Increased activity in Western markets and Africa will drive a 10-year compound annual growth rate of 10.1% for grid-connected wind power, leading to 2.38 terawatts (TW) of cumulative installed capacity at the end of 2032, according to Wood Mackenzie. According to Wood Mackenzie’s “Global wind power market outlook update: Q3 2023” report, this long-term growth…
September 2023 Issue: Sitting offshore turbines in risky U.S. waters
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…
WoodMac: 49% of wind turbines ordered in North America in H1 were for offshore projects
Global wind turbine order intake reached new highs in the first half of 2023, with 69.5 GW of activity, a 12% increase year-over-year, according to a new analysis from Wood Mackenzie. A big driver of this activity was orders from outside China, which saw more than 25 GW of order demand for a 47% increase…
Navigating challenges and charting growth for the U.S. offshore wind market
As the United States’ energy transition rides the high of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Vineyard Wind 1 project, set to be the first gigawatt-scale offshore wind farm, marks the beginning of a new era for renewable energy in the country. With a 15-GW pipeline of numerous other projects in pre-construction and procurement stages, including…
Federal government gives go-ahead to 704-MW Revolution Wind offshore project
The Dept. of the Interior has announced its approval of the Revolution Wind project. Located about 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, the project will have an estimated capacity of 704 MW of clean energy, capable of powering nearly 250,000 homes. The project is expected to create an estimated 1,200 local jobs…
Floating offshore wind power could be the key to reaching decarbonization targets
The energy transition is driving the development of offshore wind power around the world to provide communities with reliable clean power and prevent harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from being released into the atmosphere. In the United States, the development of offshore wind projects is more advanced on the East Coast due to the shallower…
Navigating risks in the U.S. offshore wind industry: Insights into insurance and extreme weather challenges
In 2023, the offshore wind insurance market will support over 5 GW of offshore wind construction along the U.S. East Coast. Considering the existing development pipeline in the United States, this number is expected to grow to approximately 50 GW within 10 years. While considered an emerging sector in North America by many, the reality…
A case for regional collaboration among states in the new offshore wind economy
In 2022, U.S. state governments increased their collective procurements of offshore wind power to over 8,100 MW. While these collective procurement targets have the potential to transform electricity generation in the United States, states have so far come to these targets and approached offshore wind development more generally, on an individual basis. To fully realize…
Managing the storm of risk in today’s wind market
Wind power operators face a unique set of risks that can be effectively managed to protect wind farm assets and ensure the viability of the operation. Whether facing required upgrades to an aging equipment fleet or incorporating new technology into the operation, wind operators can plan for associated risks with the support of healthy, vetted…
In-line mooring buoyancy developed for floating wind applications
Specializing in buoyancy, protection and insulation solutions, UK-based Balmoral has developed an in-line mooring buoyancy system for offshore wind turbines. This system is designed to secure floating wind turbines and other structures to a seabed anchor while providing uplift to the mooring line. It can also act as a connection point between the bottom and…
Tech Safety Lines opens wind blade repair training center in Dallas
Tech Safety Lines has opened its brand-new Blade Repair Training Center. This facility will provide educational opportunities for blade repair technicians by offering comprehensive and specialized training programs. The Blade Repair Training Center, located in Dallas, marks a significant milestone in Tech Safety Lines’ commitment to advancing safety standards, enhancing skill development and promoting sustainable…
Cargill recognized as 2023 Global Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan assessed the green transformers and sustainable solution industry and, based on its research results, awarded Cargill with the 2023 Global Company of the Year Award in the Global Green Transformers and Sustainable Solutions category for its FR3 natural ester solution, used for 25+ years and in over three million transformers globally, setting…
Stantec chosen as owner’s engineer for historic SunZia Transmission Project
Engineering firm Stantec has been selected by Pattern Energy Group to serve as owner’s engineer (OE) for the SunZia Transmission Project. The project is part of the largest clean energy infrastructure initiative in U.S. history and, once complete, will provide the capacity to deliver 3,000 MW of clean renewable energy to communities in Arizona and…
DOI expects 3.7 GW of offshore wind in Gulf of Mexico at next month’s auction
The Dept. of the Interior will auction tracts of the Gulf of Mexico for offshore wind leases on Aug. 29. The area has the potential to generate approximately 3.7 GW of power. “The Gulf of Mexico is poised to play a key role in our nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth…
Maine schools and maritime institutions establish offshore wind workforce training partnership
On Tuesday, the Maine Community College System (MCCS), Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) and Diamond Offshore Wind (DOW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to a partnership that will map out workforce needs of the offshore wind industry in Maine and support the development of offshore wind technicians and other skilled workers. Leaders from the…
A new generation of medium voltage wind converters holds the key to sustainable wind power
Countries across the globe have embraced wind power, recognizing its potential to reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainable development. China, the United States and Germany have all made substantial investments in wind power, while the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands are all pioneering offshore wind projects, demonstrating the immense possibilities of this clean energy…
Force Control Industries releases Magnashear motor brake for wind industry
Oil shear technology leader Force Control Industries has announced the release of the Magnashear motor brake for wind turbines. Maintaining yaw and pitch drives is a challenge because of the inherent time that it takes for maintenance personnel to ascend to the nacelle. But foregoing maintenance can lead to costly failures and even more downtime.…
Tips for wind gearbox inspections using a borescope
The global shift to renewable energy and expanded use of wind power has significantly increased the number of wind turbines, both onshore and offshore. The demand for wind turbine maintenance is also increasing, especially for critical components such as gearboxes. Borescope inspections of gearboxes are a cost-effective way to shorten the downtime of wind turbines…
Three questions with the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission (CEC) began an international visitor program more than 30 years ago, and it’s one of the state’s oldest international programs. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEC welcomed 71 delegations from five continents that were visiting to learn about their policies, programs and services. Clean Energy States Alliance research associate…
Biden Administration gives Ocean Wind 1 project offshore New Jersey the green light
The U.S. federal government has approved the plan for construction and operations of Oceans Wind 1 project, just 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The project will have an estimated capacity of 1.1 GW and is expected to create more than 3,000 good-paying jobs through development and a three-year construction cycle. This is…