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Coconino Community College Airstreams Renewables Inc. Northeastern Junior College Ecotech Institute Redstone College Des Moines Area Community College Iowa Lakes Community College Northeast Iowa Community College Vatterott College Western Iowa Tech Iowa State University College of Southern Idaho Danville Area Community College Heartland Community College Highland Community College Illinois Valley Community College Sauk Valley Community College Ivy Tech Community College Cloud County Community College University of Massachusetts-Amherst/Wind Energy Center Delta College Kalamazoo Valley Community College Minnesota West Community and Technical College Riverland Community College Crowder College Pinnacle Career Institute Appalachian State University Bismarck State College |
Lake Region State College North Dakota Community College Certificate; Associate’s www.lrsc.edu (701) 662-1519 Northeast Community College Clovis Community College Mesalands Community College Clinton Community College Hudon Valley Community College Lorain County Community College Canadian Valley Technology Center High Plains Technology Center Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Columbia Gorge Penn State Mitchell Technical Institute Amarillo College Clarendon College South Plains College Texas State Technical College Harlingen Texas State Technical College Texas Tech University/National Wind Institute Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Walla Walla Community College Lakeshore Technical College Madison Area Technical College Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College Casper College Laramie County Community College |
March 2014
Wind Educational Institutions In The U.S.
Conversation with Kevin Alewine
Take us through your process in developing the conference program for WINDPOWER 2014. What were your initial thoughts and concerns?
After working with AWEA to decide on some broad topic categories, many of which have proven popular at previous WINDPOWER events, they always kick off the educational program with a call for proposed papers and presentations on a very wide variety of subjects— development, finance, technology, construction, O&M, etc. There are two program chairs for the event; in this case Jayshree Desai from Clean Line Partners is the other chair focusing on the financial side of the industry. Together with the AWEA staff we put together a panel of session’s chairs who can really focus the program and keep the sessions both engaging and informative. I believe we were able to put together a real dream team this year and I am very excited about both the quality and variety of the program. Our goal was to create a program where every session had valuable insight and key takeaways that attendees will be able to build on and improve their business or work, and in turn make this industry grow and prosper. AWEA received hundreds of great proposals and the team met in October to begin to shape the individual sessions, filling in with other industry experts as needed to round out the sessions. Some of the top abstracts that we couldn’t fit into a session will be presented as posters on display in the exhibit area. Attendees will even be able to vote on their favorite.
Were there any topics that stood out in your minds as essential for inclusion in the program?
This year, we are expanding the emphasis on operations and maintenance from several viewpoints as growing the profitability of existing sites is critical in today’s power market. There will still be a lot of exciting information on site development, new technologies and, of course, tax and finance issues.
On the technical side, there are both practical sessions on wind resource planning, innovative construction planning, equipment reliability and new components. There will also be a good session featuring a turbine manufacturer round table and another, one of my favorites, featuring a panel of owners discussing their O&M successes and methodologies.
In addition, there are several scientific sessions where the latest ideas for improving equipment and wind park design are explored as well as new challenges and solutions for offshore design construction. On the less technical side, there are many great topics including how to gather local support for projects, market updates and reports on the state and local policy fronts.
How will this year’s conference topics be structured?
There will be seven concurrent tracks at WINDPOWER – The Business of Wind, Project Development, Driving Demand, Wind Resource and Planning, Technology and the Future, Wind Project Operations and Community/Distributed Wind. The Business of Wind will examine both the onshore and offshore markets in the U.S. and the latest in financing projects; Project Development will delve into engaging stakeholders and various siting challenges; Driving Demand takes a deep look at utilities and various market mechanisms driving wind power here and globally; Wind Resource Planning will broach a wide range of topics including resource assessment, integration, and interconnection; Technology and the Future will take both a technical and scientific look into turbine components and subsystems, wind plant aerodynamics, future of technology and the top executives from leading OEMs will share their perspectives; my favorite track, of course, will be the Wind Project Operations where we will look at the latest thoughts regarding operations , maintenance safety , performance and reliability; and finally a dedicated track focused on issues affecting Community and Distributed Wind.
Who should attend these sessions?
These sessions are really put together for people who are active in the wind industry already and need good information for planning and forecasting the development or operation of successful, profitable projects. Of course, there is a ton of information for those who are looking to enter the wind energy market at any level, so I guess the sessions really function as an introduction as well as master classes for professionals, depending on your perspective.
How will participants benefit from the conference sessions?
New attendees will get a broad exposure to the many hot topics that affect today’s industry as well as good insight into the future of wind. The wind professional will learn new approaches to assure successful projects whether their interest is in development or operation. Additionally, the exhibits will offer a lot of opportunities to explore new information and technology in ways that are different from the presentations.
What are your expectations as far as attendance and participation?
AWEA is predicting a good year as the industry seems to be stabilizing and the future is looking bright. Las Vegas is a popular and inexpensive venue for an event of this size. There will be well over 400 booths at the exhibition and we expect more than 10,000 people to attend.
What are knowledge hub sessions?
In order to allow for more in-depth discussion or for more sensitive questions, the presenters and the session chairs will stay in the room after the sessions and will be available to meet and talk with attendees.. This is a great networking time for the attendees and valuable as additional information on the session is discussed during this time.
After the conference is over, how can industry personnel best put what they’ve learned into action?
I always learn a lot from these sessions and make some great industry contacts as well. We really try to get the experts and the decision makers together. The overarching goal of the industry is to reduce the effective cost of generation and these discussions of best practices, new technologies and innovative ways to improve reliability should prove profitable to everyone.
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Vestas’ 8 MW prototype takes distinction of the world’s most powerful operating wind turbine
Vestas’ first V164-8.0 MW prototype wind turbine has successfully produced its first kWh of electricity, making it the worlds’ most powerful turbine in operation.
“We have now completed the production, testing, and installation of the V164-8.0 MW as planned, thanks to the team’s intense effort during a time when Vestas has reduced its investments and lowered fixed costs. We now look forward to evaluating the turbine’s performance on site,” said Vestas’ Chief Technology Officer Anders Vedel.
