Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing recently launched its newly redesigned website, AuburnBearing.com. The revamped website features a clean, mobile-friendly design and improved functionality for a more user-friendly experience.
Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing’s revamped website features a clean, mobile-friendly design. (Courtesy: Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing)
The website now offers an easy-to-use part search and re-organized navigation menus and sub-menus to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need. Once the user finds the bearing they are looking for, they will have access to detailed product specifications and other useful resources, including datasheets and downloadable CAD model files. Individual parts may be added to an RFQ list/cart right from the product page, streamlining the request for quote process.
Key features of the website include:
A comprehensive online product catalog.
An intuitive product search.
Detailed product specs and data.
Downloadable 2D and 3D CAD model files.
An easy-to-use RFQ cart/list and submission process.
Founded in 1989, Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing is one of the oldest continuously operating thrust ball bearing manufacturers in the U.S. and is known for its exclusive line of “V” groove thrust bearings, which are designed to reduce rolling friction. Today, ABM specializes in manufacturing custom ball and roller thrust bearings in low- to mid- volume, as well as in custom manufacturing of precision machined components.
The worldwide wind-turbine composites market was valued at $5.6 billion in 2018 and is estimated to account for $9.1 billion, increasing at a growth rate of 5.8 percent over 2019-2027. Extensive use of wind-turbine composites in production of wind-turbine parts such as blades, nacelles, and others is expected to produce an upsurge in the market growth over the foreseeable time period.
Moreover, the market has been fragmented into different product types, application, and regions, whose elaborative details have been addressed in the given study subject to their individual market shares and sizes, current and projected growth rates, technologies, and regulatory framework. It also talks about recent developments in terms of company acquisitions, partnerships, mergers, and product launches that enable market players to score a competitive edge over the rivals.
Wind-turbine composites are mainly defined as components that are used to exhibit resilience and tensile strength across various applications. The use of these composites support the production of lightweight components with superior characteristics, resistance to corrosion, long product life, and comparatively lower maintenance costs.
The overall wind turbine composites industry has been fragmented into various segments including fiber type, resin type, applications, regions, and a widespread competitive landscape.
Considering the application gamut, the wind-turbine composites market has been sub-divided into blades and nacelles. The blades segment acquired a considerable stake of global wind turbine composites market share in 2018. Wind-turbine blades are airfoil shaped blades that are primarily used in harnessing of wind energy while also driving the rotor of a wind turbine.
Wind turbine blades constitute two faces: the pressure side and the suction side, which are combined together either by one or several integral webs linking the upper as well as the lower parts of the blade shell. Also, blades are mostly composed of fiberglass-reinforced polyester.
Whereas, the nacelles segment across the application spectrum is also likely to witness appreciable proceeds in the coming years.
In terms of geographical analysis, Asia Pacific seized a lion’s share of the wind-turbine composites industry in 2018, both in terms of volume and value, owing to the expanding wind-energy sector. Besides rising production of composites in the region, elevating demand for renewable energy sources and the growing demand for high-strength and lightweight materials for the production of various parts of these turbines are anticipated to drive the overall growth of the Asia Pacific wind turbine composites market in the upcoming years.
Above that, favorable government policies, wind-power advancement programs, stringent regulations concerning renewable energy, and adjusted feed-in tariffs for land based wind-power installation have stimulated the industry outlook over the years.
Vestas has received a 226 MW order for five wind energy projects in Russia from WEDF (Wind Energy Development Fund), a joint investment fund created on a parity basis by PJSC Fortum and JSC RUSNANO. With this fifth order from its framework agreement with RUSNANO and Fortum to supply wind energy solutions in Russia, Vestas increases its footprint in the country to a total capacity of almost 830 MW, underlining the company’s leading position in the growing Russian renewable sector.
The Russian projects will consist of V126-4.2 MW wind turbines. (Courtesy: Vestas)
Located in the Rostov and Astrakhan region, the projects will consist of V126-4.2 MW wind turbines with 87-meter towers and long-term Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service contracts, offering competitive levelized cost of energy.
“We are excited to continue our valued collaboration with RUSNANO and Fortum for these wind energy projects, which demonstrate once again Vestas’ ability to offer wind-energy solutions and services with market-leading cost of energy, that create maximum value for our customers,” said Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern & Central Europe. “This order underlines how we, together with our local partners, continue to strengthen the renewable energy sector in Russia.”
The contract includes supply, installation, and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as long-term Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service agreements. The projects will feature a VestasOnline® Business SCADA solution to lower turbine downtime and optimize the energy output.
Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021 and commissioning start is planned for the third quarter of 2021.
