As developers chase stronger flows, onshore wind hub heights are growing beyond the reach of conventional crawler cranes. Mammoet’s new WTA lifting system allows theoretically infinite hub heights and paves the way towards emissions-free turbine erection. The WTA assembles wind turbine generators by attaching directly to the tower itself, using a series of clamps to…
Construction begins on offshore wind monopile manufacturing facility in New Jersey
The first phase of construction is underway at EEW-AOS monopile manufacturing facility that will include a 110,100 sq-ft monopile welding plant, located at the Port of Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County, New Jersey. This offshore wind manufacturing facility will be the largest in the U.S. and will be able to build 400-foot long, 2,500-ton…
Why sea fastening is critical to safe and efficient offshore wind installation
By Mark Goalen, Offshore Engineering Director, Houlder Ltd The offshore wind market is maturing rapidly as the world transitions to cleaner energy. Indeed, the BP Energy Outlook 2019 anticipates significant growth of the sector, suggesting that the percentage of generated wind energy in the renewable market will be more than double by 2040. Meeting this…
South Dakota approves 250.5-MW Triple H Wind project
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a construction permit for the Triple H Wind project, a wind energy facility capable of generating up to 250.54 MW of energy in Hyde Co. A settlement agreement presented by Triple H and PUC staff was previously accepted by the commission in May. However, issues not…
Vineyard Wind selects Sif for offshore monopiles
Vineyard Wind has selected Dutch company, Sif, to fabricate the turbine foundations for the Vineyard wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. The 800-MW offshore project will feature 81 MHI Vestas V164-9.5MW turbines. Sif’s scope of work for the project will include manufacturing the monopiles, storing them at its MV2 facility in Rotterdam, and delivering…
Construction begins on first U.S. offshore wind project in federal waters
Dominion Energy has begun construction on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, which will bring an important new source of renewable energy to Virginia customers. The company is breaking ground to install a half-mile conduit, which will hold the final stretch of cables connecting the turbines, 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach…
Innergex closes financing for Texas’ Foard City wind project
Innergex Renewable Energy announced the closing of a construction financing and tax-equity commitment for the Foard City wind project located in Foard County, Texas. “Foard City is the largest wind farm project ever built by Innergex and, with the Phoebe solar project under construction, will add almost 600 MW of new installed capacity in the United States by the end…
Connecticut to establish offshore wind hub
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, including the State of Connecticut and its partners, have reached an agreement on a harbor revitalization plan for State Pier in New London, which will establish the region as a central hub in New England for the developing offshore wind industry. The Connecticut Port Authority, the state’s quasi-public agency responsible for…
Wood awarded technical advisor role on Vineyard Wind project
Wood has been awarded the role of technical advisor on Vineyard Wind, the first utility-scale wind farm located off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts, USA. The 800-MW offshore wind farm will consist of 84 9.5 MW wind turbines. As part of the scope of work on this four-year contract, Wood’s clean…
AdBm noise-mitigation system successfully tested for offshore wind
Acoustical engineering company, AdBm Technologies, and with balance-of-plant contractor, Van Oord, have successfully demonstrated a new AdBm Noise Mitigation System (NMS) for offshore applications. The AdBm NMS reduces underwater noise through the use of specially-designed and rugged injection-molded Helmholtz resonators, which provide reliable and predictable noise reduction at a low cost. The application of these…
Meet project engineer, Malia Hicks
As with many Americans, Malia Hicks’ day starts with a cup of coffee at sunrise. However, it’s one that’s hundreds of miles from her family home in Texas, and in Oregon where she’s currently working as a project engineer at a 200-MW wind farm. She oversees the project’s schedule, quality control, and key engineering processes in…
A ground-based habitat for blade repairs
Wind and harsh conditions typical of wind sites can turn blade repairs into a serious safety hazard for wind techs. To mitigate such risks, one company suggests bringing blades down to ground level for safer and faster turnaround time. “Three blades on one turbine can be refurbished and returned to service on the turbine in…
Xcel Energy growing its Upper Midwest wind portfolio
Xcel Energy has completed the purchase of two wind energy projects that add to its growing Upper Midwest wind energy portfolio. The 200-MW Blazing Star 2 wind project in southwest Minnesota and the 300-MW Dakota Range 1 and 2 projects in eastern South Dakota. The two projects, in addition to the under-construction Blazing Star 1…
New York approves 100-MW Ball Hill Wind Farm
The New York State Public Service Commission recently approved the construction and operation of Ball Hill Wind Energy, LLC’s wind-generating facility in Chautauqua County. This utility-scale wind farm will generate enough electricity for more than 28,000 average-sized residential homes. “New York State has ambitious clean energy goals that require the smart, aggressive development of renewable…
ENGIE starts construction on Texas’ Jumbo Hill Wind
ENGIE North America has begun construction of the Jumbo Hill Wind project in Andrews County, Texas. With a total capacity of about 160 MW, Jumbo Hill is scheduled to be online by spring of 2020. The project will provide Renewable Energy Credits to a corporate customer under a virtual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). It also…
Three O&M ideas for cranes and lifting equipment
By Denis Hogan, Performance & Special Projects Manager Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) As the wind industry grows and developers contemplate taller turbines that reach stronger winds so, too, does its requirements for safe lifting equipment. Similar to fall-protection gear, tower lifts and cranes must adhere to strict safety standards and OEMs face unique…
Tri Global Energy sets record with more than 1 GW of wind construction in 12 months
According to the recently released American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Annual Market Report, Tri Global Energy (TGE) continued as an industry heavyweight, ranking ninth among the top 10 wind developers with new U.S. wind capacity installed in 2018 and first in Texas. The Dallas-based developer, which is marking its 10th anniversary this year, also set…
A new jacket for offshore wind turbines
The industry standard in lightweight offshore jackets has typically been the x-braced configuration in which diagonal supports intersect between four steel-legged structures. For decades, jackets served to support offshore oil and gas platforms, and now the offshore wind industry is benefitting from and improving the design. Case in point: Structural engineering company, IntelliSIMS (iSIMS), and…
E.ON begins construction on new South Texas wind farm
E.ON announced today Peyton Creek Windfarm, a 151-MW project, located in Matagorda County, Texas, is under construction and it expects to commission the project before the end of 2019. “Peyton Creek will be our 24th wind project in North America and construction, along with our long-term operation of this project, will deliver clean, low-cost…
CloudVisit predicts wind-power production to double by 2027
MRO company CloudVisit says it has foreseen a milestone: the day when wind power would lead in global energy production. Global wind production is projected to double by 2027, and major companies such as Google and Amazon have already installed notable wind projects, supporting the viability and profitability of renewable energy. With these investments comes advancements…