With the ever-increasing performances and size of wind turbines, together with a call for a reduction in set-up times, the demands on the load handling device during assembly are increasing. For safe gripping and lifting, additional technical development is required, something that SpanSet Axzion GmbH, in cooperation with relevant testing institutes, is able to match…. Read more »
Archives: Exclusive Articles
Sealing the future of asset integrity in the renewable sector
As offshore wind farm developers continue to drive down the installed cost of their assets, there is great focus on maximising the efficiency of the installation process. Charlie Watt, Business Development Manager for EasyQote at Seal For Life Industries, gives PES his views on the role of maintenance in the future of the renewables sector. … Read more »
Riding the waves of progress
It’s no secret that wind turbines are growing in stature and wind farms are developing further and further offshore. So PES was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Katja Roose, Sales and Marketing Manager at Radac, to find out how it is serving the market, with multiple wave radar and beyond. PES: It’s very… Read more »
Monitoring makes good sense
Competition among wind farmers to make winning bids in tenders for new generation contracts, while maintaining a healthy return on investment is spurring innovation in operating technology. PhotonFirst looks at how integrated photonics sensing can help operators improve return on investment. Turbine operators are learning that advanced photonic sensing can provide more detailed, real-time wind… Read more »
Measuring lightning intensity
Due to their height and exposed location, wind turbines prove to be perfect lightning catchers. Damage due to lightning strike is often considered an ‘extraordinary event’, meaning that it drives additional costs during the operation and beyond standard service. With a solution from Phoenix Contact, tracking the incidence of high keraunic levels and monitoring adverse… Read more »
Scotland’s renewable future runs deep
Having previously featured Peel Ports and its initiatives, PES was delighted to hear from James McSporran, Port Director at Clydeport, about the Hunterston PARC Site in Scotland. Operational since the 1970s, how has the port evolved to support large-scale renewable projects as it does today? PES: It’s lovely to speak with you James. Firstly, can… Read more »
Big data on one platform
The use of technology, and advanced analytics is opening up new possibilities for the wind sector, leading to better and more informed decision making. PES discussed the benefits of multiple data streams and single platforms for analysing turbine health with Dr. Violetta Di Napoli, Regional Team Leader at ONYX Insight. PES: A warm welcome back… Read more »
Offshore wind: cable routing considerations and constraints for developers
The following article is based on a forthcoming White Paper on the subject of cable routing. The planned development of wind farms off the east coast of the United States brings into sharp focus some of the key considerations and constraints associated with their installation, and the maintenance of offshore and inter-array cables. Although I’m… Read more »
Guiding inspections and maintenance with condition monitoring
On a wind farm, knowing the moment that new damage on a blade occurs or when existing blade damage is showing signs of worsening and degradation, helps prioritize repair and maintenance activities, improve fleet reliability, and manage complex schedules to meet production demands. Condition monitoring (CM) is the process of monitoring a parameter in machinery,… Read more »
Developing international business in a maturing renewables industry
As demands of the sector change and grow, the challenges that face the offshore industry also mount and the requirement for higher volume capacity cable laying vessels is increasing. PES was fascinated to hear from MAATS Tech about how it has evolved and is now looking to meet these latest requirements. Since its inception in… Read more »
Machine driven thinking
As turbines grow, so too do the costs of machining to place and maintain them. Time then for us to catch up with Michael Steinkogler, Chief Operating Officer at Linsinger, to see if business is booming as the market for wind power skyrockets. PES: Welcome back to PES Michael. Things are developing at a very… Read more »
Taking the weight of a growing industry
In the wind power sector, importance is given to developing solutions to cater for individual requirements. This is one of LIFTKET’s core competencies, with quality products that are adaptable to the versatile requirements of the wind power sector. In the mid 1980s, a new branch of industry developed, initially starting in Europe; energy generation from… Read more »
