Month: May 2020

Data drives wind O&M in 2020

Spares in Motion (SIM) has a solution for wind energy O&M pitfalls. Reducing costs and obtaining spare parts as needed is increasingly important, especially as uptime demands skyrocket and maintenance contracts end. SIM explains to PES how their database is facilitating these goals for owners and operators today. We are a nearly half way through… Read more »

Sustainability meets prosperity

Ports display the economic growth engines in the economy of countries. Increased activity requires larger ports, capable of handling a larger volume of traffic representing buoyant import-export balances. However, the epitome of ports also presents the consumables of natural resources, represented by the goods moving over the quay side. It could be argued that ports… Read more »

Serving and supplying the clean energy sector

OEG’s Local Equipment Room modules installed on the London Array offshore substation topside structures. Credit London Array © courtesy of London Array OEG Offshore entered the wind power and renewables market in 2010, with a substantial contract award for the landmark London Array Offshore Wind Farm, in the Thames Estuary. A decade on, the company… Read more »

Advancing knowledge to optimise global wind farm performance

In response to the global market requirement for more efficient and targeted O&M strategies for operational wind farms, there is an increasing need for operators to focus on turbine performance and reliability. Having recognised this as a priority to support operational teams and to advise on strategies to optimise sites, our approach has been to… Read more »

How tech developers are modernizing the power grid to fight the climate crisis

Energy grids have undergone immense change in recent years with the introduction of smart devices, new hardware, and software solutions that enable communication and data exchange. While these shifts signal a positive trend toward widespread renewables adoption, utility companies struggle to analyze and improve the power grid’s efficiency. Even with more connected devices and new… Read more »

Dual axis testing of wind turbine blades

Abstract: full-scale mechanical testing of blades is an integral part of the certification of wind turbines. With ever-larger rotor diameters, the importance of testing and validation is growing with the aim of minimizing operational risks. Dual axis testing can lead to a more realistic loading scenario compared to traditional single axis testing. A recent demonstration… Read more »

Developing zero emission small ships

There is a green revolution in ship technology going on these days. We are currently witnessing a wave of zero emission propulsion ideas entering the market like battery powered car ferries for short routes, power shaving batteries onboard offshore hybrid service vessels and cruise liners that can enter protected fjords purely on batteries. Such efforts… Read more »

Optimizing logistics for wind components

The concept ‘vessel intake’ is at the forefront of windmill component design, and it will make possible more profitable logistics projects when different variables are considered under a collaborative approach. The wind industry is facing a never-ending pressure on costs. All industry players, including first and second-tier suppliers, are developing different initiatives around cost reduction…. Read more »

Flexibility on demand

PES once again had the pleasure of speaking with Hans Gatzemeier, CEO of ELA Container Offshore, Germany. This is a company where being successful means providing the highest quality goods and service and where the need of the client is paramount. This is the first of serval interviews we look forward to this year with… Read more »

When is lifetime extension worthwhile?

Assessments and analyses for lifetime extension of wind turbines There’s a sizeable wave rolling in towards the wind energy industry: this year, in Europe alone, more than ten percent of installed capacity will be reaching its 20th year of operation, and by 2025, the figure will be almost 30 percent. To keep them running or not,… Read more »

Vibro driving: the next chapter in offshore wind

In the search for alternative ways to make foundation installations quieter, faster and easier, the offshore vibro driving technology has developed in leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. The ever-increasing demand for reducing the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) and protecting the underwater wildlife, has triggered out of the box thinking for the… Read more »

Validating and improving performance

W2W market maturing at last It’s clear that the Walk to Work (W2W) concept is here to stay in both wind energy and the oil and gas industry. The major operators and turbine EPCs have all commissioned dedicated W2W vessels from various operators. The last 4 years has seen a number of new operators enter… Read more »

