The EU must put extra legislation in place in the lifetime of the current European Commission if it is to meet its commitment to cut domestic carbon emissions by 80-95% by 2050, warned the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Last week the European Commission released its ‘Roadmap to a low carbon society’ which outlined the… Read more »
20 Megawatt wind turbines are feasible, according to a new report from the EU-funded UpWind project, published today at the EWEA 2011 Annual Event in Brussels. The UpWind project explored the design limits of upscaling wind turbines to 20 Megawatt (MW) and found that they would have rotor diameters of around 200 metres, compared to… Read more »
The Climate Bonds Initiative announced the count down to the world’s first Climate Bond issuance – worth ¼ billion US dollars – with the release of the draft Compliance Standards today that will assure the environmental integrity of bonds issued to fund low carbon projects. The first version of the Standard will apply to wind… Read more »
The global wind market is expected to grow again in 2011, with more than 40 GW of new wind power capacity to be added in 2011, according to a five-year industry forecast published today by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). By 2015, the global installed wind power capacity will more than double to 450… Read more »
3E, global sustainable energy consultancy and software products company, will be launching the first multi-technology, multi-vendor, multi-user portfolio management software platform for wind and solar energy at the EWEA 2011 event next week in Brussels. The platform, called 3E SynaptiQ, enables asset managers and developers to increase the performance of their renewable energy portfolios with… Read more »
World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) insists on a global ban on new nuclear power, phase-out of current plants – and a decisive, immediate more to a 100% renewable world The Chairpersons of the WCRE express their shock and sorrow, and their full sympathy and solidarity with the people of Japan. The awesome power of… Read more »
As key players in the wind energy industry gather at EWEA 2011 in Brussels, more attention is given to predictable performance, energy production, and a lower cost of energy to support viability and profitability of wind. Customers demand higher flexibility, superior performance, and better risk management. In response to these needs, Vestas is proud to… Read more »
Mott MacDonald, the leading global management, engineering and development consultancy, will be presenting and exhibiting at the 2011 European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) conference, which takes place on 14 – 17 March at the Brussels Expo, Belgium. Christos Kolliastas and Grégory Dudziak, specialists in wind energy, will be joined by fellow Mott MacDonald wind professionals… Read more »
The wpd group in Bremen is currently preparing the implementation of the offshore wind farm project Butendiek, which will consist of 80 wind turbine generators and will be built 32 km to the west of Sylt in the German North Sea. The project company, Butendiek Offshore Windpark GmbH & Co. KG, has now commissioned KfW… Read more »
The European Commission recently launched its first call for proposals for the world’s largest programme of investment in low carbon and renewable energy demonstration projects. But what does all this mean for the future of wind? The so-called NER300 initiative will provide around €4.5bn in financial support for at least eight projects involving carbon capture… Read more »
Ever since the first windmills were developed by the Persians in the sixth century AD, man has been fascinated by the power of these simple but effective instruments which can do so much to utilise and harness efficiently the powerful natural elements surrounding us … Those comparatively primitive machines were designed to automate the essential… Read more »
When it comes to wind turbines and winning the public relations charm offensive, offshore is definitely the way to go. The very nature of siting wind turbines out at sea ensures there are fewer objections from protesters, environmental pressure on the brownfield sites of Europe is considerably eased and, most importantly, higher and more constant… Read more »
The wind business is in an enviable position throughout Europe. According to the most recent set of statistics released by the EWEA last year, more wind power capacity was installed in Europe during 2009, than any other renewable energy technology. About 39 per cent of installed renewable energy capacity was wind, followed by natural gas… Read more »
Pilot trials are due to begin in India in 2012 for an ambitious and innovative project which could harness the power of the winds at over 30,000ft. At that height they blow at over 200mph, so it’s a goal worth pursuing to add to the world’s growing renewable energy portfolio and help ease the pressure… Read more »
One of wind’s biggest challenges has always been obtaining ‘buy-in’ from the consumer. But this looks set to change with the launch of a major new initiative that will soon see a ‘WindMade’ logo emblazoned on dozens of household products. It worked for Fairtrade and organic food, but will it work for wind? At the… Read more »
PES is proud to present a pair of exclusive interviews with two leading lights from the industry. First, we speak to Dow Wire & Cable’s Ram Ramachandran, Global Director of End-Use Marketing, about the US-based company’s innovative marketing and publicity strategy; followed by an illuminating conversation with Ian Davidson, Exxon Mobil’s Global Industrial Marketing Manager…. Read more »
Words: D. Kühnel, T. Neumann; DEWI GmbH As one of the world’s leading consulting organisations in the field of wind energy, Germany-based DEWI offers a number of related measurement services, energy analyses and studies, together with technological, economical and political consultancy for the industry, wind farm developers, banks, governments and public administrations. Here, two of… Read more »
German-based BBB Umwelttechnik GmbH was founded by the three engineers who remain in control of its day-to-day operations and after whom the company is named. Providing one-stop logistical support solutions to the wind industry among others, the company has built an enviable reputation for stealth and reliability. PES spoke to founding director Joachim Binotsch about… Read more »