The Workboat Association, the trade, skills, and safety standards association for the workboat industry, recently announced a new technical working group with Andy Page of Chartwell Marine, a pioneer in next-generation vessel design, leading as chairman.
The group aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the workboat sector, in line with the Clean Maritime Plan, by taking a proactive approach to technical support for the supply chain and future technologies. Along-side decarbonization efforts, the group expects to turn its attention to compliance, safety, and specific rule requirements further down the line.
The group aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the workboat sector, in line with the Clean Maritime Plan. (Courtesy: The Workboat Association)
The first meeting was May 5, 2020, featuring a presentation from Ørsted Offshore delegates on “The route to carbon neutral offshore logistics,” which mapped out a pathway to decarbonization, while highlighting the importance for the industry to combine short term optimization with long-term technology research and development. Operators in attendance at this first meeting included Offshore Turbine Services, Maritime Craft Services, and Williams Shipping. In its future sessions, the group will provide a sounding board for members to explore the various technologies available and debate the pros and cons, while promoting a culture of education through shared experiences.
As offshore wind continues the move toward decarbonization, it is vital that the maritime supply chain is ready to meet these demands. Key players such as Ørsted Offshore have already set concrete goals ahead of government regulation. The working group aims to head off any future commercial challenges by aligning expectations across the industry. This supports a greater understanding within the sector on how technology can add value to assets, reduce costs and minimize harmful emissions.
Using the combined contacts of Chartwell Marine and The Workboat Association means that forthcoming meetings of the group will feature a broad range of industry stakeholders as both participants and speakers. Engine manufacturers, OEMs, and vessel operators can share viewpoints and long-term goals in a transparent, non-commercial setting — supporting industries such as offshore wind as they look to a coordinated approach to technical challenges.
For instance, the U.S. is leading on engine emission requirements criteria with EPA Tier 4 in place since January 2019. Chartwell Marine’s experience in that market has shown that the operational profile of vessels must be taken into account — and that conventional engines still have a huge role to play in the journey toward decarbonization. The need for a holistic approach to vessel design has become even more pressing as the workboat sector prepares for IMO Tier III regulations globally.
“The workboat sector is at a crossroads,” said Page, managing director of Chartwell Marine. “To truly activate its global potential, key stakeholders must come together and discuss any obstacles from a technical perspective. I wanted to share my own experience in hybrid boats and hull forms, fuel burn, and efficient operations with a view to fostering collaboration. It has been great to see so many others with completely different knowledge bases engaging to create an educational open forum — which ultimately benefits the whole industry.”
“Andy was an obvious choice to chair this technical group,” said Kerrie Forster, chief executive officer of The Workboat Association. “His impressive contact base from years of collaboration throughout the industry is matched by a genuine enthusiasm for engineering excellence. We are proud to be supporting both him and the wider industry through this working group, while continuing to take a proactive approach to tackling the main issues faced by our members. It is important that we continue to recruit a diverse membership from all areas of the industry — alongside vessel operators and naval architects, the input in these meetings from consultants and seafarers provides an invaluable perspective and we very much look forward to engaging further with a variety of stakeholders in future meetings.”
In partnership with global energy producer EDL, Vestas has secured service agreements for the three Australian wind farms of Coober Pedy in South Australia, Cullerin Range in New South Wales, and Wonthaggi in Victoria. Leveraging its world-class, multi-brand capabilities, Vestas will deliver the maintenance of 23 Senvion MM82 and MM92-2.05 MW wind turbines across the three sites for a total of 47 MW.
All agreements will begin immediately and feature the Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service program which is designed to maximize uptime and ensure optimized performance.
“The multi-brand service deals with EDL demonstrate how Vestas can leverage our market experience, broad service solutions capability, and extensive supply chain to provide value for our customers throughout the wind park lifecycle — whether that is servicing Vestas turbines or third party machines,” says Clive Turton, president of Vestas Asia Pacific. “We offer unmatched expertise to service more than 30 non-Vestas models, and we are proud that customers all throughout our region can turn to Vestas’ broad range of industry-leading and cost-efficient service solutions.”
“EDL is pleased to appoint Vestas as our maintenance service provider for the Coober Pedy, Cullerin Range, and Wonthaggi wind farms,” said James Harman, EDL Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to a safe and productive relationship with Vestas. They are an industry leader with experience in multi-brand service, and their wide-ranging geographic presence in Australia enables them to provide quality service teams adjacent to our wind assets.”
In securing this service order, Vestas has leveraged its existing expertise to service all major Senvion platforms including the MM82-2.05MW, MM92-2.05, 3.XM EBC, and 3.XM NES platforms.
