The cost of developing clean wind energy has dropped significantly in the past three years while technology improvements have increased productivity, an analysis by renewable energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan has found. PES looks in more detail at the findings, which suggests that wind energy points to a cost-competitive, sustainable choice for the energy needs… Read more »
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) recently filed comments with respect to a proposed Health Canada study, “Health Impacts and Exposure to Wind Turbine Noise: Research Design and Noise Exposure Assessment”, to be undertaken in collaboration with Statistics Canada. Here, PES looks in detail at the issues raised by the proposed study, and the association’s… Read more »
As the US Election campaign reaches its thrilling climax, it’s been fascinating to see just how high wind power is on the political agenda. We examine the power of wind as a vote-winner, and look ahead to what we can expect from the new Administration. Wind power is one of the fastest-growing sources of energy… Read more »
More press support for PTC extension The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday became the most recent major newspaper to endorse an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC), calling the revival of the shuttered U.S. Steel plant in Bucks County the “best case” for renewing the vital incentive. Added the editorial, “It’s at… Read more »
America has some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, particularly along the Atlantic coast where over 1,300 gigawatts (GW) of energy generation potential has been identified. Harnessing just a fraction of our offshore wind resource – 52 GW – could power about 14 million U.S. homes with local, pollution-free energy while creating… Read more »
Tapping America’s offshore wind energy resources will greatly benefit our economy. A vibrant offshore wind industry in the U.S. will produce hundreds of thousands of new, high quality careers while revitalizing manufacturing opportunities and spurring economic development along the Atlantic Coast. At the same time, plugging hundreds of gigawatts of clean, local power into the… Read more »
For many, 2012 will go be defined as a watershed year for the wind industry in North America – and yet we’ve still got a couple of months to go! With that in mind, we’ve brought together a roster of some of the finest minds in the industry, and pitched them a selection of challenging… Read more »
Over the last two decades, the U.S. wind industry has grown dramatically and is providing communities across America with tremendous benefits. More than 50,000 megawatts of wind power – the power equivalent of thirteen Hoover Dams – are installed in the United States. In a change to our usual regional focus on a single state,… Read more »
The state of Nebraska has huge potential as a major producer of clean energy. Wind power – a sustainable energy source – can be of great economic benefit to Nebraska communities, according to Jerry Hudgins, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr Hudgins spoke to PES and… Read more »
The use of wind power in the United States is the fastest growing energy trend on record. According to a second quarter 2012 report published by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the country added 1,200 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity during the April to June 2012 timeframe, bringing the nation’s total cumulative wind capacity… Read more »
Dramatically cutting carbon pollution – by replacing dirty energy with clean alternatives like offshore wind – is the best path forward if we are to protect coastal and marine wildlife from these dangers of a warming world. But even renewable energy must be designed with nature in mind. PES looks at recent reports that suggest… Read more »
It is to be expected that not every turbine will be required to work under the same conditions, and in the past, developers have gone with the accepted wisdom that each turbine should be the same across a site, which means an inevitable compromise on the efficiency of energy production – until now. PES speaks… Read more »
The U.S. wind power industry is facing uncertain times. With 2011 capacity additions having risen from 2010 levels and with a further sizable increase expected in 2012, there are – on the surface – grounds for optimism. A new report; published recently by the US Department of Energy, looks at complete data from 2011 to… Read more »
centrotherm photovoltaics AG today submitted its reorganization and future concept as planned to the District Court of Ulm. The concept is decisive for the future of the Group. After being examined by the court, the insolvency plan will be presented to creditors in the next step, who will then decide on whether to accept it… Read more »
TDK Corporation announces that Daniel Lawson of TDK-Lambda UK has won the hotly contested South West finalist stage of the City & Guilds Apprenticeship of the Year Award. The award is part of the prestigious National Apprenticeship Awards, which are organised by the National Apprenticeship Service. Lawson was nominated following his significant achievements at TDK-Lambda… Read more »
The Crown Estate today announced that the consortium, First Flight Wind, has been selected to develop an offshore wind farm off the south east coast of County Down, Northern Ireland. Subject to obtaining all necessary consents from the Department of Environment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the project could deliver up to… Read more »
ZF Services UK Ltd has signed up to the RenewableUK Wind Energy Charter, which sets out how the wind energy industry intends to deliver continued investment to the UK and its economy. The charter is formed around three core principles: investment in the UK’s energy security, the creation of tens of thousands of long-term jobs… Read more »
Prysmian Group, the world leader in the energy and telecom cables and systems industry, is participating in the creation of Norstec, an association uniting the main players in the energy industry at the global level with the aim of supporting the production of renewable energy using offshore wind farms in the Northern Seas. Norstec, supported… Read more »
HELUKABEL® will be showcasing their latest advancements in wind cable technology at the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)’s 28th Annual Conference and Exhibition, being held October 14-17, 2012 in Toronto, ON. CanWEA is a premier wind energy event that will bring together over 2,500 experts and 250 exhibiting companies from all over the world to… Read more »