The turbine, installed at the Danish National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines in Østerild, will be closely monitored in the coming months to further validate reliability and energy output. The turbine’s installation is a key milestone towards ensuring maximum business case certainty for customers investing in offshore wind. The V164-8.0 MW will be the flagship product for the offshore joint venture between Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
“The V164-8.0 MW delivers industry-leading power output, based on Vestas’ proven technology solutions. Combined with the experience and capabilities of both Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this puts us in a strong position in the growing offshore market,” said Jens Tommerup, President of Vestas Offshore.
The V164-8.0 MW is the world’s most powerful wind turbine, with one unit capable of supplying electricity for 7,500 average European households. With a 140-meter tower, the turbine at Østerild has a tip height of 220 meters. The swept area of more than 21,000 m2, nearly the equivalent of four American football fields, increases the amount of energy captured, while reducing operational and maintenance costs by enabling customers to run fewer, larger turbines, with fewer service visits.
Given the necessary pipeline of orders, serial production of the V164-8.0 MW turbine can begin in 2015.
Editors Desk
Of course, the denial would then likely give way to anger—possibly even rage—toward Congress for dragging its heels on the PTC renewal.
Shortly, we’d realize that there’s really no sense in getting angry. After all, we should have anticipated this happening. It’s regrettable, but it’s already been done.
But what if it doesn’t get better, we ponder as we begin to slide into a deep, dark well of depression. Will there ever be another 2012?
Finally, after coming to grips with the reality of our situation, we would pick ourselves up by the boot straps and return to regularly scheduled programming.
Oddly enough, none of that happened.
Did we somehow transcend the stages of grief and move directly into a period of acceptance and renewal?
I hope, dear reader, you have come to the conclusion that my tongue is pressed firmly in my cheek.
Clearly, we cannot apply the stages of human grief to our industry. But that doesn’t mean the sentiment is necessarily lost. We as individuals or companies acted out all of these stages concurrently as we were awaiting the PTC renewal.
Upon renewal, we instantly moved to the “acceptance” stage, for the sole reason that we had no other option. We were short on time, and there was work that needed to be done.
That was precisely what this industry did—go to work.
At the end of 2013 there are more than 12 GW of wind projects underway in the U.S. Nearly 11 GW of those projects began in the fourth quarter of last year. By comparison, the total capacity installed during the U.S. wind industry’s record-shattering performance in 2012 was just over 13 GW.
Our industry followed one record-breaking year with another record-breaking year. That may sound like an eternal optimist clawing at a silver lining, but it’s important to consider the resiliency and focus that this industry possesses—particularly at crunch time. We’ve proven time and time again that we have the fast-twitch muscles that make the sprint possible.
The philosophy behind Wind Systems’ recently adopted tagline—”Giving Wind Direction”—illustrates our desire to push for long-term growth and sustainability for this industry. With Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) taking the helm of the Senate Finance Committee, the industry may have found an ally in developing long-term incentives and policy for the industry. However, one Senator alone cannot pass legislation. There is never any guarantee of a PTC renwal.
Let us then proceed with a guarded optimism—prepared to start building the endurance in our slow-twitch fibers.
Thanks for reading!
AWEA 4Q Market Report: Record Construction Numbers To Keep Industry Busy
The big story of 2012 was a record number of megawatts installed—over 13,000, in fact. Meanwhile, the American Wind Energy Association’s recently released Fourth Quarter Market Report showed that 2013 ended with a bang of another kind—in the area of construction starts. At the end of 2013 there were more U.S. wind power megawatts under construction than ever in history, with over 12,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in the process of getting built. Those megawatts were reflected in the strong uptick in turbine orders discussed in this space last month.
The PTC Factor
The dynamics that set the stage for 2013 were cemented in 2012, when (as mentioned last month) the threatened expiration of the PTC at the end of that year caused the supply chain to dramatically slow down from a dearth of orders, even as project developers turned in a record year, completing wind farms prior to the scheduled expiration.
The result for 2013 was that developers needed months to ramp up their project pipeline, while supply-chain factories gradually started seeing the orders come back in and could begin ramping back up themselves. As a result, a record 12,000-plus megawatts were under construction at the end of the year.
The one-year extension for the first time required that projects must start construction, rather than be completed, by year end. This policy tweak was a must because the industry needed time to ramp back up after the PTC did not get extended until Jan. 1, 2013. As a result of the past two years’ dynamics, while the industry turned in record numbers of under-construction megawatts, the project completion tally for 2013 totaled 1,084 MW.
Beyond the PTC: Other Trends
Aside from the PTC, a key driver to American wind energy’s success is that, remarkably, it is now 43 percent cheaper than it was in 2009. The resulting competitive rates for wind energy have gotten utilities’ attention, to say the least. In another sign of the industry’s strength, fourth-quarter tallies show that last year a record number of power purchase agreements (PPAs) were signed, as utilities continued to display ever-increasing understanding of not only wind power’s cost-competitiveness, but the ease with which it can be successfully integrated onto the U.S. grid. The more than 60 gigawatts of total installed wind power as of 2013 made up an important part of the U.S. power supply last year, with wind actively supporting the grid both in day-to-day operations and in times of extreme stress on the power system—specifically during the winter months that were characterized by extreme cold snaps that strained the system and even shut down fossil plants.
As wind delivers, utilities want more. At least 60 PPAs for nearly 8,000 MW were signed by utilities and corporate purchasers in 2013, of which 5,200 MW have not yet started construction. Figure 1
In 2013, as utilities inked PPAs, they regularly expressed enthusiastic support for wind energy and its benefits. “With these long-term power purchase agreements, we’re adding a significant amount of Oklahoma wind energy, bringing more diversity to our fuel mix, and doing so at a price that will provide substantial savings for our customers,” said Stuart Solomon, president and CEO of AEP-Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, in a statement regarding the utility’s purchase of nearly 600 MW of wind.
Drilling down a bit deeper in the fourth-quarter numbers reveals where the most activity is. Some of the states poised for major growth in wind energy in coming years include Texas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota and Michigan.
