ONYX Insight has secured a grant that will supercharge the adoption of blade sensing technologies for the wind industry in a bid to reduce downtime for wind operators across their turbine fleets.

The Nottingham-based company has been awarded the funding by the UK’s Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), part of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

 The funding will support a project over the next 18 months that will see ONYX Insight expand its predictive maintenance solutions from the drivetrain into the blades. The project will build on the success of ONYX’s wind turbine drivetrain condition monitoring product, ecoCMS

“The funding from OWGP provides us with a welcome grant to accelerate the development of advanced sensing for the blades,” said Bruce Hall, ONYX Insight CEO.

“It also acknowledges the work we have been doing to develop holistic approaches to CMS that provide ever more detailed and wide-ranging data insights for our customers,” Cox said.

As a provider of condition monitoring services (CMS) to the wind industry, ONYX Insight uses advanced sensing technology and data analytics to support wind farm operators in identifying potential faults and planning maintenance. The company collects data directly from more than 14,000 turbines across 30 countries.

“Identifying when and where maintenance for wind blades is needed has been traditionally difficult for the industry, with operators often having to rely on drone technology, manual maintenance by technicians, or having to act once a fault occurs,” said Henry Tanner, ONYX Insight product manager.

“Blade failures can incur expensive blade repairs and replacements, result in secondary damage to the wind turbine structure, not to mention huge safety implications for the industry. Predictive maintenance allows operators to tackle progressive blade faults sooner at a relatively low cost. The grant will enable us to continue our to develop holistic approaches to CMS that provide ever more detailed and wide ranging data insights for our customers,” Tanner said. 

Catastrophic blade failure in onshore settings can cost upwards of £300,000 in materials, equipment, labor, and unscheduled downtime, and can be much higher in an offshore setting. However, if this same fault is predicted and remedied when it is less severe, repairs can be significantly less.

It is anticipated that the adoption of blade monitoring technologies will increase over the coming years, delivering significant financial and time savings for wind operators, with blade failure being one of the leading contributors to offshore and onshore asset downtime after gearbox faults.

OWGP funding is provided to projects that focus on the commercialization of technologies, products and services that will either support offshore wind decarbonization or improve the reliability of offshore wind developments. 

MORE INFO  https://onyxinsight.com/  

Codling Wind Park is establishing a dedicated €500,000 Fisheries Fund to benefit the fishing industry operating within and around the Codling Bank area of the Irish Sea. The fund will have a €100,000 annual budget to support different initiatives for the next five years.

The fund will support opportunities for both inshore and offshore fishing by fishers associated with the Codling Wind Park. Fishers are being asked to bring forward their own ideas about how the fund should be used. The project’s Fishing Engagement Manager meets regularly with local fishers and will discuss the terms of reference and progress proposals for the fund directly with them.

Codling Wind Park also confirmed it will consider other ideas to support fishers including helping establish a lobster hatchery.  The lobster hatchery would involve raising and releasing young lobsters back into the Irish Sea to increase fishing opportunities in the area. The project is engaging with fishers on this proposal, which would support a sustainable and productive fishery in the area.

Codling Wind Park has also published a Fisheries Charter or code of practice that will guide its engagement with fishers and its care of marine life on the Codling Bank. The Fisheries Charter, which will be the first code of its type between an offshore wind developer and fishers in Ireland, commits Codling Wind Park to sustainable development practices and responsible stewardship of the waters and seabed on the Codling Bank.

“The purpose of this fund is to support initiatives that could be of benefit to fishing communities, rather than benefitting one individual fisher over another. For example, adding value to a fishery, improving port infrastructure, improving safety, or exploring innovation and fishery diversification,” said Scott Sutherland, co-project director of Codling Wind Park.

“We want to hear from the fishers about what they think this fund should be used for,” said Sutherland.

“We are making a commitment to the fishers who use Codling Bank that we want to help them build a sustainable future. We have been engaging with fishers for a long time now on a wide variety of issues. One of the key benefits of this engagement is that we have been able to share with each other our different perspectives and see how the development can and will co-exist with the fishery. We are also very proud to be the first developer in Ireland to publish a Fisheries Charter which commits the project to engaging fairly with fishers, to boosting marine biodiversity and to developing sustainable fishing practices,” said Thomas Gilbert, co-project director.

Codling Wind Park, a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables, will be located about 13 to 22 km off the Co. Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. When operational, it will generate up to 1,450 megawatts (MW), enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million homes and support Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets. The renewable energy project is also examining design options to support biodiversity across the Codling bank. The final design is being completed and will be presented to the public later in the year ahead of the project’s planning application.