The Asian solar photovoltaic (PV) backsheet market is heating up, as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China steal focus from the US and Europe, whose finances and demand for PV continue to suffer due to the global economic crisis, states a new report by energy experts GlobalData. The new report* states that solar PV power… Read more »
Five-year agreement gives leading global engineering and project delivery company access to all solutions in SmartPlant® and SmartMarine® Enterprise portfolios HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 9, 2012 – WorleyParsons, a leading global engineering and project delivery company headquartered in Australia, has signed a long-term Global Alliance Agreement (GAA) with Intergraph®. This five-year agreement covers the Intergraph SmartPlant®… Read more »
On October 6 2012, Siemens began field testing of its new 154-meter rotor for the six-megawatt (MW) offshore wind turbine in Østerild, Denmark. The direct-drive wind turbine is equipped with the world’s longest rotor blades – each blade measures 75 meters in length. With a record rotor diameter of 154 meters, each SWT-6.0-154 turbine can… Read more »
Ilumina, the biggest PV plant in operation in Puerto Rico, has been officially inaugurated by the governor, Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset, yesterday October 5th.The 138-acre solar farm, which uses GPtech PV inverters and a Power Plant Controller (PPC) also from GPtech, will use some 100,000 photovoltaic panels to produce enough electricity to power 6.000 homes…. Read more »
As of now, the Swiss inverter manufacturer Sputnik Engineering distributes the tried and tested SolarMax inverters in Australia as well. In Europe, the SolarMax brand has been standing for quality, reliability, and durability of grid-connected solar inverters for more than 20 years. With its new branch office in Sydney, managed by Daniel Freudiger, General Manager… Read more »
The façade and PV industry, and for sure the BIPV systems have one in common, all strive for performance increase, cost reduction and architectural appeal. The new product range of Sika for this markets support the industry to achieve this targets. At the Glasstec / Solarpeq Sika is presenting its three newest product innovations to the market. Sikasil® SG‐550 with extra high mechanical strength for smaller joints in facades. Sikasil® IG‐25 HM plus for reduced material consumption and increased gas‐tightness on Insulating glasses. Sikasil® AS‐780 with exceptional initial‐strength for simplified process … Read more »
At the annual EU PVSEC conference and exhibition from 25 – 28 September 2012, the Meyer Burger Group unveiled powerful new award-winning technologies to underscore its technology leadership in the PV market. Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) highlighted its strong position as a global technology leader at every stage of the photovoltaic… Read more »
Sonnenbuehl-based SoWiTec Development GmbH & Co. KG (SoWiTec) has engaged DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability through a frame agreement to provide a range of project development support, technical services, third party expertise, and project management assistance related to 20-50 proposed wind power projects in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Russia. “DNV KEMA’s global… Read more »
Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation, today announced that the company has expanded its portfolio of industrial automation solutions with the new PAX2C PID controller, which is designed specifically for the process and temperature control markets. Applications include food & beverage, plastics, packaging, energy, gas, heat treating and glass… Read more »
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is pleased to announce that its project for exploring the outer limits of battery operations has been selected by the US Department of Energy to receive funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E). “DNV is proud to have our project selected by the US Department of Energy. We are… Read more »
SCHMID consistently promotes the industrial use of the SCHOTT Solar licensed PERC processes, which is backed up by the continuous increase in efficiency from the record level of 20.2% in summer 2012 to the current 20.74%. A further process building block after the successful backside passivation using the APCVD is the opening of the passivation… Read more »
As one of the industry’s prime operators, Schmid Silicon Technology (SST) GmbH enjoys an enviable reputation and business that is built upon exceeding expectations and unrivalled knowledge. We put the questions to Dr. Burkhard Wehefritz, Director of the company’s Sales Development Department. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Can you explain a little about your company… Read more »
• Both companies signed a joint venture agreement. • Saudi Arabia is aiming to install about 14 GW of solar photovoltaic facilities by 2030. • ISOFOTON plans to strengthen its position in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India: priority markets for the photovoltaic industry in the coming years. Riyadh/Madrid, September 26th, 2012 ISOFOTON,… Read more »
Meyer Burger Group member Pasan SA has won the Solar Industry Award 2012 in the Photovoltaic Tool category for its DragonBackTM measurement method for high efficiency modules at a ceremony held at the 27th EU PVSEC in Frankfurt. The new high efficiency solar cell technologies, including the innovative heterojunction cells from Meyer Burger Technology Ltd… Read more »
Bernreuter Research issues new report on companies, supply and demand After a shakeout of nearly 40 manufacturers, the polysilicon industry will slowly recover from oversupply by 2014. 2015 could already see the harbingers of a new polysilicon shortage. This is one of the conclusions of the new market research report The 2012 Who’s Who of… Read more »
– SOLON builds second solar farm in Lübesse – Real-time monitoring via Internet with SOLON Vega system– SOLON has already installed the Lübesse I solar farm (2.5 MW) Berlin, September 27, 2012. After a nationwide call for tenders, SOLON Energy GmbH won the bid to build a second photovoltaic power plant in Lübesse (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). The… Read more »
Today’s major challenges in Photovoltaic production are the continuous optimization of solar cell efficiencies and at the same time the reduction of manufacturing costs. ISRA SOLAR VISION, a business unit of ISRA VISION AG, Darmstadt, Germany, provides the complete range of state-of-the-art high-efficiency inspection systems that enable PV manufacturers to master these challenges. With the… Read more »