On the supply-chain side, meanwhile, there are now over 5,600 MW of turbine orders placed, with major manufacturing facilities active in places such as Colorado, Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota. U.S. manufacturing production capacity has ramped up dramatically, and in fact the largest turbine order in the history of the U.S. wind industry was placed in the Fourth Quarter of 2013. The 1,050-MW order, which was placed by MidAmerican, was secured by original equipment manufacturer Siemens Energy. The turbine manufacturer’s Fort Madison, Iowa, facility will produce all the blades, while the nacelles and hubs will be assembled at the Siemens plant in Hutchinson, Kan.
Thus, as the industry continues to seek the same kind of long-term policy stability under which other industries operate, it keeps advancing. The ramp-up, from construction starts to supply-chain action, is expected to keep the industry busy well beyond 2014.
This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (OCI-1053575), an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and the Fellowships for Young Energy Scientists program of the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, which is part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
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Third-Party Certification Helps Harvest Wind Powerâs Full Potential
The global demand for energy, coupled with the desire for more sustainable energy options, has generated increased interest and investment in wind power projects. From 2002 to 2012, global annual installed wind capacity increased from 7,270 MW to nearly 45,000 MW. The vast majority of new wind farm capacity is being built in Europe (largely offshore), Asia, and North America (largely onshore).
Certifying Sound Principles
Onshore and offshore wind farm projects pose a number of challenges tied to their complexity and the fact that each site is different. Certification by an internationally recognized body helps ensure that a project meets specific regulatory requirements.
Accreditation bodies like Cofrac in France and the German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency have developed certification schemes for new wind farm projects. Schemes differ depending on the particular country or whether the farm is onshore or offshore, but companies who achieve certification have demonstrated that all components of a wind farm, and the wind farm as a whole, meet standardized technical criteria related to design, manufacturing, installation, and operation.
While certification is not a legal requirement for operation in many countries, it is in a wind power provider’s best interests to have their projects certified. Investors and insurance providers prefer to back certified wind farm projects, and it gives the federal and local governments in the country a greater sense of assurance and confidence in the project. The operator also benefits from this certification, as it ensures that their farm is built to a higher standard to operate longer and more reliably than a non-certified project.
But regardless of a wind farm’s size or location, developers more commonly look for outside assistance to ensure that the project is designed, built and operated to comply with all certification criteria for safety, environment, fire, structural integrity, and energy efficiency. At the same time, the certification process must be carried out as safely, cost effectively and reliably as possible.
Independent third-party certification bodies are increasingly called upon to ensure that a new project is designed and built to the proper specifications and that it complies with guidelines that safeguard environmental, biological, safety, and cultural interests in the vicinity. Selecting the right certification provider requires careful consideration of several criteria that must be met to ensure project success.
Comprehensive Selection Criteria
Any qualified third-party certification authority should first come equipped with a thorough understanding of all relevant building, operational and environmental compliance codes at all regulatory levels in the country. In addition, they should be able to provide guidance on how the developer can comply with these codes in ways that are not too expensive or onerous.
A third-party certification body should also provide full-time, on-site support during the commissioning and ramp-up stages of a project. This availability is critical for inspections, for example, as having the third party on site helps the operator avoid delays associated with waiting for an offsite inspector. If any part of the facility is flagged during the inspection, it can be addressed and re-inspected by the third party in a shorter timeframe. This full-time third-party presence may also provide the necessary qualified manpower during project building and start-up; the developer can avoid the need to staff up internally during the initial stages of the project, only to lay off people once the project is up and running.
An effective third-party certification partner should follow a consistent certification approach that ensures robust QA/QC for the project, both at startup and during ongoing operation. This is aided by efficient processes to control costs, schedules and documentation. Bureau Veritas, for example, employs a Compliance Document Tracking System, an electronic document creation and archiving system that keeps all relevant inspection, permit application and regulatory compliance documents for a project in a safe, password-protected environment. All parties, from owners to regulatory agencies to compliance managers, can access and update documents, which helps ensure that important project milestones are not missed and that the inspection and permit application process occurs as seamlessly as possible.
A particular benefit of working with a larger certification provider is the greater operating reach and breadth of expertise that they can provide. A large organization provides local expertise to assist in projects in the communities in which their certification experts live and work. In addition, they should be able to offer a nationwide reach, whereby personnel can network with their associates working on other wind projects across the country to offer advice and share best practices.
A developer should also consider a third-party certifier’s experience, integrity, and ethics during the selection process. Certification providers that pride themselves on conducting their inspections and certifications with the highest level of integrity and ethics will in turn yield favorable business opportunities for the project developer. Partnering with an established third party with a long successful track record provides developers with added assurance that they will be around to offer consulting and assistance through the 25-plus year operating life of a project.
Verifying Conformance in the Field
Bureau Veritas has provided regulatory and certification assistance to wind power projects for several years. The certification program has evolved over time to provide the necessary technical expertise and regulatory understanding required for larger and longer-lived projects.
The County of Solano in central California, for example, needed this level of technical support and expertise to perform inspections and engineering plan reviews, electronically process and review plans, and archive all intelligent data for seven onshore wind farm projects. These included:
• High Winds Project
• Shiloh Wind Farm
• Shiloh II Wind Farm
• Shiloh III Wind Farm
• Shiloh IV Wind Farm
• Montezuma Hills Wind Farm
• Montezuma Hills II Wind Farm
All work performed in the construction of these projects was required to meet California Building Code requirements. In addition, the county needed engineers and inspectors with specific experience in structural observation (as mandated by California Building Standards), safety training and programs, CAD weld testing, high pot testing, underground feeders to transformers, distribution, and electrical transfer stations.
Bureau Veritas North America was selected to provide licensed and certified engineers and inspectors—each with unique wind project construction experience—to verify compliance of these wind projects. Specific areas of assistance included reviewing engineering designs, approving fabricator programs and inspecting construction operations for all applicable disciplines.
In addition, the certification body assisted the document review and control process through the use of BVnet, a software platform that digitizes the entire plan review and inspection documentation. Submittals of electronic drawings and documents, review/comments, status, project photos, authenticated approvals, certificates, and other project/contract data can be securely accessed by clients, partners, and employees at relevant phases of the project.
This comprehensive inspection and engineering review gave Solano County assurances that the project was completed in full compliance with all applicable regulations and standards and that Bureau Veritas teams was committed to the successful completion of each project.