As the wind industry’s largest multi-brand service provider, the new agreements take Vestas’ service portfolio of Senvion turbines in Australia to 287 MW, and to more than 300 MW across the Asia Pacific region. The partnership with EDL trails the recent unannounced securement of Vestas’ first Senvion service agreement in Asia, as well as two community-based Senvion sites in regional Victoria, Australia.
With more than 8 GW of non-Vestas turbines currently under service globally, Vestas’ high quality of execution and performance is underpinned by more than 10,000 dedicated service employees and a global network across 69 countries.
Atlantic Wind Transfers, based in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, has secured its second long-term O&M Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) contract in the U.S. to provide offshore marine support services for the Siemens Gamesa offshore wind turbines to be installed for the first offshore wind project in U.S. federal waters. The project is being developed by Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion Energy.
Atlantic Wind Transfers was selected by Dominion Energy through a competitive bid process and this contract solidifies the company’s role as a leader in crew transfer vessel services for the U.S. market along the East Coast. The crew transfer vessel will be based out of Virginia’s Hampton Roads region.
Atlantic Wind Transfers is the first CTV owner/operator in the U.S.; operating the “Atlantic Pioneer” built in 2016 originally under a contract with Deepwater Wind for the installation and operations and maintenance of the five GE 6 MW turbines off Block Island, Rhode Island. The Atlantic Pioneer has a long-term contract with Ørsted providing offshore marine support services for the Block Island Wind Farm, transporting GE technicians/cargo along with Ørsted personnel performing maintenance year-round.
Atlantic Wind Transfers was selected based upon its marine experience and safety track record in operating the first crew transfer vessel in the U.S. for the Block Island Wind Farm. (Courtesy: Atlantic Wind Transfers)
Atlantic Wind Transfers was selected based upon its marine experience and safety track record in operating the first crew transfer vessel in the U.S. for the Block Island Wind Farm.
“I am proud that my company was selected to provide CTV services for the first offshore wind farm in federal waters,” said Charles A. Donadio Jr., CEO of Atlantic Wind Transfers. “We are looking forward to bringing our years of experience, reliability, and safety standards to the table to make this offshore wind farm a huge success.”
Donadio said he plans to launch and commission his new-build Chartwell 24 CTV directly into the long-term charter contract upon delivery from Blount Boats in Warren, Rhode Island, later this year.
“This next-generation Jones Act compliant CTV design will set the bar to the highest standards meeting all U.S. Coast Guard Regulations and Certifications to operate up to 150 miles offshore,” he said. “It’s exciting to be involved and working on the first two offshore wind farms in the U.S.”
Atlantic Wind Transfers was founded by Rhode Island Fast Ferry owner Charles A. Donadio Jr. in May 2015. Donadio has more than 22 years of experience owning and operating passenger fast ferries to the islands of Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as other locations throughout the United States. Atlantic Wind Transfers is the first Offshore Wind Farm Support company in the U.S. to provide crew and cargo transfer services for offshore wind installations and long-term operations and maintenance. Atlantic Wind Transfers commissioned the first Crew Transfer Vessel in the U.S. “Atlantic Pioneer” after signing a contract with Deepwater Wind.
Leosphere, a Vaisala company that specializes in developing, manufacturing, and servicing turnkey wind Lidar instruments for wind energy, aviation, meteorology, and air quality, recently announced WindCube® Nacelle — a Lidar that mounts on the nacelle of all turbines to measure the wind conditions at hub height — now has the unprecedented capability to measure up to 700 meters.
“Whether onshore or offshore, the WindCube Nacelle’s extraordinary measurement range and accuracy provides a complete picture of the wind profile — whatever the turbine rotor size,” said Alexandre Sauvage, CEO of Leosphere. “As turbines continue to grow taller, performance testing and verification becomes increasingly important as underperformance equates to reduced power output and significant lost revenue.”
Fully compliant with wind industry best practices and an upcoming IEC standard, the WindCube Nacelle mounts temporarily on or fully integrates into the nacelle and enables operators and wind turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to efficiently and accurately assess turbine performance.
The WindCube Nacelle mounts temporarily on or fully integrates into the nacelle. (Courtesy: Leosphere)
The primary benefits and features of WindCube Nacelle include:
Greater range of measurement for onshore and offshore: With a minimum range of 50 meters, WindCube Nacelle now extends to 700 meters (nearly doubling the previous maximum measurement range of 450 meters).
