A vertical axis wind turbine with improved safety, production efficiency and greater functional wind speed range. A vertical axis wind turbine comprises turbine blades having geometric characteristics of a yin yang symbol when viewed from the top down. The turbine blades are configured to form a scoop portion for catching wind. The surface area of the scoop portion may be dynamically configured to accommodate power production in higher wind speed ranges by dynamically furling the blades to reduce the surface area of the scoop portion as RPM begins to exceed a safe limit. First and second permanent magnet rotor arrays are dynamically positioned above and below an array of stator coils to maximize power generation.

A system and methods are provided for accessing a meteorological instrument on a wind turbine. The meteorological instrument is arranged on the mount structure, which includes an apex and a base. A hinge arranged on the base of the mount, the hinge pivotably connecting the mount structure to the nacelle at a first location of the nacelle. A latch securing the mount structure to the nacelle at a second location while in a closed position.

An articulating wave energy conversion system (AWECS) formed of a forward barge hingedly-coupled to a two-part aft barge configuration for reducing the attenuation of available wave energy along the length of the AWECS. The two-part aft barge includes a buoyant section that is either rigidly-connected, or unitized with, a lever-arm barge. The lever-arm barge includes a draft that is much smaller than the drafts of the forward barge and buoyant section. In addition, the lever-arm barge includes a large waterplane area that results in large hydrostatic forces as the waves pass. One or more intermediate barges may be hingedly-coupled between the forward barge and the aft barge. Pumps can be positioned across every hinge to convert the barge articulations into mechanical energy for driving the pumps based on wave motion for a variety of functions, such as water desalination, electrical energy generation, etc.

A method of retrofitting a wind turbine (10) having a wind turbine tower (12) and a first energy generating unit (14) includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12). The wind turbine tower (12) is secured to a foundation (16) and has a first position on the foundation (16). The method includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12) from the first position to a second position. In the second position, the portion experiences less stress when the wind turbine (10) is operated in the same prevailing wind. The wind turbine tower (12) may have at least two sections (12a, 12b, 12c) and wherein rotating includes rotating one section relative to another section. One section may be secured to a foundation (16). In that case, rotating may or may not include rotating the section secured to the foundation (16). Rotating the tower may occur after the first energy generating unit (14) is removed from the tower and may include rotating the wind turbine tower by an angle from 90??15? relative to the first position.

There is provided a turbine with a turbine body, a support frame, and a generator. The turbine body has a plurality of turbine blades, a shaft defining a rotational axis, and a bottom apex. Each of the turbine blades has a lower edge, and the lower edges taper upward relative to the bottom apex such that the lower edges trace a convex surface as the turbine body rotates about the rotational axis. The support frame is connected to the shaft by an angularly adjustable connection that adjusts the angle of the shaft relative to the support frame. The angularly adjustable connection permits rotation of the shaft about the rotational axis, and the generator is powered by the rotation of the shaft.

A yaw system for a wind turbine can have a yaw bearing with an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, and a plurality of yaw rollers rotationally disposed between the outer and inner bearing rings so as to allow relative motion between the outer and inner bearing rings. A bi-directional braking assembly having an outer clutch ring attached to the outer bearing ring, an inner clutch ring attached to the inner bearing ring, and a plurality of brake rollers rotationally and slidably disposed between the inner clutch ring and at least one locking ramp adjacent the outer clutch ring. A plurality of spring members can extend from either ring projections or activation projections to each brake roller. An activation ring can slidably position the plurality of brake rollers into one of a locked position or unlocked position to prevent yaw rotation in an undesired direction.

The invention provides a hinged raft wave energy conversion device (WEC) comprising: a first fore floating body; and a second aft floating body; wherein the first and second floating bodies are connected by a hinge joint for rotation of the bodies relative to each other, in use, about an axis parallel to the still water surface and transverse to the direction of wave propagation; wherein the first and second bodies extend away from the hinge joint in opposite directions; and wherein at least one of the first and second bodies has a sloped surface extending in the direction away from the hinge joint, at least a portion of the sloped surface being under the waterline at least when the device is in the still water rest position.

A rotor blade of a wind turbine, to an associated wind turbine, to an associated wind farm and to associated methods. The rotor blade has a leading edge and a trailing edge and extends in a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade between a root end and a tip end, wherein a direct connection between the leading edge and the trailing edge is referred to as a chord line, wherein the rotor blade has serrations in the region of the trailing edge at least in some section or sections, wherein each of the serrations has a base line, which is arranged at the trailing edge, and an end point, which is furthest away from the base line, which together span a plane of the serration, wherein an angle between the plane of at least one of the serrations and the profile chord of the rotor blade is formed as a function of at least one environmental parameter at the installation location of the wind turbine.

A power generator assembly having a housing with a hollow chamber or shell. Received within the shell is a canister having generator sets. The housing and generators are mounted to a rotatable shaft that is connected to an anchor stand. The anchor stand has a lever with a counter weight that resists anchor torque.

An articulating wave energy conversion system (AWECS) formed of a forward barge hingedly-coupled to a two-part aft barge configuration for reducing the attenuation of available wave energy along the length of the AWECS. The two-part aft barge includes a buoyant section that is either rigidly-connected, or unitized with, a lever-arm barge. The lever-arm barge includes a draft that is much smaller than the drafts of the forward barge and buoyant section. In addition, the lever-arm barge includes a large waterplane area that results in large hydrostatic forces as the waves pass. One or more intermediate barges may be hingedly-coupled between the forward barge and the aft barge. Pumps can be positioned across every hinge to convert the barge articulations into mechanical energy for driving the pumps based on wave motion for a variety of functions, such as water desalination, electrical energy generation, etc.