Shackle-Lok Shackle-Style Hoist Rings can be equipped with Lift ID, Jergens’ automated inspection and compliance system.

A manufacturer of lifting, work holding, and fastening equipment, announces the addition of Shackle-Lok, a shackle-style hoist ring. 100% domestically manufactured, the device combines the strength and safety of a hoist ring with the versatility of a shackle.

Available in a variety of inch and metric sizes, the shackle has internal ball bearings within a tamper-resistant design that provides smooth 180° pivot and 360° swivel action under load. The shackle is well suited for lifting tasks when conventional swivel or stationary hardware may be impractical. With a three-piece design, Shackle-Lok works well in low-clearance applications, general rigging, and permanent mounting on dies, molds, fixtures, and other heavy equipment.

The easy-to-remove anchor shackles are interchangeable, and the bolt can accommodate a wide variety of alternate styles. Magnetic-particle inspected, Shackle-Lok is CE-certified and conforms to ASME B30.26 and RR-C-271F standards, and it works with numerous thread sizes. The company can manufacture straight thread size, pitch, or length to meet particular lifting requirements.

Jergens Inc.
www.jergensinc.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The report estimates that revenues from the offshore wind O&M market segment will continue to grow and the share of offshore wind O&M market will be 19% of the total market in 2020.

A 191-page research report is said to provide an understanding of the technology, key drivers and challenges in the global wind power market. It also provides historical and forecast data to 2020 for installed capacity and power generation. The report details global market size of wind O&M market, market share by company type (original equipment manufacturers, independent service providers, and in-house), O&M market share by onshore – offshore wind market and key company analysis.

The report provides market data on out-of-warranty turbines (in MW), gearbox repairs and refurbishment market (in units) and blade repairs (in units) during the period of 2011 to 2020. Countries analyzed in the report include China, the U.S., Germany, Spain, and India.

Steady growth in the forecast period

Global wind energy installed capacity is expected to increase at a CAGR of 26.2% from 74,107 MW in 2006 to 237,354 MW in 2011 of which 39,151 MW came online in 2011. Global wind power markets recovered in 2011 after a 10.9% fall in annual additions in 2010 as major wind markets such as the U.S., Germany and Spain faced economic problems following the global economic crisis.

Wind power has become an important player in the global energy market, with the growing equipment market creating many employment opportunities. Wind-turbine installations in 2010 amounted to more than $38.3 billion. The industry also provides employment to over 450,000 people worldwide. The exponential growth of the wind-energy market is fueled by depleting fossil fuel reserves, the declining cost of wind power generation and a growing sensitivity for the environment supported by financial incentives by various governments across the world. China, the U.S., Germany, Spain and India are the major wind markets in the world accounting for a 72.3% share of the global cumulative installed capacity in 2011.

The growth of major wind power markets (the U.S., Germany, Spain, France, Italy, India and China) is expected to slow down during the forecast period 2011–2020. Emerging markets from Asia-Pacific and South and Central America will gain a considerable market share. The growing Asia-Pacific wind power market powered by India, China and other emerging countries such as Republic of Korea, Thailand and Philippines will continue to drive the market in the region. Countries such as Argentina, South Africa, Philippines, Ukraine, Brazil, Republic of Korea and Mexico are some of the nascent wind markets which are set to expand rapidly in the forecast period. Against this backdrop the global wind power installed capacity will reach 718,052 MW by 2020.

China emerged as the largest wind power market

China’s wind power market is growing at an enormous pace and emerged as the largest wind market in the world in 2010 when it surpassed the U.S. The country has transformed its position in the wind industry from a mere player in 2001 to a market leader in 2010 on the basis of strong government support for the industry. The cumulative installed capacity of wind power in China has increased from 2,604 MW in 2006 to 60,307 MW in 2011 at a CAGR of 87.5%. Government support in the form of favorable rules and regulations and a speedy approval process drove the Chinese wind market to achieve a Y-o-Y growth rate exceeding 100% from 2006 to 2009. The country added 13.8 GW of installed capacity in 2009, doubling the capacity for the fourth year in a row to 25.9 GW. In 2010, China added 18.8 GW of annual capacity at an annual growth rate of 72.4% and in 2011 the growth in annual growth rate further slipped down to 34.8%. Supportive government policies which include an attractive concessional program and the availability of low cost financing from government banks are critical reasons for the success of the Chinese wind power market. It is expected that China will continue to promote wind power to reduce its carbon footprint and increase rural electrification.