MORE INFO  https://codlingwindpark.ie/

ArcVera Renewables, a provider of consulting and technical services for wind, solar, and energy storage projects, has announced the expansion of its business development team with the appointment of industry veteran Adam Smith. Smith brings a mix of technical and commercial expertise, which will strengthen ArcVera’s efforts to grow its customer base across all technologies and geographies.

Starting in the wind industry in 1994, Smith has built a solid track record as a technical consultant and developer for wind and solar projects throughout the United States and Mexico.

“I am very happy to welcome Adam at ArcVera at a time when the IRA has such a major positive impact on the renewables industry. It is generating abundant opportunities for us to support greenfield projects in need of prospecting and early development technical support. Adam’s knowledge, expertise, and experience dating back to the early days of the renewable energy industry will make him a very valuable asset to our team’s efforts to bring new business home,” said David Simkins, Director of Business Development – Global at ArcVera Renewables.

ArcVera Renewables has experienced strong growth over the last few years. The company aims to take advantage of the renewable energy policy environment developing in the U.S. but also in its established global markets of India, South Africa, and Latin America.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to work alongside a talented team of professionals who are passionate about driving the renewable energy industry forward. ArcVera’s total dedication to providing trustworthy, insightful and accuracy-driven project services to clients makes it a really exciting company to work for. I am proud to be part of this amazing team,” Smith said.

MORE INFO  www.ArcVera.com

The Maryland General Assembly passed the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act, paving the way for a new clean energy future for the state. Baltimore-based US Wind Inc. applauded the bill’s sponsors Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and Sen. Katie Fry Hester, committee chairs Brian Feldman and CT Wilson, and House and Senate leadership for passing the landmark legislation. The bill is on its way to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk, where he is expected to sign the legislation into law.

“The POWER Act is a real game changer for Maryland,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “It sets a path for the people of Maryland to reap the benefits of huge amounts of clean energy in the coming years. It also tells the entire offshore wind industry globally that Maryland is back big time as a major player. Companies looking to invest in offshore wind have to seriously consider Maryland.”

The legislation would quadruple Maryland’s offshore wind generation goals from about 2 GW to 8.5 GW by 2031, improve its transmission infrastructure, and provide a pathway to future procurement of offshore wind energy in the state. The 8.5 GW of offshore wind energy targeted in the POWER Act is enough to supply clean energy to more than 2 million homes in Maryland while creating tens of thousands of family-sustaining American jobs, as the bill ensures that offshore wind projects provide equitable opportunities for local unions and minority, women, service-disabled, and veteran-owned businesses to join in Maryland’s clean energy future.

US Wind also announced its partnership with Haizea Wind Group to manage and operate Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind factory in Baltimore County, MD. The facility will manufacture steel components for the U.S. offshore wind industry, including monopiles and towers, while creating hundreds of jobs for local unions and minority businesses.

MORE INFO  https://uswindinc.com/

Siemens Gamesa has announced the GreenerTower, a wind turbine tower made of more sustainable steel. Towers consist of approximately 80% steel plates. The new GreenerTower will ensure a CO₂ reduction of at least 63% in the tower steel plates compared to conventional steel. Siemens Gamesa’s new thorough qualification process will verify that only a maximum of 0.7 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions are permitted per ton of steel, while maintaining the same steel properties and quality.

“Wind power is one of the cornerstones of the green energy transition. With more than 600 GW of new capacity to be installed worldwide in the next five years, it is important for the wind industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Our project to address emissions with greener steel is one such solution. With the launch of the GreenerTower, Siemens Gamesa leads the efforts to further push wind circularity and net-zero emissions,” said Maximilian Schnippering, head of sustainability at Siemens Gamesa.

Tower production accounts for more than one-third of all wind-turbine-related CO₂ emissions. If all towers installed by the company in one year were exchanged with GreenerTowers, it would be the same as removing more than 466,000 cars from the roads in Europe for a year. This new CO₂-reduced tower will be available as an option for both onshore and offshore wind turbines for projects to be installed from 2024 onward.

The GreenerTower has already closed its first order. RWE and Siemens Gamesa have agreed to introduce 36 GreenerTowers at the 1,000-MW Thor offshore wind power project in Denmark. In total, 72 SG 14-236 DD offshore wind turbines are planned to be installed starting in 2026.

“Offshore Wind already has one of the lowest life-cycle carbon footprints of power generation technologies. At RWE we are fully committed to working towards circularity and net-zero emissions. We are already testing the world’s first recyclable wind turbine blades by Siemens Gamesa under real-life conditions. By piloting the GreenerTower at our Thor offshore wind farm, RWE is now once again taking the lead by helping to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of wind turbines,” said Sven Utermöhlen, RWE Offshore Wind CEO.