As long-term wind farm projects become more commonplace around the world, the need for well-qualified, experienced and highly technical certification and inspection providers will become more crucial. Partnering with the right provider helps ensure that wind power projects of any size and complexity are designed, built and operated safely and cost-effectively—from startup to shutdown, many years down the line.
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Profile: Pampa Economic Development Corporation
Odds are that most people—with the possible exceptions of engineers, academics, and the occasional “Jeopardy!” contestant—can’t quote the formula for gravitational potential energy. As far as physics is concerned, gravitational potential energy is calculated by multiplying an object’s mass by the gravitational field strength by the height of the object.
In Pampa, Texas, however, it’s about metaphysics instead of physics. The potential has always been there, and now, the wind power industry is gravitating to the Texas Panhandle to harness that potential.
Since its inception in 2006, the Pampa Economic Development Corporation—which seeks to foster economic growth for its home community by actively promoting, facilitating, and incentivizing industrial, commercial, and agricultural investment in the region—has been an important catalyst in that chain of events.
“The organization is a Type B economic development corporation with sales tax authorized pursuant to the Development Corporation Act,” said executive director Clay Rice. “As a Type B economic development corporation, we are allowed to help fund not only business and industrial projects but community development projects as well.”
Located a little less than an hour’s drive from Amarillo, northeast along U.S. Highway 60, Pampa, Texas, is home to 18,000 people, Clarendon College’s Pampa Center, and some of the best wind resources in the nation.
Currently, the local economy chiefly consists of manufacturing, oil and gas interests, agriculture, medicine, and retail. However, the wind energy industry—rapidly expanding in the region—may soon join that list.
“Things are certainly moving in the right direction even though we are in the very early stages of the wind energy industry in the Pampa, Gray County area,” Rice said. “The industry is certainly taking off.”
That fact is evidenced by current activity on several projects in the region.
“Three wind farms are now under construction, or soon will be in adjoining counties. They will move into our county (Gray) at some point in the future. In addition, there is a potential 500 MW wind farm planned that will be located completely in Gray County.”
The potential for wind energy in the Pampa region has been closely studied and well known for quite some time. Drawing not only on its Class 4+ wind resources, but also wind farm and manufacturing site availability, highway and rail transportation, the Pampa Energy Center, and new transmission/grid infrastructure projects, the region has proven itself to be highly favorable for wind energy development, as well as other industries.
Pampa first appeared on the wind energy scene in 2007, when oil magnate T. Boone Pickens formed a wind energy development company called Mesa Power with the intent to build the world’s largest wind farm project—envisioned at 4 GW—in the Pampa region.
In May of 2008, Pickens placed an initial turbine order totaling 1 GW with General Electric for the first phase of the Pampa project. Pickens was quoted as saying: “We are making Pampa the wind capital of the world.”
Unfortunately for the region, Pickens would end up postponing, and later canceling the project, initially citing the lack of transmission lines, and ultimately the favorable economics of natural gas, as factors in his decision.
Now, with the transmission infrastructure in place, the wind industry is thriving in Pampa.
“In order for renewable energy to be moved from our area where wind resources are excellent to heavily populated areas of the state where wind is not as plentiful, new transmission facilities had to be developed in the Panhandle,” Rice said. “Through a project called CREZ (Competitive Renewable Energy Zones), the Public Utility Commission of Texas selected transmission service providers to construct, operate and maintain the transmission improvements. The completion of this project has made current and future wind farm development in the Panhandle possible. Without it few wind farms would be developed but with it we are likely to see thousands of wind turbines dotting our region in the next few years. Thanks to the CREZ project, in Gray County we now have new transmission lines and a new substation (Gray Substation).”
Economic studies performed by consultants hired by Mesa in the planning stages of the initial 4 GW project estimated its overall economic output at $380 million annually while the wind farms were being built. The studies suggested that number could jump to $1.6 billion per year once the project reached commercial operation. Workforce impact estimates forecast as many as 1,500 temporary (during construction) and 720 permanent jobs resulting from the Mesa project.
That amount of economic impact may still be possible with the combined efforts of multiple commercial interests and a favorable political climate for wind energy. Regional public sentiment and stakeholder support for wind development (which was reported to have been an obstacle for the Mesa project) appears to be quite positive.
“Overall there is great excitement about the development of the wind energy industry here. You can drive west on U.S. Hwy 60 and see wind turbines under construction,” Rice said. ”There are some people with concerns but they come up only occasionally. I do not think that there is much anxiety about it. Our economy is strong now and I think as people see it getting stronger and with the amount of new tax revenue that will be generated over time, the climate should be even more positive.”
Also working in the region’s favor with regard to wind development are the efforts by the Pampa EDC, combined with its collaborative efforts with other economic development groups in the region.
“Many of the communities in the Panhandle have continued to promote our region to the wind industry in many ways,” Rice said. “A number of EDC’s belong to a regional marketing organization called the High Ground of Texas. Through this organization, the Pampa EDC and other community EDC’s have been attending the AWEA WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition for several years. Many of the EDC’s, including Pampa, have had booths within the High Ground pavilion. This has been very successful with many excellent leads generated and relationships formed. In addition, we are a member of Class 4 Winds and Renewables which is an organization that promotes the wind energy industry and is based in the Texas Panhandle. We are also have a membership with The Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse and the National Institute for Renewable Energy.”
When taken as a whole, all of these factors could serve to fulfill Pickens’ prophecy. While time and market conditions, among other factors, will eventually tell the complete story, it’s possible that Pampa could indeed become “wind capital of the world.”
“I believe that it is possible but the way that the industry has developed, I am not sure any one location will really be the wind capital of the world,” Rice said. “Having another successful industry in our community which will help us continue our economic development strategy of diversification will definitely be deemed a winning situation.”
Exemplifying its commitment to energy and manufacturing development in the region, the Pampa EDC in 2011 has launched an industrial complex known as the Pampa Energy Center.
“Pampa Energy Center is a rail served industrial park owned by the EDC,” Rice said. “It is located five miles west of Pampa on U.S. Hwy 60. There are approximately 700 acres that are fenced with existing infrastructure and another 3200 acres of raw land.”
The group encourages wind energy companies considering locating in the Pampa region to contact the EDC directly about facility opportunities at the Energy Center.