The U.S. is the second largest wind power market with a cumulative global share of 20.3% in 2011. Germany is the third largest wind power market in the world with a share of 12.1% in 2011 (13.7% in 2010). Spain, which is the fourth largest wind power market with a cumulative share of 9.4% in 2011. The other major wind power markets include India with a share of 6.2% (6.6% in 2010), the UK with a cumulative share of 2.9% (2.6% in 2010), Italy, and France with a share of 2.8% each (2.9% each in 2010), Canada with a share of 2.1% (2% in 2010) and Portugal with a share of 2.0% in 2011 (2.1% in 2010).

Offshore

Wind gaining momentum

The offshore wind market is expected to become one of the major market segments of wind power generation during the forecast period. Offshore wind power installations accounted for 1.6% of the global wind power market in 2010. It is being increasingly explored across the world for its high yield due to stronger and more consistent winds compared to onshore with scope to construct massive GW-scale projects. The UK, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.S., and China are the biggest offshore wind power markets in the world with a number of projects currently in planning and under construction. With an increasing number of countries exploiting offshore wind potential during the forecast period 2011 to 2020 it is expected that its share in the global wind power market will reach 9% by 2020.

Global wind operations and maintenance

The global wind O&M market grew from an estimated $2.6 billion in 2006 to $5.8 billion in 2011 at a CAGR of 17.8%. Key drivers for the increase in revenues are increasing installations backed by financial incentives, capital subsidies, and tax rebates. The other major-market drivers are component failure rates and ageing wind turbines in operation. The O&M market growth is restrained by a lack of skilled manpower and the cost of logistics. Against this backdrop, the global wind O&M market will reach $13.1 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 9.4%.

Offshore wind: 6.3% of total wind O&M market

Offshore wind accounts for 6.3% of the total wind O&M market in 2011. Offshore wind attracts higher O&M costs in comparison to onshore wind. Lower turbine availability, high-logistics costs and a lack of skilled manpower makes offshore wind service more challenging than onshore wind. Although onshore wind also faces logistics and manpower issues, the impact of these factors on the offshore segment is higher. It is estimated that revenues from the offshore wind O&M market segment will continue to grow and the share of offshore wind O&M market will be 19% of the total market in 2020.

Independent service providers (ISPs) gaining market share

Original equipment manufacturers dominate the wind O&M market with a share of 72.2% in 2011. It is expected that the share will fall 5.2% by 2015 because there will be increased competition from Independent Service Providers (ISP) in major wind O&M markets such as Germany, Spain, the UK, the U.S. and China. Vestas, Gamesa, GE Energy, Enercon, Siemens, GoldWind, and Sinovel are some of the main OEMs that account for the majority of market share in 2011. Large OEMs such as Vestas, Gamesa, GE, and Siemens are signing long term service contracts to negate the impact of ISPs in the wind O&M market. ISPs will continue to gain market share in the post-warranty market as they are accessible, study local conditions well and are cost efficient. By 2015, ISPs will have a 20% share of the total wind O&M market. Wind farm owners’ (WFO) share in the wind O&M market accounts for 11.7% in 2011 and most of the owners who perform O&M in-house are utilities with vast experience in handling large power projects.

Post-warranty maintenance market

This is one of the major drivers for the increase in revenue of the wind O&M market. Many turbine sales before 2009 had short service contracts from OEMs. Most of these contracts signed in the last five to six years are nearing completion and wind-farm owners will be looking for new vendors. It is estimated that 70% of the wind capacity that was online until the end of 2010 was under manufacturer’s warranty. About 139.2 GW of capacity of the 198.2 GW cumulative wind capacity by the end of 2010 was online for less than five years. In the U.S. alone around $40 billion worth of wind installations will be out of warranty in 2011, which is a huge market opportunity for ISPs and OEMs. Most ISPs are entering the wind O&M market to gain market share in the post-warranty market. On the other hand OEMs are signing long term contracts ranging from five years to 20 years (for new and existing customers) to outsmart ISPs in the O&M market. Increased competition among OEMs and ISPs is expected in the near future. GlobalData estimates that the out of warranty or out of service contracts turbines market will increase from 25,118 MW in 2011 to 80,592 MW in 2020.

Skilled technicians a key O&M challenge

The availability of skilled and training technicians to perform O&M on-site of a wind farm is a critical challenge. On-site O&M work introduces challenges to technicians such as working at more than 200 feet in the air, harsh weather, and working inside nacelles’ tight quarters. The wind O&M market needs workers with specific skill sets. Manpower hired for on-site wind O&M must be highly responsible, able to manage and understand the technology, organized to face challenges such as heights, harsh weather, and work in tight quarters.

