A method for suspending a rotor blade uptower includes mounting a first end of a support structure at a first uptower location of the wind turbine. The method also includes securing the rotor blade to a second end of the support structure. Further, the method includes mounting at least one pulley block assembly between a second uptower location and the support structure. Moreover, the method includes routing at least one pulley cable from at least one winch over the at least one pulley block assembly. In addition, the method includes detaching the rotor blade from the hub of the wind turbine. Once the rotor blade is detached, the method includes rotating the support structure about the first end via coordinated winch operation so as to lower the rotor blade a predetermined distance away from the hub. Thus, the method also includes suspending the rotor blade at the predetermined distance away from the hub via the support structure.

An articulating solar energy and wind power harvesting apparatus optimizes harnessing of solar energy and wind power by rotatably and pivotally articulating a solar thermal collector plate to track the sun, and air foils to follow the changing direction of the wind. The air foils also directionally funnel wind to cool a heat exchange system and the solar thermal collector plate. The solar thermal collector plate captures solar radiation for conversion to electricity. A solar lens directs the solar radiation towards the solar thermal collector plate. Air foils are disposed in a radial, spaced-apart relationship around the solar thermal collector plate, pivoting up to 90 to optimize capture of wind. The solar thermal collector plate and the air foils are controllably articulated up to 360 about a vertical plane, and up to 180 about a horizontal plane to optimize capture of solar radiation and wind.

The present invention relates to a wind turbine system comprising a plurality of wind turbines mounted to a common support structure (4) by a support arm arrangement (10) comprising a mount portion (12) and at least one arm (13) extending from said mount portion and carrying a respective wind turbine (6). Said support arm arrangement (10) is capable of yawing around said support structure (4); and said wind turbine system comprises an improved arrangement for cable guiding in this connection.

A drive arrangement for a wind turbine includes a main shaft, a housing, and a nacelle-mounted support structure. The main shaft of the drive arrangement for the wind turbine is completely supported in the housing. The housing of the drive arrangement for the wind turbine is at least partially resiliently mounted in the support structure.

A wind turbine tower access panel is disclosed and is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close the aperture. The access panel is generally planar and extends radially about an axis normal thereto. Additionally, the access panel includes a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix the access panel in place at the aperture. Each fixing element includes an axial clamp, the clamp including an anchor fixed to the access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface. The clamp head includes a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of the clamp thereby applying a clamping force to the tower wall.

The invention relates to a protection assembly for mounting in an underwater support structure, and to a method of installing such an assembly. According to one aspect of the invention, the protection assembly comprises at least one bend protection device (20a, 20b) coupled to a retaining device (18). The bend protection device (20a, 20b, 26) and the retaining device (18) together provide a through-going passage (32) for receiving an elongate member which is to be protected. The support structure (12) has an opening (16) through which the elongate member is passed, and the retaining device (18) is configured to be received in the opening (16) in the support structure and to engage with the support structure to resist subsequent withdrawal from it. Installation of the protection assembly comprises grasping an end portion of the protection assembly with a releasable clamp (100), arranging a pulling line to pass through the opening in the support structure to the mechanical clamp and securing the pulling line to the mechanical clamp (100), drawing the retaining device of the protection assembly into the opening (16) in the support structure using the pulling line and engaging the retaining device with the support structure, and releasing the clamp (100) from the protection assembly.

A tower for a wind turbine may include an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion. The upper tower portion may include a tubular tower, and the lower tower portion may include a lattice tower. To improve ergonomics and work safety and make it possible to obtain a structural design with optimized forces, the lower tower portion may include a central tube positioned centrally within the lattice tower. Further, the central tube may have a smaller diameter, at least in certain portions, than at least part of the tubular tower of the upper tower portion. The tower may also include a transition piece between the upper tower portion and the lower tower portion. The transition piece may join the tubular tower of the upper tower portion and the central tube of the lower tower portion.

A turbine system includes a shaft extending along an axis. A first spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A second spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A third spoke has a first end, attached to the shaft, and a second end. A turbine blade is attached to the second end of the first spoke, the second end of the second spoke, and the second end of the third spoke. The turbine blade extends continuously circumferentially about the axis. The turbine blade is spaced a distance apart from the axis and in non-contact with the shaft.

The present invention describes a floating yawing spar buoy current/tidal turbine. The spar includes a spreader above the rotor(s) with the spreader tips connected to fore and aft cable yokes that transition to opposing mooring lines connected to anchors on the seabed. The spreader comprises a yaw motor, which drives gears that engage with a ring gear fixed to the outer perimeter of the spar.

A method for suspending a rotor blade uptower includes mounting a first end of a support structure at a first uptower location of the wind turbine. The method also includes securing the rotor blade to a second end of the support structure. Further, the method includes mounting at least one pulley block assembly between a second uptower location and the support structure. Moreover, the method includes routing at least one pulley cable from at least one winch over the at least one pulley block assembly. In addition, the method includes detaching the rotor blade from the hub of the wind turbine. Once the rotor blade is detached, the method includes rotating the support structure about the first end via coordinated winch operation so as to lower the rotor blade a predetermined distance away from the hub. Thus, the method also includes suspending the rotor blade at the predetermined distance away from the hub via the support structure.