The views on offshore wind projects are as divided as can be, so the slightly polemic title of this article is probably appropriate. There are some who argue that offshore wind is the way to go, and to go now. And there are others who argue that offshore wind is too expensive and too risky… Read more »
Category: Wind
Planning for the future: developing wind farms under a coalition government
The UK has just entered into an historic period of coalition government, which promises to throw the nation’s hard-fought wind power policies into disarray. The coalition governments of Germany, Italy and Austria on the other hand, are forging ahead with inspired legislation, which may shine a light on Britain’s efforts. However, until these governments’ pioneering… Read more »
Poland An Overlooked Offshore Resource
The first offshore wind park globally was installed in Denmark in 1991. Since then the offshore wind energy market has been developing slowly. Currently, majority of the installations in Europe are located in Denmark and the UK, countries that possess rich wind resources. There is no doubt that offshore installations offer higher productivity when compared… Read more »
Wind energy world focus moves to small German town
For as long as there has been a global wind industry, Husum, a town on Germany’s North Sea coast between Hamburg and the Danish border, has been the venue for its leading trade fair. Yet Husum was showing the latest developments in wind turbine technology long before the industry went global… Technology, innovation, training, and… Read more »
Last Word
The size of both turbines and wind farms have increased exponentially in recent months thanks to a potent mix of technical improvements, legislation, subsidies and public awareness. Naturally, everyone’s got an opinion on the supersizing of the wind industry… “There is a wonderful race on. It’s very tight and the prize is domination of the… Read more »
Barriers to success
High costs of welcoming Hungary to the fold The time taken to connect wind farms to the grid, and the high costs of doing so, are the main barriers to wind energy development in Hungary, it has been revealed in Budapest at a workshop organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Hungarian… Read more »
Offshore Wind Energy Professionals Discuss Emerging Construction Strategies for Farshore, Deepwater Wind Farms in London
Despite a buoyant European offshore wind market, offshore construction & installation contractors that fall short of budget and technology challenges risk falling by the wayside. Utility scale developers at the forefront will be seeking out only companies capable of providing and meeting the necessary challenges imposed on the industry today. With a total of 2,396… Read more »
A pioneering spirit in a pioneering industry
As any manufacturer of wind turbine components will testify, the handling of their precious cargo is of critical importance. PES caught up with John Fricker, General Manager of RoRo/Special Projects, Europe, for Atlantic Container Line (ACL), to discover how his company smoothes the transportation process. PES: Welcome to PES. Firstly, can you tell us a… Read more »
Progress is good, but more needs to be done
One of the executives who took part in this issue’s roundtable interview was Kurt E. Thomsen, of Advanced Offshore Solutions Aps. Here, he goes into greater depth about a few of the more pressing issues facing the wind industry. PES: What are the obstacles to the development of wind energy?Kurt E. Thomsen: Personnel, equipment, knowledge… Read more »
Massive investment in R&D reaps rewards
Investment into Research and Development is important for many global operators within the wind energy sector, but for The Dow Chemical Company, it’s the cornerstone of its operations. Ram Ramachandran, Director of End Use Marketing for Dow Wire & Cable, discusses his company’s $1 billion annual R&D outlay, its commitment to collaboration, and his thoughts… Read more »
SGS to Present its Renewable Energy Services at the North American Offshore Wind Conference & Exhibition 2010
From October 5-7, 2010 SGS will be one of the exhibitors at the North American Offshore Wind Conference & Exhibition 2010. At stand no. 313, SGS experts will be demonstrating the wide range of services available for the wind energy industry, including Commissioning and In-Service Inspection, Technical Due Diligence and Risk Management. — SGS, the… Read more »
All Change at the Top as Tentec Sales Director Announces Retirement
After many years of loyal service for bolt tightening specialists Tentec, Sales Director Phil Lightwood has announced his well-earned retirement in February 2011. Throughout his 20 years at Tentec, he has seen the company rise to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of bolting solutions to a wide range of industries including… Read more »
SGS to Demonstrate its Professional Owner’s Representative Services at the DIREC 2010 in India
SGS presents its wide range of Wind Energy Services at the Delphi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC) 2010 with special focus on its Owner’s Representative Services. The DIREC 2010 will take place at the India Expo Center & Mart in New Delhi, India. — SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is… Read more »
