Collecting ocean data is an important part of operating an offshore wind farm, but doing so sustainably in order to protect the natural environment is also crucial. We asked James Ives, CEO of XOCEAN, what solutions his company can offer to allow data to be collected reliably and efficiently and in a carbon neutral way…. Read more »
The expectations of continued wind industry growth bring sustained challenges at many levels. One of these is finding the best way of expanding the workforce while maintaining safety and training standards, something that can be achieved with the correct training and support. Demand for wind turbine technicians is predicted to grow over the next five… Read more »
Lightning strikes are powerful and awe-inspiring displays of nature’s fury. However, they can also wreak havoc on man-made structures, including wind turbines. According to industry experts, around 1 to 3 percent of lightning strikes to wind turbine blades result in blade damage. However, this figure can vary significantly, depending on the location of the wind… Read more »
PES spoke with Brad Clause, an account executive specializing in offshore energy applications at VideoRay, the world’s leading manufacturer of underwater robotic systems. We wanted to learn how VideoRay systems can improve the efficiency of maintaining offshore wind monopiles and turbine jackets and foundations. PES: It’s lovely to welcome a new name to PES, and… Read more »
Around the globe, renewable generation capacity is exploding, as more countries seek to reach net zero in the decades ahead. With the world increasingly turning toward renewable sources, wind energy plays an increasingly prominent role in this transition. In the modern world of wind energy, the need for accurate and reliable wind measurement data has… Read more »
Global wind capacity is set to grow to a staggering 1,400 GW by 2026, and the need for a skilled and experienced workforce is urgent. So much so that the industry needs to look outside of internal sources to find candidates. But how does the industry recruit effectively and sustainably, while ensuring that the skill… Read more »
Hands-on predictive wind turbine inspections provide the most inclusive overview of the condition of a wind asset, highlighting issues and key degradation factors, providing asset owners with actionable insights. The increasing demand for renewable energy within the past few years has led to asset owners and operators placing an increased focus on reducing revenue losses… Read more »
The region was fast out of the blocks in its shift towards the use of renewable energy. Early targets were met, with more now in place, as the country strives to meet its current goal of 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and a carbon free power system by 2035. Ambitious, certainly. Although it won’t be… Read more »
As wind operators look to ensure their fleets are running as economically as possible, the use of data to improve asset management and predictive maintenance strategies is becoming increasingly vital. In the wind industry today, the benefits of Condition Monitoring Systems (CMS) are widely accepted to help achieve optimal wind turbine performance. More data from… Read more »
Cape Breton Island, situated on the east coast of North America, is a region well-positioned for new economic opportunities and transformational change. Home to Novaporte, a 2,000+ acre greenfield port development, and some of the windiest waters in the world, the Island is perfectly poised for generational transformation. Cape Breton Island, with its green hills,… Read more »
Across the globe, governments are betting on hydrogen, especially if it can be produced from wind and solar power as part of the net zero transition. While some developers are racing to announce GW-scale projects that will take decades to come online, others are considering smaller scale, near-term opportunities. In the UK, it is increasingly… Read more »
‘It is not about the sensor’ is a brave statement from a company launching a brand-new wave sensor. So, what’s the thinking behind this? Miros, known for its high-accuracy wave sensors, decided to introduce WaveFusion™, its most recent product, with these words. ‘Let’s not rely on yesterday’s technology for tomorrow’s innovations and energy solutions.’ That’s… Read more »
As we look ahead to a prolonged rise in global demand for renewable energy, it’s clear that offshore wind is primed for explosive growth. The opportunities are significant and abundant, but so are the questions, including how operators can efficiently and quickly scale up and maintain capacity. According to Kieren Paterson, Managing Director of UK-based… Read more »
The design, installation and commissioning of offshore wind farms are facing several challenges for the inter array grid. The continuously increasing power ratings of the individual wind turbines leads to increasing operating voltages (Um), from 36 kV to 72.5 kV for the inter array cables to reduce operating currents and therefore thermal losses. As these… Read more »
Since 1991 when Denmark became the first country to harness offshore wind to generate renewable energy, the offshore wind industry has been on a steep learning curve. The larger and more complex offshore wind farms require robust Operations and Maintenance (O&M) strategies, with efficient, capable, and reliable solutions. The O&M market has seen the introduction… Read more »
Norway’s burgeoning offshore wind ambitions may have been curtailed by the continuing dominance of oil and gas and delays in licensing, but local experience to support innovation remains crucial for tapping into the North Sea’s potential for renewable energy. Norway has long been a proponent of renewable and green energy, with hydropower playing a critical… Read more »
As new wind energy projects are rapidly constructed, onshore and offshore, the world’s installed wind generation capacity is only set to escalate. But with growth comes challenges. In this issue of PES, we take a look at how the innovators in our industry are coming together to make light work of them. How is lidar… Read more »
Floating wind can deliver affordable clean power given the right policy support, according to new research from DNV. Offshore wind has moved rapidly along the cost learning curve to become a more competitive investment option than fossil-fuel energy technologies in some locations. Front runner Europe has the largest and lowest cost installed offshore wind capacity…. Read more »