The German steel manufacturing company Salzgitter AG, with its heavy plate mill Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH, is the first supplier to be qualified. The process to produce greener steel entails increased use of scrap steel, less energy-intensive steel manufacturing processes, and an increased use of renewable energy sources. As one of the measures to decarbonize steel production, for example, the electric arc furnace will be fed with green electricity from offshore wind projects.

On average, 1.91 tons of CO₂ are emitted during the manufacturing process for every ton of steel. By setting an ambitious threshold of 0.7 tons CO₂-equivalent emissions per ton of steel, Siemens Gamesa reduces the footprint of the largest component in terms of CO₂-equivalent emissions.

MORE INFO  https://www.siemensgamesa.com/en-int/-/media/siemensgamesa/downloads/en/sustainability/environment/siemens-gamesa-greenertower-infographic.pdf

As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced the publication of its Gulf of Maine Call for Information and Nominations. This Call invites public comment on, and assesses interest in, possible commercial wind-energy development in areas offshore Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

This represents an early step in the commercial planning and leasing process, and the first required by BOEM regulations.

“BOEM is committed to transparent, inclusive, and data-driven processes, and public input is essential to helping us determine areas that may be suitable for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We are still early in the planning and leasing process, and we look forward to the multiple future opportunities for engagement.”

BOEM published the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Gulf of Maine Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) — Call for Information and Nominations in the Federal Register on April 26, 2023, which initiated a 45-day public comment period. BOEM will accept nominations and comments through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 12, 2023.
After the public comment period closes, BOEM will review and analyze commercial nominations and public comments submitted in response to the Call. BOEM will also consider information from government and Tribal consultations and the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to further evaluate the appropriateness of the Call area for offshore wind-energy development.

“The feedback that we have received prior to this announcement has been extremely valuable in informing the process and understanding the unique dynamics that the Gulf of Maine presents,” said BOEM Project Coordinator Zach Jylkka. “The success of BOEM’s commercial leasing process hinges upon continued public input, and we are fortunate that many passionate and knowledgeable individuals and organizations are willing to share their experiences and expertise to help shape these important outcomes.”

In August 2022, the Department of the Interior announced a “Request for Interest” (RFI) to gauge whether commercial interest existed in obtaining wind-energy leases within an area in the Gulf of Maine comprising about 13.7 million acres.

BOEM worked collaboratively with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) to conduct a spatial analysis of the RFI area. This analysis, in combination with public comments on the RFI, led to the creation of a draft Call area. BOEM hosted a series of information exchanges on the draft Call area from January to February 2023 to get feedback from tribes, states, existing ocean users, and the general public. The final Call area reduces the RFI area to 9.8 million acres, a nearly 30 percent reduction.

In the final Call area, BOEM removed approximately 160,000 acres from future consideration to avoid Georges Bank. The Call area remains broad to provide flexibility to minimize conflicts with other uses. BOEM will use a powerful spatial analytical tool, called an ecosystem-wide suitability model, developed in partnership with NCCOS, to help identify where conflicts may exist and inform decisions regarding the most appropriate wind-energy areas to meet the states’ and Biden-Harris administration’s offshore renewable energy goals.

Through the information exchanges on the draft Call area, BOEM has identified four areas that BOEM specifically seeks public input on during this next phase of review, including: Lobster Management Area I, Platts Bank, Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Restricted Areas, and Georges Bank (the immediately adjacent area along the southern boundary of the Call Area). This is not an exhaustive list; however, it represents the areas that were most commented on in the most recent public engagement. BOEM looks forward to receiving more information during the Call comment period regarding the suitability of these areas for potential renewable energy development.

BOEM aims to address and better understand any concerns from the public and encourages input and feedback to help inform its decision-making. Throughout the Gulf of Maine planning process for possible commercial leasing, there will be more opportunities for public input.

BOEM will host its third Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting May 10-11, 2023, in Bangor, Maine.

The purpose of the meeting is to update Task Force members and the public on BOEM’s commercial and research offshore wind-energy planning activities and to discuss next steps for the Gulf of Maine. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting.

MORE INFO  www.boem.gov/Gulf-of-Maine

Vestas has received an order for two wind projects totaling 370 MW to repower the Pleasant Valley and Border Winds projects owned by Xcel Energy in the U.S.

The order for the 213 MW Pleasant Valley project in Minnesota consists of 97 V110-2.0 MW wind turbines delivered in 2.2 MW operating mode, while the 156 MW Border Winds project, located in North Dakota, consists of 71 V110-2.0 MW wind turbines delivered in 2.2 MW operating, which will update the current V100-2.0 MW technology at both sites.