NACEL Energy — New Arizona Shortlist Date Announced
NACEL Energy Corporation today confirmed it has received notification from Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) that bidders in the APS 2010 Small Generation Request for Proposals (RFP) process will be advised of a Shortlist decision on September 15, 2010. In response to the RFP issued by APS, NACEL Energy submitted a comprehensive bid, partnering with… Read more »
AMSC Receives Initial Wind Turbine Electrical Control Systems Order from India’s Inox Wind
Inox to Initiate Volume Production of 2 Megawatt Wind Turbines to Address Indian Wind Energy Market India’s Installed Base of Wind Power Expected to Double in Five Years American Superconductor Corporation, a global power technologies company, today announced that it has received an initial order for 17 wind turbine electrical control systems from Inox Wind… Read more »
ADDING MULTIMEDIA Farming the Wind near the Oregon Trail: Idaho’s Governor, GE and Its Partners Launch State’s Largest Wind Power Project
Transforming arid farmland into land yielding clean power and jobs, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter joined executives of GE and its partners today to celebrate the start of construction of the state’s largest wind power project, 8 miles from the Oregon Trail where American pioneers pushed westward across the continent. The governor — joined by project… Read more »
Danish Society of Wind Energy Conference 2010 opens in Denmark
The Danish Society of Wind Energy Conference 2010 opened Wednesday in the Vingsted Center in Brested, Denmark. This annual wind energy conference is organized by the Danish Society of Wind Energy. Connie Hedegaard, EU commissioner for climate action, Lykke Friis, Denmark’s climate and energy minister, Steve Sawyer, secretary general of the Global Wind Energy Council,… Read more »
Opportunities Opening Up for Service Providers in the Large-Scale Wind Turbines Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan
Wind turbine services have been experiencing considerable gains with the mushrooming of wind farms and the impending expiration of service contracts. As half of the installed base of the above 1.0 MW wind turbines in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region is less than five years old, they are likely to be under warranty/original… Read more »
SGS to Present its Wind Energy Services at the Eolica Expo Mediterranean 2010
On September 7-9, 2010, SGS will exhibit its Renewable Energy Services at the Eolica Expo Mediterranean 2010 at stand no.8 B32. During this leading international event for the wind energy sector in Rome, Daniel Hope, Global Business Development Manager Renewable Energy at SGS, will be holding a speech about the management of wind energy projects… Read more »
Windancer Small Wind Turbine in Taschen’s Top 10 Sustainable Energy Products Worldwide
Wind Simplicity’s WindancerTM small wind turbine was independently selected for Taschen’s new worldwide survey of sustainable products. High-efficiency, compact and noise-free, the Windancer was designed by Canadian company Wind SimplicityTM Inc. It’s the only wind turbine to feature in Taschen’s latest offering, Product Design in the Sustainable Era, published in July 2010. “It’s great that… Read more »
WindPower Innovations, Inc. Announces Permanent Magnet Generator Wind Turbine Solutions
WindPower Innovations, Inc., today announces Permanent Magnet Direct Drive wind turbine solutions as a key component in its overall mission to provide unique and efficient ways for the wind industry to economically transition into its eminent future. “Permanent Magnet Direct-Drive turbines are the future of wind energy generation,” says Ian Griffiths, Chief Technical Officer of… Read more »
OG&E Partners with RES Americas on Crossroads Wind Energy Project
Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) has partnered with Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas) on the Crossroads Wind Energy Project in Dewey County, Okla. RES Americas has developed and will construct the wind energy project, which OG&E will own and operate. The 227.5 MW project will consist of 95 Siemens 2.3 MW turbines and three… Read more »
OG&E Completes Crossroads Wind Farm Development Purchase
RES Americas to construct project; Siemens turbine supply deal in effect OG&E announced today that it has completed the purchase of all of the project development assets needed to begin construction of the Crossroads wind farm in northwestern Oklahoma, triggering a turbine-supply agreement with Siemens and enabling Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) to… Read more »
Wind energy potential tested off S.C. coast
Gauging the potential of new, renewable energy sources is often a problem when establishing them. Scientists from the Savannah River National Laboratory are working toward a solution for that problem. On a U.S. Coast Guard platform off the coast of Georgetown, SRNL, the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) and their partners have begun testing technology… Read more »
