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May 2025

Meeting energy demand in the U.S.

With strong policy support, a skilled workforce, and a growing project pipeline, wind power will continue to play a critical role in meeting the country’s rising energy needs.

America’s appetite for electricity is growing — fast. A recent study by S&P, commissioned by American Clean Power and other energy and business trade groups, shows that U.S. electricity demand is expected to increase up to 50 percent by 2040. This surge is fueled by near-term growth in manufacturing and data centers and long-term trends […]
Kelsey Hallahan

Maximizing offshore wind farm efficiency

Reducing downtime and costs through advanced monitoring and remote solutions.

In the race to achieve 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, the U.S. faces significant operational challenges that threaten the efficiency and profitability of its offshore wind projects. However, a game-changing solution is on the horizon: advanced monitoring systems and remote solutions. These technologies are not just operational tools; they are revolutionizing the […]
Marco Staiti

April 2025

Transferable skills and renewables

As the demand for clean, sustainable energy sources increases, in-demand transferable skills can help with a career in the renewable energy industry.

The renewable energy sector is booming, presenting a wealth of opportunities for those ready to make a career switch. But how do you transition into this growing industry? What skills do you need to thrive in renewable energy roles?  The answer lies in transferable skills — abilities you’ve gained from past experiences that can be […]
Andreea Olariu

Keeping renewables running smoothly

The development of innovative technology will help ensure wind and solar energy operates efficiently and economically as their need continues to grow globally.

Wind-farm operators know that the bolted connections between the hub and rotor blade of a wind turbine are constantly subjected to dynamic loads, leading to stud and bolt failures. To help prevent the possibility of failure, technology is needed to detect broken bolts or studs in the blade root. This system should be able to […]
Pete Tecos

March 2025

Components and Technicians: Big parts to play

High in the air, often miles offshore, component experts need a complex raft of skills to serve the wind-energy market.

Dwarfed by a fleet of sky-scraping wind turbines, one might not realize there are up to 20 brakes installed in each one. They are typically rotor brakes and yaw brakes, while, on the electric pitch systems, there are pitch brakes on each drive motor. In the fast-paced, wind-power world, when up-tower, it is important to […]
Joel Cox

Drone inspections can prevent million-dollar lightning losses

The shift toward drone-based lightning protection system inspections represents more than just an operational upgrade – it is a fundamental evolution in how wind-energy infrastructure is safeguarded against one of its most persistent threats.

Wind turbines stand as towering symbols of progress in the global renewable energy landscape. However, their height and exposure make them particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes. Each turbine is designed with a Lightning Protection System (LPS) to safely channel electrical energy into the ground, but these systems require regular inspections to remain effective. Without proper […]
Adriana Najera

February 2025

Offshore Wind: Cutting costs in half, tripling component life span, and increasing installation rate

New lower weight noncorrosive structural materials and efficient new production methods will result in producing and placing offshore wind turbines at a rate of 50 units per year all at a significantly reduced cost compared to current practices.

Onshore wind has more than 70,800 units in the United States. Unfortunately, onshore wind is not strong enough, nor does it blow often enough, to meet our growing clean-energy needs. Offshore wind is stronger and more consistent, yet there are only seven offshore wind-turbine generators operating. A new process that starts with the signing of […]
Andy Filak

Implementing smart helideck monitoring systems

As offshore wind farms push into deeper waters and more challenging environments, integrating advanced monitoring and forecasting systems will bring substantial safety and efficiency benefits.

What likely started as a routine offshore training exercise last February turned calamitous when a helicopter crashed off Norway’s west coast, claiming the life of one crew member and injuring all five others onboard. This tragedy, along with recent helicopter safety training exercises on Cape Cod where offshore wind workers practiced underwater escape techniques, cements […]
Mikko Nikkanen

January 2025

Achieving bankability with wind Lidar

Although the use of Lidar for collecting wind measurement data has become more widespread, the makers of the technology hope to convince the industry that it can be used as a standalone alternative to traditional wind-measurement methods such as met masts.

In December 2024, Vaisala hosted a webinar with DNV and AES Clean Energy to talk about how Lidar helps achieve lower measurement uncertainties and guarantees higher bankability in a wind-measurement campaign. Wind Systems was given permission to publish some of the highlights of the program. It has been edited for the magazine. For the complete […]
Julian Dajczgewand

Detecting cracks in turbine bolts

Using an ultrasonic phased array element arrangement method based on the Fermat spiral array can help ensure the safe and reliable service of key wind-turbine components and promote the technological development of the wind-power industry.

Wind power, as a form of clean, stable, and economical new energy, is currently recognized as one of the most technologically mature, scalable, and commercially viable primary energy sources in the development of new power systems. It plays a crucial role in achieving China’s “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals and the transition to low-carbon […]
Hongyu Sun, Jingqi Dong, Xi Diao, Ziyi Huang, Xincheng Huang, Zhichao Cai

A lasting and multi-faceted legacy

Media Solutions president and CEO had a talent for transforming challenges into opportunities – becoming a successful, well-respected leader in the B2B publishing world.

Media Solutions’ employees always knew when David Christopher “Coop” Cooper was in the office. At any given time during the day, the hallway would be filled with an off-key refrain of “Only You”; quotes from the movie “Top Gun” (“Talk to me, Goose!”); and, of course, a loud, often-repeated, cacophonous chorus of “Sell! Sell! Sell!” […]
Kenneth Carter