“Vestas and Xcel Energy have a strong history of bringing wind energy to local communities across the U.S. and we look forward to continuing this partnership by extending the longevity and increasing the energy projection of current wind projects like Pleasant Valley in Minnesota and Border Winds in North Dakota,” said Laura Beane, President of Vestas North America. “Upgrading the site’s current technology will not only extend the lifespan of the project and bring clean energy to thousands of households, it will also provide needed economic opportunities to these communities.”

“As a national leader in wind energy, we’re pleased to work with Vestas on repowering two Upper Midwest wind farms which have long provided clean, affordable energy to our customers as well as economic benefits to surrounding communities. Advancing the technology at Pleasant Valley in Minnesota and Border Winds in North Dakota is important to our plan for achieving 85% carbon-free energy by 2030 in the region while keeping energy costs as low as possible,” said Chris Clark, President, Xcel Energy Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Both projects include supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines, and Vestas will continue to service the turbines and provide an energy-based availability guarantee, designed to ensure optimized performance of the asset.

Turbine delivery for both projects will begin in the second quarter of 2025 with commissioning scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

More info: https://www.vestas.com/en

Together with the international consulting group COWI, TÜV NORD will provide Owner’s Engineering services for the Egyptian wind farm Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea Coast. In this project, COWI will perform project management and design review while TÜV NORD will be responsible for all site services such as civil, mechanical and electrical quality supervision.

With a capacity of 500 MW, the project, which is being led by renewable energy developer AMEA Power in collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, will be the largest wind farm in Africa.

“We are very pleased about the cooperation of COWI and TÜV NORD in this particular project, which the combined team in Denmark, Germany and Egypt from both companies have jointly been driving forward,” said Alexander Ohff, Executive Vice President Renewables at TÜV NORD. “Together with COWI and the Sponsors , we will ensure the highest international technical quality and safety standards to make this flagship wind energy project in Egypt a success.”

“Being a part of developing clean renewable energy solutions is at the heart of our business. With TUV NORD we get a strong partner for this important onshore wind project and can complement each other’s expertise and strengths in delivering the best possible solution to our customer and their customers. I see this as a start of a long and successful cooperation,” said Holger Hahn, COWI’s project director.

More info: https://www.tuev-nord-group.com/en/home/

Saildrone, a leader in providing near real-time maritime intelligence using small uncrewed systems, has announced a new mid-size class of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). The 33-foot (10 m) Voyager is designed for near-shore ocean and lakebed mapping, and to meet the challenges of IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing), ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), law enforcement and maritime safety, drug interdiction, and border and harbor security.

“With our Voyager platform, Saildrone helps to eliminate maritime gaps above and below the ocean surface, reducing risk to mission and risk to force. We want to be a force-multiplier for our partners and allies when it comes to ISR capabilities,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO.

Saildrone’s three USV models—the Voyager along with the 23-foot (7 m) Explorer and 65-foot (20 m) Surveyor—have been developed to balance mission payload flexibility and endurance. The Voyager’s larger size, compared to the Explorer, allows for a more persistent datalink, increased power available for ocean mapping and ISR payloads, and versatile payload integration options.

The ocean mapping sensor suite includes multibeam sonar equipment capable of seafloor mapping of depths to 900 feet (300 m), and the ISR sensor suite includes a smart camera array, digital radar, and sub-surface passive acoustics. Primarily powered by wind and solar, the Voyager also features an electric propulsion alternative, useful for low-wind and near-shore operations.

Saildrone has built 100 23-foot Explorer-class USVs at its headquarters in Alameda, CA. To meet the increasing demand for the new Voyager platform, Saildrone has elected to outsource the production of the wing, hull, and keel to composite specialists: Janicki Industries will manufacture the wing and keel in Washington, and Seemann Composites will manufacture the hull in Mississippi. Saildrone will continue to produce, install, and service internal components in Alameda.

“One of the truly exceptional aspects of working at a company like Saildrone is the fact that hardware and software engineering, manufacturing, mission operations, and G&A are all housed under one roof—in a former airplane hangar on a site known for aviation and naval innovation,” said Saildrone COO Mark Cuyler. “But with the rapidly increasing demand for ocean data collection across the fleet, it is necessary to outsource some of our production.

Saildrone is proud to work with great US-based companies like Janicki and Seemann, whose expertise in the marine composites industry will help us to more rapidly meet the demanding challenges of the world’s oceans.”

Saildrone has been conducting sea trials of the Voyager in the San Francisco Bay and offshore of California since late 2022, and the first operational maritime security and ocean mapping missions will begin this spring. The company is producing new Voyagers at a rate of one per week.