Offshore wind can provide electricity jobs
Offshore wind energy is coming to the Great Lakes. At stake are thousands of jobs, more stable electricity rates, and the potential to control our energy future. The only question is whether Michigan will lead in this growth industry or concede the opportunity to Ohio, New York, Ontario and others who are moving into the… Read more »
Constellation NewEnergy Signs Agreement to Supply Goodwill Industries Headquarters With Wind Energy
Constellation Energy announced today that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., has entered into a two-year green electricity purchase agreement with Goodwill Industries International. Constellation NewEnergy will supply Goodwill Industries International’s headquarter location in Rockville, Md. with renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind renewable resources to offset 100-percent of its energy use. The effort is… Read more »
Xcel Energy Releases Promising Results from Wind-to-Battery Project
Xcel Energy today released preliminary results from its wind-to-battery storage project in Minnesota, and the bottom line is — the technology works. Integrating variable wind and solar power production with the needs of the power grid is an ongoing issue for the utility industry. In October 2008, Xcel Energy began testing a one-megawatt battery-storage technology… Read more »
OG&E’s ‘Crossroads’ Wind Farm Gains Regulatory Approval
OG&E announced today that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has approved a settlement agreement reached by all the parties to the company’s application to build and operate a new wind farm in northwestern Oklahoma. Known as “Crossroads,” the wind farm is expected to come online in the second half of 2011. “This is a good outcome… Read more »
SGS to Showcase its Wind Energy Services at the Husum Wind Energy Trade Fair 2010 in Husum, Germany
SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is one of the exhibitors at the Husum Wind Energy 2010 Trade Fair in Husum, Germany. The services offered by SGS Global Competence Center Renewable Energy will be presented throughout the exhibition at stand no. 3A09 in sector A of hall 3. — The Husum… Read more »
Verbal Ink Offsets Annual Electricity Usage with Wind Energy Credits
VerbalInk.com, one of the leading providers of transcription services in the industry, announced today that it will offset its electricity usage annually from 2009 onward, starting with a recent purchase of wind-generated renewable energy credits (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy equaling 100 percent of the company’s 58 thousand kilowatt hours of electricity usage last year…. Read more »
RMT Selected by First Wind for Hawaii Wind Farm
RMT, Inc. has been selected by First Wind for engineering and construction of its Kahuku Wind energy facility located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Construction has commenced on the 30-MW project and is expected to be complete by the end of this year. “After RMT built our Milford, Utah, wind farm last year,… Read more »
Nebraska Celebrates Groundbreaking for Wind Farm
Laredo Ridge Project Commences Construction Near Petersburg State and local officials and community leaders attended a ceremonial groundbreaking held today for the Laredo Ridge Wind project near Petersburg. The project was developed by Midwest Wind Energy, LLC of Chicago and is owned and operated by Laredo Ridge Wind, LLC, an affiliate of Edison Mission Group… Read more »
Vestas Secures Three Wind Turbine Contracts, an Industrial Info News Alert
Vestas Wind Systems A/S : (CPH: VWS) (Randers, Denmark), the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines, has secured three European wind contracts with a combined generating capacity of 126 megawatts. The contracts will supply windfarms : on the Swedish island of Gotland, as well as windfarms in Italy and Germany. IIR’s Renewable Energy Database :… Read more »
Company ends Reno wind farm effort: Firm unable to secure enough land
With a decision by a Texas-based company to end its effort in signing up acreage for a potential wind farm in southeast Reno County, no other commercial wind projects are visible on the horizon for the county. Not that the effort by Horizon Wind Energy was really visible, or that the decision makes the county… Read more »
Husum Sees European Debut Of Tentecs New Range Of Innovative Hydraulic Torque Wrenches
Stand 1B03 at HUSUM Wind Energy 2010 will see the European debut of the new series of hydraulic and pneumatic torque wrenches from Tentec, a global supplier of bolt tightening equipment. On show for the first time to a European audience, this exciting and innovative new range of tool will be the highlight of the… Read more »
Final Phase of PGE’s Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Begins to Spin Power
Portland General Electric Company announced today the first turbines assembled for Phase 3 of its Biglow Canyon Wind Farm have begun generating electricity and supplying power to the Pacific Northwest’s electricity grid. Twenty-four turbines are currently generating power, with all 76 turbines in Phase 3 expected to be completed by the end of the third… Read more »