As one might imagine, the connection of inverters to a public grid system is subject to numerous compliance procedures and regulations. But how and why are these systems tested? Here, Peter Mock of Spitzenberger & Spies gives us the reasons and processes behind this crucial aspect of solar grid implementation. The “OK” for the connection… Read more »
A supplier and manufacturer of lithium battery storage systems, TESVOLT GmbH offers a flexible solution that stores the most of solar power. We took a closer look at the pioneering company and its innovative solutions… Reliable lithium battery systems (EES)Able to meet the needs of all users, from family homes to turnkey megawatt power plants,… Read more »
Jessica Laporte explores the impact of scaling back incentives in a country that has led from the front in recent years. Since 2010, Conservative discourse on renewable energy has firmly criticised the green add-on to utility bills as an unnecessary burden to the taxpayer. Tory ministers have highlighted the unanticipated success of the Feed-In Tariff… Read more »
We’re delighted to welcome back Vaisala to the magazine, a company that – primarily through its 3TIER Services offering – sets the global agenda for on-site measurements and solar resource modelling. We spoke to the one of the company’s most-respected experts, Gwendalyn Bender. PES: Welcome to PES. For the benefit of our new readers, perhaps… Read more »
The PV industry is perhaps more safety conscious than ever before, with an increasing focus on standards, quality of work and H&S. But what of the risks presented by fire? We take a look at the advances being made by Weiss Umwelttechnik GmbH. In the course of the energy transition, a fifth of the total… Read more »
As perhaps one of the world’s best known and biggest solar brands, Yingli Solar has set an agenda built on quality and changing the perception of the industry. We spoke to Angie Koh, Managing Director Yingli Green Energy Singapore Company Pte. Limited. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you care to introduce yourself to our readers… Read more »
Dr Rob Grant FRSC founded GR2L with the objective of commercialising chemical looping combustion technology into the gas purification market. Here, he gives us an insight into the untapped potential of argon recycling. In the production of silicon wafers to be fabricated into solar cells and micro-electronic devices high purity argon (better than 99.999%) is… Read more »
The solar market has been growing at breakneck speed and the predictions for the future are getting growing bolder by the day. However, today it is not just the project developers, hardware manufacturers, EPCs and banks and who are keeping busy supporting the solar industry’s growth… As the global installed base for solar is expected… Read more »
Solar energy is key to the UK’s energy future but solar farms also need to pass a “high quality” test demanded by investors, banks and funds. What are the key legal questions investors and funders need to consider when investing in UK solar? The rate of deployment of ground-mounted solar in the UK has been… Read more »
The UK is currently Europe’s largest solar market, with capacity at the end of March standing at just over 5.7GW. This has all been achieved against the backdrop of a changing and challenging regulatory environment. Alessandro Ceschiat of SunEdison Europe discusses how the industry can build on this remarkable achievement. During one day in June,… Read more »
This year’s European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2015) will be taking place in mid-September at the Congress Center (CCH) in Hamburg, Germany. PV experts will meet to discuss new concepts, trends and developments in science and industry, as photovoltaic solar energy becomes a major electricity source on the world stage. We… Read more »
…it’s happening at Solar Power International. SPI, ranked as the largest solar trade show in North America, will be held during September 2015 in California, USA. Offering 100+ educational offerings – including learning opportunities right on the show floor – to the hundreds of exhibitors in the expo hall, and showcasing new products and technology,… Read more »
Germany has embarked on a journey to fundamentally transform its energy supply system: the energy turnaround, or “Energiewende” as it is known. But the country that kick-started the PV movement around a decade ago has since been superseded by even more ambitious nations. So can Germany become a game-changer once more? Between 1990 and 2014,… Read more »
We head to DMG MORI’s global headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, to discover more about the company’s pioneering car charging system and its impact on energy efficiency. It is a widely discussed fact that electric vehicles only drive CO2 neutral when running on green power. Therefore an accessible charging infrastructure based on green energy is essential… Read more »
Because they can withstand extreme environmental conditions, silicones are ideal for solar panel and photovoltaic (PV) applications. And while solar cells themselves are made of silicon, silicones are used during module assembly and installation as encapsulants, coatings, potting agents, adhesives and sealants. We present an overview and an interview, courtesy of Dow Corning. Dow Corning’s… Read more »
It is estimated that by 2050, the world’s population will exceed nine billion. All these people will need access to sustainable sources of energy, materials, and food. To provide the amount of energy required, we will have little choice but to drastically increase the amount of renewable energy we generate. The Netherlands-based multinational Royal DSM… Read more »
A recent event showcased the outputs from a Franco- British collaboration designed to reduce the cost of maintaining offshore renewable energy assets: theMer-Innovate project. We take a look at the state of play. On 18 March almost 50 delegates arrived at a venue fittingly situated by the coast at Portsmouth Harbour. As they crossed the… Read more »
As turbine inspection becomes an ever-more worthwhile and sought-after skill, it’s perhaps unsurprising that a mini-industry has been set-up to train the inspectors of tomorrow. We take a look at some of the options on offer… Certainly, DWPA promotes customised training courses tailored to the wind turbine industry, and when it comes to wind turbine… Read more »
