U.S.-based deep-cycle battery manufacturer Trojan Battery Company has entered the Indian market and has appointed a master distributor for its products to be marketed throughout the country. Trojan Battery Company provides power for a wide variety of golf cars, electric vehicles, aerial work platform, transportation, floor scrubber, renewable energy, recreational and auxiliary power applications. It…
Seven ways floating turbines could solve offshore windpower conundrums
A floating turbine that avoids migratory bird patterns, NIMBY activists, and state jurisdictions, according to American Offshore Energy. The Pennsylvania-based company says its vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) uses tension and compression design principles, which allow a stiff, lightweight, fixed-wing-composite structure that can be scaled to huge sizes, and could one day bring consistent renewable energy…
Windpower work around North America: December edition
A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study found that obtaining 25% of electricity in the Western U.S. from renewable energy will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 34% and save $7 billion annually in fossil-fuel costs. The study found that one megawatt-hour of wind energy – the amount produced by a typical windpower turbine about…
Defining “electrical safety” could make windpower workplaces safer
Article by James R. White / Training Director / Shermco Industries The job of maintaining windpower equipment is risky, even in the best circumstances. Close clearances in the tower base, tight working spaces in the nacelle, and IEC equipment configurations add up to increased risk from electrical equipment failure or mistakes made while working.…
GE wins 545 MW of wind farm commitments in Brazil
GE recently won 545 MW of orders for wind turbines in Brazil’s A-3 auction, which was held in mid-November. The total amount of energy auctioned was 867 MW, and GE secured 63% of the auction capacity. GE will provide 1.7-100 and 1.85-82.5 turbines for wind farms developed by Casa dos Ventos, Eletrosul, Contour Global, CEEE,…
CG transformer certified for offshore windpower
Transformer manufacturer CG has received certification from GL Renewables Certifcation (GL RC) for its liquid immersed SLIM and Bio-SLIM distribution transformer. The hermetically sealed transformer is also available with a bio-degradable transformer fluid which reduces the risk of pollution at environmentally sensitive locations, such as offshore. The certification was carried out according to GL’s Guideline…
Photoblog: Windpower innovation on Martha’s Vineyard
7 electrical safety issues that lead to “noncompliance”
Article by Troy Hewitt / Global Business Leader / Wind Energy / Intertek While worker safety is the paramount concern of wind farm owners, project downtime because of non-compliance with electrical safety codes comes in a close second. Years of experience testing windpower products in the laboratory and the field have provided lessons for…
Knowledge and networking the focus of composites industry group JEC
As rotor blades exceed the 75-m mark, they will demand more advanced materials that offer a better strength-to-weight ratio and improved stiffness and tensile strength. Mixtures of composites such as fiberglass and carbon fiber show promise for these applications. JEC, the largest composites industry organization, aims to advance knowledge and networking within the business –…
3M to include DEUS products in fall-protection portfolio
DEUS Rescue has announced a distribution agreement giving 3M Company exclusive distribution rights to DEUS Rescue products in fall protection-related industries. Under the agreement, 3M will sell DEUS controlled descent devices, kits, and related accessories through its broad network of distributors and dealers starting in late 2013. The 3M Fall Protection catalog will include DEUS…
Q&A: FoundOcean talks advancements in offshore grouting and Samsung’s 7-MW turbine
FoundOcean, a dedicated offshore construction grouting company, brings 50 years of offshore and subsea foundation grouting in the oil and gas sector to offshore windpower. The UK-based company recently opened a new office in Houston, saying the city is a perfect place to grow its business in the Americas. FoundOcean has completed more than 100…
Graco introduces entry-level system for polyurea coatings
Graco recently introduced an electric proportioning system for pure and hybrid polyurea coatings. The Reactor E-10hp High-Pressure Proportioner works for waterproofing projects, especially projects where portability is a factor, such as swimming pools, terraces and residential balconies. The system could also be applied to windpower projects. “It’s an affordable option for the entry-level coatings contractor…
General Tools’ thermal cameras measure up to 1,500°C
The Predator series of thermal imaging cameras from General Tools & Instruments (General) now includes nine extended temperature range models. General’s GTi10, GTi20 and GTi50 are now available in models with temperature measurement ranges up to 600°C (1,112°F), 1,000°C (1,832°F) and 1,500°C (2,732°F). Useful in revealing hidden heat-driven problems, General’s thermal imaging cameras detect very…
Stauff introduces anti-corrosion clamps for offshore windpower
ACT clamps from Stauff protect against crevice corrosion in salt water and other corrosive environments. For use with stainless steel tube and pipe, the clamps can be used for both underwater and top-side applications. Crevice corrosion is a problem when seawater is trapped in gaps between conventional clamps and the pipe or tube. Stauff’s clamps…
United Wind secures $25 million commitment for U.S. projects
United Wind, a leading provider of distributed-scale wind energy through its WindLease platform, announced that it has secured a tax equity commitment from GSG Energy Finance, an energy equipment leasing company, enabling the company to deploy up to $25 million towards wind energy projects in the United States. With this commitment, United Wind can now…
Wind Talk: Gaining offshore wind support in Northeast Ohio
The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) recently announced that its POWER Pledge program to build local stakeholder support for the development of an offshore wind farm on Lake Erie had received more than 4,500 signatures from people living and working in Northeast Ohio. In this Wind Talk podcast, LEEDCo President Dr. Lorry Wagner describes the…
Windpower forest proves bigger is not always better
Tar Chalome, a vast wetland south of Bangkok, is known for crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and spicy seafood. Now, it will be known for a powerful contradiction of terms: the world’s biggest small wind farm. More than two dozen towers rise from the wetland, each holding 10 small-wind turbines. Locals, struck by the complexity of the…
GL Garrad Hassan commissioned for “FINO Wind” research project
DWD (the German Weather Service) has commissioned GL Garrad Hassan for an extensive sub-project within the scope of the “FINO Wind” research project. This involves taking an inventory of the metadata, utilization and collection of LiDAR wind measurement data for the correction of mast effects, as well as the uncertainty estimation and assessment of the…
GE installs 500th wind turbine in Brazil
GE recently announced its 500th wind turbine installation in Brazil. The 1.6-megawatt (MW) turbine was installed at DESA’s 38-MW Eurus project in João Camara in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. ”We selected GE for this project because of the company’s industry-leading technologies in wind power generation and its commitment to the industry here…
FoundOcean expands with new Houston office
FoundOcean, the largest dedicated offshore construction grouting company in the world, has announced the opening of its newest office in Houston, Texas, to support its expansion overseas. “Houston is recognized as the energy capital of the world, with almost half of its economic activity driven by the energy industry – particularly oil and gas. It…