Archives: Exclusive Articles

From Hamburg to Husum

From 15 to 18 September, Messe Husum is expecting 600 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors. This makes HUSUM Wind, with its focus on the German-speaking market, this year’s biggest wind industry event anywhere in the world. The hotly-anticipated fair is noted for its high level of practical application. The range of exhibitors covers all areas, from… Read more »

Taking the strain

With the Conquest MB1 barge, and a working partnership that brings together an array of skills and a wealth of experience, Conquest Offshore are in a critical position 
to push offshore installation to new depths. PES speaks to Jippes Huibregtse… PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce the company and tell us a… Read more »

Serbia: A rising market

Total onshore wind installed capacity in Serbia will rise from 102.5 Megawatts (MW) in 2015 to an estimated 522 MW by 2025 says a recent report, and we at PES are inclined to agree – the country has displayed an appetite for wind in recent years that is set to continue. We take a look… Read more »

Working on water

While oil and gas production may not always go hand in hand with the wind industry, shipbuilders like Damen are finding synergy across energy sectors. Peter Robert, Business Development Manager Offshore Wind talks to PES about the company’s latest developments. PES: Welcome back to PES. For the benefit of new readers, would you care to… Read more »

Predicting the future

There is no doubting the desire to move towards a more sustainable energy future, but financial and political uncertainties are clouding the renewables vision. Predicting what lies ahead can enable the industry’s innovators to push this vision forward. Europe’s KIC InnoEnergy is bringing the tools to market to do just that. For 1,200 years, the… Read more »

Fighting fires

Fire is the second leading cause of accidents in wind turbines after blade failure, with the damage caused going far beyond purely financial. Now, the launch of a new fire protection standard will protect the rapidly growing energy industry from financial, economic and reputational risks. A new fire protection standard launched by DNV GL will… Read more »

Enter the wind drones

Drones are everywhere today. Just five years ago they used to be only for the military, and cost millions. And now they are for hobbyists and even children. Now the race is on to fill the gap in the middle: startups, corporates and analysts are battling to find the most promising commercial applications for drones…. Read more »

Diving into the details of 3D subsea cable route inspection

EIVA is a pioneering Denmark-based company that provides software, hardware and integrated solutions for virtually any offshore task in the survey, construction and services industry. We asked one of the organisation’s technical experts to provide us with an in-depth look at how it meets the challenges of subsea visualisation. To ensure safe and efficient operation… Read more »

Aiming high

So much wind power is produced in one European country today that it can cover the entire electricity demand. But it’s not just Denmark that sings to the tune of wind energy’s success, it’s the entire continent. Acting EWEA CEO Malgosia Bartosik looks at the remarkable rise of wind power. Right now, wind power plants… Read more »

The boom in offshore

With offshore installations growing in size, scope and depth, the industry needs every advantage that new developments in technology can offer. The High Wind consortium is focusing on just this need. PES speaks to Johan Heiler about their latest innovation… PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce the company and tell us a… Read more »

Between a rock and a hard place

How do you install two 80 metre masts on a hill of rocky terrain in Norway? You enlist the experts. Here, Dulas Site Manager Bob Sharples recounts his experiences of being part of the team that took part in this fascinating and eye-opening recent project. With a history spanning over thirty years and experience of… Read more »

Seven energy megatrends

An outlook on determining trends in energy and related politics, courtesy of BBC Chartering. In the course of history, energy has always been a driving force for change. Nearly no other industry can claim having a more far-reaching effect on other industry sectors or society at large. The world is continually challenged to find answers… Read more »

Capturing offshore wind development from Dublin to Dubai

Alan O’Neill has spent much of the last 34 years in the North Sea, attached to a harness, photographing and filming its developing industry for his collection of 1.5m offshore images. In this illustrated feature, we present a stunning selection of his work. Alan’s job, usually at height, often at night, on overhanging vessels, turbines… Read more »

Change for the better

With organisations in the wind sector keen to enhance their competitiveness, capital growth and expansion, we are seeing an increase in small and mid-size players taking advantage of opportunities to be acquired and move forward. But the potential pitfalls must be carefully navigated to ensure successful change. PES welcomes Paul Arnold of change management experts,… Read more »

Listening, learning, leading

Edwards, a leading technology solution provider, is well known in the solar industry for its advanced manufacturing process technology. We headed to the company’s headquarters in the United Kingdom for an illuminating conversation with Ralph Loske, Edwards’ European Sales Director. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like 
to introduce the company and explain 
a little… Read more »

Testing times

It’s true that the dropping cost of production, as well as technological advances are at the heart of growth in solar. But to continue this growth the industry must measure, as well as maintain standards. PES speaks to Stefan Roest of Eternal Sun BV about how they are putting solar to the test. PES: Welcome… Read more »

Wafer innovation: Fraunhofer CSP develops pioneering module solution

We examine the latest developments from this ground-breaking scientific and research institution as it devlivers solutions for efficient, cost-effective and reliable solar modules. ‘Emerging from the crisis stronger’ is a phenomenon that should also apply to the solar industry. And under this premise, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaic CSP (CSP) in Halle is carrying… Read more »

Remote control

In many remote areas or regions where the electricity supply is unstable or extremely expensive, grids powered by diesel generators are extremely common. With the PV Genset, Fronius is now offering a solution for applications that use diesel as the energy source. The key to the success of the solution is the Fronius PV system… Read more »

