As a well-known producer of hydraulic systems, gearbox technology, and condition monitoring equipment, Bosch Rexroth is a comprehensive supplier to wind turbine manufacturers worldwide. In this Wind Talk podcast, Dietmar Tilch, managing director at Bosch Rexroth Monitoring Systems GmbH, discusses what AWEA WINDPOWER 2014 attendees can expect to see from the company at the trade…
How U.S. windpower exporters can be ready for the global market through 2015
A new report from the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) says Canada, China, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico will be the top five markets for U.S. renewable energy exports during the next two years, and the windpower sector will overtake the solar sector as the largest exporter of renewable energy products. In this WindTalk…
New ideas in encoder designs for wind-turbine applications
Encoders are used in several locations in a wind turbine but the three key applications are blade pitch, slip rings, and generator control. Each has special challenges but all must tolerate environmental extremes common to a nacelle, such as heat over 100°F. The high temperatures expand what is initially clean lab air and forces…
GCube president discusses the U.S. offshore wind market
There has been much discussion surrounding the sustainability of the U.S. offshore wind market. The difficulties facing this emerging market can be seen worldwide. Today, John McLane, President of GCube Insurance Services, joins us to discuss the U.S. offshore wind market, its challenges, and the road ahead.
Where to turn for working replacement parts for a turbine? Independent provider or the OEM?
Why should a wind turbine maintenance company use an independent repair service rather than going back to the OEM for spare parts? To find out, we spoke with John Greulich at PSI Repair Service. The company remanufactures and upgrades electrical and electronic equipment from wind turbine control systems.
Greensmith’s CEO discusses megawatt-scale energy storage
Today, we have John Jung, CEO of Greensmith Energy Management Systems – a provider of energy storage technologies and solutions using its advanced, battery-agnostic technology platform. Greensmith recently announced its offering of turn-key energy storage systems (ESS) up to megawatt scale. In this podcast, John will discuss the storage system, the benefits to the wind…
Wind Talk: How nanotechnology, especially carbon nanotech, will aid the wind industry and more
For the past several years, the Nanotechnology Group at law firm McDermott Will & Emery has investigated trends in the nanotechnology patent literature as a way to identify research trends, pinpoint industry leaders, and clarify the importance of the United States in this technology revolution. One of the report authors, Iona Kaiser, a partner in…
Tired of reading? Try a Wind Talk podcast
Tired of reading? Me, too. Why not just listen to an insightful Wind Talk Podcast? Here are the last five your peerless editors have recorded with wind-industry luminaries. 1 How data visualization and analytics can improve grid stability. https://www.windpowerengineering.com/featured/business-news-projects/data-visualization-and-analytics-software-increases-grid-stability/ 2 Siemens’ windpower CEO discusses 10-MW turbines, energy policy, and domestic manufacturing https://www.windpowerengineering.com/construction/wind-talk-siemens-windpower-ceo-discusses-10-mw-turbines-energy-policy-domestic-manufacturing/ 3 Wind industry…
Data visualization and analytics software increases grid stability
Real-time visualization and analytics software company, Space-Time Insight, recently released new software that uses weather forecasts and grid data to predict the impact of a severe storm on customers and assets. In this podcast, Steve Ehrlich, SVP of Marketing at Space-Time Insight, will discuss the software, its benefits to the grid and the wind energy industry.…
Wind Talk: Siemens’ windpower CEO discusses 10-MW turbines, energy policy and domestic manufacturing
Siemens continues to receive orders from windpower developers across the United States. In December, the company received an order from MidAmerican Energy for 448 turbines – the largest order ever for onshore wind turbines. The company also announced a duo of projects in Texas that will use its turbines, adding up to 250-MW of clean…
Wind Talk: Wind gaining momentum in Kansas, says Wind Coalition exec
The Wind Coalition recently released new poll data showing that Kansans support increasing renewable energy development and the state’s renewable portfolio standard. The poll, conducted by North Star Opinion Research, indicates that renewable energy is just as popular as it was in 2009 when Kansas first pursued renewable energy legislation. In this podcast, Jeff Clark,…
Wind Talk: Protecting windpower technicians in the bitter cold
It’s been a cold winter so far, and while many people think walking across a parking lot to a car is unbearable, windpower technicians working at a rural turbine site or 300 ft. up can experience a more extreme chill, one that is potentially dangerous. In this Wind Talk podcast, we’ll learn how technicians working…
AWEA exec discusses why you should attend next week’s Wind Project O&M and Safety Seminar
I’m Nic Sharpley, managing editor of Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. Welcome to another edition of Wind Talk, our podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s newsmakers in their own words. Today, we have Michele Mihelic, Director of Worker Health and Safety Policy, and Standards Development at AWEA. Michele is…
Wind Talk: GE discusses PowerUp, a way to increase wind farm output by up to 5%
I’m Steven Bushong, assistant editor at Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. Welcome to another edition of Wind Talk, our podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s newsmakers in their own words. In this edition, we hear from Jeff Wiener, Global Sales Leader for GE Wind Services, which is part of…
Wind Talk: Wind industry growth and an early recap of 2013
The year’s construction activity started slow with only one turbine launched in the first quarter. But since then, construction has been significantly picking up and will carry over well into 2014. In this WindTalk podcast, AWEA Senior Policy Analyst Emily Williams reviews the year’s significant developments and discusses more positive news, such as some utilities…
Wind Talk: UEA discusses slip ring reliability and aftermarket offerings
I’m Nic Sharpley, managing editor of Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. Welcome to another edition of Wind Talk, our podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s newsmakers in their own words. We have Jesse Shearer, a design engineer with United Equipment Accessories (UEA), a manufacturer of custom components for motion…
An introduction to Reliability Centered Maintenance
Not all maintenance is reliability centered. For starters, consider that there are at least three types of maintenance, says John Ugland, the manager of performance engineering with UpWind Solutions: reactive, preventive, and proactive. Proactive ideas, the RCM foundation, suggest tasks that would avoid serious failure. RCM is a mindset with risk assessments that become a…
Wind Talk: Thermal energy storage provides much needed stability
CALMAC, a thermal energy storage manufacturer, recently released a case study on how its energy storage technology was able to provide micro-grid stability and reduce utility costs at Dundalk Institute of Technology in Ireland. In this podcast, CALMAC CEO, Mark MacCracken, discusses the role of thermal energy storage in the wind industry, the case study,…
DNV KEMA exec discusses new energy storage testing facility and NY-BEST partnership
Today, we have Rick Fioravanti, a board member with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) and DNV KEMA’s energy storage applications vice president.DNV KEMA recently moved its energy storage testing facility to New York and is working with NY-BEST to discover and commercialize technologies that will help move renewables, such as…
Can domestic manufacturing support the U.S. wind industry?
I’m Nic Sharpley, managing editor of Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. Welcome to another edition of Wind Talk, our podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s newsmakers in their own words. I’m here with Patrick Fullenkamp, a Principal Investigator for the Department of Energy, who along with the Global Wind…