Tentec’s Aero range of bolt tensioning equipment for the installation and maintenance of wind turbines are now the tools of choice for installation and maintenance engineers on the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm – Thanet. Following highly successful trials, comments on the bolt tensioning equipment from Tentec include “the tools have proven to be… Read more »
WindMade reveals certification criteria for clean power company label Today, WindMade launched the Technical Standard for the first global consumer label for companies and organizations to buy wind power and other clean renewable energy. The label is backed by the UN Global Compact, WWF, Vestas Wind Systems, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the LEGO… Read more »
In order to ensure reliable communication with its data loggers the leading wind measurement expert Ammonit has implemented Network Manager tools developed by Lanedo. As data loggers are mainly operated in remote areas around the globe and store valuable measurement data, stable communication via modem is essential. After unsatisfactory results with off-the-shelf hardware, Ammonit has… Read more »
NRG Systems, manufacturer of measurement systems for the renewable energy industry has agreed to invest in Oenko, a manufacturer and installer of lattice towers for wind resource assessment and wind farm monitoring. This investment pairs NRG Systems’ nearly 30 years in the wind energy industry and its complete system approach with Oenko’s cutting-edge lattice tower… Read more »
A recent report commissioned into offshore wind energy found that the costs of keeping offshore turbines online ranges from €100,000 to €300,000 per year Vs an allocated €45,000 per turbine for onshore portfolios. With the latest round 3 projects typically 60km+ from shore, reliability, optimisation and cost reduction are becoming top priority for wind farm… Read more »
New results on offshore electricity grid infrastructure in Europe: the EU “OffshoreGrid” project analysis reveals tremendous cost saving potential. Report published in Brussels today. Offshore grids, connecting North and Baltic Sea wind farms to electricity consumers, will be substantially cheaper to build than expected. Building “hub connections” at sea instead of using cables to connect… Read more »
As the offshore wind sector grows so will the size of the turbines used to power its energy into electricity? According to the Offshore Wind Supply Chain Strategy Report 2011 the average size of offshore wind turbines is set to grow from its present 2 to 7MW capacity range to between 10 and 20MW in… Read more »
Mexico’s first high level international wind energy event will take place on 14-15 February 2012 in Mexico City. Mexico WindPower 2012 is being organized by the Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE), E.J. Krause de México (EJK) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). “It is a great pleasure to participate in the launch of this… Read more »
DNV’s recognized standard for design of offshore wind turbine structures has been through a revision process together with the wind energy industry. The updated standard which aims to reduce cost and increase safety is now available. The standard, Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures (DNV-OS-J101), provides principles, technical requirements and guidance for design, construction and… Read more »
Recently, published figures show that the wind energy industry is bouncing back from a disappointing 2010. The first half of this year shows a 72 per cent increase in generating capacity compared to the same time last year. However the grim, if not predictable spectre of the Production Tax Credit renewal is looming, and could… Read more »
The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) convenes international multi-stakeholder leadership to enable a rapid global transition to renewable energy. It promotes appropriate policies that increase the wise use of such energies in developing and industrialized economies, and its Chairman, Mohamed El-Ashry, has worked tirelessly to promote its successes and strengthen the… Read more »
After a relatively slow year in 2010, figures for the first half of this year show wind energy returning to growth. Strong political support from both parties, as well as increasing awareness within communities of the economic benefits of wind power developments, will hopefully make 2011 a strong year for wind energy. However, the impending… Read more »
US wind energy continued to rebound in the second quarter of 2011, with 2,151 megawatts (MW) of electrical generating capacity installed in the first half of 2011 versus 1,250 MW during the same time in 2010, up 72 percent. However, analysts at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) cautioned that without stable policy such as… Read more »
It seems incredible, but the DOE’s Wind Program has now worked with industry and other partners for more than 30 years to advance both large and small wind energy technologies. PES takes a look at how the sector can grow yet further, to secure a larger market in the face of increased renewables competition. For… Read more »
The Department of Energy’s annual market report is hotly anticipated, filled as it is with all the sector’s essential data from the last 12 months. We’re pleased to be able to offer a critical overview of all the salient points from this recently-published whitepaper. The US wind power industry experienced a trying year in 2010,… Read more »
Offshore wind energy can help the nation reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, diversify its energy supply, provide cost-competitive electricity to key coastal regions, and stimulate revitalization of key sectors of the economy. However, if the nation is to realize these benefits, key challenges to the development and deployment of offshore wind technology must be overcome,… Read more »
The wind energy sector in Ontario will generate a significant amount of both electricity and economic activity over the course of 2011 through 2018. Specifically, during this timeframe, the sector is expected to: install over 5.6 GW of wind energy capacity, bringing Ontario’s total wind energy capacity to 7.1 GW by 2018; create 80,328 job… Read more »
