AWEA Report: Record Wind Farm Projects Under Construction
Wind energy continued its forward march in 2013 as an ever-growing piece of the mainstream U.S. electricity mix, with a record number of projects...
Construction Event Attracts Nearly 130,000 While Setting Exhibit And Education Records
The future on display as global industry showcase spotlights new product innovations, technologyCONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2014 took center stage in Las Vegas March 4–8...
Proving Out A New Method For Installing Offshore Wind Turbines
The traditional method of installing offshore wind turbines is to assemble the entire three-blade rotor assembly onshore and then use a large ship to...
Profile: Imperial Crane
Ron Selby compares the multiple departments that comprise Imperial to the assorted components of a crane.“There are a multitude of components required to put...
Rules of the game: Assessing and assigning project risks
Wind construction projects typically begin with a contract between the owner and the general contractor. This engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract establishes the...
The two most important construction tasks that every wind project owner needs to know
Every wind construction project has unique characteristics and challenges, but success ultimately depends upon the timely completion of two important tasks that typically occur...
Successful project road design and construction requires keen attention to geographic and environmental variables
With the exception of a handful of southeastern states, virtually every state in the country has a wind farm. Often overshadowed by the electrical...
Proper contingency planning can help minimize risks
Among the many responsibilities of the wind energy project balance of plant (BOP) contractor, few are as important as risk management. The BOP contractor’s...
Preconstruction planning on wind projects yields budgetary benefits
One of the most valuable tools that an owner or developer of wind projects has in its planning toolbox is a good preconstruction value...
No two towers are created equal
From the hoisting industry’s standpoint, there are two sides to wind park construction; the physical erection, and the overall maintenance of the turbine or...
Identifying broken tiles usually calls for close observation of ground conditions
In this installment we’ll look at ways to identify broken tiles and methods to repair them quickly and efficiently. From last month’s column—available at...
Integrating construction engineering into siting leads to increased efficiencies and maximum cost savings
The micro-siting process for a wind facility is the area where most developers struggle to link in all of the requirements related to state...
While preventing the need for an emergency response is the primary goal, you must...
In the April installment we discussed key steps to emergency preparedness, including preparing a written plan and communicating it both on- and off-site, developing...
Mass stabilization is a soil mixing technology for treating potential wind tower sites
At planned wind tower sites a geotechnical investigation and/or environmental evaluation should first be performed to characterize the underlying soils. The results of these...
Rigid inclusions use upper strong strata to transfer the load
Planned wind tower sites may appear firm on the surface, only to conceal a buried weak soil stratum. Depending on the depth and thickness...
Densification of loose material prior to tower construction is often required at wind-farm sites
Planned sites for wind turbine towers are sometimes underlain by loose, granular soils such as sands, gravels, or mine spoils, which can produce static,...
