Wind power gains as gear improves

New York Times : Wind power technology has improved greatly over the past three decades, as has knowledge of how the technology can be best put to use. The increase in blade size and tower height allows towers to reach faster, steadier winds, and larger turbines can reduce transportation and logistical costs (because fewer need to be shipped and assembled), but once they reach about 100 meters high, transportation becomes challenging. One potential solution is for blades and towers to be shipped in sections and assembled on site. Research and development on variations in blade angle, and monitoring wind speed and direction using lasers, has intensified. Innovation is driven partly by manufacturers attempting to differentiate themselves from an increasing field of competitors, and partly by the fact that most of the best wind sites have already been claimed; manufacturers need to take every opportunity to make themselves cost-effective.