A consortium including GE and Spanish energy services company Tamoin Energías Renovables signed the largest single GE wind turbine maintenance agreement in Europe with Iberdrola Renovables S.A. of Madrid. The contract with Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest wind energy companies, covers servicing 310 GE wind turbines installed in Spain. The agreement is set for…
Wind Industry Influencer 2012: Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.)
The wind industry applauded U.S. Representatives Dave Reichert and Earl Blumenauer when they introduced legislation to extend the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) last November. Both are members of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Although the act did not pass by end of 2011, such political supporters of wind are important voices for the industry in…
Wind Influencer 2012: Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) U.S. Representative
A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer has devoted his entire career to public service. As a student at Lewis and Clark College, he worked to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and…
Matching seal, shaft, and lube saves wind seals
An ideal combination of radial shaft seal, shaft surface, and lubricant can increase seal life three-fold and reduce friction at the sealing lip by up to 30%. Nacelles become oily places when wind seals don’t work well. To find better seals, our companies developed a way to work in close cooperation with users to…
Developing wind projects in complex terrain using wind software
The emergence of software and science can turn even complex terrain into productive wind farms. As potential sites with simple, flat terrain are developed, more wind projects are built in or near forests and complex terrain. These sites—associated with harsh flow conditions—are likely to affect wind-turbine performance. Complex terrain can, for example, induce large amounts of turbulence…
Developing a new generation of wind-turbine gearboxes
The next generation wind gearbox must show great improvements over the last and then be manufacturable around the globe. This article introduces one such design. The next generation of drivetrains will be large and operate in harsher environments (offshore) than those previous. They will have to be more reliable, easier to service, repair, monitor, and include effective…
Texas Wind holds statewide conferences in 2012
“Texas Wind 2012” will bring together wind energy leaders in the heart of one of the world’s leading wind energy marketplaces for seminars, expo, and powerful business networking. Texas Wind 2012 convenes in San Antonio on Tuesday-Wednesday, July 31-Aug. 1, and is sponsored by the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse, the Lone Star State’s nonprofit wind…
Calling all clean-tech execs
The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association announced today the creation of the Cleantech Fellows Institute (CFI), an intensive, 17-week executive training program to create near-term venture backable companies in cleantech. The fellows program is the first of its kind with a national focus. Selected executives from across the nation will join the program. Targeted executives are…
Turbine of the Month: A turbine with top power curve Acciona AW3000/116
Acciona Windpower’s AW3000/116 improves on its predecessor with several features, one of which is a larger rotor to suit less windy sites. The 3-MW model sports a 116-m rotor diameter and is certified for application at IEC Class IIA locations—those with medium wind speeds. But that doesn’t mean the turbine can’t perform well at…
Condition Monitoring: Prepping for an end-of-warranty inspection
Over the 20 to 25 year design life of a wind turbine, only the first two are usually covered under warranty. As the end of the warranty period approaches, it’s common practice to give the turbine a thorough inspection, identify problems, and have the OEM repair them. The maintenance on most complex equipment can be…
Simulation Software: Software finds a blade profile with 48% more lift
The aerodynamic shape of wind- turbine blades generates lift and torque, which is eventually turned into electrical power. Improving a blade’s shape so it captures just a percent or two more would be a significant improvement. One such redesign project shows how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) working in concert with optimizing software can reshape such…
Materials: A growing wind industry demands more durable coatings
With total installed capacity reaching 250 GW at the end of 2011, wind is the most prevalent source of renewable energy today. Furthermore, increasingly strict renewable portfolio standard programs–33% by 2020 in California, 20% in Europe, and 15% in China–provide significant impetus for the wind industry. However, the proliferation of effective wind installations heavily hinges…
PSI Repair: AWEA 2012 Preview
Many companies are getting ready for the Windpower 2012 AWEA show and PSI Repair Services, Inc. is one of them. The company will showcase its off-warranty repair support for wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) professionals. PSI Repair Services says it offers fast, affordable repairs, including upgraded/longer-life products, for out-of-warranty electronic, hydraulic and precision mechanical…
Danotek: AWEA 2012 Preview
Everyone’s getting ready for the 2012 AWEA show in Atlanta and Danotek is no different. In fact, the manufacturer of permanent magnet (PM) generators and full power converter systems will address two sessions during the show. On Tuesday, June 5th, as part of the Wind Turbine Supply Chain Opportunities and Challenges session, Danotek’s Director of…
Lighter materials hold key to efficient transportation
Transportation will choose emerging structural materials to save fuel, as energy use rises 53% from 2008 levels to 765 quadrillion BTUs in 2035, says Lux Research. While carbon fiber and nanomaterials tend to gain all the hype, other advanced structural materials such as magnesium and advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) will have a greater impact on…
Policy: FERC Order 1000 gives transmission planning an update
In July 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 1000 on transmission planning and cost allocations. The reforms in Order 1000 should lead to more transmission investment, especially in transmission projects intended to move renewable energy resources onto the grid. To understand the challenges ahead, first consider what FERC is trying to…
Let’s see how the wind industry did: AWEA Q1 report
The AWEA Q1 2012 report it out and looks like the Production Tax Credit has been effective at driving installations as expiration looms. First quarter installations jump 50 percent from 2011, but policy uncertainty by end of year threatens 37,000 jobs. Once again proving the success of the Production Tax Credit in tandem with continuing technology improvements…
Save money on replacement wind turbine motors
D C Connection Inc. says their remanufactured motors are a fraction of the price of a new motor and built to meet the same OEM specifications. You will get a motor at considerable savings but no compromise on quality and performance. All of our motors carry a full warranty. D C Connection Inc. For more information,…
India reports record $10.3B clean energy investments In 2011
Investment in India out-paces the rest of the world, thanks to the improving cost-competitiveness of wind and solar. Clean energy investments in India reached $10.3bn in 2011, some 52% higher than the $6.8bn invested in 2010. This was the highest growth figure of any significant economy in the world. There is plenty of room for…
Composites One now wholly-owned by Synergy 55 Corporation
Composites One LLC is now wholly-owned by Synergy 55 Corporation. The shares of Composites One, previously owned by Total Corporation through its affiliate CCP Composites, were acquired through an acquisition vehicle named GLS Composites Distribution Corporation which is owned by Synergy 55. Synergy 55, owned by the Dehmlow family, has more than 70 years of…