Serves all turbines: The Lidar measures horizontally at hub height from all turbines, no matter the size or rotor diameter. Plus, 20 simultaneous measurement distances enable in-depth analysis.
Efficient Power Performance Testing (PPT): It is the only Lidar on the market providing rapid data completion that meets the PPT requirements of the largest wind turbines, ultimately reducing operational cost while increasing efficiency.
Easy to deploy and maintain: Simple installation, lightweight components, full integration capability, and straightforward configuration processes ensure fast time-to-value on any wind farm.
Designed to simplify information obtained by WindCube Nacelle, the recently launched WindCube Insights Analytics — a proprietary data analytics software tool — is the first in the industry to maximize both Lidar data and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) turbine performance intelligence. By seamlessly allowing operators to perform quick, easy, and transparent Power Performance Testing calculations, with IEC-compliant filtering, customers are more available to focus on the most essential performance analysis work.
Fort Myers, Florida- based Golden Ratio Turbine Concepts, LLC (GRTC), a Golden Ratio wind and hydro rotary apparatus developer, has successfully wind tested its newest Golden Spiral vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) prototype.
GRTC stated the new Golden Spiral VAWT design conforms to its patented extended spiral leverage arm technology that increases torque. The design is based on Golden Ratio geometry and elements that create a wind turbine of superb balance in motion.
“The new VAWT is graceful, quiet, and begins spinning in a only a breath of air flow,” said inventor and GRTC founder James Walker. “The new Golden Spiral VAWT prototype has repeatedly proven the design concept.”
The new rotor configuration differs in its elements and appearance from previous GRTC models, but it is deeply rooted in the inventor’s patented concept, which creates more torque than a traditional radial rotor due to its Golden Ratio Spiral.
“Popular small wind horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) devices are often rated at 12.5 m/s or 28 mph, but average wind speeds are only 10-12 mph (or less) and their rated power outputs are rare,” Walker said.
Wind energy is calculated by the cube of the velocity and whereas a 28 mph wind has a certain amount of energy available in the turbine’s swept area — a 14 mph will only have 1/8th of that energy, according to Walker. As an example, devices rated at 1 KW in 28mph will only produce 0.125 kW at 14 mph (at best). In addition, HAWT machines must constantly hunt the wind direction in order to point into it. This seeking action causes loss of RPM and power.
Walker adds that winds are not sources of constant air flow but rather contain moments with puffs, lulls, and variations in direction, any of these being problematic to a HAWT device while the new GRTC Golden Spiral VAWT prototype uses a 3D Golden Ratio Spiral logarithmic convex and concave surface that converts these air flow changes into a rotational force at the turbine’s rotor shaft regardless of air flow variations.
Typically, wind turbines are designed to obtain their rated outputs at higher wind speeds (between 25 to 28 mph), while GRTC is working on providing better results in lighter winds speeds more common in normal, real-world, onsite conditions such as a house, cabin, boat, or camper. It is in this environment that the silent and attractive new GRTC device has a place in the future of the small wind turbine industry.
GRTC is working to improve its Golden Spiral prototype with a slightly different wing mold, new materials, and innovative construction techniques to make the next model more efficient in the more common light winds and superior in infrequent higher winds.
Turbines that optimize lower wind levels and mitigate hurricane risk could bring zero-subsidy offshore wind to the Gulf of Mexico, experts told New Energy Update.
Two new studies by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have revealed the huge potential for offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico.
NREL’s analysis, commissioned by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), indicates there is 508 GW of technically feasible offshore wind potential in Gulf of Mexico waters, equivalent to half of total U.S. power generation capacity.
Offshore developers are using turbine advances and economies of scale to drive down costs.
In its study, NREL found that some Gulf of Mexico sites could host zero-subsidy offshore wind power soon after 2030. Based on a 600 MW wind farm with 10 MW turbines, the estimated levelized cost of energy (LCOE) could be as low as $70/MWh for sites near the shore in Texas and western Louisiana, it said.
“Cost trajectories from the modeled data indicate that costs will continue to decrease beyond 2030 and that the cross-over for economic viability may be just beyond this time horizon,” it said. Turbine capacities are rising fast and this could accelerate cost reductions. Siemens Gamesa plans to install its new 14 MW model in Virginia by 2026.
Rapid advances in turbine technology are opening up new markets. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The competitiveness of Gulf of Mexico offshore wind projects will depend on new technology solutions that optimize the unique site conditions, experts told New Energy Update.
Average wind speeds in the Gulf of Mexico are 7 to 9 meters per second (m/s), compared with 9 to 11 m/s in northern Europe. In addition, hurricanes regularly barrel through the Gulf, stressing structures and disrupting logistics.
