Selected executives from across the nation will join the program. Targeted executives are those who have built successful companies in different sectors such as aerospace, biotechnology and enterprise technology. Executives with more than 20 years of experience, an advanced degree and experience leading a venture-backed start-up company are encouraged to apply. Each candidate must have a strong desire to transition into the cleantech industry through accelerated training, networking and technology exposure.

“Colorado is a hub for cleantech. There is an abundance of market-ready research and technology here to drive the success of this program,” said Wayne Greenberg, director of the Cleantech Fellows Institute. “The executives selected will have access to virtually unlimited resources, build an invaluable national network of cleantech stakeholders and have the opportunity to launch venture backed companies in one of the industry’s most innovative and supportive communities.”

“We’re thrilled to be a founder of the CFI and we look forward to working closely with experienced executives who can incorporate fresh ideas into leading successful cleantech start-ups,” said Christine Shapard, executive director of Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. “This will be the first year of the program and I’m confident that it will prove to be one of the nation’s most practical and motivating programs to advance the cleantech industry.”

CFI was created by the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) and is supported by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business organization of which CCIA is a founding chapter. The CFI program builds on a regional program developed by the New England Clean Energy Council, another AEE member, and takes it national in scope.

This new program begins on Sept.17 with executives immersed in a highly interactive curriculum. Eight weeks of the 17-week program will be held on-site at various locations throughout Colorado such as the Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado, Colorado State University and NREL. Seven weeks will be held “virtually” as webinars taught by nationally recognized experts in advanced energy. The executives will also participate in valuable networking events such as evening debates, speaking sessions, and exclusive dinners.

Approximately 20 percent of the program will be dedicated to intensive study of the energy industry and the regulatory, capital and structural challenges the industry faces. Topics will include overviews of wind, solar, renewable fuels and electricity markets, as well as the state of venture deal terms in cleantech and the outlook for exits. The participants will also study which industry niches are securing the most venture investment to best position their companies. Areas of in-depth study include advanced transportation technologies, energy storage, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency and building technologies.

The key to the program’s success will be the executives’ exposure to commercial-ready technologies from Colorado sources. Working with the universities and NREL as well as various business incubators such as CleanLaunch, the executives will develop a deep understanding of the technologies being researched at each institution. Each executive will select a technology that sparks their interest and plan a capstone project to present in January, in advance of graduation on Jan. 11, 2013. The capstone project includes a market and technology assessment as well as the building of an initial business plan for a potential new cleantech company.

“One of the challenges in the advanced energy sector is finding the right talent to turn cutting-edge technologies into successful companies,” said Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy. “The Cleantech Fellows Institute is a perfect example of identifying special individuals outside of the clean energy industry – whether that be technology or other sectors – and helping them acquire the expertise they need to succeed in the dynamic, competitive advanced energy marketplace. We’re very proud to support this program, which is the result of a true collaboration between two of our founding state partners.”

Cleantech Fellows Institute
cleantechfellows.com 

Windpower Engineering & Development

Courses will draw on the company's experience with topics affecting the electric-power industry.

S&C Electric Co. announces its 2012 schedule of CEU and PDH accredited education courses focused on giving professionals in the ever-changing electric power industry the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Courses draw on the company’s experience with topics affecting the electric-power industry. Instructors are developing solutions for the grid today and offer decades of experience with projects that go beyond the theoretical.

In coordination with the accredited courses, S&C also offers a new complimentary webinar series in 2012. Each free one-hour webinar is hosted by an S&C subject-matter expert and offers attendees one PDH credit for attending. A complete list of available webinar subjects can be found on S&C’s website.

“The power industry is changing at an increasingly rapid pace due to increasing costs of energy and environmental imperatives,” says Wanda Reder, S&C VP—Power Systems Services. “The industry is applying new technologies and techniques worldwide, and education is key to keeping up with these changes. Our education events leverage S&C’s expertise to give attendees training that they can apply day-to-day on the job.”

All courses are held at S&C’s Chicago headquarters, and many let students interact with systems and equipment used in the field. A schedule of course dates, times and topics can be found on S&C’s website or here:

• IEEE PES: Smart Grid Foundations

April 17 and 18 & September 12 and 13 | Chicago, IL

1.5 day course and 1.2 CEUs / 12 PDHs accredited

• Short-Circuit Analysis of Electrical Power Systems

June 11 and 12 & October 22 and 23 | Chicago, IL

1.5 day course and 1.2 CEUs / 12 PDHs accredited

• IEEE PES: Distribution Overcurrent Protection & Coordination

June 13 to 15 & October 24 to 26 | Chicago, IL

2.5 day course and 2.0 CEUs / 20 PDHs accredited

• Distribution Power Quality and Reliability

August 9 and  10 | Chicago, IL

1.5 day course and 1.2 CEUs / 12 PDHs accredited

• Power System Voltage Stability (with Dr. Prabha Kundur)