Pampa EDC has also supported local wind energy workforce training by funding the purchase of essential training equipment for the wind energy technician training program at Clarendon College’s Pampa Center.
Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management Clears Path For First Offshore Wind Project On West Coast
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced it will allow Principle Power, Inc. to submit a formal plan to build a 30 MW pilot project using floating wind turbine technology offshore Coos Bay, Oregon.
“This pioneering project would demonstrate floating wind turbine technology capable of tapping the rich wind energy resources in deep waters offshore Oregon,” Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said during a February announcement. “As we look to broaden our nation’s energy portfolio, the innovative technology and its future application hold great promise along the West Coast and Hawaii.”
The West Coast holds an offshore capability of more than 800 GW of wind energy potential, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is equivalent to more than three quarters of the nation’s entire power generation capacity. Total U.S. deepwater wind energy resource potential is estimated to be nearly 2,000 GW.
Principle Power, which received $4 million in Department of Energy funding for its advanced technology demonstration project, submitted an unsolicited request to BOEM for a commercial wind energy lease in May, 2013. As an initial step in the leasing process, in September, BOEM issued a Request for Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register to determine whether there were other developers interested in constructing wind facilities in the same area proposed by Principle Power, Inc. The RFI was also the first opportunity for public comment on site conditions and multiple uses within the proposed lease area. The public comment period closed on October 30, 2013.
“We are particularly grateful to Secretary Jewell for her interest in the WindFloat and this project, this determination represents another crucial milestone for the WindFloat Pacific project,” said Kevin Banister, vice president of business development and government affairs for Principle Power and the WindFloat Pacific project manager. “We look forward to continuing to work with BOEM, agencies and community stakeholders as we prepare our plans for the project.”
BOEM received 18 responses to the RFI, none of which expressed a competitive interest in the area proposed by Principle Power, Inc. Accordingly, BOEM published a Determination of No Competitive Interest in the Federal Register. The majority of the comments submitted to BOEM discussed potential effects on commercial fisheries, which BOEM will consider during the course of evaluating the project.
Under the noncompetitive process for which Principle Power qualified, the company may now submit a plan for the proposed lease area to BOEM. BOEM will then complete a National Environmental Policy Act analysis, which includes opportunity for public comment, before making any final decision on lease issuance and plan approval.
BOEM has issued two non-competitive leases (Cape Wind in Nantucket Sound and an area off Delaware) and three competitive leases (two offshore Massachusetts-Rhode Island and another offshore Virginia). The competitive lease sales generated about $5.4 million in high bids for about 277,550 acres on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Additional competitive auctions for wind energy areas offshore Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts are expected in this year.
Principle Power will seek to site its project within a 15-square-mile proposed lease area. The project is designed to generate electricity from five floating “WindFloat” units, each equipped with a 6 MW offshore wind turbine. The turbines would be connected by electrical cables and have a single power cable transmitting the electricity to the mainland. The facility, sited in about 1,400 feet of water, would be the first offshore wind project proposed in federal waters off the West Coast and the first in the nation to use a floating structure to support offshore wind generation in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Further details of the lease request can be found on the BOEM website: www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Oregon.aspx
Further information on the WindFloat Pacific project can be found at: www.windfloatpacific.com.
With Potentially Millions Of Dollars On The Line, Donât Nickel-And-Dime End-Of-Warranty Inspections
Turbine owners, did you know that your end-of-warranty inspection may be the most important purchase you make since you bought the farm? The wind farm that is.
These words of wisdom come from one of my most respected coworkers, who shall remain nameless. His expertise and work emphasis is with end-of-warranty (EOW) inspections. So admittedly, he may be a bit biased. But I am not. I still think like a wind farmer and I listen to what he says.
I do know that the work that his specialized team performs has saved turbine owners millions of dollars in warranty claims. He has collected data for EOW on over 10,000 turbines and possesses an intimate knowledge of what is or may be happening inside your wind turbine. Armed with that knowledge, this team uses that data to save you money.
As turbines approach the EOW period, the stakes are high for OEMs and buyers alike. There are literally millions of dollars won or lost due to the quality of the EOW inspection that was performed. In the end, either the turbine manufacturer or the buyer reaps the benefits.
Of course, there is the possibility that your turbines do not have problems, but is that really the case? So why is there such a large spread in the quality and type of end-of-warranty services?
The problem lies in the large number of service providers in the industry that perform end-of-warranty inspections. These different contractors all have different pricing and skill levels. You may have to look beyond the cost of the inspection to get the most return on your warranty. But cost isn’t the real issue. The more pressing problem is that each company that provides end-of-warranty inspections perform their services in their own way and to a different level of expertise.
One of the main skills used in end of warranty inspections is in the use of a bore scope. This tool is a complicated device that allows you to place a camera in some not-so-accessible places. The borescope has a camera at the end of a flexible stick. The stick (or wand as it is known) can be many feet long and “snaked” into and between gearbox internal components.
Skilled operators can manipulate the tip of the bore scope wand into some very inaccessible places inside the gearbox or generator. This is one area in which experience really counts. For technicians, some of the limiting factors of their ability to collect the needed data may lie in the lack of guided training in operating this tool. They may have only performed a few supervised inspections before being cut loose on their own to make money for their service company. Some service providers require that their technicians perform 100 supervised inspections using this bore scope before they are allowed to perform one on their own.
Another difference between inspection companies may be the quality of the inspection tools. An inexpensive bore scope tool can be had for a couple hundred bucks. It is highly likely that the most skilled and experienced inspectors use tools that cost thousands of dollars per borescope. End-of-warranty inspections require a great deal of photography, and not all of the cameras or operators are equal. Quality photography is essential in these cases. A clear digital photo or a blurry photo may be all that is standing between you and that additional extended warranty coverage of a defect located on a planet bearing roller. What is that worth to you? A simple photo can be worth thousands of dollars. If there is a problem with the bearing, don’t you want it covered by warranty?
Also, finding indications of the bearing failure is not enough. You have to find the actual failure. Photos that show indications of a failure may not be enough to get your extended warranty. Some EOW contractors use some form of vibration condition monitoring. This may be a great way to find the indication of a failure but you still have to find the actual failure and document it. Again, this is typically found with a bore scope inspector.