Safety, service, sustainability and smartness
In a growing offshore wind market, there is a need to adapt to rapid change. As wind wheels and wind farms grow in size, increasing amounts of electricity will be produced, requiring even more powerful machines, as well as cranes. That’s not all though, as smart answers for complex work places and environments with diverse machines… Read more »
Tackling light pollution across borders: transponder-based ADLS goes international
Aircraft-detection lighting systems (ADLS) are among the most talked about innovations when it comes to increasing acceptance for wind energy. A transponder-based solution, which has already conquered the German market, is a promising tool across European borders as well as overseas. PES sat down with Henning von Barsewisch, CEO of Lanthan Safe Sky, to talk… Read more »
All afloat at greater depths
The offshore wind industry is projected to produce 228 GW by 2030, enough to power over 68 million homes. These projects will be at greater water depths and with larger wind turbine generators, so the demand for innovative solutions to deliver these projects has never been greater. Earlier this year, Heerema Marine Contractors introduced a… Read more »
Transforming standards
IEEE style pad-mounted transformers have been used in the Americas and other parts of the world for a long time. However, it can still be somewhat of an unknown transformer style in some markets. With the increased demand from the USA, mostly for pad-mounted transformers for onshore wind farm and solar applications, transformer manufacturers from… Read more »
Noise and tonality: crucial as onshore goes large
How can powertrain technologies help to unlock onshore areas and raise social acceptance of wind power? Originating in the field of combustion engines, Geislinger successfully entered the wind power market in 2016 with its COMPOWIND® coupling. The robust and durable low-speed shaft coupling (LSSC), made of advanced composites, absorbs virtually all bending moments, or parasitic… Read more »
Wind turbines: certification of grid characteristics
The certification of the grid characteristics of wind turbines has been mandatory for a long time, in order to maintain grid stability and voltage quality, as well as to obtain the grid connection permit. Ever faster product development cycles lead to time-intensive qualification and validation tests in the field. Voltage dip tests are particularly critical… Read more »
Offshore logistics handled in port
The supply of offshore wind farms is gaining more and more importance, especially in these times. From an initial niche and a lot of pioneering work, Emden and in particular Ems Ports Agency and Stevedoring, or epas, has established itself in the wind energy segment. A full-service partner for nearly 30 years, today it supplies… Read more »
Thinking outside the box
The demands of wind energy projects for efficient and safe turbine installation and maintenance have prompted new developments in tool portability and compactness. These, in turn, are enabling innovations in wind turbine deployment and installation, as well as reducing their impact on the marine environment. Wind energy turbines are deployed in places with access to… Read more »
Working on the next revolution
Last year, ematec AG, based in Memmingerberg in Bavaria, caused a sensation by developing the first rotor blade crossbeam with adaptive blade pick-up that can pick up rotor blades from all manufacturers, up to a blade weight of 50 tonnes. As the company celebrates its 25th anniversary, PES heard from CEO Manfred Eberhard and Head… Read more »
Growing with the wind of change
DHSS has 25 years’ experience delivering high-quality vessel agency services, port logistics, 3PL warehousing, customs services and helicopter logistics to the offshore energy sector. So how is it developing to suit a changing and demanding marketplace? Dutch company DHSS is experiencing a surge in business as the offshore wind industry grows steadily around the North… Read more »
Reducing costs with end-to-end offshore solutions
The growing DarkPulse family has created a list of world-class capabilities, cementing its position as the leader in infrastructure sensing and monitoring in all domains: air, land, and sea. By leveraging the expertise and experience of the DarkPulse family of companies, it combines the skills and insight of a global network of experts to… Read more »
Destination Hamburg
From 27 to 30 September 2022 the industry will meet in Hamburg again. After a purely digital edition in 2020, WindEnergy Hamburg, the world’s leading wind industry event, is returning to the exhibition halls this year. Highlights include a comprehensive, free-of-charge conference programme and the new H2EXPO & CONFERENCE, which takes place in parallel. Under… Read more »
