Archives: Exclusive Articles

From strength to strength

A world leader in the supply of concrete connections and composite structures, Peikko Group brings expertise to the industry backed by 50 years’ experience – in addition to a huge sales and servicing operation. We’re pleased to welcome the corporation back to the magazine, with an interview courtesy of Kari Tuominen, Business Category Director PES:… Read more »

Managing the UXO threat for offshore wind

Two world wars and years of munitions dumping have 
left behind a unique and substantial risk legacy on the European seabed. For developers in Europe seeking to build offshore energy infrastructure projects, negotiating the obstacle of thousands of tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXO) has posed a considerable and often unanticipated challenge. High-profile contractor disputes and… Read more »

An expert eye on the weather

While the weather impacts upon countless people 
and businesses worldwide, it defines the wind industry. 
We spoke to Kenneth Horhammer, Director of Energy at Vaisala, global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, about how the company upholds its commitment to improving the profitability and viability of renewable energy. PES: Welcome to PES, would you please… Read more »

Everyone goes home safely

A well-established company that is highly visible in the offshore arena, Vroon Offshore Services B.V. offers what is quite possibly an unbeatable ‘Walk to Work’ solution – coupled with a well-regarded focus on safety. We’re delighted to welcome the company’s Managing Director, Niek Spiljard, to the magazine. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to… Read more »

A company built on values

For Jacob Lykke-Kjeldsen of World Marine Offshore A/S, fulfilling customer requirements in a safe and timely manner is prime motivation. The young company is driven by a clearly defined set of values and by sticking to these values, it’s forging ahead in a challenging market… PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to tell us… Read more »

Den Helder: at the double

As the unofficial capital of the North Sea, Den Helder is ideally situated in the middle of the wind farms off the German and English coasts and established offshore locations such as Aberdeen, Norwich, Hamburg, Emden and Wilhemshaven. We spoke to two of the port’s leading lights, Conny van den Hoff, Managing Director Den Helder… Read more »

Core Material Trends In A Blade

We take a look forward to the ‘core’ of wind blade manufacturing technology and how it can contribute to reduce the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE). In late 2013, PES published an article that discussed the ‘Core’ material in a blade. It examined the challenges for wind energy; composites as a technology; the rise (and… Read more »

Economics of wind: a case study

Providing affordable power for both domestic and business consumers has always been a key objective but has become even more important since the global financial crisis of 2008. We take a look at a Royal Academy of Engineering report that puts the UK’s wind commitment under the financial spotlight. The cost of wind energy is… Read more »

The employment and growth effects of sustainable energies in the European Union

The Commission Communication “Renewable Energy: a major player in the European energy market” clearly states the objectives for European energy policy: combating climate change, limiting the EU’s vulnerability to imported hydrocarbons, and promoting growth and jobs. But are we on target? We take a look at the EU’s final progress report. The Energy Roadmap 2050… Read more »

Future Wind Attracting Investment To Build Tomorrows Electricity Sector

The transition towards a lower-carbon electricity system initiated by OECD countries is proving to be a challenging exercise. The World Economic Forum has established the Future of Electricity platform to help countries, companies and societies learn and reflect as they undergo this transformation: a space for fact-based, yet informal dialogue on the transition to a… Read more »

Finding the right balance

As a market leader for the design of jack-ups, GustoMSC is well acquainted with the challenges that the wind industry faces. In this revealing piece, we take a closer look at these challenges and consider its revolutionary new offering, the NG-5500X series. When one asks an experienced offshore professional to list some of the key… Read more »

100 million kilos and counting

With an enviably-long history as EPCI provider of offshore high voltage substations, HSM Offshore B.V. has racked-up a seriously impressive track record in delivering heavyweight multidiscipline projects for the offshore industries. We take a look at the company’s history and apparently buoyant future… Last year, HSM Offshore was awarded the contract for the provision of… Read more »

Northwind: a challenging offshore installation

When the Luxembourg-based Jan De Nul Group was hired to install a 245kV export cable at the Northwind wind farm, it knew that the process involved was far from straightforward. Nevertheless, the respected engineering firm excelled in the task, as this case study illustrates… Project descriptionNorthwind NV has been established by shareholders Parkwind NV and… Read more »

Manpower where it matters most

An expert provider of technical and consulting services to the energy industry, KLS Energy is a company that is gaining an enviable reputation in the wind sector. We asked Jan Skovsted about the organisation’s notable projects, its reputation for excellence and its dedication to innovative solutions. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to give… Read more »

A track record built on safety

A familiar face both in the pages of PES and within the industry at large, A2SEA’s Jens Frederik Hansen joins us once again to discuss the company’s latest projects, how it dovetails with CT Offshore, and his commitment to maintaining excellent Health & Safety standards. PES: Welcome back to PES. Would you like to bring… Read more »

Easy offshore access

Ampelmann is the global leader in specialised gangway systems and has recently celebrated a significant achievement: one million safe transfers. We asked Eveline Huizink about the company’s explosive growth, maintaining an enviable record and its commitment to innovation. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce the company and explain a little about the… Read more »

