Forensic investigation undertaken by Ricardo MultiLife, on behalf of wind energy clients, has identified an important similarity in bearing failure mechanisms commonly arising in wind turbine drivetrains. Wear on the inner race of bearings in the inaccessible planetary stages of the gearbox tends to be concentrated over a small arc of some 40°, and can…
HELUKABEL introduces new cable technologies for the wind industry
HELUKABEL, a global cable manufacturer, will introduce their latest cabling technologies for wind energy at the industry’s leading annual conference and exhibition, WINDPOWER 2015. One of the largest wind energy events in North America, WINDPOWER 2015 takes place in Orlando, Florida, May 18-21, and will gather thousands of industry professionals to promote unity within the…
STAUFF offers filter elements for the interchange market
In addition to its own comprehensive line of hydraulic filters, STAUFF also offers a complete range of replacement elements for most makes and models of filters worldwide. More than 10,000 different STAUFF elements are available online for the interchange market. Users can also get STAUFF quality and reliability even if they do not have STAUFF filters. While designed…
Deepwater Wind “breaks ground” on America’s first offshore wind farm
This week, in a watershed moment for American clean energy development, Deepwater Wind “broke ground” on America’s first offshore wind project at Block Island, Rhode Island. This 30-megawatt (MW) wind farm will produce enough electricity to power all the homes and businesses on the island, replacing the diesel generators that the islanders previously relied on,…
How will utilities be affected when the Clean Power Plan is implemented
Utilities, much like the states they operate in, have a variety of opinions about Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, often based on their generation portfolio and historical experience with clean energy initiatives. Not surprisingly, many utilities’ opinions often mirror those of the states where they operate and reflect how their businesses might be…
Wind Logistics assets acquired by BNSF Logistics
BNSF Logistics, LLC, a global multi-modal transportation and logistics service provider, announced the acquisition of the wind energy related assets and contracts of Vectora Transportation, a Chicago based third-party logistics provider specializing in bulk commodities and dimensional cargo transport solutions. “Vectora’s tower fixture technology and market position in the wind energy arena are the perfect complement to BNSF Logistics’…
California Tribe installs first renewable hybrid microgrid
The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is installing the first California Tribal renewable microgrid system this summer in Loleta, California. The Bear River Band’s new energy system is the only system of its kind combining wind energy, solar energy, and advanced energy storage. “Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria has a long-term investment in…
New pressure intensifier for wind power applications
Scanwill Fluid Power has launched a new series of MP-2000 XP pressure solutions that are designed with an additional side outlet port, so that the oil from the high-pressure side is returned directly to tank. This ensures the intensifier and the cylinder are always supplied with cool and filtrated oil. The MP-2000 XP series is…
Geronimo Energy announces sale of Black Oak Getty Wind Farm
Geronimo Energy has announced the sale of the Black Oak Getty wind project to Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, a leading developer of clean energy solutions in markets throughout the U.S. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power expects construction of Black Oak Getty to peak in 2016, with commercial operation anticipated by the end of 2016.…
Siemens hands over world’s largest offshore grid connection to TenneT
Siemens has handed over SylWin1, the third North Sea grid connection this year, to its customer TenneT. The German-Dutch transmission grid operator has now put the world’s most powerful grid connection to date into commercial operation. The offshore platform of the SylWin1 grid connection is located around 70 kilometers west of the island of Sylt,…
Avoiding surprises at the investment table: Making risk-based wind development decisions
Matthew Hendrickson / Global Manager of Energy Assessment / Vaisala / www.vaisala.com A wind resource assessment program should stand as one of the most crucial undertakings of the pre-construction phase of any new wind energy project, yet far too often it remains an afterthought. The projection of energy generation is one of the most sensitive value…
First Lady credits renewable energy for hiring veterans
First Lady Michelle Obama praised the renewable energy sector for its efforts to make good jobs available for U.S. military veterans, in marking the fourth anniversary of Joining Forces, the veterans advocacy initiative she co-leads with Dr. Jill Biden. Military veterans from leading wind energy development companies Invenergy and EDP Renewables attended the event Thursday…
Trends in O&M
Global wind turbine O&M expenditures are expected to rise from $9.25 billion as of 2014 to $17 billion by 2020. That’s according to a recent report from consultancy firm GlobalData, which points to an increasing number of installations and aging turbines. GlobalData analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham said that maintenance is vital to the commercial viability…
Learning how to prevent bird-turbine collisions
A trained falcon named Houdini darts and soars next to a wind power plant in the shadow of the Colorado Rockies, gathering radar data that could someday save the lives of his avian brethren. Peregrine gyrfalcon Houdini is the VIP guest of the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and he performs his strategic…
European Commission authorizes Windfloat demonstration project
The European Commission has found a Portuguese plan aimed at promoting renewable energy technologies, and testing floating offshore wind turbines, to be in line with EU state aid rules. The plan will support demonstration projects producing renewable energy from the ocean (wave energy, tidal energy) and innovative offshore wind technologies. The Commission concluded in particular…
Specialized tool from seebaWIND Service facilitates gearbox changes
Manufacturer and independent service provider, seebaWIND Service, has changed the gearbox on a wind turbine for the first time using a special tool. The company was able to replace the gearbox of a Senvion MM92 turbine using a tried and tested construction method in only three days at the Waldhausen wind farm near Würzburg. It…
Antaira introduces new industrial-grade managed gigabit switches
Antaira Technologies, a global developer and supplier of industrial device networking and communication solutions for harsh environmental applications, has added to its industrial networking infrastructure family with the LMX-0501G-SFP series. Antaira’s LMX-0501G-SFP series is a cost-effective, 5-port industrial gigabit managed Ethernet switch that supports a 12~48VDC power input. Each unit is designed with four 10/100/1000Tx…
Trends in safety
The global fall protection equipment market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate of just under 6% from 2015 to 2019. This is one prediction from a recent report by research and advisory firm Technavio. “Fall protection equipment is increasingly becoming an integral part of safety and protection equipment in the energy…
Occupational hazards: OSHA revises its arc-flash standards
Tahnee Miller / Electrical Design Engineer / Ulteig / www.ulteig.com Workers in the wind power industry face several potential hazards that include arc flashes, electrical discharges that occur upon opening energized circuits. Without proper training and safeguards in place, one wrong move could lead to thermal burns, electrical shock, and falls as a result. As…
Senvion wins new order of 18 MW’s for Italian wind farm
Senvion SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Suzlon Group and one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of wind turbines, has signed a contract for the supply of six Senvion 3.0M122 turbines with PLC System’s Burgentia Energia. The turbines with a rated output of three megawatts (MW) and a rotor diameter of 122 meters will…