Unleashing the colossal power of wind energy with the world's largest plane!
Who is Germán & Co?
From Puerto Octay, overlooking Llanquihue Lake in southern Chile, the setting for Gaspar Antillo's film Nobody Knows I'm Here, I try to examine the mind of my friend and colleague, Germán Toro Ghio.
'In the divine vineyard, you choose your own path is a beautiful metaphor.'
As we make our way along the journey of life, some of us choose to travel in the fast lane in vehicles with sleek engines and plush seats, while some of us prefer slower speeds and budget-friendly tolls on scenic routes. Some of us endure crowded buses with loud music or navigate challenging terrains, facing harsh weather conditions and wildlife.
Germán’s stories feature individuals who have chosen unconventional paths in the journey of life: some of them use elevators, rappel down cliffs, or fly in contraptions. His explorations endlessly take his viewers on exciting adventures, from the unease of a Moscow hotel to the excitement of jungle escapades in Nicaragua, from brilliantly-lit worlds pulsing with electricity to dark worlds immersed in infinite blackouts.
Finally, Germán tantalizes us with an eclectic mix in his creative pot, leaving us eager for more of his daily works. His narratives enrich and untangle the most complex history by shedding light on experiences beyond the battlefields and palaces.
Juan Forch
*Juan Forch is a political scientist, filmmaker, writer, publicist and the co-creator of the influential "NO" political campaign, a significant milestone in the history of political communication. His unique creations have inspired an Oscar-nominated film by Pablo Larraín featuring Gael García Bernal, solidifying his legacy as a political marketing mastermind. Thoughts on a Sunday in Extinction...
In March, Le Monde Diplomatique underscored several concerns. The esteemed French publication, known for its foresight, announced the resurgence of ISIS, affirming that indeed, the group has returned.
“The US is not finding it easy to stop Houthi attacks off Yemen; what is behind Sudan’s long and bloody civil war? ISIS is back, and it is not a spent force; Arab states’ abandonment of the Palestinians; China, new power, old order; will Russia’s war in Ukraine make it more dependent on China? Ukraine’s Hungarian community is slowly disappearing; international law, once a set of ideas, is now a real force; Rezső Kasztner, the man who saved Jews from Auschwitz; foreign doctors fight for a fair deal in France; climate, can we adapt to +4°C?”
On January 28 this year, this blog published: “The intention to trigger a worldwide conflict should be readily apparent…
The apparent collaboration between Hamas and other nations has enabled the exchange of significant resources, information, and expertise. Hamas is widely considered the cause of Israel's third occupation of the region, sparking international discourse. Furthermore, Hamas has also been linked to the ongoing Suez Canal crisis, resulting in significant diplomatic tensions extending beyond the Middle East. Around 1 million barrels of crude oil, 1.4 million barrels of gasoline, and other refined products are transported daily from the Middle East and Asia to Europe through this canal. In the past three weeks, authorities from several European countries, including Sweden, Finland, and Norway, have expressed concerns and warnings about a potential conflict with Russia. Escalating regional tensions have prompted these nations to openly voice their grave concerns about the potential military conflict with their neighbouring country to the east."
Why did ISIS-K target Moscow?
Perhaps the answer lies in considering the profound impact that surprise attacks have had throughout history. One notable example is the Trojan Horse episode in Homer's The Odyssey, which serves as a vivid illustration of the strategic deception necessary to breach Troy's formidable defenses.
Similarly, the stunning victory achieved by Hannibal, leader of Carthage, over a more formidable Roman army in the Battle of Cannae in 206 BC shocked the ancient world and underscored the potency of surprise tactics. Moving forward in history, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 marked a pivotal turning point in World War II, showcasing the capacity of surprise assaults to reshape the course of conflict.
Post-World War II, surprise attacks continued to shape global events, with China's unexpected involvement in the Korean War of 1950 catching United Nations forces off guard and prompting a reorganization of the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, Israel's utilization of surprise tactics during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the October War of 1973 underscored the enduring impact of strategic cunning in the face of threats from neighbouring countries.
The tragic assault on the Twin Towers in New York City on September 11th, 2001, and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic are stark reminders of the far-reaching consequences of unforeseen events, prompting societal shifts and unveiling deep-seated inequalities across the globe.
Finally, the jihadists mock President Vladomir Putin and urge him not to confuse their motives, while President Emmanuel Macron warns the Kremlin against entangling Ukraine in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
In December 2023, Energy Central celebrated top contributors in the Energy & Sustainability Network at the 'Top Voices' event. Winners were featured in 6 articles, demonstrating community recognition. The platform enables professionals to share their work, interact with colleagues, and collaborate with influencers. Congratulations to the 2023 Top Voices: David Hunt, Germán Toro Ghio, Schalk Cloete, and Dan Yurman for demonstrating their expertise. - Matt Chester, Energy Central
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"Imagine a crystal-clear river flowing through the creation of a vast and boundless sustainable park that stretches to every corner of the world. This analogy perfectly captures AES's remarkable efforts in the global energy industry...
A rendering of the WindRunner aircraft. Designed by Radia, it would transport large wind turbine blades directly to wind farm sites. RADIA INC.
Radia, a unicorn startup, plans to use rocket science to overcome one of the wind power industry’s biggest hurdles with a giant cargo plane…
From an article in the Wall Street Journal authored by Jennifer Hiller and Brian McGill and published on March 13, 2024, as part of the editions curated by Germán & Co.An aerospace engineer proposes a giant plane for renewable energy revolution….