This is why I say all EOW inspections are not equal. From what we know of today’s turbines, you should be receiving extended warranty coverage on a considerable number of your wind turbines after the end of the initial turbine manufacturer’s warranty. The manufactures don’t just give that away. You will have to fight for it and use proof that there exists a problem. Then you have to prove that the damage that is found is not normal wear and tear.
This year, AWEA’s Windpower Conference and Exhibition is in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world. Ask yourself, are you willing to gamble millions of dollars worth of warranty claims due to the quality of your end-of-warranty inspection over a few hundred dollars? Remember that the house capitalizes on every advantage. It’s up to you to push the odds in your favor.
Work safe and prevent any costly surprises. I’ll see you in Vegas!
Specialty Lubricants Boost Efficiency And Reliability At Low Temperatures
The rapid expansion of wind energy throughout the world has been accompanied by a significant growth in wind power plant size. Rotor diameters of more than 120 meters (nearly 400 feet) and nominal outputs as high as 3 MW have become standard. However, the continuous increase in output and efficiency has not automatically resulted in higher reliability of plants. Rather, it often results in increased maintenance efforts and higher operating costs. Today’s specialty lubricants can help ensure machine efficiency and trouble-free operation, even at low temperatures.
The reliability of modern wind turbines and their components can be enhanced by using lubricants designed to meet specific requirements. New specialty lubricants for gear rim/pinion drives on pitch and yaw bearings can offer good pumpability and metering in central lubrication systems to temperatures as low as -30°C (-22°F), thus contributing to the increased reliability of turbines.
It all depends on which way the wind is blowing
A wind power plant can only be fully effective if it is permanently and perfectly aligned to the direction of the wind. Consequently, changes in wind direction need to be compensated by aligning the yaw system at the proper angle. Electric motors adjust the yaw bearing via gear rim/pinion drives. In addition, to ensure maximum energy yield at varying wind forces, rotor blades are adjusted by means of gear rim/pinion drives.
Often, the prevailing wind direction is constant in many locations which keeps only some of the gear teeth in mesh. For the teeth in mesh, lubricants of extremely high load-carrying capacity offer elevated and reliable protection against wear. Also, the gear teeth which are not in mesh must be protected against corrosion. Another challenge is adhesion. The lubricant on the tooth flanks of open gears might be displaced from the surface, drop off and lead to increased wear.
Lubricant Properties
In order to meet the requirements for lubrication of yaw and pitch bearings, including those noted above, lubricants need the following properties:
• Good adhesion
• Low consumption
• Good wear protection
• Long service life
• Good corrosion protection
• Long-term priming
• Pumpable via central lubrication systems
Lubricants must retain these properties when the weather is cold.
Overall Properties
A special combination of mineral or synthetic base oils and white solid lubricants ensures high load-carrying capacity and reliable wear protection. Good adhesion properties and light color of a specialty lubricant can reduce consumption, extend maintenance intervals of a wind turbine, and significantly decrease unsightly contamination of a plant. In addition, lower disposal and storage costs ensure further cost savings in plant operation.
A Clean Solution
The black lubricants previously used for yaw and pitch bearings often contained graphite, thus causing contamination inside and outside the wind turbine. Occupational safety for the maintenance staff is at risk due to slippery floors in the plant. In addition, excess grease leaking from the tower and blades can pollute the surrounding area. White, adhesive lubricants without graphite limit these problems.
Lubrication at Low Temperatures
Most open gears of wind power plants are still lubricated by hand. However, maintenance can be reduced to keep downtime to a minimum. For example, central lubrication systems are increasingly being used for the relubrication of open gears. Traditionally, adhesive lubricants are very viscous and difficult to pump at low operating temperatures. The latest developments present open gear lubricants that can be pumped in automatic lubrication systems at a temperature of -30°C (-22°F).
Adjusting the Nacelle
The sliding layers, e.g., PETP, of a yaw plain bearing can be lubricated with a specialty lubricant in order to prevent stick-slip and wear, thus ensuring a reliable and trouble-free operation. Low friction coefficients minimize the force required to adjust the nacelle. Drive units are protected and energy consumption is reduced during adjustment. The slight difference between static friction and sliding friction values ensure a uniform adjustment movement between start-up and normal operation.
Many Requirements – One Specialty Lubricant
Specialty lubricants offer significant advantages that meet the increasingly demanding requirements of wind power plants, including:
• Reduced lubricant consumption
• Minimized turbine contamination due to light color
• Reduced cleaning costs
• Low disposal costs for used lubricants
• No lubricant drop-off in case of vertical gears
• Trouble-free operation due to wide service temperature range with good pumpability and metering via centralized lubrication systems, down to -30°C (-22°F)
• Increased machine efficiency
• Effective corrosion protection, even after extended periods of standstill
• Suitable for gear rim/pinion drives, as well as yaw plain bearings
ABB Wins $55 Million Submarine AC Power Cable Contract In The United Kingdom
ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $55 million to supply a submarine AC (alternating current) power cable system for a new wind farm, located off the coast of Norfolk. The underwater cables will feed the electricity generated by the 400 MW Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm into the UK national grid. The order was received from Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited, a company owned by Statoil and Statkraft.
The Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm will be capable of producing enough electricity to power more than 400,000 UK homes annually. The turbines will be located in waters 18-25 meters deep on a 55-square-kilometer site situated 32 kilometers (km) off the coast of the seaside town of Cromer in north Norfolk. With an installed capacity of about 400 MW, the wind farm will produce enough ‘green’ energy to displace emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 19 million tonnes over its 25-year lifetime.
Electricity generated by the wind farm will be brought to shore via a seabed cable at Weybourne Hope, some 5 km west of the coastal town of Sheringham. From there, an underground cable will be laid to carry the electricity to Necton, where a purpose-built substation will enable it to be transmitted into the national grid.
Offshore wind is a growing renewable energy resource, with Europe accounting for around 70 percent of new offshore wind generation capacity. Transporting electricity from offshore wind farms to the shore and then integrating it into the grid for supply to consumers are key elements,” said Claudio Facchin, Head of ABB’s Power Systems division. 
