Power & Energy Solutions

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

An ambitious wind farm in East Ayrshire has been approved by the Scottish Government – and will deliver a host of benefits to the community as well as generating clean, green electricity. Banks Renewables is delighted that its Lethans Wind Farm, east of New Cumnock, has been given the go-ahead, after plans were revised to maximise the supply of electricity. Approval means Lethans’ 22 turbines, at a maximum tip height of 220m, (the tallest turbines granted planning permission in Scotland to date), will have a maximum output of up to 105.6MW. The Hamilton-based renewables employer has worked closely with local independent renewable energy consultant and service provider Natural Power to deliver the project. Both green energy companies have previously worked together on a number of projects to contribute to Scotland’s net-zero pathway. Robin Winstanley, sustainability and external affairs manager at Banks Renewables, said: “This has taken many years of hard work, planning and close consultation with the local community and it is a major milestone to see it over the line. “As well as being a meaningful advance in Scotland’s green energy agenda, approval for Lethans will also deliver real, deep and long-lasting benefits to the local people, the environment and to the

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation will present a paper on its innovative radar mitigation solution, Frame™, at Global Offshore Wind, a virtual conference and exhibition. As part of the conference program, Dr Adam Nevin will present his paper, ‘Reduce Radar Cross Section Wind Farms: Solving Wind Turbine Radar Interference at Source’ on Friday 30th October, at 12.30pm in the Supply Chain Theatre. One of the ways that Trelleborg is contributing to solving offshore wind challenges for its customers, is with the development of Frame™. This is a unique radar mitigation material designed and developed to reduce the clutter wind turbines cause on radar operator screens. Terry Cooper, Managing Director at Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation in Retford, England, states: “Wind turbines can cause radar interference, showing up on radar operators’ screens as clutter, obscuring the display and resulting in lost aircraft tracking. Our Frame™ material has been developed to functionalize blade resins and fiberglass systems to enable integrated radar absorption. “In many instances, windfarm sites are refused planning permission close to electromagnetic wave based surrounding infrastructures, such as airports. As Frame™ creates a truly robust stealth wind farm, this issue is avoided, facilitating development in previously restricted areas.”   Global Offshore Wind is a virtual online conference and exhibition running across three days from the 28 – 30 October, enabling attendees to hear

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Solar

Kahl am Main, 15 October 2020 – SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES ) has been awarded a contract from AZUR SPACE, Germany, for a newly developed PECVD coating system (PECVD: plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition) for the processes involved in the manufacture of gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES employs ICP technology for PECVD coating technology. ICP – inductively coupled plasma – is a method that offers high electron density in conjunction with a high degree of plasma purity. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES has developed a new plasma source based on this technology. Using the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES ICP source, the coating system applies dielectric layers to the starting material for the GaAs solar cells. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rinck, CEO of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, commented: “We are delighted that after lengthy investigations AZUR SPACE has chosen our PECVD plasma source on the strength of its performance. The PECVD coating step is a crucial quality factor for GaAs solar cells.” GaAs solar cells are noted for their especially high efficiency in excess of 30% and are used in aerospace for power generation on satellites. AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH is the global market leader and a global player in the development and manufacture of multi-junction solar cells

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

Global leader in offshore wind signs muli-million pound deal with Scottish engineering innovator Hornsea Two offshore wind farm to become first in the world to design out boat landings and ladders from turbine foundations   Thursday 15 October 2020 Ørsted has signed a multi-million pound deal with Scottish engineering innovator Pict Offshore to deploy the ‘Get Up Safe’ (GUS) motion-compensated lifting system at the Hornsea Two offshore wind farm. The deal with Pict Offshore means that Hornsea Two, which will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm on completion in 2022, will be the first ever offshore wind farm to deploy the GUS system and entirely design out the boat landing structures and ladders on the turbine’s foundations. The addition of the revolutionary GUS system onto each of its 165 wind turbines means external ladders are no longer necessary, streamlining the foundation and reducing steelwork requirements – boosting both safety and the potential for construction and through-life cost reductions. With the GUS system in place, technicians will be lifted and lowered directly between crew transfer vessel and the platform. This removes the need for technicians to step between the bow of the vessel and the ladder; a potentially dangerous operation that requires skilled co-ordination to be

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation will exhibit its innovative cable protection system, NjordGuard, at Global Offshore Wind, a virtual conference and exhibition which takes place online from 28 to 30 October, 2020. Andy Smith, Product Group Manager for Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation, states: “With a track-record as subsea polymer engineering experts and over 30 years of experience, we take pride in our renowned engineering capabilities and approach to offshore wind cable protection systems for both floating and fixed foundations. “One of the ways that Trelleborg is supporting growth in the offshore wind industry, is through the development of new solutions in collaboration with operators and installers, solving the unique challenges faced by customers and providing protection for vital infrastructure.” Njordguard is easily assembled on a vessel to allow speedy installation, while it’s highly abrasion resistant API 17L certified Uraduct® material enables it to travel over the seabed without damage, extending cable life. Most importantly, it facilitates installation, reuse and removal without diver and ROV intervention, optimizing efficiency and maximizing safety. Global Offshore Wind is a virtual online conference and exhibition, enabling attendees to hear from a wide range of industry experts and thought leaders, network and connect with exhibitors and learn more about the