These challenges are expected to increase CAPEX, but the region also offers potential savings, including gains in operations and maintenance (O&M) efficiency, experts said.
Gulf of Mexico wind farms could supply several U.S. electricity markets, including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) networks, said Steve Dayney, head of Offshore, North America, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
Other potential customers include utilities operating in Southeastern states that border the Gulf and are not part of an organized electricity market, he said.
The Gulf of Mexico hosts a third of the United States’ shallow water offshore wind potential, said Mike Celata, Gulf of Mexico BOEM regional director.
The gradual increase in water depth in the Gulf is conducive to turbine installation and other advantages include lower average wave heights, shallow water, and proximity to oil and gas infrastructure and expertise. Floating wind developers looking to install in deeper water areas could also benefit from local oil and gas manufacturing and offshore engineering resources.
The main challenges for Gulf of Mexico developers will be lower wind speeds, softer soils, and hurricane risk.
Gulf of Mexico projects may require turbines with longer rotor diameters and blades with lower solidity than in other offshore wind markets to maximize efficiency, Celata said.
The low average wind conditions may require “increased rotor diameters, with specific power ratings between 230 W/m2 and 300 W/m2,” NREL said in its report.
The soils and wind speeds favor jacket-type substructures rather than monopiles, NREL noted.
In total, the enhancements required for lower regional wind speeds are expected to increase turbine costs by 3 percent to 14 percent, depending on the site, it said.
Hurricanes regularly sweep into the Gulf of Mexico, bringing higher waves and extreme winds.
“Offshore wind developers may have to create specialized designs that ensure turbines, towers, blades, and substructures can withstand these extreme weather events,” Celata said.
Turbines may also require intelligent control systems to manage the extreme loads, he said.
Developers can use the experience of regional oil and gas players to design appropriate substructures, Celata noted.
Project partners will need to conduct site-specific risk assessments to identify design enhancements or load mitigation strategies, as commonly-used design standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) do not cover all the risks, NREL warned. Load mitigation could include on-board power supply to maintain yaw functioning through the storms.
Insurance costs could be 25 percent higher than in other offshore wind regions, NREL said.
The financial cost of lower wind speeds and hurricane mitigation in the Gulf of Mexico may be offset by other benefits, such as lower average sea states and warmer ocean waters that reduce O&M costs, Celata said.
Further offshore, relatively low wave heights will expand the window for O&M procedures, allowing more frequent access to turbines and shorter downtimes, Dayney noted.
Harsher wave conditions closer to shore could prompt a shift in vessel strategies compared with Northern Europe.
Wind farms sited closer to shore may require a specialized service operations vessel (SOV) to perform maintenance. Further offshore, readily available crew transfer vessels (CTVs) could be used, unlike in Europe, where SOVs are typically required.
The ALL Family of Companies is getting a major infusion of new Link-Belt cranes, with a total of 16 new units slated for delivery in the coming months.
The package includes four 60-USt HTC-8660 truck cranes, four 50-USt TCC-500 telecrawlers, four 80-USt TCC-800 telecrawlers, one 140-USt TCC-1400 telecrawler, one 100-USt 100 RT rough-terrain crane, and two 200-USt 248-HSL lattice boom crawlers.
Link-Belt models are prized for their ease of transport and fast setup once at the jobsite.
“Link-Belt truck cranes are staples of our daily taxi fleet and the addition of the Rough Terrain and crawler cranes will help in supporting our Bare Rental fleet,” said Joe Ruddell, retail sales manager of Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental, a member of the ALL Family of Companies. “The variety Link-Belt offers helps us to serve a wide range of customer needs.”
The package includes four of the new TCC-800 80-USt telecrawlers. (Courtesy: ALL Crane)
The package includes four of the new TCC-800 80-USt telecrawlers, the sixth telecrawler model Link-Belt has introduced.
“To us, it’s an ideal upgrade from the TCC-750 that we’ve loved and relied on for years,” Ruddell said.
The new TCC-800 model offers similar features to the 750 with an additional five tons of capacity and five more feet of full power main boom for 120 total feet. The TCC-800 is the first in Link-Belt’s telecrawler lineup to feature the variable equipped and monitored track positions (V-CALC) system, which allows the operator the added flexibility to operate the crane with side frames in asymmetric configurations.
“Link-Belt’s 50- and 80-ton TCC units can be transported in single loads, which makes them an economical choice for customers,” Ruddell said. “Both the TCC-500 and TCC-800 will see a lot of use on power line jobs, small steel and precast plank projects as well. With the fully retractable boom and variable track widths, they will be able to crawl into tight spaces where conventional crawlers cannot access, which will make them a very popular choice for all types of projects.”
