speaks!

Paul Gipe is a fellow greybeard in the wind field. His book on wind energy basics, Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business (2004), was my text for my most recent wind energy classes. Folks interested in putting up a wind system for their home will find this reference to be very helpful in sorting things out. Nice interview (audio and transcription). MP3 file here.

Weekend Energy Listening: Wind Power with Paul Gipe - The Oil Drum: Canada - 08 Jun 08

"Ben : Just as a quick biography, Paul has been around the wind power industry since the 1970s and he has written a number of books and articles, which everybody can find on his website wind works.org. He was named Person of the Year in 1988 by the American Wind Energy Association. He was given pioneer status by the World Renewable Energy Congress. Paul, actually you were first described to me as the guy that David Suzuki goes to for wind power answers, so I just have this vision of David Suzuki having you on speed dial, calling you up in the middle of the night to talk about things like capacity factors. Does that ever happen?

Paul Gipe: I wish that was true, but no. David and I do talk and we do discuss this issue, but there are lots of wind power experts in the world and I have my own take on how renewable energy is being developed or should be developed.

Wind to Hydrogen Project in Canada

The future? Electrolyzers are devices that break water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. Once you take intermittent wind and make hydrogen you can use that hydrogen to run electric generator sets at the time of your chosing. When you burn hydrogen in this process, you get water again. It's a nice clean energy cycle.

Hydrogenics to Supply Electrolyzer for Remote Community Wind-Hydrogen Energy System - FoxBusiness.com - 27 May 08

"Hydrogenics Corporation . . . , a leading designer and manufacturer of hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cell systems, announced today that it has been selected to provide the hydrogen electrolyzer for a community wind-hydrogen-diesel system in the community of Ramea, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. By adding zero-emission hydrogen generation and storage, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro), is anticipating an increase in the amount of electricity derived from wind which will lead to a decreased dependence on diesel fuel. Hydrogenics anticipates it will deliver its commercially proven HySTAT . . . onsite generation electrolyzer to Hydro within one year.

Wind to Hydrogen Project in Canada

The future? Electrolyzers are devices that break water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. Once you take intermittent wind and make hydrogen you can use that hydrogen to run electric generator sets at the time of your chosing. When you burn hydrogen in this process, you get water again. It's a nice clean energy cycle.

Hydrogenics to Supply Electrolyzer for Remote Community Wind-Hydrogen Energy System - FoxBusiness.com - 27 May 08

"Hydrogenics Corporation . . . , a leading designer and manufacturer of hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cell systems, announced today that it has been selected to provide the hydrogen electrolyzer for a community wind-hydrogen-diesel system in the community of Ramea, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. By adding zero-emission hydrogen generation and storage, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro), is anticipating an increase in the amount of electricity derived from wind which will lead to a decreased dependence on diesel fuel. Hydrogenics anticipates it will deliver its commercially proven HySTAT . . . onsite generation electrolyzer to Hydro within one year.

Nuke News

Just when Filipinos thought it was save to come out. The term "cheap and quality" noted in the article must have developed a new meaning in Southeast Asia. Maybe "cheap" if you forget this little bit from 2004 (Philippines: Bataan Nuclear Plant Costs $155,000 a Day but No Power - Energy Bulletin) and with the "quality" of a thirty year old design.

Also Merkel and the German conservatives are on the march to snatch a nuclear defeat from the jaws of a renewable energy victory. Fortunately, the Social Democrats remain firm.

As Homer Simpson reminds us, "And Lord, we are especially thankful for nuclear power, the cleanest, safest energy source there is. Except for solar, which is just a pipe dream."

( Details behind the cut . . . )

Nuke News

Just when Filipinos thought it was save to come out. The term "cheap and quality" noted in the article must have developed a new meaning in Southeast Asia. Maybe "cheap" if you forget this little bit from 2004 (Philippines: Bataan Nuclear Plant Costs $155,000 a Day but No Power - Energy Bulletin) and with the "quality" of a thirty year old design.

Also Merkel and the German conservatives are on the march to snatch a nuclear defeat from the jaws of a renewable energy victory. Fortunately, the Social Democrats remain firm.

As Homer Simpson reminds us, "And Lord, we are especially thankful for nuclear power, the cleanest, safest energy source there is. Except for solar, which is just a pipe dream."

( Details behind the cut . . . )

AWEA Windpower 2008

The conference I should probably make, again, one of these days. Nifty video about the conference.

( Below the cut . . . )

AWEA Windpower 2008

The conference I should probably make, again, one of these days. Nifty video about the conference.

( Below the cut . . . )

FoxNews' "Terrorist Fist Bump" Farce

You can't make stuff like this up. Hopefully the FBI is all over the Celtics and Lakers after last night's game. :)

Countdown Video: Smear Campaign Says Obama Fist-Pound is 'Terrorist" - MSNBC.com (Latest 5-4-3-2-1 Item)

FoxNews' "Terrorist Fist Bump" Farce

You can't make stuff like this up. Hopefully the FBI is all over the Celtics and Lakers after last night's game. :)

Countdown Video: Smear Campaign Says Obama Fist-Pound is 'Terrorist" - MSNBC.com (Latest 5-4-3-2-1 Item)