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

As the occurrence of natural disasters increases, grid hardening and resiliency technologies are critical to outage prevention and recovery Oct. 14, 2020 – Boulder, Colo. – A new report from Guidehouse Insights discusses key grid hardening and resiliency technologies for deployment on transmission and distribution (T&D) networks. The global electric grid is transforming from a unidimensional system of power producers and consumers into a multidimensional, cloud-enabled network. As such, it is more critical than ever for utilities and solutions providers to prioritize grid hardening and resiliency technologies. Click to tweet: According to a new report from @WeAreGHInsights, utilities must strategically invest in automation, control, visibility, and resiliency technologies. “The frequency and scale of natural disasters increases year over year, and outages are simultaneously becoming less tolerable and more expensive to utility customers,” says Michael Hartnack, senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “Increasing outages linked to natural disasters, wildfires, and other events is adding to the threat of deregulation and distributed energy resources integration into the traditional utility business model.” To improve outage prevention and recovery, Guidehouse Insights recommends that utilities, solutions providers, and regulators and stakeholders proactively think ahead and consider long-term demands of both customers and the physical grid network. Stakeholders should be

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy producer, selects ABB to ensure efficiency and reliability of hydropower operations in Northern Norway ABB has been awarded a contract to modernize automation, control, and power solutions at two of Statkraft’s hydropower plants in Norway. The upgrade at Straumsmo and Innset hydropower plants will leverage ABB’s distributed control platform ABB Ability System 800xA, which integrates process control, power management, electrical, and safety within a common reliable system. The deal also includes an option to extend the refurbishment to a third plant, Båtsvann hydropower plant. The 800xA system will enable complete control of the powerplant from high-voltage switchgear to low-voltage motor control, management of AC/DC systems and lighting and heating at each plant. Dag Smedbold, SVP region north Statkraft said: “Ensuring the efficiency, stability, reliability and robustness of our automation systems and electrical systems is critical as both plants operate unmanned.” Hydropower remains the mainstay of the Norwegian electricity system contributing to over 95 per cent of Norway’s total energy consumption. Per Erik Holsten, head of ABB Energy Industries in Northern Europe, commented: “With such a high dependency on hydro power to deliver electricity across Norway, these plants can truly be classed are critical infrastructure. Improving upon and sustaining each

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Solar

London, UK, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 14 October 2020 – Lisarb Energy, one of Brazil’s fastest growing solar developers, has appointed two new finance directors. Ricardo Moreira Gonçalves will look after Lisarb’s financial interests in Brazil, while Sue Taylor-Jago will operate from the firm’s UK offices in London and Devon. Ricardo has held senior accounting and tax appointments in the environmental and energy sectors, most recently at multinational Électricité de France (renewable energy). Ricardo has a deep understanding of the tax system in Brazil and experience of raising debt finance in the Brazilian markets; skills that will facilitate Lisarb’s growth strategy across the country. He holds an MBA in international accounting from the Universidade Candido Mendes. Sue has over thirty years’ experience managing company finances across a range of sectors in the UK. Most recently she worked as a member of the senior leadership group for a multimillion-pound turnover food services business where she managed a team responsible for all aspects of the company’s finances. “We’re delighted to welcome Sue and Ricardo to the Lisarb team,” said Jamie MacDonald-Murray, chairman, Lisarb Energy. “The success of our business depends on growing our strong financial position and these appointments will ensure we achieve that

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Press Releases, Renewable News, Wind

Proceeds used to fund portion of construction equity to build out 1.3 GW Andes Renovables wind and solar platform, one of the largest renewable energy platforms in Latin America Transaction takes place alongside first drawdown under the US$630m Huemul senior project financing announced in September A sixth bank, SMBC joins the senior banking consortium alongside IDB Invest, KfW IPEX-Bank, DNB, CaixaBank and MUFG, with Santander providing a VAT facility   14 October 2020, Dublin: Global wind and solar development company, Mainstream Renewable Power (“Mainstream” or “the Company”), has closed a US$280 million “mezzanine” construction finance facility with leading alternative lender AMP Capital Infrastructure Debt Fund IV (“IDF IV”). The AMP Capital facility complements the US$1.25 billion of senior project finance debt raised to date through two separate financings completed in October 2019 and August 2020. The US$280 million mezzanine financing is structured in three separate tranches with the “Condor” and “Huemul” tranches drawn at closing, the “Copihue” tranche is expected to be drawn once that platform reaches financial close in H1 2021. Andes Renovables is a c.US$1.8 billion, three phase wind and solar generation platform comprised of seven onshore wind and three solar PV generation assets. The 570 MW first phase, “Condor”, reached

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Misc, Press Releases, Renewable News

Hamburg based hanseatic shipbroker house Waterworks Offshore Services switches focus to shipfinance in the offshore renewable sector. Traditionally coming from Chartering and S&P in the offshore markets, Waterworks today becomes the first  green ship finance institution which provides the renewable shipping industry with innovative ways to aquire and manage ship finance solutions in a market thirsty for a new approach. Managing Director Sven Boedewig says: "We believe that the offshore renewable shipping market needs finance solutions that match the innovative and disruptive nature of energy transition into a green future. Hence we develop attractive solutions with our finance partners and private equity network enabling shipowners to request finance, manage existing contracts fast and easy and open a new sustainable investment opportunity to investors.“ Today, Waterworks Offshore Services GmbH will re-brand into Waterworks Offshore Concepts GmbH, pointing out the change of focus from pure a brokerage shop to an innovative finance boutique while still maintaining the well known name of Waterworks for it's excellent reputation in the european market. Partner Valentin Hartmann says: "The future of green shipfinance will hold some exciting new solutions which will give both owners and investors more flexibility and planing security." Along with the first brokered finance deals in the offshore

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