“This is a key focus area for ABB as we strive to balance the growing need for electricity while minimizing environmental impact. Our technological strengths, vast portfolio and rich experience in this area position us well to execute this project and we are delighted to have this opportunity.”
ABB will design and supply two 132-kilovolt (kV) three-core AC submarine cables, each 42 km in length, running from the wind farm’s offshore substation to Weybourne Hope, where they will connect to the onshore cables. The submarine cables will be manufactured at ABB’s high-voltage cable factory in Karlskrona, Sweden, and delivery will commence in 2016.
“The submarine export cable connection is a long-lead item and placing this contract represents a major milestone in the development of the Dudgeon project,” said Bjørn Ivar Bergemo, Asset Manager of the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm. “These cables will be some of the longest offshore cables ordered so far for a UK offshore wind project, and we look forward to working with ABB.”
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 install it offshore. Areva, a leader in offshore wind turbines, had the idea of assembling the rotor during the installation which could potentially save about €500 000 ($683,143) per turbine by making it possible to use a smaller ship and crane. The critical question in proving out this new method was determining the loads that would be applied to the blade, tower and locking system while the turbine was in a partially assembled state. Yvan Radovcic, Head of the Loads department, and Edgar Werthen, Mechanical Engineer, for Areva explain how they used SAMCEF Wind Turbines to evaluate many thousands of different load cases to prove the viability of the new method that will potentially save several hundred thousand Euros for future wind turbine installations.
Offshore wind is growing rapidly in the European Union where renewable energy is on track to account for 20 percent of total energy consumption by 2020. Areva has been a player in this segment since 2004 and is one of the top three in offshore wind in Europe. The company has an installed base of more than 120 wind turbines and already has won 600 MW in firm orders for its M5000 5 MW wind turbine. The M5000 technology has been further optimized with the development of a new 135 meter (443 ft.) rotor that sweeps an area 35% larger than the M5000. The first M5000-135 prototype has been installed and commissioned in Germany.
Turbine design challenges
“One of the challenges in designing offshore wind turbines is the high cost and logistical difficulties involved in physical testing,” said Radovcic. “Fully testing a single blade assembly costs several hundred thousand Euros. Physical testing is also limited by the wind and wave conditions that happen to be experienced during the testing period.” Areva has long been working on improving their ability to simulate the performance of wind turbines prior to the prototyping phase in order to evaluate more design alternatives to improve performance and reduce manufacturing and installation costs.
A major difficulty in simulating wind turbines is the range of different physics that must be considered, which typically requires multiple analysis tools. The first main application is assessing the loads on the turbine, which is typically performed with coupled aero-mechanical software. Second is the design of the mechanical components such as the yaw and gearbox, which are typically analyzed with multibody dynamics simulation tools. Third is the structural components such as the bedplate, which are typically analyzed using finite element analysis codes.
It typically takes days or weeks to produce results with each of these different simulation tools. These results are often difficult to integrate with the other tools, which is required in order to fully evaluate the proposed design. Another problem with the use of multiple codes is the need to license, learn and administer each of the different codes.
A new approach captures the complete system in a single model
AMCEF Wind Turbines from the LMS Samtech solution suite, on the other hand, captures the dynamics of a complete wind turbine in a single model that includes hydrodynamic models for wave loading and aerodynamic models for wind loading, multibody models for evaluating the performance of mechanisms such as the drive train and finite element models for simulating the performance of structural elements. The SAMCEF solver computes the solution in the time domain by direct integration including multi-body dynamics, control systems, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces. The simulation tool includes parametric models of wind turbine components such as blades, towers and gearboxes that can be quickly adapted to match a specific design. Users also have the option of modeling components and assemblies from scratch when needed.
Predicting dynamic loads on drivetrains
“The first challenge that we decided to try and address with LMS Samtech was accurately predicting the dynamic loads on drive trains,” Werthen said. Traditionally Areva has used analytical methods to perform static analysis to estimate loads on components such as bearings and gears and the resonant frequencies of the drivetrain. One of the most important cases occurs during a short circuit in the generator. In normal operation, the wind imposes torque on the drivetrain and the generator imposes counter-torque but if there is a short circuit the counter-torque goes away, generating large loads on the drivetrain. These loads cannot be calculated using traditional analytical methods and short circuits are difficult and expensive to evaluate experimentally.
Areva engineers used the multibody simulation features of SAMCEF Wind Turbines to model the complete drive system. “This approach made it possible for the first time to accurately estimate the oscillations that occur when we lose counter-torque in the generator,” Radovcic said.
Validating the one-blade-at-a-time assembly method
“Our next major project involved taking advantage of the global simulation capabilities of the software to explore an improvement to our installation process,” Radovcic said. “The traditional installation method involves assembling all three blades onshore. With this approach a very large ship with a large crane is required to carry and lift the 115 ton blade assembly. Installation makes up 40% of the cost of an offshore turbine so Areva was interested in reducing the cost of the installation process by installing one blade at a time with a smaller ship and a smaller crane. This approach will potentially save several hundred thousand Euros for each wind turbine installed.”
“The challenge in moving to the one blade at a time assembly method is that we have to ensure that the turbine won’t be damaged by high winds and waves with only one or two blades installed.” Werthen said. “The installation process is often delayed due to weather or other factors and in this case the turbine remains in a partially assembled state for up to a month. So before using this installation method it’s essential to ensure that the turbine can withstand a wide range of wind and wave conditions. It would cost well over €1 million ($1,366,288) to address this question with physical testing because we would have to partially assemble the blade, then leave it in place for some period of time in order to determine how it would be loaded by various wind conditions. We would also run the risk of damage to the turbine, which would raise the costs even higher.”
1,000 load cases in 16 hours
Areva used SAMCEF Wind Turbines to model the one-blade-at-a-time installation process with a single blade and with two blades installed. The hydrodynamic model is coupled to a detailed finite element model of the blade and a coarse multi-body dynamics model of balance of the wind turbine. The simulation computes the loads on the blades, tower and locking system.
Wind and wave loading was modeled with SAMCEF’s aerodynamic and hydrodynamic elements that can compute one second of simulation time in about one second of clock time as compared to the traditional CFM method which could easily take a week of clock time to compute a second of simulation time. This higher speed made it possible to simulate thousands of load cases for each phase of the assembly process. Areva runs SAMCEF Wind Turbines on 10 standard personal computers. The simulation software automatically partitions each load case onto a separate processor. The company can run 1,000 load cases in about 16 hours or overnight.
