The INVELOX promises to revolutionise wind power generation via a system that apparently produces 6 times the electrical power than traditional wind turbines. PES asks: will 2014 be the year when the wind industry begins saying farewell to blades? Daryoush Allaei thinks the wind power industry has it all wrong. Rather than turbines high in… Read more »
As president and CEO of The Switch, Jukka-Pekka Mäkinen heads-up one of the industry’s most pioneering companies. With a focus on drive train technology for renewable and industrial applications, the organisation is highly visible in the solar, marine and – of course – wind sectors. One of PES magazine’s original interviewees, he returns for an… Read more »
When we first reported on the pioneering TPWind platform in PES, it was little more than an EC pipedream. Since then, it’s grown into one of the most important funding programmes in Europe, and enjoys considerable influence throughout the sector. We take a look at the latest developments, courtesy of Henning Kruse and his talented… Read more »
The WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition always reflects the times, and these are busy days for the industry indeed. It’s appropriate, therefore, that topics such as operations, technology, and non-traditional wind energy purchasers will all figure prominently at WINDPOWER 2014, which takes place May 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. An educational program that leaves no stone… Read more »
The American wind energy industry responded to the extension of the Production Tax Credit in 2013 by starting construction on an historic and unprecedented number of new wind farms, backed by Power Purchase Agreements with electric utilities on a record scale by the close of the year. But it’s not just the utilities backing wind… Read more »
We all appreciate that wind is expected to make a substantial contribution to a more secure and sustainable energy system. However, electricity generation from the technology is constrained by the varying availability of the resource. One possible solution is Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) – the ultimate cost-effective combination of wind and solar power. PES looks… Read more »
As one of the oldest and largest logistics companies in the Netherlands, Royal Wagenborg has always been a pioneer. Over a century has passed since it was founded, and yet the company continues to be at the forefront of the industry. Max Tack gives us a ‘guided tour’ of the visionary organisation and its notable… Read more »
A precious resource, water is one of the EU’s most valuable commodities. And yet it is being used unremittingly throughout the continent, with up to 40% consumption in power production alone. The EWEA has examined the situation and offers a credible alternative – wind energy, which uses little to no water… Water is a precondition… Read more »
The results are in and they tell us what we knew all along: there is no evidence that wind turbines make humans sick. Surprised? Nor us. The only surprise is how much bad information there is out there about wind power and health… There is no reliable or consistent evidence that proximity to wind farms… Read more »
Some anti-wind campaigners claim that wind turbine performance more than halves after 15 years, whereas manufacturers assert that units can last almost twice as long (or more). So what’s the real story? PES went in search of some answers… The Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) has made the surprising assertion that the performance of wind farms… Read more »
Seatower, a Norway-based designer of foundations for offshore wind turbines, is set to become the first to demonstrate gravity-based foundations. We find out more about what could be a game-changing development… The world’s first self-floating gravity based hybrid foundation will be installed in the English Channel in the fourth quarter of 2014. The Seatower Cranefree… Read more »
Africa’s impressive economic growth in recent years, reflecting a growing population as well as rapid economic development and diversification, calls for massive investments to ensure sufficient future energy infrastructure and supply. The newly-identified ‘Clean Energy Corridor’ has been earmarked as a possible source of this supply – with significant prospects for wind energy. We take… Read more »
As a well-established company with an enviable reputation in the cargo transportation, BBC Chartering understands that you can’t progress by standing still. Organisations need to evolve, to shift with the shifting markets and work hard to identify new opportunities. We spoke to the company’s Jens Meilvang. PES: It’s great to see you back in the… Read more »
Moventas’ CMaS Condition Management System has been developed to monitor how the gearbox and other drivetrain components are performing, 24/7. Even more importantly, it anticipates possible upcoming failures, and responds by delivering timely updates and alerting maintenance crews. David Moss compares two contrasting approaches. Condition monitoring or condition management?I have a friend, let’s call him… Read more »
Olivier Texier takes a look at the main challenges behind wind power forecasting, how some grid operators and/or energy off-takers introduce power forecasting constraints for wind power plant, and what the implications might be for developers and financiers. With the increased penetration of intermittent renewable energy such as wind and solar into modern grids, there… Read more »
Are America’s key communities really ready to embrace wind to the extent that the industry would like? Perhaps not, claims the Center for Rural Affairs, citing a number of possible obstacles. But – and this is a big but – there are ways forward, and ways to address the major community and landowner concerns. We… Read more »
Exhibitors, conference participants and visitors are planning to flock to WINDFORCE 2014, the renowned trade fair meet in Bremen. We take a look at what’s on offer… WINDFORCE 2014, the key event of the offshore wind industry, is taking place in Bremen from 17 to 19 June. At the same time that national and international… Read more »
China has embarked on the greatest push for renewable energy the world has ever seen, and a key element involves more than doubling the number of wind turbines in the next six years. PES takes a look at the rise and rise of the world’s next wind superpower. Already the world’s largest producer of wind… Read more »
