Category: Exclusive Articles

Wind energy 2.0

The entire history of power generation, from Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiments 250 years ago, to deep sea drilling for oil and gas is a complex tale of imaginative inventiveness riding up against economic realities. As wind power takes hold across the world, developers are constantly looking for new ways to make the technology lighter, faster,… Read more »

Tough at the top?

Essential stress-management strategies for business survival In today’s business world, most wind sector executives expect to be available 24/7 and to work an 18 hour day on average, but Cognitive Neuroscientist and Business Improvement Strategist Dr Lynda Shaw believes that executives and top management are becoming increasingly isolated and are struggling to cope with the… Read more »

Using innovation to drive future growth

We’re proud to welcome Zdravko Angelov to the magazine for his first time. The far-sighted Managing Director of Netherlands-based VizionZ Engineering has made it his business to deliver improvements to the offshore industry through innovative engineering technology. We spoke to the highly-regarded industry figure about meeting client challenges, exceeding expectations and building solid business foundations…… Read more »

Wind roadmap: accelerating technological change

An essential part of any wind power executive’s armoury, the IEA’s annual roadmap charts how far the for wind technology has come and, more importantly, where it’s headed. We present an exclusive extract. There is a pressing need to accelerate the development of advanced energy technologies in order to address the global challenges of clean… Read more »

Wind technology development: actions and timeframes

Increased efforts in wind technology R&D are essential to realising growth within 
the industry, with a main focus on reducing the investment costs and increasing performance and reliability to reach a lower LCOE. We consider a strategy 
(and timeline) for guaranteed success… Wind energy technology is already proven and making progress. No single element of… Read more »

Turbine coatings matter

With the environmental conditions, as well as the environmental standards required for offshore development, knowledge and expertise are critical at every stage of the process. Marine environments make equipment coating a major component in the build process. PES talks to Frank Heijster, Partner at Atlas Paint Consultants B.V. about the service they bring to the… Read more »

Bird strikes: time for action?

With an estimate of nearly a quarter of a million birds 
killed by monopile turbines in the US alone every year, there’s no doubt that it’s an issue that needs to be taken seriously by the industry. But as turbines get taller, is it a growing issue? We present the very latest research from the… Read more »

Considering Wind Powers Ecological Commitment

Despite past success and ambitious targets, constructing onshore wind projects in Scotland is not without its difficulties. Rhys Bullman, Principal Ecologist at environmental firm SLR Consulting, looks at why ornithology is nearly always towards the top of the list of important issues to get right. The wind energy industry in Scotland has always been ambitious,… Read more »

Wind And Sun A Match Made In Heaven

A revolutionary concept that will harness the full capacity of grid connections by incorporating ground-mounted solar panels on the same site as wind turbines, ‘solar wind’ is set to be a success story for the coming year… Words: Paul Evans, Associate Director and renewable energy specialist, Wardell ArmstrongWith an estimated total capacity of onshore wind… Read more »

EWEA 2014 blows into Barcelona

EWEA 2014 is the annual event of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). This year, the highlight of the industry calendar is heading to Barcelona, and is shaping up to be a must for all companies wanting to understand how they can play a leading part in the energy revolution. The last few years have… Read more »

US consumers reap the rewards of wind

New Department of Energy data shows that the states that use the most wind energy have seen the largest electricity rate declines, while consumers in the states that use the least wind energy have fared far worse. PES crunches the numbers… The 11 states that produce more than seven per cent of their electricity from… Read more »

Make the right connection

When it comes to connecting wind power offshore, inter-array cable installation is the way to go, asserts respected operator, CT Offshore A/S. We found out more about the company and its offshore operations… CT Offshore A/S is a longstanding subsea contractor providing safe and specialised engineering solutions to the offshore wind farm industry. As part… Read more »

Training and certification: understanding the process

Going through the certification process for a wind turbine, support structure or 
substation related to the wind farm ensures that your asset adheres to required 
industry standards and best practice, and hereby reduces the total risk during the 
lifecycle of the project. However, in a market with tight time schedules and scarce 
resources, it is… Read more »

World Energy Outlook: orientation for a fast-changing energy world

The International Energy Agency’s annual outlook is one of the sector’s most hotly anticipated intelligence reports, and we’re proud to present an exclusive extract. Read, digest, react and start taking your operation to the next level – especially if you’re active in Brazil… Many of the long-held tenets of the energy sector are being rewritten…. Read more »

Failure is not an option

by Morgan Troedsson, Product Manager, FORCE TechnologyThe long-term efficiency of wind power relies on periodic revisions, with recurring inspection and maintenance. Morgan Troedsson, Product Manager at FORCE Technology, talks about what they bring to this vital subject on system reliability. Offshore turbinesWind turbines erected offshore were initially not designed for the offshore environment. Tough lessons… Read more »

A stable platform for growth

As the global specialist in pipeline mats and crawler crane mats, Ko-Mats GmbH has embraced the opportunities presented to it by the wind industry. It provides end-to-end solutions for many of the challenges that turbine logistics companies face, through a large stock of mats for sale or hire. We spoke to the company’s August Oude… Read more »

China Winds New Superpower

Claims from respected bodies such as the IEA suggest that China’s wind output could overtake the combined might of the EU and the US within 20 years. What will fuel this spectacular growth, and what will it mean for the rest of the marketplace? PES investigates… In 2012 (most recent figures), 12,960 MW of new… Read more »

Is wind power putting safety first?