Also new is the RT 100, a two-axle rough-terrain crane that replaces a three-axle version. It is expected to be used for a variety of projects, including bare rental work, with the flexibility to be used in mid-size steel and iron work, precast projects, and setting rebar for foundations.
Delivery of cranes in the 16-unit package has already begun, with Link-Belt production expected to keep up with the order throughout the balance of 2020 and completing in 2021.
Terma North America has reached a milestone by installing their first two radar-activated aircraft detection lighting systems (ADLS) for wind farms: one in New Hampshire and the other in North Dakota.
The ADLS is designed to balance the dark sky desires of the surrounding community with the safety regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by only enabling the wind-turbine obstruction lights when an aircraft approaches within three nautical miles of a wind farm.
“Terma’s ADLS will keep the lights off up to 99 percent of the time, which will greatly reduce the visual impact on surrounding communities,” said Jeff Schleicher, Terma’s senior manager for Wind Energy Services.
The ADLS is designed to balance the dark sky desires of the surrounding community with the safety regulations of the FAA. (Courtesy: Terma North America)
The installation proved to be rather challenging due to high wind combined with a cold winter. As a result, Terma’s engineers, along with an on-site team of technicians, designed and developed a heated tent system that could be installed and used at the top of the radar tower to facilitate installations in almost any conditions.
According to Schleicher, several wind farms, both new and existing (i.e. retrofits) in the U.S. and Canada have been permitted for ADLS technology, and Terma expects to have installed systems in almost a dozen states by the end of the year.
“Terma North America is proud to support green energy programs by minimizing the impact on local communities without compromising aircraft safety,” said Frank Christophersen, director of Surveillance and Missions Systems at Terma North America. “Our ADLS solution will help secure local community support for even more wind energy projects in the future.”
A note on terminology: Canada uses the term aircraft detection system (ADS) for the same systems that in the U.S. are referred to as ADLS. In most of Europe, these solutions are known as obstruction lighting control (OLC) systems.
Siemens has been awarded an order from Danish customer Semco Maritime to provide the main electrical equipment for the electrical service platform (ESP) of the offshore wind project Mayflower Wind LLC (Mayflower Wind). The project is in a federal lease area approximately 25 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, in the United States, and will have a capacity to generate up to 1.6 GW of renewable energy. Siemens will supply the components for Semco Maritime by 2022.
Earlier this year, a joint venture between the Danish companies Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime was chosen by end customer Mayflower Wind — a joint venture of Shell & EDP Renewables — to design and construct the electrical service platform of the offshore project Mayflower. Semco Maritime has now awarded Siemens with the contract for the delivery of the high-voltage electrical equipment for the ESP, including three 275 kV/265 MVAr shunt reactors, a 72 kV HV gas insulated switchgear (GIS), three 275 kV MV GIS systems, integrated conditioning monitoring system, and SCADA and protection systems.
The Mayflower wind project will have a capacity to generate up to 1.6 GW of renewable energy. (Courtesy: Siemens Gamesa)
“At Semco Maritime, we have, for a number of years, created a very strong track record to deliver competitive quality projects in electrical infrastructure for offshore wind,” said Carsten Nielsen, senior vice president of Renewable Energy at Semco Maritime. “We are looking forward to the cooperation with Siemens, who is a competent and reliable partner.”
“We are proud of the opportunity to bring our expertise in offshore transmission to Mayflower Wind, a project that will lead the way for increasing the share of clean, renewable energy in the U.S. energy mix,” said Beatrix Natter, CEO of the Transmission division at Siemens Energy. “The offshore Center of Competence in Denmark did an outstanding job in creating a comprehensive, tailor-made solution for this exciting new project, making the best use of our broad transmission portfolio.”
The system solution is specifically designed to significantly reduce both the size and weight of the platform, lowering the need for the use of steel in the construction, and thus making the platform more resource- and cost-effective.
Leading renewable energy consultancy and service provider, Natural Power, has provided technical due diligence on behalf of Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) for a trio of Nordic wind projects.
GIG has reached financial close on the portfolio of onshore wind farms:
43 MW Hornamossen wind farm in Sweden’s Jönköping municipality.
47 MW Tysvaer wind farm in Rogaland county, south western Norway.
79.8 MW Buheii wind farm in Kvinesdal, southern Norway.
The Norwegian projects will provide Eramet Norway’s Norwegian smelters with predictably priced power throughout an 18-year power purchase agreement.