Part of the DBB Group of companies, DBB Jack-Up is making waves in the industry with its long-found experience combined with innovative and effective range of new vessels. How do they see their role evolving as the industry matures? We talked to Ole Jacob Nielsen, Head of Sales & Marketing. PES: Welcome to the magazine…. Read more »
When we last published our Power List in 2000, the wind energy landscape looked very different indeed. Since then, billions have been made and lost and investors have come and gone. We’ve tweaked our list this year to take into account not only the reported wealth of the individuals involved, but their influence on our… Read more »
The entire history of power generation, from Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiments 250 years ago, to deep sea drilling for oil and gas is a complex tale of imaginative inventiveness riding up against economic realities. As wind power takes hold across the world, developers are constantly looking for new ways to make the technology lighter, faster,… Read more »
Essential stress-management strategies for business survival In today’s business world, most wind sector executives expect to be available 24/7 and to work an 18 hour day on average, but Cognitive Neuroscientist and Business Improvement Strategist Dr Lynda Shaw believes that executives and top management are becoming increasingly isolated and are struggling to cope with the… Read more »
We’re proud to welcome Zdravko Angelov to the magazine for his first time. The far-sighted Managing Director of Netherlands-based VizionZ Engineering has made it his business to deliver improvements to the offshore industry through innovative engineering technology. We spoke to the highly-regarded industry figure about meeting client challenges, exceeding expectations and building solid business foundations…… Read more »
As we head deeper into 2014, it’s abundantly clear that the US’s energy mix is now all the stronger thanks to wind. We look at how far the country’s energy market has come in recent years and consider its effects on the environment and the economy. From the Pacific Coast to the Great Plains to… Read more »
An essential part of any wind power executive’s armoury, the IEA’s annual roadmap charts how far the for wind technology has come and, more importantly, where it’s headed. We present an exclusive extract. There is a pressing need to accelerate the development of advanced energy technologies in order to address the global challenges of clean… Read more »
Increased efforts in wind technology R&D are essential to realising growth within the industry, with a main focus on reducing the investment costs and increasing performance and reliability to reach a lower LCOE. We consider a strategy (and timeline) for guaranteed success… Wind energy technology is already proven and making progress. No single element of… Read more »
With the environmental conditions, as well as the environmental standards required for offshore development, knowledge and expertise are critical at every stage of the process. Marine environments make equipment coating a major component in the build process. PES talks to Frank Heijster, Partner at Atlas Paint Consultants B.V. about the service they bring to the… Read more »
With an estimate of nearly a quarter of a million birds killed by monopile turbines in the US alone every year, there’s no doubt that it’s an issue that needs to be taken seriously by the industry. But as turbines get taller, is it a growing issue? We present the very latest research from the… Read more »
Despite past success and ambitious targets, constructing onshore wind projects in Scotland is not without its difficulties. Rhys Bullman, Principal Ecologist at environmental firm SLR Consulting, looks at why ornithology is nearly always towards the top of the list of important issues to get right. The wind energy industry in Scotland has always been ambitious,… Read more »
A revolutionary concept that will harness the full capacity of grid connections by incorporating ground-mounted solar panels on the same site as wind turbines, ‘solar wind’ is set to be a success story for the coming year… Words: Paul Evans, Associate Director and renewable energy specialist, Wardell ArmstrongWith an estimated total capacity of onshore wind… Read more »
EWEA 2014 is the annual event of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). This year, the highlight of the industry calendar is heading to Barcelona, and is shaping up to be a must for all companies wanting to understand how they can play a leading part in the energy revolution. The last few years have… Read more »
New Department of Energy data shows that the states that use the most wind energy have seen the largest electricity rate declines, while consumers in the states that use the least wind energy have fared far worse. PES crunches the numbers… The 11 states that produce more than seven per cent of their electricity from… Read more »
With its abundant dams and rivers that carry more fresh water than any other country, Brazil – essentially runs on hydropower. But it turns out that the country can also count on a very strong breeze. Wind is emerging as a prize for energy planners here who see the howling gusts that arrive from the… Read more »
When it comes to connecting wind power offshore, inter-array cable installation is the way to go, asserts respected operator, CT Offshore A/S. We found out more about the company and its offshore operations… CT Offshore A/S is a longstanding subsea contractor providing safe and specialised engineering solutions to the offshore wind farm industry. As part… Read more »
Going through the certification process for a wind turbine, support structure or substation related to the wind farm ensures that your asset adheres to required industry standards and best practice, and hereby reduces the total risk during the lifecycle of the project. However, in a market with tight time schedules and scarce resources, it is… Read more »
The International Energy Agency’s annual outlook is one of the sector’s most hotly anticipated intelligence reports, and we’re proud to present an exclusive extract. Read, digest, react and start taking your operation to the next level – especially if you’re active in Brazil… Many of the long-held tenets of the energy sector are being rewritten…. Read more »