Category: Wind

Renewable energy, better car efficiency can save the Arctic from oil drilling

A major expansion of renewable energy and more energy efficient vehicles can end the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and save the fragile Arctic from the destruction of oil exploration, according to a new comprehensive energy roadmap launched today by Greenpeace, the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). The… Read more »

Innovation in action

Part of the ACCIONA group, ACCIONA Windpower North America specializes in the design, manufacture, field assembly and marketing of wind turbines using proprietary technology. The company has positioned itself among the world’s top wind turbine manufacturers, and produces turbines of 1500 kW and 3000 kW rated power, of which it has assembled over 3500 MW…. Read more »

Find fresh wind in the German southwest!

Our industry was built on fresh ideas, novel solutions and new methodologies, and so with that approach in mind, we’d like to introduce you to Baden-Württemberg – a German state that’s very much open for wind business… The future belongs to renewable energy. The greater shortage of conventional resources and the more urgent the ecological… Read more »

Always moving, always improving

With more than 140 vessels currently in its portfolio, Germany based BBC Chartering is a global leader in the heavy lift and multipurpose tonnage segment, offering vessels ranging from 3,500 to 37,300dwt. It operates the single largest fleet in the market with lifting capacities reaching up to 800mt. Founded in 1997, BBC Chartering can be… Read more »

Be a smooth operator

Using an inferior lubricant can achieve short-term savings but can cause risky long-term effects. Castrol Industrial’s global product manager, Daryl Luke, discusses how the right lubrication can not only improve productivity but potentially reduce your overall total operating costs. While budgets are tight, there is a temptation to use cheaper lubricants without the necessary additives… Read more »

The surprise impact of America Invents Act on wind companies’ return on investment for patent expenditures

For the first time in 60 years Congress has passed sweeping patent reform legislation, the America Invents Act (AIA). Enacted in September 16, 2011 and being phased in through March 16, 2013, the AIA introduces a number of significant reforms impacting all aspects of patent procurement and patent enforcement. The purpose of the AIA is… Read more »

Flight time

Despite the clear benefits of wind power, there will always be obstacles to overcome, particularly given the often difficult environments developers have to work in, the issues around tariffs and investment concerns during times of austerity. However, innovators around the world are engineering solutions that might literally rise above these challenges. Dr. Corwin Hardham of… Read more »

Editors Note

At the time of writing, the PES team and I are packing our bags in readiness for our trip to Atlanta, or to be more specific: to WINDPOWER 2012. The AWEA show is the focal point for wind professionals to network with and learn from industry leaders and experts, and to discover the latest in… Read more »

2025 vision

A recently published report by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has shed light on just how vast the potential for wind energy is in British Columbia, and what is required to tap into this vast resource. PES gives you some of the highlights from the report and looks at the energy future for BC…… Read more »

Sound thinking

For any wind energy developer, the issue of impacts on local population is one that must not be taken lightly. A new study published via the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been conducted to look at the potential adverse benefits of wind farm developments on local populations. PES takes a look at the report’s findings… The… Read more »

Energys Sustainable Future

PES takes a look at a special US energy report highlighting the potential benefits of taking a more pro-active step towards renewable, and particularly wind, technologies. From job creation to pollution and health, the study digs deep into this controversial subject and asks what the future holds for the US power industry. The Civil Society… Read more »

Quality assessment of wind turbine blades

Morgan Troedsson, Product Manager, FORCE Technology FORCE Technology is among the leading technological consulting and service providers in Scandinavia as well as internationally. Our target is to sell highly specialized engineering know-how for practical and efficient solutions to the wind energy business area… The solutions enhance customer competitiveness and are based on the customer and… Read more »

Prepared for global growth

Recently lauded for investing $10 million and creating 200 jobs over five years in Elberton, Georgia, Hailo LLC is a success story made real. We caught up with CEO Steffen Kosir to find out a little more about the Germany-based organisation that produces climbing and service lift systems for turbines. PES: What is your on-the-ground… Read more »

Industry Insider

A well-known figure within the sector, Mita-Teknik’s Jean Steen Felber is the first of our Insider interviewees. Here, he gives us an exclusive account of the Danish company and its future ambitions, as well as outlining his own background and goals. PES: Welcome to PES magazine, can you firstly explain a little about your role,… Read more »

Last word

In recent years, the North American wind industry has been somewhat isolated and – dare we say it – a pace behind regions such as Europe. However, this has all now changed, and last year marked a watershed year that catapulted the continent right into the heart of the industry. There have been ups, there… Read more »

The recovery starts here

With investments set to total $145 BILLION by 2017, our domestic industry has just been catapulted into the global big league. We investigate the cash windfall, examine which sectors and ancillary industries will benefit most, and ask if it can even kick-start the entire economy…? While the financial crisis of 2008-2009 and the recession had… Read more »

Great at control

With more than 40 years of experience, and a market-leading position in their field, Mita-Teknik is a Danish family-run business that has gone global, bringing innovative systems and a local approach to the worldwide wind market. Mita-Teknik has been developing control system solutions since 1969 and now employs around 230 people worldwide. With divisions in… Read more »

Midwestern meeting

Transmission is hot topic at wind seminar The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently kicked off its Wind Power Transmission Seminar in Indianapolis, Ind. at the hub of one of America’s fastest growing states for wind power. Indiana increased its installed wind power tenfold over the past two years. Meanwhile, wind manufacturing is powering as… Read more »

Making the wind energy world smaller

A valued and regular contributor to PES, Rickmers-Linie provides a worldwide network of liner services for the transportation of breakbulk, heavylift and project cargoes – including, increasingly, wind turbines. We talked to Gerhard Janssen, Director Marketing & Sales about the company’s continued expansion into North America, additions to the fleet, and future growth. PES: Welcome… Read more »

The big debate

Once again, we’ve invited a selection of the continent’s leading wind power ambassadors to debate the issues of the day at length. Their answers may differ, but rest assured that you’re getting the very best analysis that the industry can provide. Contributors David AhlerNational Sales Manager, Semikron Blair LoftisVice President, global director – renewable energy,… Read more »

Aluminum extrusions: enabling stronger more efficient structures in wind turbines

To date in the wind industry, steel and fiberglass structures have been the most commonly used materials. However, extruded aluminum structures offer a huge potential in offering strong but lightweight corrosion-resistant structures, capable of solving some of the wind turbines industries design challenges. As with any material we will first discuss the advantages of the… Read more »

Are tooling assets really worth managing?