PES speaks to Meriaura’s Xavier De Meulder about the Finnish shipping company’s wind power credentials and aspirations, the state of the European market, and delivering on promises whatever the weather… PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Can you begin by giving us a brief overview of your company and outline how you serve the wind industry?… Read more »
SAL Heavy Lift Shipping boasts a fleet of 15 heavy lift vessels, providing customised and reliable sea transportation solutions for all types of project cargoes, including heavy machinery, equipment for the oil and gas industry, (offshore) wind energy, cranes and floating cargo. The German-based specialists have developed an enviable reputation, largely as a result of… Read more »
With a formula for success which includes combining years of practical experience with enviable scientific know-how in all areas of wind energy utilisation, Deutsche WindGuard Consulting GmbH has built an enviable reputation among the wind farms of Europe. The company, based near Hamburg in Germany, offers its customers engineering services of the highest standards in… Read more »
Words: Catriona Munro The scourge of bribery and corruption traverses industries and markets like no other. However, against an eclectic backdrop of intensifying international competition and heavy R&D investment, coupled with a patchwork of regulation, the renewables energy sector could be particularly exposed to such threats. PES examines a new law that could potentially have… Read more »
Victoria Kenrick of international sustainable recruitment specialist, Allen & York explores current trends within the wind energy sector; including an in-depth look at where the latest job roles exist within Europe, which job types are on the increase and the transferable skills that exist for professionals wanting to make their career move into the industry…. Read more »
With many European nations embarking on smart metering programmes, Duncan Sinclair of Redpoint Energy examines the ways in which advanced meters can be used to combat the highly variable output of intermittent energy sources such as wind. In January 2011 the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) announced that Europe is set to beat its target… Read more »
In January this year, the British Government announced a far-reaching review of Feed-in Tariffs, which, on the face of it, seemed like bad news for the renewables industry. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that, while large- scale PV operators are right to be up-in-arms, the review could bode well for wind… It… Read more »
Euler Hermes Rating GmbH (Allianz group) has again awarded a rating of A for the creditworthiness and sustainability of wpd AG in 2011. Thus, the company is being rated as strongly above average as compared to the overall economy. In the past, the wpd group was able to profit to a large extent as the… Read more »
Do you feel as if you are helping in some small way to make a difference to the world? It’s a question that few of us ever consider, but the very nature of our industry lends it validity. In this issue’s exclusive ‘My vision’ interview, we put this and a selection of other, more philosophical… Read more »
PES reveals the amazing story behind the iconic brand’s diversification from cars to turbines – and how it put them back on the road to success. In Europe in the 1980s, there was only one car to have: the Ford Sierra Cosworth. The family saloon car had been fitted with an engine from a British… Read more »
As the Managing Director of one of Europe’s top PR agencies for the energy industry, Alastair Turner is responsible for creating buzz, managing crises and building brands. He talks to PES about all the essential issues and offers some indispensable advice for wind executives everywhere. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Can you explain a little… Read more »
Talk of wind turbines and we tend to think of huge structures out in the country, conjuring up visions of a romantic idyll with a few delicately spinning blades on the horizon. The truth of the matter, however, is that of late these contemporary icons are as likely to be seen on the outskirts of… Read more »
Words: David Parkin A crucial consideration for the entire renewables sector, with particular relevance to wind, storage is a burning, and imminent issue. David Parkin, Head of Renewable Energy for Atkins, presents the issues from a British standpoint and discusses how they mesh into the wider European framework. The UK is at the forefront of… Read more »
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced a brave new plan to build offshore wind turbines, producing a total of 3,000 MW and requiring a massive investment of €10bn Euros. A call for bids for the construction of the turbines was to be launched later this year, the president said, adding that 600 turbines were to… Read more »
As the Managing Director of world-renowned ladder manufacturer Hailo, Winfried Czilwa has a knack for spotting commercial opportunities in a diverse range of business sectors. Here, he talks to PES about the company’s operations in the wind power arena. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Can you begin by giving us an overview of your company… Read more »
Maximizing the Capture and Use of Available Wind Tunnel Energy Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc, announced that the Company had filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office “A Petition to Make Special Under Accelerated Examination Program,” a patent application titled Efficient Energy Conversion Devices & Methods. The application covers specific aspects of deploying… Read more »
Discover the numerous improvements of the synthesis module: CLIMATOLOGY: – Possibility to launch synthesis weighting several thermal stabilities– Integration possible of mesoscale data – New formats for time series data including stability– POWER CURVES : – Use of the WTG format– Automatic computation of the density at the wind turbines– New functionality enabling power curves… Read more »
BBB Umwelttechnik GmbH (BBB), one of German’s leading wind energy service providers with sites in Gelsenkirchen and Weiden, is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Following its establishment in the spring of 1996 by Klaus Bergmann and brothers Gerhard and Joachim Binotsch, the wind experts have overseen a continuous expansion of the company. It now has 24… Read more »