Building a reputation on quality and trust

An innovative and resourceful company that already excels in the automotive industry by supplying quality assured fasteners, Fukung Hardware is set on making gains in solar. We spoke to the organisation’s Candice Hwang to find out more. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce the company and explain a little about you serve… Read more »

Effective plant monitoring promotes efficient PV

The PV market is growing, with an expected 58.3 GW to be installed in 2015. However, the installed assets and investments require constant, solid and traceable PV plant data monitoring 
in order to determine actual performance and fulfil owner/investor expectations. Juergen Sutterlueti of Gantner Instruments Environment Solutions GmbH, takes us through the issues. Photovoltaic project… Read more »

A measure of success

Dirk Tegtmeyer is a regular contributor to PES, and his valued input acts as a bellweather for the health of Ingenieurbüro Mencke & Tegtmeyer GmbH and the PV industry at large. We caught up with the German executive once again for another exclusive interview. PES: Welcome back to the magazine. How has business been since… Read more »

Solar Irradiance Monitoring: an essential guide

Regular contributors to PES, Kipp & Zonen are world renowned experts when it comes to providing class-leading instruments for measuring solar radiation. But what is important when it comes to selecting solar irradiance measurements equipment in solar energy projects? And what are the optimal solutions and systems for PV, CPV and CSP projects? We asked… Read more »

Winner takes all

In 2015, three different companies (and counting) have announced record-breaking cell efficiencies. R&D departments are locked in a pitched battle to produce the ultimate solar cell in order to dominate the PV landscape. We take a look at the state of play – and what exactly is up for grabs. Our story begins on 24… Read more »

Introducing Photovoltaic Backwards

On a wider scale, Loser Chemie GmbH develops and distributes future-oriented and environment-friendly products, plants and processes that focus on a great many fields. One of the company’s particular niches, however, is the PV industry and it is currently pioneering the recycling of indium, gallium, tellurium, etc. from thin film photovoltaic waste. The company’s Dr…. Read more »

Offering So Much To Solar Whatever The Weather

PES presents an exclusive, in-depth look at the pioneering projects and products of G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH. Global cooperation with system partners requires a wide variety of different variants and interfaces. Lufft environmental sensors, whether stationary or mobile, can be integrated via many different protocols in new or existing applications. Through the low… Read more »

Material matters

As the PV market grows, it is inevitable that the industry will attract manufacturers who can bring valuable knowledge from other sectors. PES speaks to Dr. Thomas Kietzke of Merck Performance Materials to find out how they are helping to develop and improve solar power. PES: Welcome back to PES. For the benefit of new… Read more »

A world of opportunities

Having been established for over 30 years, meteocontrol GmbH will be a familiar company with services that will be similarly familiar for many within the industry. It is also a regular contributor to PES and we have been able to interview many of its executives over the years. This issue is no different, and we… Read more »

The Dawn Of Pvs New Era

As President of SOLARUNITED, Eric Ast is a busy man. And also being Global Business Development Manager Photovoltaics at Multi-Contact, makes him an even busier man. We managed to grab five minutes with the respected industry pioneer to ask him about the company and its current aspirations. PES: Welcome back to PES. How has business… Read more »

Stopping the rot

Recent advances in inverter technology and retrofit Balance of System components can ensure optimal PV performance in even the most challenging climatic environments. But just how much of a difference can this new tech make? Balance of System (BoS) technologies are developing rapidly to increase yields from PV plants which presents great opportunities for the… Read more »

Keeping The Industrys Environmental Promise

Free-riders in waste management and legal compliance may have become the new threat to sustainable PV business in Europe. PV CYCLE’s Head of Public Affairs talks us through the current situation and offers advice for a legally-sound – not to mention environmentally conscious – future. 2013 was a boom year, not for everyone, but certainly… Read more »

We put all our heart into this work

The temptation, for any R&D driven company, is to occasionally cut back on the expenses and focus on income-generating services. But to do so in today’s accelerating market would be a backwards step, argues Klaus M. Schulte, Managing Director of respected industry PV-Engineering GmbH. We’re delighted to welcome him back to the magazine. PES: Welcome… Read more »

Solar energy: expansion in high gear

Solar energy in 2015 is in an enviable position throughout much of the world. Companies in the business of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy employ more people than any other renewable energy market segment, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). While the industry as a whole is still growing, it is also seeing new… Read more »

Optimising megawatt-scale energy storage for large plants

Michael Lippert, Saft’s marketing manager for energy storage, describes how experience of managing megawatt-scale Li-ion energy storage systems (ESSs) in the field has led to the development of best practice in managing ESSs for large solar (and wind) plants. Photovoltaic (PV) solar and wind power plants are characterised by high variability and limited predictability caused… Read more »

Optimising energy performance with Big Data

A large number of geographically spread complex renewable projects, with demanding levels of performance, are a challenge to manage. Without a unique, flexible, high-performance and hardware agnostic energy management platform, it becomes almost impossible and is not likely to get any easier in the near future. In many parts of the world, governments will not… Read more »

PERC is hot. So think smart

It will not have escaped your attention that PERC is indeed setting the agenda right now. But to stay one step head, it’s worth ‘thinking smart, and choosing Spatial ALD’ argues SoLayTec’s Roger Görtzen in a typically passionate and well-considered piece. In recent years, the p-type standard Al-BSF cells have improved significantly, especially with new… Read more »

Up to code

Significant changes to the NEC 2014 will require system owners and developers to make new considerations in their PV design and deployment. PES speaks to Natalie Holtgrefe, Head of Marketing at Solectria about how their products are providing the solution for the new specification. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Would you like to introduce the… Read more »