Repair, protect and improve

Barry Nisill, Vice President and Alexander Murillo, Technical Service Engineer, both at Belzona, made time to speak with PES about the part this well-established company, plays in repairs in the wind industry, both onshore and offshore. They welcome any regulations and use them as a minimum benchmark, which they exceed, in the manufacture of their… Read more »

Delivering wind to the world

BBC Chartering’s Mads Poulsen talked to PES about how the demand for wind energy is increasing and the growth in size of the blades being used to harness it. This is a company which is uniquely positioned, with both the fleet capacity and the vessel diversity, required to meet the challenge of bigger blades and… Read more »

Safety is vital in critical bolting

The wind industry presents specific challenges when dealing with tool operator injuries. Because of remote locations and hazardous working conditions, it can often take hours for help to arrive once an injury occurs. Safety needs to be considered in every aspect of the job. Hand Injuries: costly in many ways Hand injuries, in particular, can… Read more »

Retrofitting solutions to improve health & safety and maximize returns

In Europe today, it is standard to equip newly built wind turbines with service lifts. These allow technicians easy access to all levels of the tower. Many older turbines do not have this advantage and require operations and maintenance personnel to ladder climb instead. On such wind farms, there are countless soft tissue injuries due… Read more »

Q CELLS recognized as Top Performer by PVEL and DNV GL for fifth consecutive year

The Company’s Q PEAK DUO and Q.PLUS DUO module series were rated as a Top Performer in the 2020 PV Module Reliability Scorecard published by PVEL and DNV GL, marking the fifth consecutive year of Q CELLS’ Top Performer status. [Seoul, South Korea, May 29, 2020] Q CELLS, a renowned total energy solutions provider in… Read more »

LONGi awarded “Top Performer” in PVEL’s 2020 PV Module Reliability Scorecard

PVEL, in partnership with DNV GL, has released the sixth instalment of the PV Module Reliability Scorecard on May 27th, 2020. LONGi has been awarded “2020 Top Performer” status, marking the 4th consecutive year since 2017 that the company has achieved the stellar results. The PV Module Reliability Scorecard provides the industry with vital knowledge… Read more »

Fantastic lift-off in France: Siemens Gamesa confirms order for 496 MW Bay of Saint Brieuc offshore wind power plant

Siemens Gamesa has received the firm order from Ailes Marines, an affiliate of Iberdrola, to supply and build the 496 MW Bay of Saint Brieuc offshore wind power plant 62 SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines to be used; firm order also includes 10-year maintenance agreement Nacelles and blades will be manufactured in France at… Read more »

Photon Energy to Add 14 MWp to its PV portfolio in Australia

·         The Company has reached financial close for the construction of two PV power plants with a combined capacity of 14 MWp in Leeton, New South Wales ·         Photon Energy has developed the projects, will perform all engineering works and upon completion will operate the power plants as part of its proprietary IPP portfolio ·        … Read more »

Solar Data Systems, Inc. Announces Cooperation with iPLON India

May 27, 2020, Bethel, CT:  Solar Data Systems, Inc., an official provider of Solar-Log® hardware-agnostic energy monitoring and management, has teamed up with iPLON India. As part of this cooperation, Solar Data Systems can offer iPLON’s solar PV monitoring systems, controllers, and Total Life Cycle Management solutions in the U.S. for the large-scale/utility segments. iPLON… Read more »

Guidehouse Insights Report Shows Electric Vehicles Are Expected to Account for over 20% of Global Light Duty Vehicle Sales By 2030

Continuous improvements to vehicle technology economics, including battery innovations and transportation policies, are anticipated to propel future sales growth  May 28, 2020 – Boulder, Colo. – A new report from Guidehouse Insights examines light duty (LD) EV sales and populations, providing forecasts for three scenarios—conservative, base, and aggressive—through 2030. Recent growth in the LD EV… Read more »

Series production started: Käufer Befahrtechnik launches the world’s first rotor blade access system for onshore wind turbines with mechanically opening gangways

