As we head full-speed into 2013, who knows what the next 12 months will bring? Growth? A return to profitability and a stable European market? Here’s hoping. All we can be sure of is that, as far as the wind sector is concerned, there are some very strong and visionary views around… “What politicians are… Read more »
The recently-unveiled RUSTEC project is set to change the face of the European wind energy market, but can Russia’s Arctic farm plan really plug Europe’s energy gap? We weigh-up the project – and consider the impact of giving Russia control of both traditional and renewable energy sources. There is no renewable energy market in Russia… Read more »
PES is delighted to welcome Gregor Gnaedig to the magazine to discuss the advances that his company, Modular Wind Energy, has been making in the rotor blade sector. A global veteran of the energy industry for more than 20 years, Gregor joined the company last year as it emerged from Research and Development into the… Read more »
European Union reaches 100 GW output The European Union has passed the milestone of 100 GW of installed wind power capacity, according to the European Wind Energy Association.One hundred gigawatts of wind power can generate electricity over a year to meet the total consumption of 57 million households, equivalent to the power production of 39… Read more »
It’s a fuel that will never run out. The raw material is abundantly available across many parts of Europe and the ‘extraction’ is based on clean technology. The ‘fuel’ in question, of course, is offshore wind and across the region many countries have ambitious plans to make it a key part of their future energy… Read more »
We’re delighted to welcome back Christian Holmgaard, CEO and Senior Consultant Project Manager for WTG Partners. In this issue, he turns his critical eye to the thorny issue of long-term contracts. Today several of the major wind turbine manufactures offer long-term OMS contracts with coverage for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, with all spare parts and… Read more »
Operation, maintenance and survivability are key issues for offshore, and, as we report, software reliability is vital to those three pillars. The ‘failure’ headline is a famous and inspirational quote attributed (wrongly) to Gene Kranz during the Apollo mission in 1970. Whoever coined the phrase is not important, but 40 years on it is still… Read more »
A world leader in offshore wind installation and service solutions, A2SEA A/S is dedicated to providing the wind industry with safer, sustainable, and more cost-efficient operations. We spoke to Kaj Lindvig, Senior Advisor. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Before we get on to the main issues of the day, would you like to introduce your… Read more »
Wind farms are an increasingly common landscape element in many regions. And with good reason. After all, wind turbine generator systems are one of the cleanest sources of energy available. However, just like other machinery, they too must adhere to strict safety requirements. Progressive safety solutions from B&R give wind turbine manufacturers all the tools… Read more »
A bill attempting to set minimum distances from residential premises has been put before legislators across Europe on a number of occasions, yet it has not progressed beyond initial reading stages. However, it has been widely publicised and some local authorities have proposed policies with similar criteria. In this feature, PES sets out the current… Read more »
Wind energy is the fastest growing renewable energy source and Europe remains at the forefront of the market. By 2020 it is predicted that between 12 and 14% of the EU’s electricity demand will be fulfilled by wind generated power – saving an amount of CO2 equivalent to taking 165 million cars off the roads…. Read more »
Taking place for the very first time in Vienna at Messe Wien Congress Center on 4th-7th February 2013, EWEA 2013 Annual Event will unite the wind industry once again and return with a new theme that fosters progress and industry growth; EWEA 2013 will focus on significant opportunities for the industry. EWEA – The European… Read more »
Like other renewable energy technologies, wind is capital intensive, but has no fuel costs. The key parameters governing wind power economics are the investment costs; operation and maintenance costs; capacity factor; economic lifetime; and the cost of capital. We take a closer look at the latest figures, courtesy of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Although… Read more »
The only country in the EU to have emerged from the economic crisis without going into recession is in rude financial health – as is its wind energy economy. For now. PES investigates. In November last year, Siemens Energy announced that it had received orders worth €880m in the wind power industry since July; a… Read more »
Perhaps it’s because the European Wind Energy Association’s Annual Event is being held early this year, or just because the last 12 months have been tumultuous in the wind energy arena, but it seems as if 2012 came and went in a flash. Nevertheless, we have entered into 2013 with a sense of optimism, and… Read more »
There is certainly something in the air. Come November, after all the uncertainty and excitement of an election, there may be a wind of change that ushers Republican candidate Mitt Romney into the White House, and the inevitable expiration of the Production Tax Credit, which has driven remarkable green energy and economic growth. Or, should… Read more »
Society continues to demonstrate its insatiable appetite for products that place increasing demand on our energy resources. Despite repeated calls to conserve, the increasing adoption by consumers of computers, PDAs, iPhones, iPads, tablets and other wireless devices, coupled with economic progress in developing countries suggests that the demand will not relent anytime soon. One need… Read more »
The utility industry in the United States has been changing significantly due to statewide renewable portfolio standards requirements. 38 states now require a portion of their electricity to be generated from renewable or alternative energy sources as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. And as the… Read more »
One of North America’s most pressing challenges is meeting its ever increasing demand for energy while responding to environmental concerns. It’s no secret that our current power grid infrastructure does not provide a long term solution to meet our needs. Aging infrastructure, increasing pressure due to climate change, and a vulnerable supply chain has lead… Read more »
Designed with direct input from the industry leaders who are shaping this emerging market, the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition offers unmatched networking opportunities with manufacturers, suppliers, project developers, policy makers, utility representatives, and thought leaders in the wind energy industry. PES takes a sneak peek at the upcoming show… A landmark year2012 is… Read more »
As the prospect of Cape Wind and other Atlantic coast wind energy projects move closer to becoming reality, leading international shipbuilder Damen Shipyards is developing an entire range of vessels for the offshore wind industry, and with many of these tailor-made vessels proving popular at European offshore wind parks, Damen is looking forward to bringing… Read more »
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 »
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 »
Established in 2005 to convene international leadership and a variety of stakeholders to enable a rapid global transition to renewable energy, the REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) is perhaps the world’s most accurate snapshot of the solar/PV industry. PES is proud to present this exclusive extract – essential reading for every European executive in… Read more »
The solar industry is going through troubled times: over-capacity of panels on the world market, governments withdrawing subsidies, and a lot of corporate consolidation. We talked to Wiro Zijlmans CEO of Smit Ovens, about why thin film solar technologies have a bright future and the role of thermal processes in high-volume manufacturing. Wiro Zijlmans: Smit… Read more »
Darren Brown, Alternative Energy Business Manager at DEK, discusses the drive towards greater efficiency in solar cell manufacturing, and asks how best to achieve cost leadership – and ultimately, competitive advantage. Achieving the optimum level of production of anything requires any number of stars to be aligned. These range from the cost of the raw… Read more »