September 10 and 11 | Chicago, IL

2.0 day course and 1.6 CEUs / 16 PDHs accredited

• Circuit-Switcher Workshop

October 8 and 9 | Chicago, IL

1.5 day course and 1.2 CEUs / 12 PDHs accredited

• Renewable Plant Design and System Interconnection

November 7 to 9 | Chicago, IL

2.5 day course and 2.0 CEUs / 20 PDHs accredited

• Electric Safety Work Practices

November 12 to 14 | Chicago, IL

1.5 day course and 1.2 CEUs / 12 PDHs accredited

S&C Electric Co.
S&C Electric Company

Windpower Engineering & Development

The program is for engineers and those developing programmable electronic safety systems and products based on the IEC 61508 standard. The training imparts basic knowledge so developers can effectively implement safety related requirements.  Attendees will also learn about important new aspects of the IEC 61508 edition 2.

The program includes three days of training. Participants can take an optional exam on the fourth day to obtain an official verification of their expertise. After passing a final exam, attendees receive a TÜV Rheinland Functional Safety Engineer certificate which is acknowledged worldwide, stating that the student has gained specific knowledge within the field of Hardware/Software Design according to IEC 61508.

The four-day program is slated for June 18 to 21 at TÜV Rheinland’s Chicago office, 2100 Golf Road, in Rolling Meadows, Ill. The $2,950 cost includes the exam. A $2,650 charge omits the exam.

Tuv Rheinland
http://education.tuv.com/tuv-functional-safety-program.

Windpower Engineering & Development

These courses may be offered at any of our production facilities, or on site at your own facility. If you are interested in participating in any of these courses for yourself or your personnel, please contact info@gbtholding.com for more information

Global Blade Technology 

www.gbtholding.com

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

UMN’s Eolos is funded by an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. With an addition $3.4 million from private sector contributions, UMN has established a research and education consortium with a host of other universities, colleges, industry leaders, and government agencies. A key component of Eolos is the creation of a new research field station where new wind technologies can be studied, tested, and deployed. The field station in Rosemount, Minnesota is home to a new Clipper 2.5MW wind turbine and 420-ft tall meteorological tower, and will be used for researching foundations, structural aspects of the turbine tower and blades, aerodynamics of blades, ice mitigation, and other important topics. The Eolos turbine will also be used by UMN and Mesabi to train students in climbing, safety, and operation and maintenance of utility scale turbines.

Mesabi Range College (MRC) Wind Energy Technology Program is one of two Wind Energy Technician programs in Minnesota. Last month, MRC completed installation of a new Vestas V27 turbine and will be instrumented with nearly identical sensors as the Eolos turbine. This will let technician and engineering students compare and contrast operation and performance of turbines. The MRC turbine installation and a new program in Condition Based Monitoring is made possible by a grant from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and the Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence.

MRC also has training facilities such as a Sonic Wind Profiler that will be used by students from both institutions in training and research. Some items Mesabi and the U of M have agreed to work towards are:

• Involving Mesabi Wind Students in the regular maintenance and operation of the turbine alongside Clipper technicians. Likewise, University of Minnesota students will have access to Mesabi Range College’s V27 as an additional research tool.
• Comparison of data from Mesabi’s wind turbine with the U of M’s wind turbine will be a valuable asset to both teams. Mesabi is able to leverage the donation from OSIsoft that was received in 2010 to share data between schools. Advanced monitoring will provide the U of M with their research data and will provide Mesabi Range College with advanced curriculum associated with Condition Based Monitoring. The data from Mesabi’s SoDAR acoustic wind measurement instrument will be compared with the University of Minnesota’s meteorological tower and Lidar system. This will expose students from both institutions to multiple cutting edge technologies for wind measurement and to those data collection techniques.
• Develop pathways for Mesabi Wind Energy Technology students to transition into a four-year degree at the UMN. Mesabi Range College says it features an industry-leading curriculum for wind and renewable energy education. “Wind energy companies are growing rapidly and need skilled professionals,” said Dan Janisch, Wind Energy Technology Program Director. “The Wind Energy Technology Degree students learn to work with and troubleshoot actual large scale wind turbine equipment in the campus Wind Lab and on field trips to Minnesota Power’s Taconite Ridge Wind Energy Center. In addition to Minnesota Power’s many forms of strong support, we are grateful for a $300,000 equipment donation from Clipper and the program guidance provided by Clipper’s top management, a $225,000 software donation from OSI, a grant from Iron Range Resources that let us purchase and refurbish a used 225-kW wind turbine, and the grants we’ve received from the Minnesota Center For Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence. Students learn a wide range of skills that will let them go on to further education or get a good job in manufacturing, construction, or operations and maintenance in the wind industry or in the broader power generation field. We are one of the few renewable energy degree programs offering credit for prior learning for Military Vets.”

