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The World Wind Energy Conference is winding up in Bonn, Germany with the special focus this year being 'Community Power - Citizens Power', recognising the power of the community energy model. We are delighted and humbled to have been awarded the prestigious World Wind Energy Award 2012.

"Floating offshore wind turbines could more than meet the electricity demands of the European Union, according to a new report (PDF) from the European Wind Energy Association, first reported by Business Green. In fact, offshore wind turbines could potentially supply over four times the electricity needs of the EU."

"The world's largest home-furnishings chain, Ikea, is set to buy a wind farm in Ireland from Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd, Bloomberg has reported. This is part of a plan by Ikea Group to invest $2.5 billion in wind and solar assets by 2015. The 7.65 megawatt wind farm, being built by Mainstream, is expected to begin generating power by 2014. Ikea will take ownership at that point."

"The way we generate, transfer and use energy is changing, and our energy systems and infrastructure have come under increasing pressure to cope. Black-outs strike where we would expect reliable supplies, energy costs are rising, pushed up by fossil fuel prices and the expense of renewing ageing electricity infrastructure. As the proportion of energy generated from renewables like wind, wave and solar power rises, part of the solution to such intermittently generated energy is technology that can store the energy until it is needed."

"Blustery weather in the middle of August has sent a slew of wind energy records tumbling. NSW wind farms generated 35 gigawatt-hours of electricity in the week starting August 18, beating the previous high for the state by about 9 per cent, consultants Intelligent Energy Systems said."

"Yesterday saw the launch by Prime Minister David Cameron of the world's largest offshore wind power plant, the London Array, located in the Thames estuary, approximately 20 kilometres off the Kent and Essex coast.  Owned, developed and built by a consortium consisting of Dong Energy, E.ON and Masdar (Abu Dhabi's state backed renewable energy company), it has a total capacity of 630 megawatts (MW) and will generate enough power to supply 500,000 British households with clean electricity.  It is estimated to reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 900,000 tons, equivalent to the emissions of 300,000 passenger cars. Construction involved over 75 organisations and 6,700 people."

"2012 was another bumper year for renewable energy worldwide with solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity surpassing 100 gigawatts for the first time and wind energy capacity expanding by almost one-fifth."

"There is no reliable or consistent evidence that proximity to wind farms or wind farm noise directly causes health effects. That's the finding of the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) much-anticipated draft systematic review of the evidence on wind farms and human health, released yesterday. This report takes the number of reviews published on the issue since 2003 to 20. And all have reached the same broad conclusions."

Also the chart below taken from a Climate Spectator article by Dr Jenny Riesz is one of the most illuminating. It shows the cross-over point between the cost of wind and a gas combined-cycle power plant depending on gas and carbon prices. While it is slightly out of date with the cross-over between wind and gas now about $1 per GJ lower than indicated, it still provides a good illustration of how gas and the carbon price influence the economics between wind versus gas.

"The integration of wind energy generation into the electricity grid in South Australia is a success story. The gross statistic often quoted is the total electricity produced as a percentage of the supply. In the year to June 2012, the electricity generated by wind farms in SA amounted to 3,349 GWh, or 26% of the total supply. This was behind the 50% supplied by natural gas and ahead of coal's 24%."

"South Australia broke another wind power record during August, with the state's wind farms providing the equivalent of just under 40 per cent of the state's power, the Clean Energy Council said today. Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said August had broken records for wind power across the country, with South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales all hitting new highs during the period."

"Macarthur wind farm - the largest in Australia and the southern hemisphere - was officially opened in south western Victoria on Friday by the local member and state premier Denis Napthine. The 420MW wind farm, built at a cost of $1 billion by AGL Energy and New Zealand company Meridian, is the biggest single investment in renewable energy in the country since the Snowy Mountain hydro project was completed in the 1970s, the companies say."

"We've been witnessing a quiet revolution in the wind turbine field with the unveiling at Geelong, in Victoria, of the first Eco Whisper wind turbine, developed by Queensland based company, Renewable Energy Solutions Australia (RESA). The unveiling in Geelong, yesterday, was particularly significant as the major Victorian regional city is making a big play to become a centre for renewable energy in Australia."

"AN INDEPENDENT study of wind farms and noise is among the first environmental ­priorities of the Abbott government. Incoming Industry Minister Ian ­Macfarlane said he would begin talking to wind farm operators before parliament sits in November to discuss the scope of the inquiry and a law to establish real time monitoring."

Australia has world class renewable energy resources across a range of technologies, from solar and wind through to hot rocks and oceans. We have what it takes to lead the world into a 100% renewable energy future.

"As I write these words, 7.4 per cent of the electrons powering my laptop come from wind farms - travelling at the speed of light between hundreds of silently whirring generators and the complex electronics in my computer. The output of wind farms over the past nine days - the span of National Science Week - has been particularly excellent, and it's worth diving into some data to have a closer look."

"Alternative energy blowin' in the wind"

But how much can wind farms and solar panels contribute to a solution? Are they really the best option for Australia's energy future? And what part does the media play in the communication of all of this? The Science behind the headlines event (22 May 2012) held by RiAus attempted to answer these questions by combining a panel of scientists with experienced journalists - led by RiAus Programs Co-ordinator James Byrne. Each of the participants' knowledge of their specific field made for a varied and vibrant discussion that covered a wide range of topics. Is the public really aware of alternative energy options?

"Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power appear to be the impetus behind a South Australian proposal to substantially drop electricity prices, just as other states are hiking theirs. The Essential Service Commission of South Australian (ESCOSA), which regulates retail electricity prices, has released a draft price determination that proposes an 8.1% reduction in the electricity standing offer, (that is, the default retail price that must be offered to South Australians, at a minimum)."

"Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation."