Although the wind energy industry is booming, the sector presents several technical, environmental, and financial challenges that investors and developers need to understand thoroughly in order for their businesses to be successful. DNV offers combined expertise in appraising and evaluating such risks and opportunities, as Dr. Claus Fridtjof Christensen, DNV Global Wind Energy, explains. PES:… Read more »
The Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz fretted over his joints, and wind turbines have the same problem. They need to be assembled offshore and maintenance of the joints is critical where a 20+ year life expectancy under the buffeting of winter seas and gusting storms is normal. The assembly is subject to prying… Read more »
Nicolas Fichaux, of the European Wind Energy Association and the European Wind Energy Technology Platform (TPWind), talks about the challenges facing the renewables energy and his own personal achievements. PES: Welcome to PES magazine, can you firstly explain a little about your role within the wind industry?Nicolas Fichaux: I am Head of the Policy Analysis… Read more »
Just over 60 years ago, on March 26, 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was founded in the large conference hall of the Bavarian Ministry of the Economy. At the time, the idea was to develop new structures for research after the war’s destruction, and to spur reconstruction of the economy. Today, the globally-respected institute analyses current macro… Read more »
The certification of wind turbines or components is state-of-the-art and a must in most places around the world. Furthermore, certification to harmonised requirements is an active support of export. Therefore it is important for manufacturers, banks and insurances of wind turbines and components to know the different certification processes as well as guidelines. This exclusive… Read more »
As long ago as 1995, a German study reported that more than 80% of insurance claims for damage to wind turbines were paid as result of lightning strikes. A little thought will reveal that this is not particularly surprising. Wind turbines are tall structures and their blades have a small radius of curvature at their… Read more »
IntroductionThe current economic crisis sparked by the credit crunch of 2008 has had a significant impact on renewable energy markets. As a result of the global economic downturn, the lending market has contracted, making securing financing for renewable energy projects dramatically more difficult than in the past. Equity investors have in turn become fewer. Despite… Read more »
For offshore wind turbines, taking every possible step to reduce the risk of mechanical breakdown is mission-critical. With a raft of unique application challenges and constant concern around efficient use of funding for wind farm management, engineering reliable, productive up-time into the wind energy sector will be no easy task. And for off-shore turbines, with… Read more »
Dr Eddie O’Connor, CEO of Mainstream Renewable Power, recently gave a thought-provoking and wide-ranging speech to a meeting of the Institute of International and European Affairs. Here for PES, he reiterates some of the major concerns and prophecies of that speech. To begin with here, I take it as a given that we humans have… Read more »
Bob Dylan told us the answer to the world’s political problems was blowing in the wind, Donovan memorably failed to catch the wind and now a professor of Dynamics at England’s Nottingham University wants us to store the wind. Seamus Garvey of the Midlands-based university’s Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, believes the future… Read more »
Americas Wind Energy Corporation – Financial Analysis Review;Americas Wind Energy Corporation (Americas Wind) is an independent wind turbines manufacturer. The company is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of medium sized wind turbines mostly between 500 and 1,000 megawatts (MW). It employs the Lagerwey Direct Drive technology to increase the reliability and performance of its… Read more »
Western Wind Energy Corp. (“Western Wind” or the “Company”) announced today its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company is pleased to announce a 10% increase in electricity production to 58,859 MWh for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 53,579 MWh for the year ended December 31, 2008. However… Read more »
Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO) and RES Americas said on Wednesday they plan to build their second wind energy farm in Ontario, a C$275 million ($270 million) project on the north shore of Lake Superior, Enbridge, best known as Canada’s second-largest pipeline operator, and RES, which has renewable energy projects in the United States, Canada, Mexico and… Read more »
The national push for more wind turbine-generated electricity could turn Illinois into a transmission hub. “Illinois is the crossroads. Historically, whether it’s rails, shipping, travel, O’Hare airport, it’s a geographical midpoint, or hub, positioned for all things moving west to east,” said Thomas O’Neill, chief operating officer at Chicago-based Exelon Transmission Co., a unit of… Read more »
The government will receive another boost to its green manufacturing momentum this week when Siemens of Germany announces plans to create hundreds of jobs in Britain and invest more than £75m in a new wind turbine plant. The move comes despite claims made today by the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, that the UK tax system… Read more »
GE (GE 18.39, +0.09, +0.49%) today announced plans to invest approximately EUR340 million to develop or expand its wind turbine manufacturing, engineering and service facilities in four European countries–the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Germany–signaling GE’s deep commitment to the promising European offshore wind sector. “Offshore wind will play a vital role in meeting the… Read more »
7th Wind Power Asia set on promoting sustainable energy development in China Stronger political and trade support, preliminary conference program unveiled. The 7th Wind Power Asia will focus on technological and political solutions to promote renewable energy and synergize with the central government’s directive for a low carbon technology driven economy as announced at the… Read more »
Tomorrow, energy will top the agenda when EU Heads of State meet in Brussels to discuss a new European strategy for jobs and growth, and to follow-up on the failed Copenhagen conference on climate change. The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) urges the Council to adopt vitally important energy commitments in the proposed ‘2020 strategy’… Read more »
