WORLD WIND ENERGY NET

Knight & Carver has produced the first in a series of wind turbine blades that, according to the company, "ranks among the industry's most innovative advances in wind energy production." Called the "STAR," for "Sweep Twist Adaptive Rotor," the 90-foot blade is curved to relieve pressure on both the blade and the turbine and features a gently curving tip to capture low-speed winds. Developed with the help of DOE's Sandia National Laboratories as part of a DOE research project, the STAR blade is designed to take maximum advantage of all wind speeds. The new blade was manufactured at Knight & Carver's blade division in San Diego, California, in early November, and will undergo static testing in December.