The data collection capabilities of Saildrone’s autonomous vehicles have been proven in numerous operational missions, covering almost 1 million nautical miles from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

More info: 
https://www.saildrone.com/

Clir Renewables, the market intelligence platform for wind and solar, has secured a ranking of 210 in a list of the fastest growing companies in the Americas, published by the Financial Times. Clir’s absolute growth rate was 274% between 2018 and 2021.

To be eligible for inclusion in the list, companies must be headquartered on the continents of North or South America, have generated a revenue of at least $100,000 in 2018, and $1.5 million in 2021.

The business must be independent, and revenue growth between both 2018 and 2021 must be primarily organic. 

Clir combines the world’s largest renewable energy operational dataset with software and analytics to provide renewable energy power generators, investors and asset managers with actionable insights into the production, health, risk, and financing of assets.

Over the last four years, Clir has secured more than 200 GW of project data, 29 new clients including Glennmont Partners and Northleaf Capital Partners, and expanded into 12 new territories. The business supports the fundamentals of renewable energy project growth and development, working with developers, lenders, and investors through project development, operations, and subsequent mergers and acquisitions.

Leveraging advanced AI and 200+ GW of data from decades of project experience, Clir detects market-wide, project-related and site-specific issues for wind and solar projects.

“To be recognized by The Financial Times as one of the Americas’ fastest growing companies is an achievement we’re all hugely proud of. Over the past six years since our formation, we’ve been able to grow rapidly by continually listening to and recognizing the needs of the market,” said Gareth Brown, Clir’s chief executive and founder.

“As the industry increases in competition, we’re looking forward to the continued growth of our company, and to further incentivizing the shift towards clean energy through deeper intelligence into performance and risk,” said Brown.

More info: https://www.clir.eco/

Baltimore-based US Wind and other Maryland leaders applauded Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s announcement of major offshore wind energy initiatives during the 2023 International Partnering Forum in Baltimore.

“Our administration is serious about offshore wind, and Maryland is ready to lead,” said Moore. “We need all hands on deck in this crucial moment — so we can strengthen Maryland’s supply chain, leverage our state’s assets, and put Marylanders to work in clean energy jobs centered on logistics and manufacturing. If we join together in partnership, we can make Maryland the offshore wind capital of the United States.”

Moore announced that Maryland will aim to quadruple the amount of energy produced by offshore wind from about 2 gigawatts to 8.5 gigawatts, which is enough to power nearly three million homes. The governor said the state has plans to increase its offshore wind output and prioritize wind energy partnerships, creating significant economic and job creation opportunities in the state.

“Governor Moore’s announcement is a homerun for the people of Maryland. He has a big and bold vision that aims to make Maryland the national leader in this new industry and will create thousands of jobs in the process. Governor Moore is the person we need right now to achieve a clean energy future for Maryland,” said Jeff Grybowski, US Wind CEO.

“Maryland can — and will be — a national leader for offshore wind and Governor Moore’s announcement is a major win for Baltimore County as we continue transforming into a premiere hub for renewable energy projects,” said Baltimore County executive Johnny Olszewski. “These projects will help combat climate change while creating hundreds of high-quality jobs in our communities and we look forward to working with our partners at the State, US Wind, Tradepoint Atlantic, and beyond to ensure the future of America’s green economy continues to be built — literally — at Sparrows Point.”

“Governor Moore’s record-shattering announcement means so much to so many across the state, especially minority owned businesses like Strum Contracting,” said Teaera Strum, CEO of Strum Contracting Company, Inc. “Offshore wind will not only improve air quality and combat climate change, but also uplift under-served communities while creating career opportunities and economic vitality. Strum Contracting is thrilled for Governor Moore’s leadership and for US Wind’s commitment to delivering offshore wind and good paying jobs to Marylanders.”

“The Steelworkers couldn’t be happier to hear Governor Moore’s commitment to make Maryland a leader in offshore wind manufacturing,” said Jim Strong, United Steelworkers offshore wind assistant. “Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind facility, is being built on Steelworkers’ hallowed ground at the site of the former Bethlehem Steel. Our partnership with US Wind will create good union jobs for this new renewable energy industry right here in Baltimore County. Governor Moore’s announcement and the work of the Maryland state legislature will position Maryland as a leader in offshore wind manufacturing for decades to come.”

“The future of offshore wind energy presents an incredible opportunity for minorities to get into the energy industry and make a difference in their communities,” said Pamela Minor, president of the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce. “The potential of offshore wind power is immense, with massive potential for job creation and economic growth. As we move forward in achieving Governor Moore’s history-making goal of 8.5 gigawatts for Maryland, it is essential that we work together to ensure that all people have access to the opportunities presented by offshore wind energy. We’re proud to be working with US Wind on this effort.”