Clarksons PLC collaborates across all its business lines, ensuring everything is underpinned by research, enabled by technology, and implemented by an experienced team. Its global presence, depth of relationships and total service offering delivers extraordinary results. As a strategic partner, it helps clients make smarter decisions at every stage of the shipping life cycle. The… Read more »
In December 2022, the UK Minister for Energy and Climate, Graham Stuart, signed a landmark agreement on renewable energy cooperation with the EU and North Seas countries. The agreement with the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) set out a framework for greater cooperation with the UK’s North Seas neighbours, which will result in the development… Read more »
Global Offshore Wind 2023 (GOW) is the UK’s largest meeting place for everyone involved with the offshore wind industry. Returning to London on 14th and 15th June, this event offers an exceptional programme, world-class speakers and endless networking opportunities. It will be a place to get to grips with the latest project achievements, market trends,… Read more »
Across the sector, CTVs are an integral part of wind farm logistics and are essential for transporting personnel and cargo to and from offshore wind farms. Although the vessels themselves are relatively small in size, a shortage of crew transfer vessels (CTVs) would have a big impact on the growing offshore wind industry. Colebrook Offshore,… Read more »
Rain erosion damage to wind turbine blades is not only related to climatic change and the harsh environment where wind turbines are typically installed, it is also a result of the blades becoming longer. They are now generating tip speeds of over 300 km/h, which dramatically increases the impact from rain droplets. Over time, these… Read more »
Tim Eyles, Vice President of marine energy and infrastructure services company Acteon, explains how a risk-based holistic approach can reduce operation and maintenance costs, improve long-term margins and extend asset life. The opportunities and challenges for floating wind operators The global offshore floating wind market is set to expand, and with this, there will be… Read more »
The energy sector faces a dual challenge of meeting increasing energy demands while the climate crisis is forcing a transition to low-carbon-emitting energy sources. Nuclear power is one such option, but its drawbacks, including high building and maintenance costs, nuclear waste disposal, and safety concerns, have resulted in the sector’s slow growth in recent years…. Read more »
Imagine being a wind technician standing inside a 100m high wind turbine, where the only way up is via a vertical metal ladder. This was a very real challenge for anyone until the mid-2000s. And even though many wind turbines are now equipped with climbing aids, they still cannot eradicate things like physical fatigue, safety… Read more »
As solar energy becomes increasingly popular among homeowners, there is a growing demand for more efficient and cost-effective solutions for residential solar installations. One of the key components is the inverter, which converts the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that can be used in homes or exported to the grid…. Read more »
Tracking systems are something of a booming market in the world of solar technology. We were keen to get the viewpoint of Juan Manuel Gómez García, CEO of TrinaTracker BU EMEA, to find out why this is the case. What are the advantages of this technology and where might it lead us next? PES: Welcome… Read more »
Solar installation accounted for 20 GW, or 50% of all new electricity-generating assets added in the US in 20221. This is the largest annual share in the industry’s history and the fourth consecutive year that solar was the top technology with new electric capacity installations. As energy providers across the world move fast to expand… Read more »
The use of recycled tyre rubber crumb in engineered products has been gaining popularity in recent years, and is set to grow further. Initially limited to use in composite materials and in flooring and sports fields, the push for lower CO2 supply chains and a desire to reduce production of new plastics, has highlighted the… Read more »
The world continues to shift steadily towards renewable energy sources, with solar photovoltaics representing more than one-third of generation growth. And this source will continue to grow at high speed. No doubt too, that more and more PV plants will be installed in areas with special or extreme climate conditions. In harsh environments, PV installations… Read more »
We welcome two new faces from Solis Inverters in this issue of PES. Sean Collier is the company’s new Country Manager for the UK & Ireland, and Matt McCrimmond has joined as a Product Solutions Specialist, with rather a special brief. We were intrigued to find out more. PES: Welcome to you both. We have… Read more »
In 2023, the energy management manufacturer Solar-Log GmbH and Viessmann Climate Solutions SE, one of the world’s leading providers of sustainable climate and energy solutions, announced their strategic partnership in the field of monitoring photovoltaic systems. PES wanted to ask Holger Schroth, Chief Product Officer Solar-Log GmbH, and Dr. Markus Klausner, CTO Viessmann Climate Solutions… Read more »
One of the fastest-growing and most promising commercial segments for solar energy applications is food retail. The logic is inescapable, with supermarkets consuming more electricity than almost any other retail sector. They need power 24/7 to preserve food in refrigerator and freezer cold cases, which can amount to more than 75% of their energy costs,… Read more »
Ireland is moving ahead at some pace with its shift towards a greater use of renewable energy, particularly with the recent government announcement of zero VAT on solar. We thought it was a good time, therefore, to speak to SKE’s Akash Bais, Technical Sales Manager, Ireland, about how the distributor is finding things in this… Read more »
Despite advances in technology, Brad Perryman, Product Specialist Engineer at Seaward, argues that electrical inspection and testing of solar PV installations remains a critical requirement to ensure optimum safety and system performance. The installation of a PV system by property owners or third party investors is almost always undertaken after careful consideration of the costs… Read more »