Category: Exclusive Articles

Calibrate, document, design and simulate

A newly developed app from ETU Software enables quick and precise measurements of a building, by taking digital measurements based on a photo and target-oriented inputs to simulate the photovoltaic system. This allows the user to document and provide initial estimates while still on site. SimpleMeasure saves time in the bidding phase and enables the… Read more »

Bigger, better, bifacial

EKO Instruments are betting big on bifacial PV, delivering industry-leading accuracy with the most comprehensive package of bifacial and albedo measurement solutions available. Bifacial photovoltaic (BPV) technology has been around for a long time, but only since 2012, when the first cost-effective bifacial panels entered the market, has it started to attract serious market consideration…. Read more »

Sustainability through team work

As the effects of climate change continue to be felt around the world, the need for sustainable resources to dampen the effects of our environmental impact becomes ever greater. PES had some more questions for Alessandro Anderlini Business Manager responsible for the EMEA markets in Coveme’s PV Solar and Specialty Films Divisions and Steve Davies… Read more »

Best in show State-side

As exhibition season dawns in a new post-pandemic era with all that it may still entail, there’s a packed programme of events to look forward to. Our first show preview comes from New Orleans, where plans for Solar Power International, Energy Storage International and Smart Energy Week 2021 are in full swing. Solar Power International… Read more »

Modernizing control system for absolute cavity radiometer

Accurate measurements of broadband solar irradiance require radiometers with proper design and performance characteristics, correct installation, and documented operation and maintenance procedures, including regular calibration. With any measuring tool, calibrations must be traceable to a recognized reference standard. For direct normal irradiance (DNI) measurements of broadband solar radiation, the World Radiometric Reference (WRR) is the… Read more »

Appropriate PV module over ratio can increase in power generation

What is PV module/inverter DC-AC over ratio? In a typical design of a photovoltaic system, the capacity of the PV modules (total DC power) exceeds the capacity of the inverter (AC power): this is called the DC-AC over ratio. This approach of over ratio is increasingly widely used. Reasonable over ratio design can optimize the… Read more »

Using thermal laser separation to cut solar cells in half-cells or stripes

Over the past years, cutting solar cells into half-cells has grown to become a mainstream strategy in PV manufacturing. Significant gains in both power rating and mechanical strength at module level are demonstrated by using these technologies. It is also one of the key developments that has allowed the recent switch to larger cell formats… Read more »

New sizing of wind turbine generators (WTGs) requires a new perspective of wind towers

The wind market is continuously evolving to bigger and more powerful WTGs, both onshore and offshore, each one has its limitations, but they need to include new solutions and continue to reduce the associated LCoE. Until now, the onshore market has represented approximately 70% of the total MW installed (GWEC), but offshore is growing. Onshore… Read more »

Offshore wind targets: what might stop us hitting them?

If everything goes smoothly, then the UK’s offshore wind industry should be well on track to hit the Government’s target of 40 Gigawatts (GW) of generation capacity by 2030, but this is not an industry that’s accustomed to everything going smoothly. Chris Towner, Partner and renewable energy specialist at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, looks… Read more »

Prevention better than cure during icing season

As our winters get colder and turbines get bigger, icing presents a host of potential pitfalls for wind farmers. Wicetec looks to overcome these challenges with its Ice Prevention System, helping to avoid a repeat of the Texas big freeze power outage earlier this year. PES caught up with Petteri Antikainen, the company’s Co-Founder and… Read more »

Offshore wind: where next?

The pace of the clean energy revolution is speeding up in an international effort to curb global warming and offshore wind power is set to play a pivotal role in achieving the CO2 reduction targets of many of the world’s coastal countries. It is widely perceived that offshore wind is set to grow by around… Read more »

Using lidar to solve the challenges of offshore wind farms

As global interest in wind energy continues to grow, an increasing number of projects are looking out to sea, where the vast ocean expanse allows offshore wind farms to cover more area, erect larger turbines and generate more energy. Offshore wind is expected to constitute 20% of total wind energy installations by 2025. While Europe… Read more »

Enabling data to drive the future of offshore robotics

Vaarst, the new technology spin-off company from Rovco launched March 2021, with the vision to bring artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomy to all offshore robotics. Enabling the integration of their technology into all robotic vehicles, both new and as a retrofit solution to existing ROVs. A technology company borne from a services business Rovco,… Read more »

Tech disruption in offshore wind

Think of a future where the offshore wind supply chain connects in real time. Picture a wind turbine technician installing, maintaining, and fixing components with the support of shore-side staff connected through their eyes and ears. The experts are supporting the technicians through every step of a critical job. Envision the crew of a CTV… Read more »

A giant with a brain

Smart turbines: embedded intelligence is the next engine growth factor for the automotive industry. Specialists estimate that in less than 10 years, the software element will represent 60% of the value of a vehicle, compared to 20% today. When you think about the pace of change in the wind industry today, we can expect a… Read more »

Fully protected

The offshore wind energy industry has seen enormous growth in recent years and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. Those in the industry will know the stats: the offshore wind energy market is forecast to reach $42bn by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 13.6% from 2020 to 2025. The focus for… Read more »

A holistic approach to wind energy

Kaveh Etemadi, Managing Director, ROBUR Wind GmbH and Director Global Sales of the whole Business Unit ROBUR WND, spoke to PES about his holistic vison and approach to wind: turbines, assets and services. This company offers a total package throughout the life of a turbine, with training and H&S permeating every aspect. Firmly established in… Read more »