Technicians need lengthy and comprehensive training before working in such a business environment. Many wind OEMs, ISPs and operators are planning to double or triple their workforce in the next three to four years. According to American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the U.S. wind O&M market will require 80,000 highly trained technicians in the next 20 years. Siemens, a leading turbine manufacturer, employs 1,500 people in its global service organization. The company has plans to triple its headcount in the next four years as it expects to expand its foothold in the market from 11 GW of installed wind power to 55 GW in the next five years. Therefore, the availability of skilled manpower in such a fast growing market will be a daunting task for companies in the future.

U.S. the Largest Wind O&M Market in the World in 2011

The U.S. is the largest wind O&M market in the world and accounts for 20.2% of the total market size in 2011. It is expected that the share of the U.S. in the global O&M market will increase to 23.8% in 2020. Germany is the second largest wind O&M market in the world and accounts for 18.3%, followed by China with a 14.6% share in 2011. China is expected to surpass Germany to emerge as the second largest wind O&M market by 2013 and in 2020 China will account for 18.8% of the global market size. Spain is the second largest wind O&M market in Europe in 2011. The country accounts for 13.9% of the global market share in 2011, followed by the UK which accounts for 6.4% of the global market. The UK will surpass Spain to emerge as the second largest wind O&M market in Europe by 2015 and will account for 11% of the global market in 2020. India accounts for 4.5% of the global market in 2011 and others contribute 22.1%.

GlobalData
www.globaldata.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The SynchroTeq is a modular system used to synchronously activate high-voltage circuit breakers.

The SynchroTeq is a modular system used to synchronously activate high-voltage circuit breakers. It can control a brand of breakers on the market. When using a SynchroTeq system, there is no requirement for switching resistor banks, therefore reducing expenses related to auxiliary chambers. It also improves the quality of the wave delivered on the network and protects the breaker contacts.
The SynchroTeq Plus system adds to the Point On Wave switching capability of the SynchroTeq but also manages the residual Flux for improved performance and added grid control flexibility. A few features include:

• Point On Wave switching platforms are suitable for all high-voltage circuit breakers, regardless of manufacturer

• Reduced stress on electric networks and high-voltage-power equipment. Therefore, they lower maintenance costs and increase the lifespan of expensive power equipment

• Capabilities such as residual-flux management for power transformer energization and integrated C/B monitoring

• A single platform accommodates rackmount installation in substation control house or integration within high-voltage circuit breaker’s control cabinet. Compatibility with major substation protocols including IEC 61850 / DNP3 / IEC 60870-5-10x.

Downloadable documents regarding SynchroTeq platforms come from the company’s Registration link.

Vizimax
www.vizimax.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

A penetration level commonly used is the Wind generation penetration level, defined as the ratio of the total installed wind power capacity to the total installed generation in the system.

This executive report summary comes from the DOE and was written by Astrom Grid Inc’s Lawrence E. Jones.

Wind doesn’t always blow consistently and sometimes doesn’t blow at all, but wind energy is not unreliable – just ask grid operators. In a recent report, Strategies and Decision Support Systems for Integrating Variable Energy Resources in Control Centers for Reliable Grid Operations. Grid operators provide first-hand perspectives on how variable energy sources, including wind energy, actually impact grid operations.

Grid operators ensure that you receive electricity reliably and at an economical price. They balance electricity supply and demand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round. Think of them as the air traffic controllers for the power system, constantly monitoring and directing activities on the grid to keep the lights on in homes and businesses.

The study finds that the ability to forecast variable energy output is vital to successfully integrating variable energy into the electrical grid. The study also finds that decision support tools are also essential to helping grid operators incorporate wind forecasts and obtain optimal power flow in their grids. The study describes several decision support tools used by grid operators. However, existing decision support tools in the United States must evolve further as more domestic variable energy enters the electrical grid.
Despite these challenges, the grid operators interviewed have a positive outlook for integrating variable energy and are eager to share and apply best practices with other operators.

The Energy Department funded two organizations, Areva Federal Services and Alstom Grid, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As part of the study, Areva and Alstom interviewed 33 grid operators in 18 countries responsible for integrating 72% of the wind energy world-wide into their grids.
Over the past two decades, there has been a large increase in the production of wind energy across the world, growing from roughly 2 GW in 1990 to almost 200 GW in 2010. The final report and executive summary provide further insight from grid operators about the challenges, solutions, and successes of integrating variable wind energy into the grid.