The simple answer is yes, argues John Tremblay, Wind Energy Segment Manager for Snap-on Industrial… Conventional wisdom within the wind energy sector says that millions of dollars in tool assets are lost each year. In addition, the hidden or less obvious results of poor tool management may actually have a greater impact on the bottom… Read more »

Community wind power: a vision of the future?

John Mitola, President of community-based development leader Juhl Wind Inc. speaks to PES about the future for both the community-based sector the wider industry. He shares his views on the problems facing wind power, and how community-scale projects can avoid some of the issues hampering future development. One common trait all of us in the… Read more »

Driving offshore

Given the challenges of building a wind farm offshore, and the ongoing difficulties posed by maintaining turbines in the tough marine environments, PES looks at how medium voltage equipment is being adapted and developed to meet increasingly high requirements. Growth of installed wind power capacity by year (figure1) The expected expansion of wind power, along… Read more »

Tentec Announces New Distributor in New Zealand for Bolt Tensioning Equipment

Tentec is pleased to announce the appointment of HTC Specialised Tooling Ltd as a distributor of its bolt tensioning equipment for wind turbines in New Zealand. With its HQ in Auckland, the company supplies a comprehensive range of high-force hydraulic tools and related equipment for sale and hire and also offers maintenance and calibration services…. Read more »

HELUKABEL USA to Showcase Wind Turbine Cable Capabilities at WINDPOWER 2012

HELUKABEL® USA will be attending this year’s WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta, GA (booth #1837) on June 3 – 6, and showcasing its vast array of high-performance wind cables and accessories that equip the entire turbine from rotor tip to tower base. WINDPOWER 2012 is the largest, annual wind-focused exhibition in the world –… Read more »

Moventas Wins 80m Contract To Supply New 5mw Offshore Wind Gears To Areva

Moventas continues to strengthen its offshore capability with its 5MW medium speed wind gear. In the beginning of May, Moventas delivered two 5MW offshore wind gears to AREVA Wind. The two companies have signed an 80 million euro agreement on future deliveries. After approximately one year of testing, Moventas and AREVA Wind, subsidiary of the… Read more »

AMSC Receives 100 MW Wind Turbine Electrical Control System Order from Inox Wind

AMSC (NASDAQ: AMSC), a global solutions provider serving wind and grid leaders, today announced that Inox Wind Limited, part of India’s Inox Group of Companies, placed a follow-on order for 50 of AMSC’s electrical control systems (ECS) for Inox’s 2 megawatt (MW) wind turbines. AMSC expects to ship all of these systems to Inox in… Read more »

SOLON receives order for 1.6 MW roof-mounted system in Berlin

SOLON Energy GmbH is building a 1.6 MW photovoltaic system on five roofs of the Berliner Großmarkt wholesale market. For this order by the Berliner Energieagentur (Energy Agency), SOLON is using the three systems SOLON SOLfixx, SOLON SOLbond Seam and SOLON SOlbond Rail. The power plant covering the same surface area as six soccer fields… Read more »

Natural Power achieves EIA success on single largest consent in England and Wales for Vattenfall

Natural Power achieves EIA success on single largest consent in England and Wales, taking their client consented portfolio onshore to over 1GW, with the 299MW Pen Y Cymoedd wind farm, on behalf of Vattenfall May 2012 Leading International renewable energy consultancy group Natural Power completed the full Environmental Impact Assessment, as well as providing technical… Read more »

WINDPOWER 2012 first North American event to be labelled WindMade

Washington/Brussels. The American Wind Energy Association’s WINDPOWER 2012 Conference & Exhibition in Atlanta, June 3-6, will be the first North American event ever to earn WindMade’s designation as 100 percent powered by wind energy. “Wind power already provides approximately 20 percent of electricity in places like Iowa and South Dakota-and now, thanks to WindMade, WINDPOWER… Read more »

Experienced teams more likely to bring funds for offshore wind projects

42% of participants in a survey conducted by Wind Energy Update on offshore wind investment and finance named “experience of the team” as the primary feature to raise capital for current offshore wind projects “Experience of the team” was recently named as the principal trait to accumulate capital for current offshore wind projects as found… Read more »

SGS Attends RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind 2012 in London, UK

On June 13-14, 2012, SGS will be attending the 11th RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind 2012 Conference and Exhibition in London, UK. At stand 545, SGS’s team of experts will demonstrate a wide portfolio of renewable energy services for the entire project life cycle, including but not limited to commissioning, in-service and end of warranty inspections,… Read more »

SOLON sells 10 MW Solar Array in Arizona/US

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Arizona Solar Farm from SOLON Corporation Duke Energy Renewables has acquired a 10-megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar project near Kingman, Ariz., from SOLON Corp. The Black Mountain Solar Project under construction in Mohave County is expected to achieve commercial operation in October of this year. UniSource Energy Services (UES) will purchase the… Read more »