Supply chain success is critical for offshore wind

As applicants prepare submissions for Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind programme, the leasing round for offshore wind farms in Scottish waters, our industry must sharply turn its attention to the formation and delivery of successful supply chain partnerships that will enable us to apply our knowledge of developing wind power whilst taking learnings from the long-established… Read more »

In search of carbon-neutral maritime transport

The Danish shipping company MHO-Co is heading a consortium focused on developing green solutions for the future of the entire maritime industry. In partnership with Danfoss, Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S, Sterling PlanB, Stuart Friezer Marine and research engineers from Aalborg University, they will test fuel cells and new battery technology on the shipping company’s… Read more »

Enabling emission reducing wind solutions with smart green shipping

In October 2020, the UK government announced a target of 1GW of floating offshore wind by 2030, which combined with a 60% target for local content set by the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal, sets manufacturing sites around the UK with a requirement for a significant scale up in fabrication. This provides a real challenge… Read more »

Location is key to tapping into the utility data goldmine

Currently there is an abundance of data. A recent report from GlobalData highlighted how the ever-increasing deployment of smart devices and technologies within smart energy grids is creating an exponentially growing pool of utility big data. In fact, utilities are increasingly implementing technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain,… Read more »

Firmware development methodology designed to simplify wind turbine converter validation and certification

As more wind energy is connected to the grid, ensuring the correct electrical performance of the wind turbine is critical, to maximise production and also ensure the safe operation of the grid. The power converter is the active component connecting the turbine to the grid. As the interface between the two, the power converter is… Read more »

Game-changing feeder solution integrates proven technology to support alternate T&I model

The first wind turbines were often installed using existing jack-ups, originally built for civil construction or oil and gas service markets. Then the industry invested in a fleet of purpose-built wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) jack-ups. Now, current trends and developments in the offshore wind industry are shaping the installation fleet of the future. An… Read more »

Reassessing a wind farm’s potential

Abstract: The ever-growing database of offshore wind farm production data provides the opportunity to improve the understanding of wind energy potential at existing and future sites significantly. In principle, the wind turbines provide a dense measurement system of the wind conditions. These need to be distinguished from all other factors that drive production at the… Read more »

The 8 most important considerations when selecting your next hydraulic torque wrench

Operating and maintaining a single generating station or wind farm and distributing that power in an ever changing and highly regulated market is an enormous challenge. Utility leaders are under constant pressure to meet rising demands, maintain regulatory compliance, shift to a diverse energy mix, and implement sustained cost reductions, without impact to quality and… Read more »

Moving with the times

PES Wind love the fact that Amanda Gardiner, Managing Director at Durham Lifting, grew up around engineering. She is rightly proud of the company’s place in keeping Teesside’s heritage alive. Embracing change and innovative technology, loving a challenge and doing things right, this team is here to stay. PES: Welcome to PES Wind Amanda. It’s… Read more »

Positioning South East Asia for the energy transition

The energy transition is shifting national agendas and is cutting across all industries and markets. As a global hub for innovation, Singapore has built a vibrant ecosystem to advance today’s efforts on energy and climate change. With South East Asia’s energy demand forecasted to grow by 50% by 2050, alternative energy sources need to be… Read more »

Green H2 accelerating the energy transition

In a recent statement, Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, affirmed his belief that in order to achieve the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, global low carbon hydrogen production must reach 40 million tons annually by 2030, requiring an almost one hundredfold increase from today’s levels. The European Commission just announced its… Read more »

Wild weather and wind turbines

In November last year, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr Boris Johnson, announced an ambitious 10 Point Plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’, which is hoped will create and support up to 250,000 jobs. This plan covers clean energy, transport, nature and the use of innovative technologies. The plan will allow the UK… Read more »

Time to be smart when it comes to bolting

Bolted joint assemblies are a critical part of a wind turbine as they have a direct impact on the structural integrity and the performance of the turbines. Applications can be found in all parts of the turbine such as foundations, tower flanges, nacelle, blades and internal components where the bolted joint must be secured according… Read more »

Challenges in evaluating drone data

Nowadays there is apparently almost no problem that cannot be solved with AI. If cars can even drive completely autonomously, should it not be easy then to find defects and other abnormalities on images from rotor blades of wind-turbines? However, where is the algorithm that detects defects in real time, qualifies them and gives a… Read more »

Unlocking hidden cash in wind energy projects

Whether it’s prototyping, development or experimentation with materials or physical production processes, there’s a wide variety of disciplines involved in advancing wind energy science across all elements of the turbine lifecycle. Even though renewable energy businesses are spending staggering amounts on developing new technologies, very few are actually claiming the hundreds of thousands of pounds… Read more »

From drone to airplane: new method of conducting aerial thermography leading towards predictive analysis

The world of photovoltaic aerial inspections is changing. Today the solar industry seems to have already gotten used to the new technologies that have taken over the market; inspections by drone and plant digitization. Plant owners and managers, if not already, are heading in this new direction, leaving manual inspections behind. Companies providing inspection and… Read more »

Comprehensive PV expertise for a more sustainable future

The power sector is undergoing a global transformation. Over the past decade, the costs of renewables have dropped substantially, solar power by as much as 80 percent. With the comprehensive knowledge and broad experience, Stäubli makes an important contribution to the PV industry and the vision of a more sustainable future. Renewable energy generation keeps… Read more »