Faster rotor blade bonding thanks to new technology. The energy turnaround and the push to expand renewable energy generation is posing major challenges for manufacturers of wind energy plants. To ensure economic viability, efforts are focusing first on improving the availability and productivity of existing production facilities. One of the wind energy industry’s top priorities… Read more »
As wind energy grows in Europe, so must infrastructure development. The European Parliament has considered all the renewable energy sectors in the regions and explored how projects are financed in the current programming period of structural funding. PES took a look at the existing and future measures for renewable energy infrastructure as well as electricity… Read more »
A recent report by the European Wind Energy Association argues that EU electricity market rules must reflect the energy generation mix of the future, and help usher in a flexible power system with a large-scale uptake of wind power and other renewable energy sources. A number of recommendations have been made – many of which… Read more »
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 »
Building gearless turbines that are made to last The leading producer of gearless wind turbines has emerged from the well-known LEITNER group, situated in South Tyrol, Italy. LEITWIND was one of the first companies to develop gearless wind turbines and belongs to the innovation leaders in this segment. Production is situated in Austria and India… 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 »
TÜV Rheinland, the global top ten provider of technical services, will be presenting its expertise to the global wind energy industry at this year‘s EWEA trade fair from February 4-7 in Vienna, Austria. With its international network as well as strong and long-standing presence in countries such as Japan, Korea, India, and China, TÜV Rheinland… Read more »
Tentec Training, an ECITB Approved Provider of training and competence assurance programmes in the assembly and tightening of bolted connections is pleased to announce the appointment of Glenn Dixon as Technical Supervisor. Well known throughout the oil and petrochemical industries, Glenn brings with him over 30 years of bolting expertise and has worked with Tentec… Read more »
New report presents a palette of key success factors for wind power development and discusses lessons from 12 mature wind markets A new report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) shows a set of conditions that must be fulfilled in order to best harness wind, to… Read more »
International marine engineering company SeaRoc has been appointed Principal Contractor to oversee the completion of the offshore wind farm construction at Teesside Offshore Wind Farm on behalf of EDF Energy Renewables. The project has now also reached an important milestone with the installation of the project’s first turbine. On 1st January 2013, SeaRoc was appointed… Read more »
Availon GmbH, a cross-brand provider of wind turbine generator (WTG) services, has signed a major contract with the Japanese firm EOS Engineering & Service Co., Ltd. for the supply of 80 grid coupling contactors. A subsidiary of Japan Wind Development Co., LTD, which was founded in 1999, EOS Engineering & Service Co., LTD. is an… Read more »
Siemens has signed a contract for the supply of 25 wind turbines for Mid Hill Wind Farm in Scotland. Siemens will also provide a five-year Service and Availability agreement. The wind farm is located at Fetteresso near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire and will consist of 25 x SWT-2.3-93 turbines, of which 20 will have a 125m tip… Read more »
• PALFINGER WIND as a full-service provider with a coordinated lifting system• 144 cranes for the largest commercial wind power project off the German coast• PALFINGER WIND has set new standards for maintenance and safety RWE is currently constructing one of the largest commercial wind power projects off the German coast. The starting signal for… Read more »
EWEA in Vienna – from 4 to 7 February 2013 – Stand AH12 Once again this year, Meteodyn will exhibit and give software demonstrations at the most important wind energy event in Europe. It will be the opportunity to present the new release 4.5 of meteodyn WT. We develop numerical wind modeling software and we… Read more »
On January 29-31, 2013 SGS will attend the enertec International Trade Fair for Energy Generation, Distribution and Storage in Leipzig, Germany and demonstrate its wide range of renewable energy services at stand 4D30. SGS Proudly Presents Services in Leipzig SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is set to exhibit at enertec… Read more »
AREVA’s Supervisory Board met today under the chairmanship of Jean-Cyril Spinetta to examine the group’s financial outlook for 2012 and 2013. Concerning 2012, the group maintains the financial outlook communicated on July 27, 2012 during the presentation of half year results. It had been revised upwards in relation to the outlook published during the presentation… Read more »
International renewable energy consultancy Natural Power were commissioned this year to author a key document for Marine Scotland, collating data on populations of seabird interest features at Scottish Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Marine Scotland. The purpose of the study was to make seabird population data available in one easy-to-use resource, as well as highlighting… Read more »
Hamburg/Oslo, 20. December 2012: An agreement has been signed to merge DNV and GL. The new entity will be called DNV GL Group. It will be one of the world’s leading ship classification societies and risk experts in the oil and gas, renewable energy and power sectors, and among the global top three within management… Read more »
World-leading renewables operator, Iberdrola, has once again selected AREVA’s offshore wind technology for the Wikinger project, to be developed 35 kilometers off the German Baltic Sea coast. Under the terms of the agreement, AREVA will supply its M5000 5 MW turbine for the Wikinger wind farm that will produce up to 400 MW of electricity… Read more »
Siemens installs prototype of four-megawatt offshore wind turbineGenerator and rotor upgrade allows for up to 15 per cent increase in annual energy production Siemens Energy has installed the prototype of a new four-megawatt (MW) wind turbine in Østerild, Denmark. The new wind turbine type is a designated SWT-4.0 and is based on the proven technology… Read more »
With continued growth in its wind power service business, Siemens Energy has signed a contract extension with Edison Mission Energy to continue providing service and maintenance on the 70 SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines operating at the Wildorado Wind Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas. The extension will help the project perform at optimal levels of efficiency and availability… Read more »
With continued growth in its wind power service business, Siemens Energy has signed a contract extension with Edison Mission Energy to continue providing service and maintenance on the 70 SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines operating at the Wildorado Wind Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas. The extension will help the project perform at optimal levels of efficiency and availability… Read more »
Strong portfolio offsets cyclical fluctuations in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology business group Major investments in modernization of Company Expansion of international Business Investments in research and development increased by 14 percent STUTTGART/Germany, 13.12.2012.The Carl Zeiss Group ended fiscal year 2011/12 (reporting date: 30 Sept. 2012) with a two percent increase in revenue. Revenue totaled EUR… Read more »