DOE
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/doe_wind_integration_report.pdf

Windpower Engineering & Development

Classes for the new 12-week program start February 13, 2012.

The North American Wind Research and Training Center at Mesalands Community College is pleased to announce a new twelve-week program for an Occupational Certificate in Basic Wind Energy Technology. This program is grant funded for U.S. citizens that meet specific qualifications including, displaced workers, veterans and qualified spouses of veterans, or individuals who qualify as low income.

The certification program is the result of the Wind Center of Excellence grant the Wind Center recently received ($523,751) to provide workforce development for workers seeking a career in the wind industry. “The College is excited to be offering this twelve-week certification program in wind energy to individuals that meet the grant funding qualifications,” said Dr. Mildred Lovato, President of Mesalands Community College. “The program will educate students in the industry basics as they gain real-world training experience climbing our wind turbine. We also want to stimulate our local, regional, statewide, and national economy by preparing individuals for a rewarding career in a growing field.”

Students in the program will learn wind turbine technology, turbine maintenance, tower safety, and wind economics. Course topics include studies in electricity, hydraulics, and mechanics, along with hands-on training on the College’s 1.5 megawatt wind turbine located adjacent the new Wind Center.

“This new program allows the North American Wind Research and Training Center to better serve the nation by providing a grant funded twelve-week training course for the Wind Energy Technology Program,” said Jim Morgan, Director of the North American Wind Research and Training Center

Initial classes for this new 12-week program start February 13, 2012. For a list of the grant funding qualifications and admission information, visit www.mesalands.edu/wind or call (575) 461-4413, ext. 156, or toll-free at (800) 261-4877.

Mesalands Community College
www.mesalands.edu/wind

Windpower Engineering & Development

CBMvisionMD is a cost-effective online, wireless, condition-based monitor that installs easily to periodically monitor and diagnose assets. It can archive and deliver near real-time diagnostics and detailed machine condition data globally using cloud computing and the developer’s CBMvision Explorer Software.

CBMvisionMD is a mobile diagnostic system that lets users monitor rotating machinery on an on-going basis. The system can collect data for hours, days, or months, as necessary to collect the required data and can be easily moved to another machine or site when the task is complete. Cloud-based technology ensures the data is available anywhere in the world in near real time.

CBMvisionMD is built on the philosophy of easy installation, rapid configuration, and clear diagnostics, and is intended for remote applications, such as wind turbines, pumping stations, offshore platforms, or for collecting additional data on-site when a hand-held device will not suffice. 3G/4G cellular communication technology makes data transfer easy and secure. The right information gets to the right people, at the right time, anywhere in the world.

 CBM Enterprise Solutions LLC
Cbmenterprise.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Unigear Industries in Montreal is capable of large custom gears.

David Brown, a manufacturer of industrial gearing and support services, says it has acquired Montreal based industrial gear manufacturer Unigear Industries Inc. Unigear is a privately held business known for its high quality gears. With its flexibility, innovation, quality, and performance it has an excellent reputation for customer responsiveness and a high standard of customer service in the North American gearing market.

David Brown (DB) already has a presence in key markets in North America, such as mining, and oil and gas, as well as through its premier double-enveloping worm gearing business Cone Drive, based in Traverse City, Michigan. The acquisition of Unigear and its industrial gear manufacturing and service capability is a key part of DB’s global and North American growth strategy. The business will be brought under the DB umbrella and will trade under the name: Unigear – a David Brown Company. The Unigear team, including President Ron Mehra and VP Peter Zurcher, will remain with the company and play key leadership roles going forward.

The parent company says it has a vision for the future and a defined growth strategy developed around expanding in key global markets including mining, oil and gas, conventional power, rail, and renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydro. The acquisition of Unigear provides DB with wider access to many of these strategic industry segments coupled with local capability to manufacture and service industrial gear products for the North American market.

DB says expanding its aftermarket service offering is integral to its strategy to provide customers with locally employed specialist teams delivering world-class service. As well as becoming a North American manufacturing center of excellence, the company will also establish a service center at its Montreal facility to support customers in Canada. Additionally, the business is planning further expansion through the opening of a service center in the mining region of Kentucky, with near term plans for the establishment of additional service centers in strategic locations across North America.

David Brown
www.Davidbrown.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

In a nutshell, the study found the levelized cost of wind energy in the best wind-resource sites approaches $0.03/kWh with available federal tax incentives. That’s remarkably low. In Northern Ohio, First Energy charges about $0.122/kWh. The company breaks out its generation cost at $0.0634/kWh, about twice the cost of wind power. The $0.03/kWh is remarkable.