The Norwegian projects will provide Eramet Norway’s Norwegian smelters with predictably priced power throughout an 18-year power purchase agreement. (Courtesy: Natural Power)
“We are delighted to have been able to support GIG and the lenders on another landmark transaction in the Nordic region,” said Neil Marshall, senior project manager at Natural Power. “This represents the third major transaction where we have worked with GIG.
Through our review of the projects, we were able to help identify and mitigate the unique challenges that accompany the construction and operation of wind projects in this region, including climatic conditions, site topography, and planning constraints. We were also able to help identify the benefits that can be realized in energy-yield predictions by considering the projects as a portfolio, rather than individual sites.”
Now that the financing has been completed, Natural Power will continue to support the portfolio by acting as the lender’s technical adviser on all three projects.
“Working on behalf of the lenders, we will draw on our knowledge of the projects from the due diligence phase and our industry expertise to provide technical advice,” said Shane Bermingham, engineering design lead at Natural Power. “We will provide construction and operational monitoring on behalf of the debt finance to ensure that the projects are progressing in line with their contracts and delivered in line with the program schedule.”
In addition to supporting Norwegian industry, GIG is using a number of Norwegian supply chain companies to deliver both Buheii and Tysvaer, bringing new investment into the region and supporting high-value jobs throughout the project’s construction and operations. About 200 jobs will be supported during the construction of both projects.
Hornamossen, which is currently under construction, is due to be completed by end of the year.
Natural Power’s global due diligence team provides services throughout all stages of the transaction cycle, from initial risk assessment and reporting in early transaction stages through to comprehensive reporting for credit-committee or data room presentation at final bid stage or financial close.
Ingeteam, a global technology group specializing in electric power conversion, recently announced it commissioned 50 GW of electrical wind power conversion equipment to date, thanks to consistently strong sales of wind-power converters and wind-control cabinets.
Ingeteam entered the wind industry in 1995 while working on the development of variable-speed machines. It was the first manufacturer to launch DFIG converters in the market; 25 years later, this technology is still the gold standard in the industry, and with 50GW on the clock, Ingeteam’s position as the world supplier of wind-power converters in terms of installed capacity remains unchallenged.
The Ingeteam production facility in Spain. (Courtesy: Ingeteam)
“This steady performance is largely supported by our company’s long-term commitment to continuous innovation, backed by industry-leading R&D investment levels; 5 percent of the company’s turnover is re-invested in new product developments and over 400 employees work in R&D labs,” said Alberto Barcia, commercial director of Ingeteam’s Wind Business Unit.
“Our sales were also strengthened by timely investments in key emerging markets, notably Brazil and India,” he said. “We were able to establish our company as the leader in these two key wind markets, which have been key important engines of our growth ever since.”
In 2019, Ingeteam reported once again a healthy growth of its global wind business with 4GW delivered worldwide. The company offers a wide range of proven, in-house developed electrical equipment up to 15 MW for both onshore and offshore applications. Thanks to its localized and agile manufacturing strategy, Ingeteam can supply its customers flexibly from cutting-edge production facilities in Europe, Asia, and North and South America, and it can consistently meet the industry’s highest-level quality standards.
Earlier this year, Ingeteam launched its latest innovation, a new-generation of wind-power converters developed for high power DFIG application ranging from 6 to 8 MW. This new converter technology is grid-friendly and includes FRT, SCR, and SSR features. It complies with the most stringent grid codes, enabling it to be deployed anywhere in the world. In particular, they are the technology of choice for emerging markets in areas such as India or Brazil.
ArcVera Renewables, a leading provider of consulting and technical services for wind, solar, and storage projects, has employed Ron Nierenberg in its wind-energy team. Nierenberg is an award-winning wind industry veteran and meteorological specialist with 40 years of experience.
Ron Nierenberg (Courtesy: ArcVera Renewables)
Nierenberg has more than four decades of experience with meteorological consulting in wind energy. His expertise ranges from prospecting and project analysis in development, to due diligence and strategic/operational climatological studies. He has designed, implemented, and analyzed wind-energy assessment programs to optimize production from wind-farm developments for hundreds of clients on more than 21 GW of wind-farm projects since 1978.
Nierenberg has been involved with the first wind-energy facilities in most states. One such project was the original wind study of the Altamont Pass, which led to the installation of $1.5 billion of wind turbines in the region. Nierenberg has worked on projects in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, China, India, and Europe, which fits seamlessly with ArcVera’s renewable energy experience on six continents. He has designed and managed federally funded wind-energy studies and has authored DOE/NREL (or SERI) reports.
