Rotor blades for wind turbines must be capable of withstanding extreme offshore conditions. Permanent loads, high wind and storms test rotor blades to their limits - and they have to withstand 20 years of turbulence. At the Competence Center Rotor Blades in Bremerhaven, blades up to 90 metres in length are tested mechanically. The globally unique tilt block enables the gigantic blades to be tilted while clamped in place and bent vertically by up to 30 metres. This enables blades to be statically loaded with around 180 tonnes.  more...

Its sounds ideal: a domestic energy plant that generates heat and electricity works almost without emissions and also exclusively utilises the sun and bioalcohol as renewable energy. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy systems ISE are working on such a plant. The heart of the system comprises a fuel cell combined with a newly developed reformer that generates the hydrogen required for the fuel cell from bioethanol.  more...

Researchers from the Technical University of Dresden have succeeded in significantly improving the efficiency of chillers that use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. One possible application of their system is in refrigeration for supermarkets, where cooling is required for equipment ranging from refrigerated display cases right through to large cold storage rooms. The researchers expect average annual energy savings of 10% compared to conventional refrigeration systems, with savings of up to 25% on warm days. The researchers are cooperating with an industrial partner to obtain initial operating experience with these systems.  more...

Copper cables only conduct electricity under resistance, meaning the cable heats up and energy is lost. In contrast, superconductors conduct electricity without loss. Their use in cable and generator projects thus increases the efficiency of the electricity supply infrastructure. With this in mind, the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is promoting the cost-effective production of superconductive band conductors at the manufacturer Zenergy Power with funding of 3.5 million euros.  more...

New developments make it possible: solar power can be produced increasingly cheaply. The solar power industry is close to achieving grid parity, which means that it will no longer cost more to generate solar power than the current consumer price. Researchers are presenting solar cells with ever-higher efficiencies and new records are constantly being set, only to be broken again. The series of successes is one of the clearest indications for the rapid progress being made in photovoltaics.  more...

The meter reader never rings the doorbell anymore. The Smart Meter sends the consumption data to the office by e-mail in real time. This intelligent meter is the starting point for the interactive network. The new standardised devices can do far more than calculate consumption totals. They act as control and information nodes. They allow the latest consumption data to be used to control machinery and electricity generation systems according to the supply of electricity and the grid load. They are essential if variable tariffs are to be used.  more...

The Absorber Box by Watergy, a company from Berlin, Germany, uses humid air as a source of energy. The air conditioning system can heat or cool air, thus controlling the humidity and temperature using a saline solution for intermediate storage, which saves energy. The project, supported by funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, is now in the market for beta-testers.  more...

An innovative energy management system will save as much energy as possible at the workplace taking individual user behaviour into account. That is the goal of the "pinta" research project. pinta stands for "Pervasive energy via internet-based telecommunication services". An association of industrial partners, the University of Kassel, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology and Kompetenznetzwerk Dezentrale Energietechnologien (Expert Network for Decentral Energy Technologies) will work on user-specific control of electrical devices and heating/cooling systems for office buildings over the next three years.  more...

Researchers from Aachen, Germany are developing a new type of electric vehicle, the StreetScooter, which is as affordable as it is environmentally-friendly. In close cooperation with 20 medium-sized industrial companies and 15 research institutions, a concept was developed comprising innovative production methods and new battery management and financing systems. The electric vehicle made in Aachen should cost around 5,000 Euros when series production begins after a short production run of 2,000 units.  more...

In future, superconductors will allow extremely efficient, compact and light-weight wind energy generators to be built, with the same performance as corresponding permanent magnet machines but which are only half their size. At the same time they can decrease the use of rare earths significantly for the expansion of wind energy. The "Life Needs Power" energy forum at the Hanover Trade Fair discussed how the pending scarcity of these raw materials could slow the expansion of wind energy. In his presentation, Dr. Michael Bäcker (Zenergy Power GmbH) explained the solutions second-generation superconductors offer.  more...