University of Minnesota
www.Umn.edu

Mesabi Range College
http://www.mr.mnscu.edu/

Windpower Engineering & Development

Research will be conducted near Marseilles, Illinois on a GE 1.5-MW wind turbine, like this one, operated and maintained by Invenergy.

GE says it is working with Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) to investigate ways to improve wind-farm productivity and efficiency. Results of the study will directly contribute to future product and service designs. The project is part of a larger Department of Energy (DOE) investment of $9 million to an IIT-led consortium to enhance the leadership of the U.S. in testing and producing the most advanced and efficient wind turbines in the world.

The two-year project will focus on helping wind farms reduce maintenance costs and improve availability through predictions of impending problems. The project’s research will be conducted near Marseilles, Illinois on a GE 1.5-MW wind turbine operated and maintained by Invenergy, the nation’s largest independent wind power generation company.

“With skyrocketing costs, wind farms must know ahead of time what needs fixing—and what doesn’t,” said Stacey Kacek, GE Intelligent Platforms’ General Manager, Asset Intelligence. “If they have credible early warning of impending equipment problems, farms can prioritize tower inspections, optimize crane usage, and leverage resources in remote locations. Avoiding surprises and taking control of maintenance in a proactive way translates to significant cost savings for the industry.”

IIT students will be conducting research using GE’s Proficy SmartSignal software on the wind turbine to learn how to detect faults even earlier and more accurately than currently possible. The project includes adding more sensors than the industry standard to improve condition-monitoring precision, and enhancing the software model to include measurements of vibration, lube oil, and blade pitch motors. The IIT team will monitor the turbine remotely from the IIT campus and analyze the energy output and overall equipment performance.

“SmartSignal software essentially acts as a supporting experienced operator and technician, leveraging past experience and working 24/7,” said Dave Parta, Project Manager, GE Intelligent Platforms. “In the wind industry, the software monitors sensors on remote turbines and provides exception-based notifications when a turbine is not acting as it should. This is particularly challenging, given constantly changing wind speed, direction, shear, and turbulence. The software collects and analyzes tens of thousands of data points daily on wind farms across the country and provides early warning of impending turbine and instrumentation failures.”

“The project goal is to illustrate how advanced and automated Predictive Diagnostics can improve the availability, reliability, and cost performance of wind power generation,” said Mohammad Shahidehpour, IIT Bodine Professor and Director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation. Dr. Shahidehpour is serving as the principal investigator for the consortium. “As a result of this research, we hope to improve the sensoring and modelling of wind farms. We’ll also be developing wind energy courses to address the technical, operational, social, and environmental aspects of wind energy. This will ensure that we have not only the technology, but also the talent necessary to compete and further innovate in the global marketplace.”

GE.com/wind
www.ge-ip.com/smartsignal

Windpower Engineering & Development

Geared to students, professionals, and displaced workers, My Energy Gateway, provides users with valuable information on trade school, college, university and certification programs that focus on energy efficiency, green energy and alternative energy. This site will feature a description of each two-year, undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as tuition, room/board costs, student/faculty ratio, and scholarship and internship opportunities.

An interactive blog and social media sites will also be integrated along with job descriptions of sample industry jobs and a link to average industry salaries. My Energy Gateway is designed to help users make informed decisions about acquiring the required skills, degree(s) and expertise to pursue a long term career in the energy field.

In July 2011, AESP published the results of a survey of its members in which nearly 60 percent reported a lack of talented workers in the field and more than half were actively recruiting for open positions. “Despite all the news about high levels of unemployment throughout the country, companies in energy efficiency are hiring. However they are having difficulty finding talented and skilled people for positions that range from engineering and product development to marketing and advertising,” said Meg Matt, President & CEO of AESP. “My Energy Gateway bridges that gap between employers and students who will now be able to better understand the numerous opportunities that currently exist for careers in energy efficiency.”

My Energy Gateway will officially launch in April 2012.

Windpower Engineering & Development

Orientation and career opportunities
Students will survey a broad range of career tracks and receive an overview of renewable energy wind turbine technician training and the program as a whole. Students will be expected to learn the rules and regulations that pertain to the Northwest Renewable Energy Institute. Topics will include, but are not limited to, teamwork, attendance, student services, conduct, dress and grooming guidelines, and employment assistance.

Introduction to wind energy
In this introductory course, students will examine various areas of wind energy. Students will become familiar with the history and development of wind as an energy resource, the terminology used in the wind energy industry, environmental concerns and economic issues. Students will also explore the future of wind as a resource and the many opportunities available in one of today’s fastest growing industries.

