March 2013
ARTICLES
Planning for safety and quality are key to maximizing budget, schedule, and wind power production
While often summarily discussed initially, planning for safety and quality are key to maximizing budget, schedule, and wind power production.
Everyone pays a lot of attention to the four major construction issues: safety, quality, schedule, and budget. Of these, safety and quality are typically the least discussed during the project award process. “Good” quality and safety on wind projects is closely related to “good” cost and schedule, and deserve far more attention. A safe job […]
Consider the multiple benefits of condition monitoring equipment
Consider the multiple benefits of condition monitoring equipment before basing decisions on the judgment that such systems are just ‘too costly’ — the savings will come.
Some of the biggest push back on condition monitoring equipment (CME) comes from the financial groups in wind turbine organizations. Mainly because the equipment and subsequent services related to collecting the data is seen as too costly. They can see the cost of the CME as it is evident with the initial cost of purchase […]
Technical inspections of wind turbine generators — a necessity, not an option
Three parameters fundamentally influence the annual energy production of a wind turbine: average annual wind conditions; technical characteristics (power performance); and turbine availability. While influencing wind speed currently lies beyond human abilities, the optimization of the technical performance of a wind farm can be a successful task. The technical availability of a wind turbine is […]
Learning to work efficiently with Contract Logistics Service Providers may become essential
As the industry contracts and companies look to external sources, learning to work efficiently with Contract Logistics Service Providers may become essential.
The past 12 months has brought great change to America’s wind power industry. If I had to summarize it with one word, it would be “contraction.” This affects every supplier within the wind supply chain. It may take years to get back to the a period of wind farm construction that matches its peak. So […]
NEWS
Siemens opens worldâs largest wind turbine R&D test facilities
Siemens Energy has opened two major Research & Development test facilities for wind turbine technology in Denmark. The new test center in Brande features test stands for major components of Siemens wind turbines, including generators, main bearings and complete nacelles. In Aalborg, seven blade test stands are capable to perform full scale tests of rotor […]
March 28, 2013
EWEA 2013 Highlights
The EU wind energy sector installed 11.6GW of capacity in 2012, bringing the total wind power capacity to 105.6GW, according to the 2012 annual statistics launched by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). The 11.6 GW installed in 2012 is higher than the 9.4 GW installed in 2011. Wind energy represented 26 percent of all […]
March 1, 2013
U.S. Wind Power Breaks Annual Installation Record
The U.S. wind energy industry had its strongest year ever in 2012, the American Wind Energy Association announced, installing a record 13,124MW of electric generating capacity, leveraging $25 billion in private investment, and achieving over 60,000MW of cumulative wind capacity. The milestone of 60,000MW was reached just five months after AWEA announced last August that […]
March 1, 2013
GE Introduces âthe Worldâs Most Efficient High-Output Wind Turbineâ
GE has announced the 2.5-120, the world’s most efficient high-output and the first brilliant wind turbine. The 2.5-120 is the first wind turbine to bring together world-class efficiency and power output at low wind speed sites, capturing a 25 percent increase in efficiency and a 15 percent increase in power output compared to GE’s current […]
March 1, 2013
Offshore Wind Power to Grow Tenfold by 2020
The global offshore wind power market, fuelled by the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, the declining cost of wind power generation and impressive investment from the UK, is expected to explode over the next decade, states research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s new report forecasts the global offshore wind power market to rocket from […]
March 1, 2013
Nordex Awarded Second Major Order from Uruguay
Nordex USA, Inc. concluded an agreement with Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE), Uruguay’s state power company, for the sale of 28 of its N117/2400 wind turbines for the Juan Pablo Terra wind farm. Nordex, a leading global manufacturer of utility scale wind turbines, will be responsible for delivery, installation and commissioning and for ongoing maintenance […]
March 1, 2013
RES Americas Completes Pennsylvania Wind Project
Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc. (RES Americas) is pleased to announce the completion of the 139.4MW Twin Ridges Wind Farm located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The project was completed in December of 2012 and is now operational. RES Americas served as the Balance of Plant Contractor for the project, which was developed and is owned […]
March 1, 2013
Herguth Laboratories, Inc. Joins the SGS Family
SGS is proud to announce the acquisition of Herguth Laboratories, Inc. Herguth Labs is the premier, high end, commercial, oil, grease, fuel and failure analysis laboratory in North America. The acquisition of Herguth Labs with major testing laboratories located in San Francisco and Chicago introduces the SGS global network of 27 condition monitoring laboratories to […]
March 1, 2013
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: KEEN Utility Introduces New Work Footwear For Spring
Winter may be in full swing, but KEEN Utility has already set its sights on spring with a collection of innovative industrial footwear for men and women. Leading the charge are two new indoor industrial silhouettes with stellar anti-slip ratings along with expansions of both the Portland “Built in the USA” series and a new […]
March 1, 2013
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: HRFLEX Series Cable Clamps
HYROFLEX cable clamps are part of a system of various mounting supports for securing power cables in wind turbines. These clamps are supplied in various versions with between three and nine cable mounting segments. Customized inserts allow for different cable groupings per customer request. The basic frame is formed by a steel support structure, which […]
March 1, 2013
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Reduce Wind Turbine Maintenance with New Carbon Brush Holder
An innovative carbon brush holder, set to reduce maintenance costs for doubly fed generators in wind turbines, will be introduced by Carbex at the AWEA WINDPOWER 2013 exhibition in Chicago, May 5 – 8 (booth no. 1011). The Carbex V-type brush holder ensures that all the carbon brushes push against the slip ring with equal […]
March 1, 2013