Full control over wind turbine geometry
“Most wind turbine simulation solutions are parametric models that let us control the dimensions but not the geometry of the wind turbine so they cannot be used for modeling the assembly process,” Werthen said. “On the other hand, SAMCEF Wind Turbines gives us full control over the geometry. This feature is essential in modeling wind turbines during various stages of the assembly process. We are also planning to use SAMCEF to check loading on components during transportation.”
“The simulation has proven that the blade, tower and locking system can withstand a wide range of wind and wave loading during the various stages of the one-blade at a time installation process,” Radovcic concluded. “We will soon be performing assembly testing to validate the best approach from a logistical standpoint. Overall, our two years working with LMS Samtech has been a very positive experience. We got up and running quickly and we have had a very good relationship with the development team at LMS Samtech. Whenever we have run into a problem they have solved it for us in a reasonable time frame. In some cases they have even developed features in the main release of the software based on our requests. The software has already far more than paid back the total cost of ownership and we are looking forward to much greater savings in the future.”
For more information, visit www.lmsintl.com.
WINDPOWER 2014 To Feature Department Of Energyâs Collegiate Wind Competition
The United States is among the world’s largest and fastest growing wind energy markets. In fact, wind energy is now the number one source of new U.S. electricity generation capacity—representing 43 percent of all new electric additions in 2012 and accounting for $25 billion in U.S. investment.
To help the nation’s future scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs continue to advance the wind industry, the Energy Department (DOE) established the first ever DOE Collegiate Wind Competition. The competition will be held May 5–7 alongside the American Wind Energy Association’s WINDPOWER 2014 Conference & Exhibition at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The competition, which aims to cultivate wind-specific interests and skills among the next generation of industry leaders, will feature 10 teams of students who will design and construct lightweight, portable wind turbines intended to power small electronic devices. During the competition event, teams will present to a diverse panel of experts on current market drivers and deployment opportunities for the wind industry, pitch their business plans to industry leaders, and put their turbines to the test in an on-site wind tunnel.
“Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing electricity sources in the United States. The Collegiate Wind Competition is designed to expose students to the multi-disciplinary nature of the wind industry and give them an opportunity to engage with industry leaders,” said Jose Zayas, Director of DOE’s Wind and Water Power Technologies Office.
“We’re excited to partner with DOE to host this exciting event. Bringing the Collegiate Wind Competition to WINDPOWER will provide unparalleled opportunities for students to interact with leaders in wind energy and give our industry a chance to meet and engage with some of the nation’s best and brightest young people,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA.
The following 10 schools successfully competed for selection to enter this inaugural competition:
• Boise State University
• California Maritime Academy
• Colorado School of Mines
• James Madison University (Virginia)
• Kansas State University
• Northern Arizona University
• Pennsylvania State University
• University of Alaska Fairbanks
• University of Kansas
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
Visit the DOE Collegiate Wind Competition website for more information. Sponsorship opportunities for the inaugural Collegiate Wind Competition are available.
— Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Online Exclusive: The Next Generation Of Wind Energy Technician Training
What’s up with these wind energy technology schools who keep calling you asking about job openings for their graduates? It may seem like they are popping up all over the place. Before you dismiss them, consider the following: Some very motivated, intelligent, and dedicated professionals are filling a valuable niche in our industry by creating and developing these wind technician programs.
Some of these academies, Ecotech Institute, for example, among others, are driving technician education to new levels—beyond the traditional curriculum. As wind energy technology keeps expanding, the skill sets required of wind techs are broadening. At Ecotech, the curriculum goes beyond filter changing and wrench turning, into more advanced material like frequency converters, tribology, and full-scale troubleshooting.
Gone are the days of hiring anyone within earshot who can tell you the difference between a crescent wrench and a spanner. These early pioneers helped develop the O&M techniques many of us rely on today. Let’s honor their efforts at building that foundation, while celebrating a new era of more reliable talent acquisition. While many of yesterday’s technicians rose to become today’s operations VPs, many more left the industry due to injury, frustration, lack of appropriate skills and training, and even due to pessimism of the long term economic viability of our industry.
Most of us probably know former technicians who regret leaving wind without putting more effort into their own career development. If only there were experts available to help guide them towards being better technicians. Today, we have a small army of such experts who want to see wind energy continue to improve in terms of safety, reliability, cost competitiveness, and public relations. We call them “instructors.” And only true experts in our field should be considered viable for these instructor positions. Finding such talent with the combination of extensive field experience and teaching ability is not an easy task for most schools.
Ecotech Institute leverages its world-class facilities and higher starting salaries to attract world-class instructors. These instructors, in turn, continue to push our program to greater heights. We don’t see other wind energy technology programs as being our direct competition. A prospective student will choose a school based on any number of criteria (location, tuition, reputation, job placement success rate, etc.). What Ecotech hears time and time again is that our new students have encountered Ecotech graduates who are rising quickly in the field. Graduates from advanced training academies often have a significant advantage over the rest of the entry-level wind energy job seekers. I’ve had hiring managers tell me they have trouble finding job applicants that can compete with Ecotech Institute graduates.
Contrary to popular belief amongst would-be technicians, the purpose of a technical school is not to help students get their foot in the door. One month of training can teach someone to climb safely and turn a wrench. We don’t feel that a single job offer is the mark of success for our students. A solid wind energy program should train commissioner-level technicians who are prepared for their next two to three positions ABOVE entry-level. This cannot be accomplished in anything less than a full two-year program.
The bottom line is this: Better technicians work safer, more efficiently, and with better results. Ultimately, this means that we can continue to drive down the operating costs of America’s wind turbines. On some sites, the LCOE (levelized cost of energy) is competitive with coal and natural gas. This did not happen by accident. It came about as a result of the benefits of an economy of scale and improving best practices in O&M. As this trend continues, we will enjoy continued investment in wind energy, more turbines, and more jobs for hard-working Americans. Ecotech Institute is proud to be the first choice of hiring managers to fill these positions.
