As the world continues to demand cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, the manufacturing economic opportunity presented by global clean energy markets is tremendous.
Envision Energy establishes global blade innovation center in Colorado
Envision Energy, a supplier of smart energy solutions, has announced the establishment of its Global Blade Innovation Center in Boulder, Colorado. This marks another significant investment in R&D by Envision in the United States. “Envision’s R&D centers are cultivating talent and facilitating collaboration with the best professionals in the world,” said Felix Zhang, Envision Energy’s Executive Director.…
A few thoughts on manufacturing in the 21st century
These comments are from the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, David Danielson. It’s no secret that American manufacturing took it in the teeth in recent decades. After a steep decline in the 2000’s, when 40% of all large U.S. factories closed their doors, American manufacturing is making a comeback, adding jobs at its fastest…
How are companies keeping production costs downs as blade sizes increase?
Blades are getting longer as developers demand more power from current turbine platforms. To move the trend along, the Department of Energy recently offered up $1.8 million dollars in funding for the development of 60-m long (or more) wind-turbine blades on turbines that stretch over 120 m from base to hub. The challenge for blade-manufacturing…
Ames Laboratory scientists create cheaper magnetic material for cars and wind turbines
Karl A. Gschneidner and fellow scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory have created a new magnetic alloy that is an alternative to traditional rare-earth permanent magnets. The new alloy—a potential replacement for high-performance permanent magnets found in automobile engines and wind turbines–eliminates the use of one of the scarcest and costliest rare…
Wind needs a networked approach now
Editor’s Note: The following article is from The Switch, a manufacturer of megawatt-class permanent magnet generator and full-power converter packages. The windpower industry has witnessed fallout from the global economic downturn and the significant geographic shift from Europe and the U.S. toward China and emerging markets. As a result, the industry is opening up to…
Bearing Manufacturer Unveils Plans for U.S. Wind Energy R&D Center
Massive, precision-engineered bearings and seals like those made by The Timken Company are central to wind power production. The largest of these rolling element bearings weighs more than five tons, with an ID of nearly 2 m. Such large bearings require sophisticated measuring and testing capabilities that replicate dynamic wind forces. For that purpose, Timken…
Several 4-roll roll plate rolls manufacture wind towers
A manufacturer of plate rolls has installed two lines (up to 10 ft by 6 in). Davi has sold several of the 4-roll plate rolls, each with a capacity of 13 ft by 5 ¾ in, to Germany and the UK, to manufacture offshore wind towers.
Composite design and manufacturing center opens May 6, 2011
The National Composites Center near Dayton Ohio is taking a lead in composites and advanced materials, their structural design, optimization, and manufacturing simulation by offering all businesses access to this resource. The new Center opens on May 6th. Interested parties can meet the staff and partners on that date, and learn of the capabilities and…
AWEA Wind Power Supply Chain Workshop – Opening Session
8:00am – Jeff Anthony, Dir of Business Development, AWEA- providing State of the Windpower Energy Industry… – 5,155 MW installed in ’10 – 3,195 MW of that installed in Q4 which has been a historical trend for Wind. – USA has 40,180 MW installed as of 12/31/10. +15% – 5,600 MW currently under construction in…
Manufacturers head to Cheyenne
Spain-based, wind-tower manufacturer Gestamp Renewables already has manufacturing facilities in Turkey and Brazil. But the company is looking to build their first North American facility, and sees Wyoming as the perfect spot. Gestamp has partnered with Ohio-based Worthington Industries, Inc. to create a joint venture, Gestamp Worthington Wind Steel, LLC. Together, they will produce towers…
Closed-molding demo (think blades) at Composites 2011 show, Feb 3-4
The Closed Mold Alliance and over 10 industry partners will host a comprehensive, ongoing demo of closed mold technology – in person, right on the show floor– during COMPOSITES 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. To be held in a specially designed staging area at Booth # 917, presentations will take place throughout the day both…
Wisconsin Wind Works symposium opens manufacturing opportunities
The Wisconsin Wind Works, a state wide manufacturing business development organization, recently hosted their Wind Energy Symposium. With nearly 300 local manufacturers and producers in attendance, the symposium offered various discussion panels, exhibitor booths, and keynote speakers such as AWEA’s Jeff Anthony and the Great Lakes Wind Network’s Ed Weston. Jeff Anthony, Director of Business…
Relentless campaigning for a national RES falls on deaf ears
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) issued the following statement last week from Denise Bode, AWEA CEO, in response to United Steelworkers (USW) filing a trade case against China: “China and many other countries are using every tool at their disposal to lead in clean energy manufacturing including strong renewable energy targets. The US has…
Manufacturing for huge wind turbine parts
HPM America LLC in Mount Gilead, Ohio, has horizontal machining capabilities to support a part envelope of 192 x 360 in. with a lifting capacity of 150 tons. For heavy fabrication, the company’s burn tables can flame-cut steel plate up to 10.5-in. thick and a full service weld and forming shop to handle fabrication to…