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Electrification continues to expand around the globe. While the sudden upsurge in the number of electric vehicles may be the most obvious example of the growth of electrification, people are also adding a wide array of new appliances, tools, mobile devices and more to their lifestyles, consuming far more electrical energy than ever before. Rising…

While wind turbines have become a familiar sight across our landscapes and are an important source of energy, many of these impressive structures have potential to generate even more energy and operate more efficiently. Much has been discussed around the creation of new wind projects, but there are many aging wind farms that could be…

The United States is on pace to miss its climate goals by a wide margin. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the country pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. But as of January 2024, nine years on, the reduction has been only 17%, leaving the remaining 33% to be eliminated over the…

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the renewables industry is immense. By harnessing advanced data analysis, machine learning and predictive modeling techniques, AI can revolutionize wind resource assessment and vibration analysis of wind farms. While there are many opportunities to apply AI to wind farm development, it is essential to have an enterprise-wide AI…

The offshore wind sector is critical to achieving net-zero goals and ensuring energy security. As governments around the world hedge their bets on offshore wind being a key driver to meeting those sustainability goals, it has never been more important to ensure that safety is at the forefront of decision making to keep critical assets…

Windpower Engineering & Development is a growing wind-power resource targeting professionals involved in all aspects of a wind farm’s lifecycle, including developers, engineers, technicians, manufacturers and researchers that work to site, build, maintain, repair and optimize wind-related components, software and projects. The goal at Windpower Engineering & Development is to educate and expand the knowledge…

The offshore wind industry in North America stands on the cusp of transformative growth, with considerable progress made toward the U.S. goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Yet, as the sector races toward ambitious deployment targets, the critical lens of sustainability has, at times, been overshadowed by the immediate objectives of…

In the fall of 2023, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on offshore wind procurement. The MOU allows project developers to submit bids to multiple states at once, which could attract larger projects and drive down energy costs. This past July, the Barr Foundation and Hart Research published views on findings from…

In various high-performance sectors like wind energy, carbon fiber composites are indispensable due to their light weight and high-strength properties. However, the end-of-life management of carbon fiber waste poses a significant environmental challenge. Traditional disposal methods, including incineration and landfilling, are not sustainable. Recent advancements in carbon fiber recycling have fostered sustainable solutions across multiple…

The Gulf of Mexico, with its vast expanse and untapped potential, has become a focal point for wind energy development. However, the region’s susceptibility to hurricanes and extreme weather events poses significant challenges to these renewable energy infrastructures. The devastating impacts of such events have underscored the urgent need for robust preparedness strategies to safeguard…

Windpower Engineering & Development is a growing wind-power resource targeting professionals involved in all aspects of a wind farm’s lifecycle, including developers, engineers, technicians, manufacturers and researchers that work to site, build, maintain, repair and optimize wind-related components, software and projects. The goal at Windpower Engineering & Development is to educate and expand the knowledge…

Underwriting insurance for wind turbines involves a comprehensive evaluation of factors that can influence the risk and potential losses associated with these structures. Insurers consider a range of specific elements to determine the level of risk and to determine insurance premiums. Key factors involved in underwriting wind turbine insurance include the geographic location and climate…

Recent news of offshore wind turbine projects in New England waters shows that there is renewed interest in this water-bound source of wind power. Although the United States has been slower to adopt offshore wind energy — the European and Asian markets already boast more than 10,000 offshore wind turbines — it is encouraging to…

Demonstrator projects show that offshore floating wind is technically proven as a feasible concept. The challenge is how to deliver it for utility-scale projects within the budgets already committed to. Finding a cost-efficient and practical solution that best meets the demands of developers — while also taking into account the perspectives of all stakeholders —…

The profitability of a wind farm is inextricably linked to the energy output and availability of the turbines at the site. Therefore, as every wind site manager knows all too well, turbine downtime must be prevented or significantly reduced to optimize power production throughout the year. While it’s an indisputable fact that a mechanical or…

The job market for wind turbine technicians is growing rapidly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that employment for wind farm techs will grow 45% between 2022 and 2032. Wind farm workers and turbine technicians perform vital maintenance and repairs on wind turbines, ensuring that they can continue to deliver reliable, clean energy to…

Renewable Energy 2023: A Year in Review Welcome to this special edition of Solar Power World and Windpower Engineering & Development, what we are calling “Renewable Energy 2023: A Year in Review.” Each year, the staff of WTWH Media’s two renewable brands reflects on the last 12 months to prepare for what’s trending into the…

As the United States positions itself for a sustainable and greener future, the wind power and renewables industry faces a pivotal moment in 2024. Despite over a decade of unrestrained growth in new renewable capacity additions, sector headwinds have tempered that trajectory. The past year has shown how renewables are particularly influenced by the dynamic…

One year ago, ZF Wind Power launched Thrive, an all-encompassing service concept for wind park operators. With us is Sivakumar Jayapal, chief service officer for ZF Wind Power. A written portion of this podcast is below but be sure to listen to the full episode on your preferred podcast service. Windpower Engineering & Development ·…

Decarbonizing the global energy supply requires a renewable energy mix to replace more traditional power generation. Offshore wind is a key component of this energy transition. This article discusses the engineering challenges associated with offshore wind development and explains the role that flow control equipment can play in improving operations on wind turbine installation vessels…