With an economy struggling out of recession, and uncertainty over energy policy, securing investment in renewables has never been more important to the future of the industry. PES takes a look at current state of energy investment, and how wind is leading the race to secure funding for new projects. Renewable energies are expanding both… Read more »
With significant investment in wind energy, local communities and economies can enjoy a great deal of fringe benefits that stem from renewables – a secure, clean energy future is just the start. PES takes a look at the wider impacts of wind energy in Texas… Texas is a global leader in installed wind energy. If… Read more »
As alternatives to conventional vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) running off electricity stored in batteries could decrease oil consumption and reduce carbon emissions. And by using electricity derived from clean energy sources, even greater environmental benefits are obtainable. We take a look at the potential benefits arising from the widespread adoption of PHEVs in… Read more »
The new Siemens Wind Power Division headquartered in Hamburg will start operations on October 1. “Hamburg is a highly attractive location and at the same time one of the world’s most important wind power centers. For that reason we will in the future be running our fast-growing wind power business from this city,” said Michael… Read more »
The challenge for component manufacturers in the more established markets of the West will be to increase their focus on quality and reliability to drive their own costs down in the years ahead. On the basis of a wide-ranging industry survey of offshore wind turbine manufacturer OEMs, the new report finds that of the new… Read more »
SGS will attend the third annual Offshore Wind Construction, Installation and Commissioning Conference in London, UK. On the pre-conference day, October 4, SGS will hold two workshops on technical risks and Risk Management in offshore wind farm projects. — SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company, is attending the third annual Offshore… Read more »
Siemens has delivered high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology that allowed Red Eléctrica de España (REE) to link Mallorca with the Spanish mainland via an electricity highway laid in the Mediterranian. In the future a significant proportion of the vacation island’s power demand will thus be met using wind, solar and hydroelectric power which is produced on… Read more »
Siemens Energy has received an order for a solar field in Catalonia, Spain, from the Spanish EPC UTE Termosolar Borges (Abantia/Comsa Emte). Siemens will design, supply, integrate and construct the entire solar field, including the mirrors and solar receivers. The unique parabolic trough power plant, to be built in Les Borges Blanques near Barcelona, will… Read more »
SGS will be attending China Wind Power 2011 in Beijing, China. Throughout the event, SGS will showcase a wide portfolio of Renewable Energy services, including Wind Turbine Blade Testing, Manufacturing Inspection, In-Service Inspection, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at stand EB27. — SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company, is attending China Wind… Read more »
The international trade association GWEC extended its partnership with HUSUM WindEnergy for two more trade fairs up to 2014. The aim of this collaboration is to strengthen HUSUM WindEnergy in its position as the leading trade fair for the wind industry at international level. On 10 September 2011, the contract was signed with GWEC’s Chairman… Read more »
Critical Software Technologies (UK), Critical Software (PT) and Critical Materials (PT) are working with Floating Power Plant to help the company adopt a proactive approach to monitoring the condition and structural health of its Poseidon off-shore plant. Critical’s work on the Poseidon prototype, situated off the coast of Lolland in Denmark, will open up an… Read more »
As the first international certification body DNV has received accreditation in Korea to deliver type and project certification of wind turbines and wind farms. Due to the accreditation from the Dutch Accreditation Council, DNV now has official approval to handle all aspects of the certification work using its local wind experts. This provides a number… Read more »
DNV has developed HSE procedures for a mid-west utility’s wind operations. For wind farm operators such safety programs keep workers safe, comply with regulations and meet or exceed best practices for hazard management in the wind industry. DNV worked with the utility company to review existing procedures for its other power generation plants and applied… Read more »
The newly elected government of Finland has recently decided to promote offshore wind power. The wpd Group management team is meeting today with several Finnish ministers and state secretaries to discuss the Suurhiekka offshore wind farm which is currently in the pipeline and set to be realised in the coming years. Dr. Gernot Blanke, CEO… Read more »
A cursory glance at the cost of generating electricity from offshore wind vs. coal for example has many questioning the long term sustainability of this renewable energy. Ein flüchtiger Blick auf die Kosten der Stromerzeugung durch Offshore-Windanlagen verglichen mit der Kohle veranlasst viele dazu, die Nachhaltigkeit dieser erneuerbaren Energie in Zweifel zu ziehen. But that… Read more »
Wind power deployment in Brazil is set to exceed 5,000 MW by 2013, a five-fold increase from the current installed capacity, according to a study undertaken by the Global Wind Energy Council in cooperation with the Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEólica), with support from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). The Summary Report… Read more »
Wind power was the largest contributor of new power capacity contracted at Brazil’s two power auctions last week. Out of a total of 3.9 GW of contracted projects, 1,922 MW went to wind power developers in the A-3 and Reserve auctions. The overall prices achieved at the auctions were considerably lower than in previous processes… Read more »
Offshore wind is a burgeoning industry right at the tipping point of moving from a test bed of new construction strategies and technology to a fully-fledged part of many European countries power generation portfolio. Offshore wind is exciting; the scale of the wind farms and their turbines is huge. The amount of power that they… Read more »