Welcome to a brave new world for European renewables investors, says Phil Hare, Director at Pöyry Management Consulting. If the predictions are to be trusted, exposure to market prices and imbalance risks may result in very different values for current and future asset portfolios… For many investors, renewables have been seen as an ‘invest and… Read more »
As the offshore industry matures, innovation is being increasingly employed in an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency. When it comes to building turbines, bigger isn’t necessarily better – sometimes the smarter design decisions pay the biggest dividends.The design of offshore wind turbines is one of the most fascinating challenges in renewable energy. Meeting… Read more »
America’s National Wind Technology Center has grown from a site for testing small turbines into the nation’s premier research facility for wind energy technologies, helping the wind industry grow with it. We take a look at its past – and its future. On the plains south of Boulder, Colorado, nestled against the foothills, is the… Read more »
Electric vehicles have the potential to revolutionise how electricity is consumed, says David Porter, POWER-GEN Europe Advisory Board Member and a Senior Advisor to the London energy team of Navigant. But, he argues, the engineering challenges should be seen alongside the social and economic considerations. Electric vehicles are an exciting prospect. With smart grids, they… Read more »
Earlier this year, RenewableUK revealed a number of fresh announcements that highlighted the full extent of the UK’s booming business environment for the offshore wind industry and its supply chain. We take a look at the current state of play in Europe’s wind energy powerhouse. Three massive boosts to the offshore industry in Britain were… Read more »
While it might not come as a surprise to learn that ROVOP provides ROV services to the wind industry, the breadth of its experience in this arena and its commitment to fostering future expertise is a welcome disclosure. We headed to Aberdeen to grab a few minutes with the company’s Commercial Director, Moray Melhuish. PES:… Read more »
Formed in 2006, Seajacks operate self-propelled jack-up vessels for the industry and pride themselves on staying one step ahead in a fast-changing industry. We caught up with the company’s CEO, Blair Ainslie, who gave us the inside track on a fast-expanding organisation that’s looking forward to taking delivery of a game-changing vessel later this year…. Read more »
An already fiercely-contested sector, H&S training is of critical importance for almost all organisations operating within the offshore industry. We found out more about Survivex, an Aberdeen-based company that has made massive inroads in a few short years, and the facilities it employs to deliver the best possible training. The offshore Oil & Gas industry… Read more »
We’re delighted to welcome Sietse Gerssen of Ulstein Equipment to the magazine for a wide-ranging conversation that takes in many aspects of the company’s services and approach to business – as well as a little matter of setting a world record for the fastest installation of 108 monopiles at the ‘West of Duddon Sands’ wind… Read more »
There are very few destinations worldwide that can boast a “home to more than 170 companies in the wind energy industry, representing the sector’s entire value creation chain.” And yet Germany’s Bremen and Bremerhaven can do just that, as Dieter Voss (Innovation Manager Wind Industry, for Bremeninvest), explains… PES: Welcome to PES. Can you tell… Read more »
Nick Green is head of energy in Scotland at real estate specialist, Savills. He specialises in advising landowners and developers involved with wind farms and other renewable energy infrastructure. Here, Nick gives us the lowdown on one of wind’s key battlegrounds. Fresh from a UK General Election which has seen businesses, land owners and property… Read more »
WTG Partners ApS has become one of the forerunners in this non-destructive, inspection-based service for the wind industry, and applies its skills to many of the sector’s leading stakeholders. But what’s involved, exactly? We asked thecompany’s Christian Holmgaard to talk us through the process. WTG Partners use both traditional UT and an advanced form of… Read more »
We’re joined once again by A2SEA A/S and namely by the company’s CEO, Jens Frederik Hansen. Fresh from the successful installation of a field of 6MW turbines, the organisation is looking to up its game this year with a contract to install 8MW turbines. Jens Frederik isn’t at all intimidated by the scale of the… Read more »
Often an overlooked and undervalued factor in the offshore sector, unexploded (UXO) ordnance can nevertheless have far reaching consequences including considerable delays to projects or even a threat to life. We approached Bas Coolen of ADEDE to discuss this vital issue – and to explore the benefits of combining UXO and Archaeological surveys. PES: Welcome… Read more »
From initial baseline ecological survey to impact assessment and the design and delivery of monitoring and mitigation schemes, Baker Consultants ensures ecological compliance for clients who are under increasing regulatory pressures. We took a look at the company’s recent work on the Borkum Riffgrund wind project. The project With a capacity of up to 277MW,… Read more »
The renewable energy industry as a whole is obsessed with lowering costs throughout the supply chain – and efforts are keener than ever in the offshore wind sector. Barge Master is leading the way in this regard, with an innovative selection of systems that reduce the wasted time spent waiting for improved weather conditions. We… Read more »
Alfredo Parres, head of ABB’s wind industry sector initiative, reports on China’s fast-evolving wind industry and how it is adopting new technologies to reduce losses and increase penetration of wind energy on the grid. As part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions and protect its environment and future economy, the Chinese government is pushing… Read more »
An integrated industry-led approach is the only way to help politicians find the Promised Land of maximising Europe’s renewable energy potential, argues Lloyd’s List’s Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year. As the dust is settling following the British General Election there has never been a more important time for politicians to demonstrate leadership in the… Read more »