Mark Lundstrom, a rocket scientist trained at MIT and a Rhodes scholar, has dedicated over seven years collaborating with an expert engineering team in the intricate design process of the Windrunner. This revolutionary aircraft, once finalized, is poised to set a new benchmark as the longest and hold the title for having the largest cargo volume of any plane known to date.
The Windrunner, an innovative transportation solution, is specifically designed to carry wind turbine blades of exceptional lengths, comparable to football fields. These extraordinary blades, known as some of the longest globally, are predominantly utilized in offshore wind projects, primarily due to the logistical challenges faced in transporting them for onshore installations. Extending the reach of these immense turbines to vast land areas has the potential to transform the landscape of the wind energy industry.
The industry has observed a decrease in new onshore projects within the United States, coupled with price fluctuations in offshore projects. Due to these circumstances, land-based wind power installations are anticipated to showcase blade tips towering around 300 feet higher than the present average, equivalent to stacking the U.S. Capitol with the Washington Monument. These innovative projects hold the promise of producing nearly twice the amount of energy in comparison to existing onshore installations and could be viable in a broader array of locations.
The 3D model was created by Brian McGill/WSJ, with additional development by Peter Champelli/WSJ. The source of information is the company. Lundstrom's startup, Radia, located in Boulder, Colorado, has maintained the confidentiality of the design.The Windrunner, anticipated to be 80 feet longer than the current largest military aircraft, is a colossal transport aircraft that boasts impressive dimensions. Stretching the length of a football field at 356 feet and towering 79 feet tall, this behemoth is tailored for the daunting task of transporting hefty wind turbine blades, a logistical puzzle on land. With a remarkable capacity of 80 tons, the Windrunner surpasses even the renowned Boeing 747 in both size and volume, making it the go-to choice for handling oversized cargo with unparalleled efficiency.
Lundstrom’s startup, Boulder, Colo.-based Radia, has kept the design private for years. Now, it says WindRunner is more than halfway through the eight years it estimates it will take to design, build and certify the aircraft.
Lundstrom founded Radia in 2016 as he looked for ways to marry aerospace with the energy transition when he read that delivering unwieldy blades is among the trickiest logistics jobs in the energy business.
“That was a very clear moment when the industry speaks to you,” Lundstrom said
The WindRunner would be the largest plane by length and cargo volume if completed. ILLUSTRATION: RADIA, INC.Today’s offshore-sized wind blades can’t be used easily on land because they can’t move by rail or truck. They are too big to turn most corners and too wide to make it under bridges and traffic lights. Transporting them offshore requires specialized vessels.
Radia has raised $104 million and is valued at $1 billion, according to PitchBook. Employees and advisers include current and former executives at Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, utilities and renewable energy developers. Backers include oil giant ConocoPhillips and venture firms Caruso Ventures, Capital Factory and Good Growth Capital.
Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a member of Radia’s advisory board, said utilities are increasing their demand forecasts by huge factors. Electricity usage is surging because of the electrification of transportation and heating across much of the U.S., plus booms in manufacturing and in data centers for artificial intelligence.
“They also want clean electricity,” Moniz said.
Radia has raised $104 million and is valued at $1 billion, according to PitchBook. ILLUSTRATION: RADIA, INC.Lundstrom plans to deliver blades for wind project developers and, in some instances, develop early stage projects on its own, though it doesn’t plan to own or operate the sites.
The WindRunner includes shoulder-height tires and has the ability to land on a packed-dirt 6,000-foot runway, which would need to be built for each project. Lundstrom says projects would include about 25 of the supersize onshore turbines he envisions to be profitable.
Radia’s first customer is a large independent power producer that has bought a 1-gigawatt project in Nevada.
Bigger is better in wind. Larger blades can harvest more wind, while taller towers place blades where winds are more consistent. It adds up to more electricity over more hours of the day, even in areas with lower average wind speeds.
Radia estimates the larger turbines could reduce the cost of energy by up to 35% and increase the consistency of power generation by 20% compared with today’s onshore turbines.
Wind provided around 10% of large-scale electricity generation in the U.S. in 2022. It is a major source of electricity generation in the middle of the country, especially in Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Larger blades attached to taller towers would make wind more competitive everywhere while making more of the U.S. viable for wind development, said Jesse Jenkins, a professor at Princeton University who did a study for Radia as a consultant. But the larger towers would be visible to more people, which could stir community opposition.
“The biggest question mark is the social license and social acceptability,” Jenkins said.
The WindRunner would use existing technologies and components familiar to regulators, available through the existing aerospace supply chain, Lundstrom said. The company would use aircraft manufacturers to build the plane.
Rachel Kelley, former director of engineering at Boeing and Radia’s vice president of aircraft development, said the goal of the plane design was, “Do nothing new.”
If building a new airplane sounds extreme, Kelley says other measures to move big blades are impractical. Blimps can’t land in windy conditions. Helicopters are more costly than airplanes, and flying with a dangling blade designed to catch wind would prove complex and dangerous. Skipping the logistics issue altogether and building mobile manufacturing on site would require temporary structures as big as football fields.
The plane would be able to fit one large, offshore-sized blade at a time, or it could carry as many as four shorter blades. Lundstrom also thinks it has other uses for moving large equipment for the military or oil-and-gas industry.