Under the surface
Scott Gardiner and Stefan Bill represent REWITEC, a company whose technology aims to promote the longevity and efficiency of systems, machinery and gearboxes. Founded in Germany in 2003, REWITEC was acquired by Croda in 2019, forming part of their Performance Technologies sector. This was then itself acquired by Cargill in July 2022. PES took the… Read more »
Let’s talk hydraulic torque
The wind industry has a huge number of bolted joint connections and, for the most part, they are critical to both performance of the turbine and safety of those working on or around it. More recent offshore designed turbines have as many as 10,000 bolted connections. With wind turbines being designed larger, bigger bolts and… Read more »
Guiding the light
Damage from lightning can prove costly, lead to downtime and even put turbines out of action altogether. But when mother nature calls, could a solution be as simple as putting a coat on? PES discusses the issue with Neal Fine PhD, Founder and CEO of Arctura. PES: A very warm welcome to PES. I’m fascinated… Read more »
Shifting winds: the future of full service offshore access
As the global wind sector continues to grow, so does the demand for efficient and flexible offshore access solutions. Fifteen years ago, Ampelmann was founded on a unique premise: to provide offshore access as easy as crossing the street. Its high-tech motion compensated systems have helped to define new industry standards for safety and efficiency… Read more »
Back to black for efficiency and aesthetics
As the market for domestic solar panels grows, so does demand for new innovations that not only increase energy efficiency, but that look the part too. PES spoke to Francis Rome, Chairman of the Board at Belinus, to find out how it is helping to meet this demand. PES: Welcome to PES Francis. Perhaps we… Read more »
Upskilling for a brighter future
Closing the skills gap is just one of the challenges of a fast-developing industry. PES was keen to broaden its own learning on the subject, with Michael Middlemast, CEO of MBC Renewables Ltd. How can personal development help retain staff and grow the sector? PES: It’s lovely to speak with you Michael. Perhaps it would… Read more »
Speeding up the clean energy transition through innovation
The need to create speedy solutions for clean energy installations has never been more urgent. One man in Southern Utah has invented a machine to help solve this problem. This is the story behind the innovation and how it is making a difference in the journey towards cleaner energy production. Torrance Bistline, having installed countless… Read more »
A holistic strategy: the unknown value of solar trackers
Nowadays, tracker companies do not limit their activities to the development of state-of-the-art designs, manufacturing and delivering the trackers to the plant. As TrinaTracker’s main aim is to achieve the lowest possible energy price for every PV project, innovation and development are ‘essential’ areas. As a result, Trina works continuously to define intelligent solutions and… Read more »
Making the wheels of sustainability turn
Sarah Skinner, Managing Director and Co-founder of TCT-Europe Ltd, talks to PES once again, as we find out how the market for sustainable materials is developing in the solar sector and how recycled tyre rubber is being utilised. PES: It’s a pleasure to catch up with you and I’m looking forward to hearing more about… Read more »
Powering the new era of solar autarky
Solar and battery systems are changing the energy landscape, but many hybrid inverters lack the power and intelligence to deliver true grid independence. Studer Innotec has responded with the ‘next3’, an all-in-one solution for the new era of solar self-sufficiency. With carbon emissions and energy costs on the rise, electricity users of all kinds are… Read more »
Improving performance and long-term profitability of PV power plants
The real degree of success for any PV power plant depends on interconnected systems and services that secure and optimize lifetime performance. PV systems are built to last for more than 25 years. Looking for quality components and services that secure long-term profitability will pay off. Today, photovoltaic installations are extremely cost-driven. In a tough… Read more »
Achieving energy independence during challenging times
It’s no secret that supply chain issues have affected the sector since the pandemic first began, intensified further by the war in Ukraine. Timely then, for PES to speak once again with Ignacio Juan Revilla Fernandez, Head of Tracker Operations at Soltec, about how the company is overcoming current challenges. PES: A warm welcome back… Read more »