“IBEW Local 24 is thrilled to hear Governor Moore’s new offshore wind goal for Maryland,” said Mike McHale, Business Manager, Local 24. “Our partnership with US Wind is a top priority for our union. This announcement solidifies the governor’s commitment, along with the commitment of the Maryland state legislature, to clean energy and union jobs in the state.”

The governor also announced that the administration is working to establish new lease areas and strengthen the offshore wind supply chain in the state. Meanwhile, the Maryland General Assembly is set to pass the complimentary Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023 which also calls for Maryland to boost its offshore wind generation goals to 8.5 gigawatts, improve its transmission infrastructure, and provide a pathway to future procurement of offshore wind energy in the state.


More info: 
https://uswindinc.com/

K2 Management, a global leading renewable energy consultancy, recently announced a four-year partnership with Dominion Energy, an energy company with 7 million customers in 16 states, to provide quality oversight services for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project 27 miles off the coast of Virginia.

With a capacity of 2.6 GW via 176 offshore wind turbines, the project is a significant step forward in the growth of the offshore wind industry in the United States — which has set a lofty target of 30 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.

K2M will serve as Dominion Energy’s Owner’s Quality Assurance Representative, and among other services, will provide quality oversight at suppliers’ manufacturing facilities for all major components. The manufacturing stage began in Q4 of 2022, and K2M’s involvement will commence in March with an expected completion date of April 2027.
K2M and Dominion Energy will also partner to include local Hampton Roads businesses and workers in this project.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Dominion Energy on such a ground-breaking project,” said Lars Andersen, president — Americas at K2 Management. “Our expert knowledge and experience ensured we were successful in a highly competitive tender and will enable us to bring Dominion Energy advice and insights from more than 500 accumulated offshore wind engagements around the world.”

“As the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project takes the mainstage in U.S. offshore wind development, it will attract the interest and scrutiny of future industry stakeholders and investors,” he said. “It’s crucial, therefore, that all partners in the value chain get this right the first time. With the experience of our work in other global offshore wind markets, we’re singularly focused on ensuring that Dominion benefits from learning experiences elsewhere and is set up for long-term success. Lastly, recognizing the opportunity for local economic success, we look forward to supporting Dominion Energy in maximizing local content and the use of the local workforce in delivering its services, directly benefitting the commonwealth of Virginia.”

“Given its wealth of experience, K2M is the clear partner to oversee the day-to-day fabrication at our suppliers’ facilities, as well as the delivery of major components to the Portsmouth Marine Terminal,” said Joshua Bennett, Dominion Energy vice president of offshore wind. “We are at the forefront of delivering reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to our customers, and this partnership is going to help us meet those expectations with our offshore wind project.”

Shoreline Wind, the wind energy leader in design simulation, construction and O&M solutions, announced it has appointed David Tuohy as Chief Operating Officer.
This latest move strengthens the company’s leadership team, bringing into the fold an experienced executive with a proven international track record in scaling energy software platforms.

The move also capitalizes on what the company sees as positive policy developments in key markets regarding wind energy, including the U.S. In January, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it will reform its regulations for the development of wind energy facilities on the country’s outer continental shelf, in order to meet key climate goals.

With 30 years of relevant international experience, Tuohy has spent the last 15 years leading private equity backed climate technology companies, both at C-level and in board roles.

He has worked with technologies from solar PV and power electronics for grid integration of wind power to SaaS solutions for energy efficiency and demand response management. He is also a non-executive director of publicly listed Climate Transition Capital. Tuohy has an engineering background and studied at University College Dublin, INSEAD and the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

 “Shoreline makes a real contribution to carbon reduction goals by enabling faster and cheaper deployment of wind energy at a global scale,” said Tuohy. “With its market-leading SaaS offering, Shoreline is well on its way to become the industry standard for project design, construction, and O&M for wind energy. This company can make a real difference. I am really excited to be part of the team.”

Since 2014, Shoreline has been developing and deploying cutting edge SaaS solutions that deliver the essential, data-driven insights wind farm developers, operators, OEMs, contractors and consultants need to make wind energy more cost-efficient throughout the entire wind farm lifecycle. 

Last year Shoreline secured additional funding from U.S.-based Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and Nordic investor Ferd Capital. Existing investor Blue Bear Capital also participated in the round. The funds are being used to drive Shoreline’s growth in the U.S. and APAC, and to expand the company’s feature set for lifecycle asset optimization. Since closing the investment, Shoreline has increased staffing two-fold with hires in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and most recently in the Netherlands.

“Right now, Shoreline is perfectly positioned to realize exponential growth in lockstep with the growing global demand for wind energy,” said Ole-Erik Vestøl Endrerud, CEO and founder of Shoreline. “We have proven to our customers that our patented technology can drive down construction and O&M costs. The next phase is all about scaling the business and execution capabilities.”

