Exclusive Articles
Weather forecasting all good in hindsight
The weather plays an important role in the operation and maintenance of wind farms, helping to determine output, scheduling maintenance and predicting potential downtime. Accurate forecasting is therefore essential for forward planning. But what about hindsight forecasting? Can looking back over the history of weather patterns help us make wise assumptions for the future too?… Read more »
Reducing energy risk for offshore wind investments
The high prices paid for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leases in the recent New York Bight Auction have drawn attention to the high stakes involved in developing offshore wind projects. The highest winning bid was more than a billion dollars for lease area OCS-A 0539 paid by Bight Wind Holdings, a partnership between… Read more »
The sound of integrity
Spotting the onset of damage to turbine blades quickly allows for fast decision-making in a wind farm’s maintenance planning efforts. Using sensor technology to remotely monitor turbines can help avoid severe damage and reduce the need for turbine shutdowns that pause energy production and revenue generation. Having heard about a new solution from MISTRAS Group,… Read more »
Austrian know-how ensures stability during heavy winds
Heavy plates for offshore wind towers have to withstand enormous forces, with manufacturers of wind tower steel foundations relying on the latest milling technology to maximise robustness, durability and performance. PES takes a look at the latest processes and solutions available. The use of wind power off the coasts in the form of offshore wind… Read more »
Safer lifting using quality products
With renewable energy a constantly advancing market, the need for more efficient wind farms and larger structures is also growing. The result is the next generation of wind turbine installations, weighing thousands of tonnes each. But how can these be transported from the production line to site safely while ensuring often very tight deadlines are… Read more »
Smart maintenance for a sustainable future
In a first for PES Wind, we spent time speaking to Gregor Levold, Sales Director Offshore, Ship and Port Cranes at Liebherr, to find out how the company is helping with the heavy lifting involved in the industry. Recognising the huge potential in the wind energy market, how is the brand hoping to make an… Read more »
Large-scale wind farm effects
Ever since the erection of the first wind farms began in the 1980s, the impact of wind turbines on the flow, or the wake effect, has been a major focus, not only in the field of wind energy research but also with regard to industrial applications. The wake is referred to as the area downstream… Read more »
Resident robotics for continuous data collection
As large, unmanned, remote structures that are open to the elements, wind farms both on and offshore are often subject to performance related issues that need to be addressed to remain cost effective and maximise efficiency. With the market growing faster than it is possible for personnel recruitment to keep pace with, overcoming these challenges… Read more »
Embracing the future of wind manufacturing
Throughout Europe, the requirement for larger capacity wind farms is growing dramatically. Total consumer energy demand has risen, and political commitment from governments is accelerating the transition toward renewable energy across the continent. To highlight some of these commitments across Europe, Germany has vowed to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total electricity consumption… Read more »
The circle of life
Ray Lewis, Market Segment Manager, Wind Energy at Diab, looks at the evolving product life cycles of core materials used in the manufacture of composite wind blades. How do market conditions and supply chain issues affect production decisions and what might the future look like as demand grows for zero carbon energy types? Following articles… Read more »
