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 »
Adequate solar system maintenance is an important factor determining the long-term success of any solar production facility. Improper or insufficient levels of maintenance can lead to increased levels of production loss. This underperformance or asset downtime is avoidable with increased levels of both predictive and preventative maintenance. The recent increase in demand for solar PV… Read more »
Without a doubt, solar energy is one of the key pillars that will decarbonize the global energy system and address the challenges of global warming, by reducing our reliance on coal or gas fired electricity. According to a study by REC Group, for solar energy to make a contribution towards limiting the global temperature increase… Read more »
According to International Energy Agency (IEA), solar, wind and other renewable energy sources are expected to continue growing, increasing installed capacity by 75% through 2027. This new growth shows there will be as much capacity added in the next five years as in the last 20, adding about 2,400 GW over the period. In the… Read more »
Sophisticated load distribution, extensive tests in the wind tunnel and certified quality make Premium Mounting Technologies’ mounting systems stand out from the crowd. With the further development of PMT EVO 2.1, the company from Stadtsteinach sets new standards for PV projects. About one third of the energy consumed in Germany is used by its buildings…. Read more »
Positive intentions to rebuild the European solar PV value chain are continuing to accelerate, notably in the past year, as energy dependencies and vulnerabilities have become a reality. If we could transform intentions into realities, solar PV supply chain vulnerabilities, logistical concerns, energy costs and manufacturing emissions could be dramatically reduced. To develop a viable,… Read more »
As it celebrates its 30th anniversary, Mounting Systems GmbH looks at the changing landscape of solar and how the latest innovations can make a positive impact on a clean environment, while also ensuring a good customer relationship. In today’s world, renewable energies are more in demand than ever. The photovoltaic industry has experienced an enormous… Read more »
Producing over 560 GWh of energy annually, the Baynouna solar park is helping Jordan achieve its objective of meeting 50% of its electricity needs from renewables by 2030. Creating enough energy to power 160,000 homes, this is a large-scale project that is also providing jobs and economic opportunities for the area. The Baynouna Solar Energy… Read more »
Being innovative is key to driving change and in the fast-paced world of solar, new technologies are fundamental to this. PES was keen to hear from Philipp Zahn and Marco Saladin, Managing Directors of M10 Solar, about the need for setting new benchmarks and how cutting edge technology can ensure maximum precision and efficiency. PES:… Read more »
LONGi has been at the forefront of the solar industry for decades, becoming the world’s most valuable solar company through a combination of envelope-pushing technology leadership and unrivaled manufacturing scale. But even by its lofty standards, its new Hi-MO 7 modules represent an impressive step forward for solar technology. CJ Fu, Head of Product and… Read more »