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) and Clean Edge, Inc. announced the results of the semi-annual evaluation of the NASDAQ OMX® Clean Edge® Global Wind Energy Index (Nasdaq:QWND), which will become effective with the market open today. The following two securities will be added to the Index: China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited (916 HK)… Read more »
China WindPower Group Ltd., Iberdrola SA and Duke Energy Corp. will lead development of an estimated $65 billion of wind-power plants this year that let utilities reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The estimate from Bloomberg New Energy Finance assumes a 9 percent increase in global installations of wind turbines this year, adding as much… Read more »
250 exhibitors from 14 countries, 17,000 visitors from 30 nations 30 (2009: 15,500 visitors), sold out congress events, numerous political delegations from Germany and abroad, and the extremely successful world summit on small wind turbines firmly established this year’s New Energy Husum as the leading international trade fair for the small wind industry, and also… Read more »
Wild Brush Energy (PINKSHEETS: WBRE) and Energoconsult Ltd. have established a cooperative agreement towards the future development of a commercial scale Wind Farm, up to 120Mw in size. Energoconsult’s signing is essential for the assessment of crucial wind measurement data, site planning and analysis forecasts vital for maximum wind farm productivity. Energoconsult Ltd. performs research,… Read more »
Peering down 148 metres from the top of the latest addition to London’s skyline, the traffic-clogged Elephant and Castle roundabout and its notorious neighbour, the Heygate estate, below feel an unlikely location for a world first. But next week, this new skyscraper, nicknamed “the Razor”, will take a crucial step towards becoming the world’s first… Read more »
Boralex Inc (BLX.TO: Quote) has secured financing of C$194.5 million ($191 million) for the construction and operation of its Thames River wind farm in southern Ontario, the Canadian renewable energy producer said on Monday. The funds will be used to finance the second phase of the 90-megawatt wind farm and to refinance Phase 1. The… Read more »
Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law Wednesday offshore drilling legislation intended to realize his goal of making Virginia the East Coast’s energy superpower. The bills supporting offshore oil and gas exploration and directing royalties from drilling back to Virginia each hinge on actions by the federal government and Congress. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected… Read more »
A recovery in the wind energy sector starting in the second half of the year will boost sales growth for Broadwind Energy Inc., a JPMorgan analyst said Tuesday. Shares rose rose 41 cents, or 8 percent, to $5.52 in afternoon trading after JPMorgan analyst Christopher Blansett started coverage on the company at “Overweight,” with a… Read more »
SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is one of the exhibitors at the European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition (EWEC) 2010 in Warsaw, Poland. The services offered by SGS Competence Center Wind Energy will be presented throughout the exhibition at stand no. 4058 in hall 4. The European Wind Energy Conference… Read more »
Power generation supplier NRG Energy Inc (NYSE: NRG) declared on Thursday that the company has entered into a binding letter of intent to purchase the South Trent wind farm near Sweetwater, Texas, for an undisclosed price. This 101 megawatt (MW) South Trent wind farm came online in January 2009 and consists of 44 Siemens 2.3… Read more »
Wind power provides a fifth of Denmark’s electricity, most of it generated by giant wind farms built on land and in the country’s coastal waters. But the tiny Danish island of Samso is proving bigger isn’t necessarily better by generating all its electricity using wind turbines of its own. Nineteen miles off the coast of… Read more »
A group of Democratic senators may seek to halt stimulus funding for wind-energy projects over concerns that the program is subsidizing jobs overseas. The dispute was prompted by a proposed wind farm in West Texas, whose investors planned to use Chinese-made turbines and seek a $450 million stimulus grant. The senators insist that stimulus funds… Read more »
The European Commission’s ‘Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ published today contains grid and market commitments that will boost the growth of wind energy in Europe, says the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Smart growth and sustainable growth are two of the three priorities put forward by the European Commission for the… Read more »
Senator Tom Carper and other lawmakers are trying to bring offshore wind energy to their states. The bill would give the industry longer production and investment tax credits all the way until 2020. The senators say offshore wind production can create hundreds of jobs. In Delaware, the company NRG Bluewater Wind says 1,200 temporary jobs… Read more »
New US wind power generation is likely to be lower in 2010 than the record level seen last year with growth in installed capacity resuming in the second half of the year, the head of wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy’s US operations said on Wednesday. “I am pretty bullish on late 2010 and certainly 2011… Read more »
In May 2008, SGS was assigned a contract to conduct Project Certification services for Borkum West II offshore wind farm. Project Certification provided by SGS enables wind farm owners to obtain necessary approvals and meet international and local standards. Offshore wind farms incur many risks and challenges due to a variety of external factors such… Read more »
America is in danger of falling behind Asia when it comes to wind energy production. And the chief of General Electric says that is jeopardizing this country’s energy future. Business Week reports that in remarks to the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Conference near Washington, DC, General Electric Co. chief Jeffrey Immelt said America must not give… Read more »
A Chicago-based energy company wants to erect 100 wind turbines in southern Brown County: 54 in Morrison, 22 in Holland, 20 in Wrightstown, and four in Glenmore. There’s concern the 400-foot turbine towers could interfere with the county’s plan to erect a series of 911 radio towers. While emotions run high between landowners and families… Read more »