Ambitious wind energy installation and energy production goals are being announced globally with planned installations in APAC and the U.S. leading the trend. Wind farm developers and operators are increasingly reliant on smart simulation solutions to virtually plan and optimize construction and operation, and subsequently deploy and manage the assets using digital solutions. This is key to maximize return on investment in what is an increasingly cost-competitive market.

Shoreline provides solutions to major global players such as Siemens Gamesa, Ørsted, Equinor, Ocean Winds and Vattenfall, with more local players also adopting Shoreline’s solutions. Whether acting global or local, Shoreline is committed to ensuring its platform and people deliver what these customers need to achieve their goals.

“David has worked for multiple clean energy tech scale-ups and he is really passionate about the energy transition. There are not many people around who have worked for big energy companies and a leading energy SaaS unicorn. The investors are thrilled to have him join the leadership team to help Shoreline realize its full growth potential,” said Geoff Eisenberg, partner at EIF.

Shoreline provides enterprise solutions for the wind industry using intelligent data integration and simulation software to optimize and execute wind farm construction, asset management and business cases, and their solutions are deployed globally with the world’s largest energy companies, OEMs and service companies. Shoreline Wind’s solutions are cloud-based, distributed on Software as a Service terms and available to customers on subscription basis, along with an appropriate training and support package.

More info: 
https://shoreline.no/

The sale of Vestas’ converters and controls business has been completed and marks the transfer of Vestas’ three converters and controls factories to KK Wind Solutions. Around 600 of Vestas’ experienced and skilled colleagues will join KK.

“I’m very excited about the next chapter of our partnership with KK Wind Solutions, and I look forward to growing and maturing the wind energy supply chain together. I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to our dedicated and skilled colleagues, who will join KK. You have done an outstanding job, and I know you will continue doing so together with your new colleagues at KK,” said Tommy Rahbek Nielsen, Executive Vice President and COO at Vestas.

“Our people are our most important and valuable asset. Their expertise and dedication are vital in accelerating the green energy transition, and we are excited to welcome our new colleagues whose skills and know-how will help us further develop the industry’s supply chain,” said Mauricio Quintana, Chief Executive Officer, KK Wind Solutions.

Vestas looks for partners that help scale renewables efficiently in the long-term. As part of the partnership between Vestas and KK, KK will exclusively supply converters and control panels to Vestas, and the partnership will further advance with co-development of future Vestas converters.

KK Wind Solutions and Vestas have agreed on several transactional service agreements to ensure business continuity, knowledge transfer, and stable operations throughout the integration period.

More info: 
https://www.kkwindsolutions.com/

GE Renewable Energy has approved the use of the nacelle-based Continuous Wave scanning Lidar ZX TM from Lidar OEM ZX Lidars for power performance testing.

Within the past year, the International Electrotechnical Commission released the standard IEC 61400-50-3, Use of nacelle-mounted lidars for wind measurements. In anticipation of and response to this new standard, GE Renewable Energy studied the use of those devices for power performance measurements.

This specific Lidar, ZX TM, allows the power curve of GE onshore wind turbines to be measured and verified as a function of the hub height wind speed and may be, when agreed with the customer, used instead of the procedure described in the IEC61400-12-1:2017 (ed. 1/ed. 2) using a meteorological mast and anemometry installation.

In addition to hub height measurements specifically used for power performance tests, operational rotor equivalent power curves can also be measured with ZX TM’s 50 points around the full rotor swept area, providing full veer and shear information. These measurements help to inform operational strategies relating to turbine performance outside of warranted conditions, and may be important for turbines with larger rotor diameters offshore and on sites with complex veer or shear profiles onshore.

More info: 
https://www.zxlidars.com/

Vestas has signed a preferred supplier agreement with Korea South-East Power Company (KOEN) for the 600 MW Wando Geumil offshore wind project in Wando-Gun, South Jeolla Province, South Korea.

If the project materializes, Vestas will supply and install 40 units of the V236-15.0 MW turbine. Vestas will also deliver 20 years of operation and maintenance service for the wind farm when operational.

“We are honored to have been selected as preferred turbine supplier by KOEN for the Wando Geumil offshore wind project and the trust that the customer placed in Vestas,” said Purvin Patel, President of Vestas Asia Pacific. “Aiming to become a leader in offshore wind, Vestas is committed to support decarbonization of the country as well as the Asia Pacific region, in close partnership with our customers.”

“We are so excited to take part in this project, which will be the first collaboration for us with KOEN. Through the project, KOEN and Vestas will work together to unleash the potential of offshore wind in the west coast of the country and contribute to South Korea’s goal of generating 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030,” said Srdan Cenic, Country Manager of Vestas Korea & Vice President, Head of Sales Offshore of Vestas Asia Pacific.