Wind industry overview
Develop an understanding of the mechanics of wind, the local effect on wind flow, and the skills to assess wind at a potential site. Students will become familiar with the system design of a wind turbine: aerodynamics, power control, grid integration, how wind is converted to energy, and energy generation. Study the many factors associated with wind farms and wind development: financial costs and obligations, land suitability, site design, planning, and contract preparation. Understand the operation and how to manage the wind turbine site. Learn the significance of monitoring the site, safety, proper maintenance procedures, and the importance of troubleshooting problems.

OSHA – 10 hour safety renewable energy certificate
Prepare yourself for a career in wind technology by obtaining the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 10 hour safety certificate. Learn the requirements for rigging, basic inventory techniques, drug and alcohol awareness, employment requirements, and technical writing.

Wind turbine safety practices
Wind Energy Technicians are a unique and proud group. Developing an understanding of the day-to-day potential of field hazards and wind industry practices is paramount. Important elements include: driving and vehicle safety, proper tools and safety equipment, and necessary documentation requirements which makes this a vital part of renewable energy technical training. Students will learn to perform safely while climbing ladders at least 280 feet high and to work at this elevation. Students will prepare for and learn to work safely in confined spaces, work in adverse weather conditions, properly lift up to 75 pounds, and work with electrical hazards.

Rigging 1
Rigging skills are required in many industries and are used daily in the wind energy industry. Students will learn rigging concepts, load weight calculations, balancing, components inspections, hoists, slings and lifts, wire ropes and slings, chain slings, fiber ropes, industrial cranes, special lifting applications, and safe load turning using a variety of methods. Students will move and lift loads while following required standard safety practices.

Inventory
Maintaining proper tool inventory and personal protective equipment in an industrial environment is an important responsibility of any technician. An efficient wind energy technician works in a unique environment where conducting and maintaining a proper inventory is paramount. Students will be provided with tools, lab tools and equipment, and personal protective equipment. Students will demonstrate the purpose, importance, and procedures of maintaining a proper inventory.

Drug and alcohol awareness
The wind energy industry enforces strict drug and alcohol policies. Learn about these policies and procedures through guest speakers, videos, handouts and classroom discussion.

Employment preparation and the Internet
The ultimate objective of this course is to achieve employment as a technician in the wind turbine industry. Learn how to write an effective cover letter and resume, gain interviewing practices and techniques, and complete employment applications. Focus on career goals to help advance and move beyond entry level positions. Use the Internet to explore career opportunities, find housing and research potential employers in the wind turbine field.

Competent climber training
Learn fall hazard recognition, elimination and control methods as well as applicable fall protection and rescue regulations. Learn how to use written fall protection and rescue procedures and how to inspect equipment components and systems before use. Climb on our 75-foot climbing tower.

Northwest Renewable Energy Institute

www.nw-rei.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Moog says its training facility will help customers to self-manage turbine deployment and speed repair and maintenance work.

A motion control company and developer of pitch systems for wind turbines, has opened a Wind Training Center in Unna, Germany. The 1,300 m² facility will provide technical training programs to Moog’s global wind energy customer base. A dedicated team of expert trainers will lead customer training programs ranging from a basic introduction to more advanced and focused engineering courses on products and systems. Hands-on technical training in Moog Pitch Systems, pitch motors, pitch servo drives, backup-systems and programmable logic controllers focuses on maintenance, performance analysis, repair and retrofits. To satisfy attendees with different backgrounds, basic, total immersion and expert levels will be available.

The training center will house interactive displays of complete pitch systems and a variety of products to facilitate hands-on practical instruction for participants. In addition to regularly offered courses, the company also offers specialized training courses tailored to specific customer needs, allowing trainees to effectively design their own training package. High quality and focused instruction is encouraged by limiting course sizes to small groups to provide more opportunity for participants to interact with the Moog trainers. Courses will be offered in both English and German as a standard, and are available in other languages on demand.

“Having qualified technicians especially in hard-to-reach areas and conditions that are difficult to work under are essential to saving customers time and ultimately cost,” added Jens Ograbek, Head of Services and Repair, Moog in Unna, Germany.
The opening ceremony included a number of Moog’s global senior executives as well as guest VIPs. Mr. Udo Paschedag, State Secretary, Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia delivered a speech on the importance of wind energy in North Rhine-Westphalia. Other guests include Mr. Werner Kolter, Mayor, City of Unna. In addition to the opening ceremony, Moog representatives and a number of leading industry experts sponsored a round-table discussion on “Safety, efficiency and skills in the wind energy market.”
Moog
www.moog.com

Windpower Engineering & Development