Hückeswagen, 28.05.2020.The world market leader Käufer Befahrtechnik has started series production of the world’s first rotor blade access system with mechanically openable gangways. The new, TÜV-certified K-BP-4 access platform is suitable for all service operations on all models of high-output onshore wind turbines with hub heights of up to 200 meters. The new access system… Read more »

MARLIN STAR project spearheads development of innovative floating renewable energy platform

A new project set to revolutionise local renewable energy generation, storage and use has been launched, led by Plymouth-based technology developer Frontier Technical Ltd. The £1.4million MARLIN STAR project, funded by the Energy Catalyst programme, will progress the development and commercialisation of an innovative modular, floating renewable energy platform that will enable coastal community access… Read more »

Lubrizol joins shipping’s zero emissions ambition

CLEVELAND, (May 28, 2020) ‒ The Lubrizol Corporation has become the first lubricant additive technology supplier to join the Getting to Zero Coalition. An international group currently endorsed by 14 governments and composed of more than 100 organizations, it aims to drive the development of commercially viable, zero-emissions deep-sea ships by 2030. This partnership between… Read more »

NextEnergy Capital signs long-term Power Purchase Agreements with Shell Energy North America

Agreements enable further development of solar assets in the U.S. London – 28th of May, 2020 – NextPower III, NextEnergy Capital’s (“NEC”) third institutional solar fund, is pleased to announce the signing of two Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contracts with Shell Energy North America (NA), L.P. (“Shell Energy”).  The sale includes c.62GWh p.a. (approximately 90%… Read more »

The ASM 306 S helium and hydrogen sniffer leak detector for easy and accurate full-time sniffing operations

Ultra-fast and accurate helium and hydrogen sniffer leak detector Designed for continuous use on production lines requiring high performance and rugged, reliable operation Features an ergonomic, high-flow sniffer probe Asslar, Germany, May 28, 2020. Pfeiffer Vacuum is one of the world’s leading providers of vacuum and leak testing solutions. To complete the leak detection product… Read more »

Ron Nierenberg, one of the wind industry’s foremost analytical meteorologists, joins ArcVera Renewables

ArcVera Renewables, a leading provider of consulting and technical services for wind, solar and storage projects, has employed Ron Nierenberg in its wind energy team.  Ron is an award-winning wind industry veteran and meteorological specialist with 40 years of experience. Ron has over four decades of experience with meteorological consulting in wind energy.  His expertise… Read more »

innogy places order with the Nordex Group for 27 MW project in Germany

Wind farm to be set up on recultivated land of a former open cast lignite mining site, Garzweiler Hamburg, 28 May 2020. innogy SE has commissioned the Nordex Group to equip the “Jüchen A44n” wind farm with six N149/4.0-4.5 turbines, all with hub heights of 164 metres. The “Jüchen A44n” wind farm will be built… Read more »

Eurotron moved ahead to accommodate production of large-format PV modules by upgrading their high-tech production tool

Bleskensgraaf, the Netherlands, April 28, 2020 – In order to offer their clients the ability to produce large format back-contact PV modules, Eurotron is currently incorporating an upgrade of their high-tech production tools. The demand for large-format solar panels is increasing as a result of a growing need for efficiency throughout the value chain. Eurotron,… Read more »

WinGD wins type approval for biggest and most powerful ever dual-fuel engines

WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel) has received type approval for the biggest and most powerful LNG-fuelled engines ever built. Class society Bureau Veritas awarded the approval for WinGD’s dual-fuelled 12X92DF engines, the first series of which is currently being built by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and will power nine ultra-large container ships (ULCS) owned… Read more »

Research Project to Increase Converter Reliability Launched

Mid-April saw the virtual kick-off of the »power4re« (Reliable converters for a renewable energy supply) research project. Under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, five Fraunhofer institutes are working together alongside industry representatives to develop solutions aimed at improving the reliability and robustness of inverters in photovoltaic systems and frequency… Read more »