Taking pride in the portfolio

Question: what was originally a Russian spy ship, then re-built as a casino vessel for East Europeans, before being adapted yet again? Answer: Comfort at Sea’s flagship hotel accommodation vessel for the offshore wind industry. We speak to the company’s Jacob Kjærgaard, Head of Sales & Development, Wind. PES: Welcome back to PES. For the… Read more »

Smart thinking drives smart growth

Mike argues the case for ‘intrapreneurship’ in the quest for a more successful wind industry that is fuelled by innovation. One of the great truths organisations in all industry sectors are starting to recognise is that on its own, there is effectively no such thing as a growth industry. Instead there are only companies organised… Read more »

In It For The Long Run

With oil prices going down and Power Purchase Agreements being influenced, it is now more important than ever to minimise downtime and secure the operation of wind farms in order to stay profitable and ensure continuity in operation. We are delighted to welcome back industry expert, Christian Holmgaard of WTG Partners, with his take on… Read more »

Winds World Record Holder Takes A Bow

Denmark has been long been a pioneer in wind power, having installed its first turbines in the mid-1970s when oil shocks sent the import-dependent nation on a quest for energy security. 37 years later, the country has set a new world record for wind production by getting 39.1 percent of its overall electricity from wind… Read more »

Game-changer: the Integrated Services Provider

What’s best? To outsource wind farm construction, O&M and decommissioning capabilities or to bring them in-house? And what might the model for client-supplier relationships look like for the next decade of wind energy? We examined the options, courtesy of 
one rapidly-expanding operator… If you haven’t already heard of CWind, the Colchester, UK-based offshore wind services… Read more »

Beauty in the extreme

Specialists in building high performance, fuel efficient, lightweight advanced composite vessels, Danish Yachts A/S are perhaps best known for crafting bespoke or production vessels for the superyacht sector. However, they’re also innovators in the wind arena, with Crew Transfer Vessels that deliver performance, efficiency and perhaps unbeatable stability. We caught up with the company’s CEO,… Read more »

Fanatical about O&M

We’ve welcomed DBB Jack-Up Services A/S to the magazine before and now is the perfect time to catch-up with them once again, given that they’ve just taken delivery 
of a wind-dedicated newbuild and have enjoyed a very fruitful 12-month period. We spoke to Ole Jacob Nielsen, Head of Sales & Marketing. PES: Welcome back to… Read more »

On the front line of innovation

A pioneering Finnish company whose commercial heartbeat combines the manufacture of mechanical power transmission equipment with incomparable after-sales service, Moventas is well-known for its ingenuity and reliability. We put the questions to Simon Schmidt, Senior Vice President of OEM Sales and Business Development. PES: Welcome back to the magazine. Would you mind explaining a little… Read more »

Offshore is on course

The offshore wind industry is transitioning from early development to demonstration of commercial viability. Worldwide, there are an increasing number of commercial-scale projects in operation, while in the US there are concrete plans afoot to follow the lead of Europe and elsewhere. We take a look at the Department of Energy’s very latest market assessment…. Read more »

Europe: a winning attitude to offshore policy support

The high cost of energy produced by offshore wind is the major contributing factor to the lack of cost competitiveness in certain world markets such as North America. Europe, however, has embraced a positive approach to subsidies, which has fostered an energetic market. We put the leading countries under the spotlight. The main driver of… Read more »

Offshore: where excellence meets execution

Having built over 20 years’ experience in the Oil & Gas industry, Seaway Heavy Lifting turned its extensive expertise to renewables – particularly wind energy. The offshore contractor has already gained a reputation for excellence and an impressive track record. We take a look at its project highlights. SylWin alpha Platform Transportation and installation of… Read more »

Making waves in wind

Operating out of one of the largest and busiest ports in the world, Stemat bv has been leading the way in maritime services for over a quarter of a century. We find out what makes the company tick, courtesy of Commercial and Operational Manager, Robbert Jan van Zuiden. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Would you… Read more »

New climate economy

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change was published in 2006 by Nicholas Stern, and swiftly became a game-changer for the wind industry. Will the economist’s latest report – published by The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate just a few days ago – have the same impact? We pick over the… Read more »

Optimising turbines for peak performance

IT report: using advanced control and communications to decrease downtime. “The world faces a once-off transition to sustainability,” says Dr Eddie O’Connor, CEO at Mainstream Renewable Power. “By reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels and shifting to low carbon sources of power generation, we can grow the economy and lower the price the consumer… Read more »

Creating innovative everyday solutions

A multi-billion dollar engineering conglomerate with an impressive and diverse portfolio of products, solutions and services, CG has had a massive impact on the wind industry. With manufacturing facilities in nine countries across Asia, Europe and North America, the company is a global pioneer that delivers results through innovation. We spoke to the company’s Chief… Read more »

Derisking The Entrepreneur

Words: Simon Middleton of Watershed Entrepreneurs Can wind fuel a new breed of successful businesses? And is adequate funding available to start-ups? Simon answers the questions (and more). Of the 1,640 plus members of the Forbes Billionaires list, 31 are under the age of 40. With all the media attention these young billionaires have received… Read more »

US market provides a breath of fresh air

Words: , Chief Executive Officer at Tekmar It is an exciting time to be working in the renewables industry. To be operating at the forefront of a rapidly developing sector is providing opportunities to shape and secure the energy supply for years to come, ensuring the lights remain on for us and generations to come.Developers… Read more »