Wind turbines are large, complex pieces of machinery, similar to those manufactured in the car and aerospace industries. But are our employees – at every stage of the supply chain – being supported by similar and correct Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) procedures? And what are the risks they being presented with? PES investigates… OSH… Read more »

The art of delivering ROV services

With the challenges posed by developing wind farms offshore, the importance of having the right people for the right job has never been clearer. Steven Gray explains why choosing a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) provider should not be clouded by one-dimensional thinking. Unlike the hidden depths of oil and gas operations hundreds of miles out… Read more »

Why grid energy storage is long overdue

Modernising the electric system will help many nations meet the challenge of handling projected energy needs – including integrating more power from wind sources. But why are we generally dragging our feet on this issue, and where is future innovation and global growth coming from? The US Department of Energy provides some answers… Advances to… Read more »

Investing in cable protection

Jack Simpson of Tekmar talks to PES about how an innovative system for connecting and protecting subsea power cables is contributing to cost reduction across the lifespan of wind farms and beyond. As governments of the world look to cut carbon emissions and reduce society’s dependence on traditional energy sources, one of the main deciding… Read more »

Test met mast delivers promising results

Words: Peter Herbert Meier, TÜV SÜD Industrie ServiceTÜV SÜD has been operating a 140 m research wind mast in Hessenreuther Wald, a forest region near Erbendorf in Northern Bavaria, Germany, since October 2012. The mast records meteorological data for assessing the site’s viability for wind power and for research purposes and the results are intended… Read more »

KiloWattsol advises lenders on first ever structured finance PV & Li-Ion storage deal

9MWp project Bardzour is a great example of the reliability and predictability of Renewable energies An often stated argument against supporting the progression of Renewables as a source of energy, and that of PV in particular, is the fact that the energy output depends on the amount of solar irradiation instantly available. It would hence… Read more »

4JET Technologies GmbH expands Asia sales with Klaus Schiffer

Alsdorf/Germany, December 11th, 2013 – 4JET Technologies GmbH expands its sales activities for micro machining applications in Asia.4JET has appointed Mr. Klaus Schiffer as Director Sales for applications in optoelectronics and glass processing. Mr. Schiffer will especially be responsible for sales in the key markets Display Technology, Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics. He will also coordinate… Read more »

Introduction

The Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) is the key focal point of any wind farm. The blades themselves are the key operational element of the WTG, as their performance in capturing the wind enables each manufacturer to optimise the availability and yield of their turbines. DIAB is a leading manufacturer of core materials, which is one… Read more »

Synergy and quality across the offshore arena

A company that provides full-service delivery of personnel, equipment and vessels within the business areas of offshore accommodation and subsea services, SweOffshore is an increasingly-visible operator in the sector. We caught up with Commercial Manager, Anton Lymer. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Before we get on to the main issues of the day, would you… Read more »

Dedicated to quality and service

Known under the brand name: Global Tarps, Group MPASIA is a rising star in the global wind industry. The company headquartered in Denmark, is widely-known for its high quality tarpaulins and prides itself on adapting to the needs of its customers, as CEO Henning Weisz explains. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Before we get on… Read more »

Wind farm developers face increasing green challenge

Failed appeal for Argyll site highlights importance of conservation legislation It is more than ironic that in a country where the government is heavily committed to maximising production of energy from renewable sources one of the main barriers to achieving this aim is conservation legislation, much of which, increasingly, originates from the European Union. In… Read more »

A reputation built on reliability

Known globally for its commitment to innovation and reliable products, Red Lion Controls is a key player in the renewables industry. The company has been performing at the very highest level for four decades, so we asked Diane Davis, Director of Product Management Ethernet Networking, to explain the secrets of its success… PES: Welcome. Would… Read more »

The big debate

It’s back, and it’s better than ever before. Once again, we’ve asked some of the most incisive and intelligent commentators from the world of wind to contribute to our roundtable debate – the most talked-about feature in PES. Our experts are here to offer invaluable analysis from the forefront of the industry. PES: Welcome to… Read more »

Optimising key resources for effective results

Operating under the banner of ‘Lifting at a higher level’, Scaldis is a key operator in the wind industry. We asked Linda Vanhaelst, Business Development & Marketing Manager, about the company’s core services and its ambitious plans for 2014… PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like 
to begin by explaining a little about 
your company… Read more »