Editors Desk

Spring ushers in warm winds

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2018 seems to be flying by as we already head into spring.

As the temperatures get warmer (at least for some parts of the country), it just gets us at Wind Systems excited because that means the AWEA WINDPOWER show is just around the corner.

We realize that this year’s show in Chicago — insert Windy City joke here — is always the biggest wind industry event of the year. That’s why, for the first time, Wind Systems has added a WINDPOWER pre-show focus topic to give readers a little primer for our big show issue next month.

In addition to some extremely interesting articles on wind-turbine systems and parts, some of our regular features include some talking points from a few industry experts and insiders who will be at the Chicago event.

In our company profile, I talked with Mersen’s Benoit White. Along with all the amazing products Mersen offers the wind industry, White also talks about what attendees can expect from Mersen at WINDPOWER.

In this months’ Conversation, I had the honor of talking with Greg Hennigan, wind lubricants technical adviser with ExxonMobil. He goes into detail about how ExxonMobil’s SHC Gear 320 WT is the first industrial lubricant to receive the DNV GL conformity statement. It’s a big deal, and it should go a long way in helping to extend the life of turbines in the future.

Other articles in our inFocus section include one on how DNV GL and Group NIRE have established a new verification site for its remote sensing devices. Another article from Business Network for Offshore Wind discusses the current state and future trends for offshore wind energy in the U.S. and Canada. The experts from BNOW will be offering their insight on the industry on a regular basis for Wind Systems. I’m excited to include them and share their knowledge with you.

And finally, in Crosswinds, our friends from New Energy Update have talked with four senior executives in the U.S. wind sector. I hope you find the Q&A as informative as I did.

Spring has definitely sprung for us at Wind Systems. I hope our March issue serves as a taste of what’s to come for the industry as we get ready to head to Chicago.

Thanks for reading!