This begs the question: With such efficiency gains, why would anyone not want to keep this development program, called “the wind industry,” going? The study adds that due to improvements in turbines tuned for lower wind speeds, the gap between the cost of wind energy in low and high wind speed areas has narrowed considerably, opening more areas of the United States for potential development.

The low figure was for the best sites, those with highest capacity factors. Still, taller towers, longer blades, and drivetrain improvements are letting newer turbines perform with similar result in areas that have not been considered good wind sites. If you read the news sections of Windpower Engineering & Development, you’ve seen that technical improvements are coming at a steady rate. Turbines will shed pounds, blades will become more efficient, new construction techniques and ideas will take further costs out of foundations and towers.

Don't let the sun set on the PTC. Contact your Representatives and Senators and express your support for the wind industry with an extension to the tax credit.

The trick is to keep this invention machine going. The Production Tax Credit will do just that. It’s a tax credit, not a subsidy, that provides $0.022/kWh. It rewards production. Even wind opponents can understand the tax credit they take on their mortgage, but there it rewards consumption – shame on them.

An OEM rep at a recent conference thinks that in about seven years, the PTC may be allowed to expire for good because improvements and better efficiency will let wind produce the lowest power cost, and the tax credit will no longer be needed. Can other power industries say that?

Paul Dvorak
Editor
Windpower Engineering & Development

Windpower Engineering & Development

In the United States, Goldwind turbines are in operation or due to be operational in Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Iowa, and now Montana. Goldwind also recently announced deals of 34.5 MW in Chile and 15 MW in Ecuador.

Officials with Volkswind USA and Goldwind USA says that Chicago-based Goldwind USA has acquired two, 10-MW wind farms, referred to as the Musselshell Project, in Shawmut, Montana. Volkswind has obtained the necessary permits for construction and secured power purchase and interconnection agreements with NorthWestern Energy. The project is expected to begin construction soon with commercial operations as early as Q3 2012.

The Musselshell wind-farm concept originated with a landowner who worked with Volkswind to advance the project. Volkswind has been building and operating wind farms in Europe since 1993. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Jeffrey Wagner, President of Volkswind USA, Goldwind’s permanent magnet, direct drive, and grid-friendly turbines provide an ideal fit for the site. “Goldwind’s gearless technology is relatively unique in the us market. Its megawatt size, efficiency, and reliability perfectly matches the requirements of the wind farm,” said Wagner.

Company VP Matthew Olive says the deal demonstrates continued acceptance of Goldwind’s technology in the West. “This sale marks our 14th deal in the Americas since we entered the market in June of 2010,” he added.

“This project marks Goldwind’s third acquisition in the United States accompanied by our project in Pipestone, Minnesota and our 109.5 MW Shady Oaks project in Lee County, Illinois,” said Goldwind USA CEO Rosenzweig. “Through our affiliate, Goldwind Capital, we have worked to offer a variety of financing solutions to support our customers’ projects in the United States, including common equity, mezzanine financing, and project finance.”

“I’m pleased to welcome Goldwind and the local tax revenue and jobs this project will bring to Montana,” said Montana’s senior us Senator Max Baucus, who met with Goldwind Group CEO Wu Gang and Tim Rosenzweig in Beijing in 2010 to discuss opportunities for doing business in Montana.

Goldwind USA
www.goldwindamerica.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

1. Intel Corporation: meets 88% of their demand with 2,502,052,000 kWh of biomass, geothermal, small-hydro, solar, wind

2. Kohl’s Department Stores: meets 100% of their demand with 1,524,656,000 kWh of solar and wind

3. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (California & Texas facilities): meets 28% of their demand with 872,382,088 kWh of biogas, solar and wind

4. Whole Foods: meets 106% of their demand with 800,257,623 kWh with solar and wind

5. Johnson & Johnson: meets 52% of their demand with 553,565,521 kWh of biomass, solar and wind

6. City of Houston, Texas: meets 35% of their demand with 438,000,000 kWh of wind

7. Starbucks: meets  52% of their demand with 421,921,000 kWh of wind

8. City of Austin, Texas: meets 100% of their demand with 406,000,000 kWh of wind

9. Staples: meets 52% of their demand with 341,509,408 kWh of biogas, solar and wind

10. Hilton Worldwide: 94% of their demand with 315,000,000 kWh of various clean energy sources

Windpower Engineering & Development