Using the correct planning and smart route engineering to open up more seabed real estate for future offshore wind sites
Performing in-depth analysis on over 6,000 surface and sub-surface boulders, examined alongside a vast amount of bathymetry data, enabled OceanIQ Route Engineers to safely plan the array cable routes and seabed preparation plans for the 72 turbine Danish Kriegers Flak site. OceanIQ’s parent company, the Global Marine Group (GMG), was appointed by Vattenfall to deliver […]
Making plans for plain sailing offshore
In July 2021 the UK government published updated requirements for the supply chain plan element of Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round 4 (AR4). So, as we move forward and prepare for the next round, we must use experience from previous CfD auctions and share insights into key challenges for developers to consider, particularly in […]
Riding the IoT wave for improved workability
Safe and efficient offshore wind operations are reliant on accurate, instantaneous and trusted information from many parameters including environmentals, such as the sea state or weather conditions. With the advance of digitalisation, a considerable volume of data sets is now even more accessible than before. However, while the amount of data is plentiful, analysing and […]
High temperature epoxy resin bushings for windfarm transformers
Turbine designs continue to grow in power size, while reducing the space provided for the transformer in the nacelle area. This presents several challenges in transformer bushing designs, one of which is the considerable increase in the ambient temperature. As a result, H-J has developed a new high-temperature epoxy used on transformer bushings to help […]
US offshore wind energy
Combining European expertise and US content Developing offshore wind energy production facilities presents interesting operational requirements and logistical challenges, especially along the US Northeast Coast. Environmental conditions in the Northeastern US are challenging, harsh and some areas have relatively deep water for production of offshore wind energy. However, GustoMSC does not foresee any insurmountable problems. […]
Tried, tested, improved: adapting and developing processes and assets for the offshore wind industry
With a focus on a greener, cleaner future, governments, environmental charities, energy industry bodies and major energy companies are imposing ambition carbon reduction targets. This has increased the impetus on innovation within the offshore wind industry, and with it, an onus on a reliable and cost-effective supply chain. The International Renewable Energy Agency has reported […]
Hydrogen as an intermediate energy carrier: deep integration unlocks the path to decarbonization of our society
Hydrogen recently emerged as a game changer for the decarbonization of our society. However, its future role needs to be properly defined to avoid both glorification by stakeholders and the perception of it being a ‘golden bullet’ capable of solving all energy issues forever. The use of renewable energies for the ‘green’ power generation is […]
Fiber technology takes shape for blade management
Detecting damage in turbine blades at an early stage can go a long way to ensuring their efficiency is maximised. PES was keen to learn from Fibersail’s Pedro Pinto CEO and co-founder, Carlos Oliveira, co-founder and executive director about the possibilities for using fiber optics in monitoring blade performance and condition. Could it be a […]
Wind turbine construction, installation and maintenance: torque vs tension
Torquing and tensioning are two very different ways to tighten a bolt. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. A wind turbine can contain as many as 25,000 bolts, with each one contributing towards either the turbine’s structural integrity or how it functions. So, it’s worth knowing how both torquing and tensioning work. Before […]
Lift off for efficient, cost-effective turbine assembly
How do you make sure that safety, effectiveness, price-performance ratio and service are all in good shape in wind turbine installation? Manfred Eberhard, CEO of Germany based ematec AG, enlightens PES on how a new generation of rotor blade lifters may be about to revolutionise single blade assembly from the ground up. PES: It’s great […]