Editor’s note: The Energy Department (DOE) recently deployed the AXYS WindSentinel buoy off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The buoy is intended to help researchers gather data for planning future offshore wind projects in the U.S. Here’s the release from the DOE. The United States is one step closer to harnessing the vast amount of…
Wind energy to power GM’s Texas Assembly Plant
General Motors’ (GM) Arlington Assembly plant will soon be powered with wind energy. GM recently signed a power purchase agreement with EDP Renewables North America, a fully owned subsidiary of EDP Renewables, for 30 MW of power from the planned 250 MW Hidalgo Wind Farm in Edinburg, Texas. Fifteen of the wind farm’s 261-foot-tall turbines will generate the…
Putting safety first: AWEA’s Safety Committee wants your feedback
If you’ve ever wondered just how safe the wind industry is you aren’t alone. The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Safety Committee was formed to help monitor and promote health and safety within the wind energy sector. But this isn’t always an easy task. “I’ve been involved since it started and now, as the Chair…
ABB introduces powerful 4‑pole generators for turbines
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has introduced a new 1400 frame size synchronous generator to expand its proven AMS platform. Covering the power range from 60 to 85 MVA at voltages from 3 to 15 kV, the new 4-pole generators enable higher unit powers and more economical genset designs. Advances in manufacturing technology…
Using permanent-magnet machines to make wind power more efficient
Editor’s note: This blog posting on wind-energy efficiency is written by The Switch’s Corporate Business Development Director, Carlo Cecchi. The Switch is a supplier of megawatt-scale electrical drives for wind energy, including permanent-magnet generators. Propelled by a strong gust of subsidies, the Chinese wind-power industry accounts for half of the global wind power market. Yet it remains…
GCube insures Xcel Energy for North Dakota Wind Farm
GCube, a global underwriter for renewable energy initiatives, has signed a contract with U.S. power company, Xcel Energy, for a 200-MW wind project in North Dakota. Xcel Energy currently has 5,794 MW of wind power on its systems. The development in Courtenay, North Dakota forms part of plans to expand its wind portfolio by about…
Vaisala upgrades GLD360 global lightning-detection network
With a record breaking count of 30, the northern hemisphere has seen more major hurricanes and typhoons of category 3, 4, and 5 in 2015 than in any previous season. Particularly vigorous activity in the Pacific, attributed partly to a potent El Niño, has made a major contribution. While Sandra became the strongest hurricane to…
ACCIONA pledges to be carbon neutral by 2016
ACCIONA, a global leader in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, has pledged to achieve 100% carbon neutrality across its entire global operations by 2016. Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, occurs when a business is able to balance the CO2 emissions associated with its activities with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset,…
Mission Innovation: 20 countries commit to clean-energy R&D
Editor’s note: This week, at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, President Obama, President Hollande, and other world leaders launched Mission Innovation. The aim of this initiative is to accelerate global clean-energy progress and innovations in a cost-effective manner. As part of its contribution to Mission Innovation, the U.S. Government will seek…
New report: Global Off-grid Energy Storage Market for 2015 to 2019
Editor’s note: Research and Markets has added a new report to their offering, entitled “Global Off-grid Energy Storage Market 2015-2019.” The analysis focuses on Li-ion, lead-acid, and sodium-based batteries and provides a host of market breakdowns. It predicts a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for off-grid storage of nearly 7.5% by 2019. Here is the release… This market is…
Turbine owners establish global peer-to-peer platform to collaboratively solve O&M issues
Wind farm owners representing 12% of global turbine assets have founded a new peer-to-peer online platform called o2o Wind, dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and experience on O&M issues. The o2o Wind forum is the first initiative of its kind aimed at fostering wind farm O&M best practice through a collaborative approach. Wind energy giants such…
SaskPower to develop more wind power with a new goal of 50% renewables
SaskPower, the principal electric utility in the province of Saskatchewan, has committed to reducing emissions for a more environmentally sustainable future. The corporation has set a target to double the percentage of renewable electricity generation capacity in Saskatchewan by 2030. “An objective of 50% renewable power by 2030 is ambitious, but I’m confident SaskPower can meet…
Hi-Line offers new LED-lighted tool bag
Hi-Line Utility Supply, a tools and equipment provider for utility construction and maintenance, now offers the Tradesman Pro Lighted Tool Bag. The new tool bag comes with a removable, twist-on and off LED light that easily positions in the best spot to illuminate the inside of the bag or a work space. The light features…
SgurrEnergy provides technical support at one of UK’s largest wind farms
Renewable energy consultancy, SgurrEnergy is providing technical support to one of the UK’s largest onshore wind projects under development this year. SgurrEnergy is project lender KfW IPEX-Bank’s technical advisor on the Beinnuen wind project, which is located in the Scottish Highlands. The technical team has been working on the project since early 2015 and, following…
EDF Renewable Energy closes 50% interest sale of Texas wind project
EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) has closed on the transaction to sell 50% interest of the 194-MW Spinning Spur 3 Wind Project in Texas to a fund managed by BlackRock’s Infrastructure Investment Group. This transaction is the third of five signed agreements between BlackRock and EDF Renewable Energy to close. The remaining projects, Roosevelt (250 MW)…
Over 25% of Brazil’s total power capacity will come from non-hydro renewables by 2025
Brazil’s non-hydro renewable power sector is expected to account for more than 25% of Brazil’s total capacity by 2025, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. Non-hydro renewables’ cumulative installed capacity will also more than triple from 17.1 GW in 2014 to an estimated 57.8 GW by 2025. The company’s report, Brazil Power Market Outlook to…
Invenergy partners with Equinix to reduce emissions through wind power
Invenergy has signed a 100-MW wind-power purchase agreement (PPA) with Equinix to provide the global interconnection and data center company with renewable energy to help support all of its data centers across North America. The agreement includes the sale of wind energy from the Wake Wind Energy Facility located in Texas. Invenergy will provide 100 MW…
The Switch launches a new utility-grade power converter
The Switch, a supplier of megawatt-class electrical drives for wind energy and industrial applications, has launched a new full-power converter (FPC) for utility-grade electricity production. The FPC+ concept builds on the company’s experience and an installed base of over 11 GW of power throughout the world. Designed for the highest level performance in electricity production,…
Siemens to supply turbines for 38-MW project in France
Siemens was recently awarded an order for the delivery, installation, and commissioning of 12 direct-drive wind turbines for Les Gourlous wind farm in France. The SWT-3.2-113 turbines will have a total capacity of 38.4 MW and will supply about 35,000 households with clean energy. Siemens will be providing long-term service for the new wind farm…
GEV Wind Power successfully completes on-turbine trials for Habitat shelter
GEV Wind Power’s first set of onshore trials for its innovative blade-maintenance Habitat have been successfully completed, presenting a major milestone for the company. The Habitat enables technicians to conduct essential repairs on remote wind turbines while remaining sheltered from the elements. It also provides O&M companies a greater scope throughout the year to schedule repairs because…