In April 1998, Nierenberg was given a special award for making critical contributions to the development of wind energy in the U.S. and around the world, presented by the American Wind Energy Association.
“We are excited to have Ron join and enhance our powerful wind energy team,” said Gregory S. Poulos, CEO of ArcVera Renewables. “With his tremendous knowledge of wind energy-specific meteorology, wind-project experience relevant to rapid and insightful guidance, and undeniable zest for wind energy problem solving, I am confident that he will make important contributions to our clients new and old throughout the world.”
Enel, through its U.S. renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, has begun operating a 50-MW expansion of the High Lonesome wind farm in Upton and Crockett counties in Texas, increasing the largest operational wind project in the group’s global renewable portfolio to 500 MW. The company also connected to the grid its 105 MW Riverview and 29.4 MW Castle Rock Ridge II wind farms in Alberta, Canada.
“The commissioning of these three new wind farms is further evidence that Enel remains committed to growing its renewable portfolio worldwide,” said Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of Enel Green Power. “This commitment has also been underscored by the completion of over 400 MW of renewable plants worldwide in the first quarter of the year, allowing renewables to greatly exceed conventional generation in our portfolio both in terms of capacity and production. While prioritizing health and safety, looking ahead we will continue generating new sustainable value through our emission-free energy across the globe, in accordance with the group’s strategic plan.”
The investment in the construction of the 500 MW High Lonesome wind farm in Texas amounts to about $720 million. The total investment for Castle Rock Ridge II and Riverview amounts to more than $210 million Canadian.
In Texas, Enel also operates the 63 MW Snyder wind farm in Scurry County. (Courtesy: Enel Green Power)
The 500 MW High Lonesome facility is due to generate around 1.9 TW/h annually while avoiding the emission of more than 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year. The project was expanded by the 50 MW that were just connected to the grid thanks to a 12-year, renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) announced in December 2019 with food and beverage company Danone North America, a public benefit corporation and the world’s largest certified B Corporation®, for physical delivery of the renewable electricity associated with a 20.6 MW portion of the 50 MW High Lonesome expansion. The agreement between Enel and Danone North America will provide enough electricity to produce the equivalent of almost 800 million cups of yogurt and more than 80 million gallons of milk each year and support the food-and-beverage company’s commitment to securing 100 percent of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
In Texas, Enel operates the 63 MW Snyder wind farm in Scurry County and the first 252 MW phase of the Roadrunner solar plant in Upton County. The second 245 MW phase of the Roadrunner solar plant is under construction and, once completed, Roadrunner will be one of the largest solar plants in the state.
The Castle Rock Ridge II and Riverview wind farms will supply their net power output and renewable energy credits to the Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”) under two 20-year renewable energy support agreements (RESAs), awarded in 2017 through a tender launched by AESO. Located in the town of Pincher Creek, the wind farms are expected to generate about 493 GW/h annually, avoiding approximately 335,500 tons of CO2 emissions per year. In the country, Enel Green Power also operates the 76.2 MW Castle Rock Ridge I wind farm in Pincher Creek, which began operations in 2012, for an overall portfolio of more than 210 MW in Canada.
The construction process for High Lonesome, Riverview, and Castle Rock Ridge II followed Enel Green Power’s sustainable construction site model, a collection of best practices aimed at minimizing the impact of plant construction on the environment. This includes recycling paper, cardboard, aluminum, ink cartridges, oil and grease, along with the use of solar-powered lights and reusable water containers for workers. In the final stages of construction, Enel closely monitored the emergent COVID-19 pandemic and responded to protect the health of its workers and the community. While abiding by the guidance of public officials, the company implemented strict travel guidelines and enhanced sanitation, as crews implemented safe working habits and physical distancing instructions.
Furthermore, Enel North America announced more than $1.3 million in contributions to relief efforts across the U.S. and Canada.
Enel Green Power has three projects under construction in the United States, namely the 236.5 MW White Cloud wind project in Missouri, the 299 MW Aurora wind project in North Dakota, and the aforementioned 245 MW second phase of the Roadrunner solar project in Texas. These projects represent a substantial portion of Enel Green Power’s expected 1 GW growth in the U.S. and Canada in 2020.
Enel Green Power North America is a leading owner and operator of renewable energy plants in North America, with a presence in 19 U.S. states and one Canadian province. The company operates 70 plants with a managed capacity of about 5.8 GW powered by renewable wind, hydropower, geothermal, and solar energy.
Enel Green Power, within the Enel Group, is dedicated to the development and operation of renewables across the world, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector with a managed capacity of more than 46 GW across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants.