KOEN is a power generation company newly started on April 2, 2001, according to the South Korean government policy for restructuring the power generation industry.

The company operates five power generation facilities with a total capacity of 10,324 MW.
Delivery of the turbines will be expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with commercial operation scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

More info: https://www.vestas.com/en

Vaisala, a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements, has announced the integration of lightning data from Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset GLD360, part of its Xweather suite of weather and environmental data services, into its Helideck Monitoring System.

Built to meet the demands of challenging offshore environments, Vaisala’s Helideck Monitoring System uses thunderstorm and lightning information from GLD360, the only global sensor network that detects thunderstorms in real time anywhere, including oceans, seaports and other areas outside the range of weather radars. Helicopter pilots, helideck operators, and offshore authorities can now make informed “waiting on weather” decisions that result in minimized operational downtime, improved route planning, and reduced cost and impact of weather disruptions.

This solution for offshore operations delivers:

Detection efficiency and location accuracy: Vaisala’s global lightning data network identifies 100% of global thunderstorms and locates lightning with a median accuracy of 1 km.


Complete situational awareness: The Vaisala Lightning Threat Zone provides storm and lightning trajectory in 10-minute increments up to 60 minutes out, advising when a location of interest may be impacted.

Maintenance-free lightning data services: With no capital investment needs or expensive offshore maintenance costs, the Helideck Monitoring System eliminates the need to purchase, install, or maintain single-point lightning detection sensors.


Highest-quality lightning data: Vaisala’s expertise in lightning data, and its ongoing investments in operating and maintaining the world’s best global lightning network, safeguards offshore operations with real-time lightning data with better than 99.99% availability.

Proven lightning and offshore weather expertise: Vaisala lightning detection networks are used by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and many large power utilities and commercial organizations globally.


Lightning data when needed: The lightning data services are compatible with 4G LTE, 5G, and all common satellite internet communication solutions used at sea with minimal bandwidth requirements.

Compliance with industry standards: The certified Helideck Monitoring System solution complies with current CAP437 and Helideck Certification Agency requirements, and its CAA-certified software adheres to international aviation regulations.

“It’s all about safety and efficiency. Lightning can cause power outages, damage helicopters and infrastructure, and even put people in harm’s way. Monitoring lightning in real time to assess its impact is essential for protecting lives and assets and optimizing the timing of offshore helicopter takeoffs, landings, hoist operations and fueling,” said Mikko Nikkanen, head of maritime at Vaisala. “Our upgraded Helideck Monitoring System allows offshore customers to stay ahead of the weather and gain oceans of actionable insight to boost their operations with confidence.”

Leveraging more than 85 years of measurement expertise, including 45-plus years in aviation weather and more than a decade of experience in demanding offshore weather applications, Vaisala’s global support team has delivered hundreds of Helideck Monitoring Systems to partners around the world.

More info: 
www.vaisala.com/helideckmonitoring



Last month, the Biden administration set out new streamlined regulation for offshore wind development as it chases its highly ambitious installation target of 30 GW by 2030.

In the first major regulatory shakeup since 2009, the U.S. Interior Department will offer more flexibility on survey requirements, reform lease auctions, and improve the verification of project designs, it said.

The new rules come as the Interior Department plans to hold up to four additional offshore lease sales by 2025 and aims to complete environmental reviews of at least 16 offshore wind projects by 2025, representing more than 20 GW of new capacity.

Subject to 60-day public consultation, the rule changes represent a “very big package of important incremental improvements” that is “long overdue,” Seth Kaplan, Director of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs at Ocean Winds North America, told Reuters Events.

In particular, more flexibility on surveys in construction and operations plans (COPs) will simplify the permitting and approval process.

“The new rule adds flexibility in the timing of data submittal, which saves costs, and enables developers to do fewer unnecessary surveys, said Josh Kaplowitz, vice president of Offshore Wind at the American Clean Power (ACP) association.

The Interior Department will also clarify leasing criteria and release five-year leasing roadmaps, providing investors with much-needed certainty.

The rule improvements “will provide the necessary predictability to grow the domestic clean energy economy,” Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, told Reuters Events.

The rule changes “give the industry certainty moving forward,” an Equinor spokesperson said.

Under the proposals, developers will be allowed to submit a range of design parameters in their construction and operations plan (COP) and defer certain survey requirements until later in the development process.

This new approach is less prescriptive and more similar to the project design envelope (PDE) process used in Europe and would give developers greater flexibility to tweak their designs and incorporate the latest technology before installation begins.

Developers could install larger, more efficient turbines “without having to restart the process, so long as you were approved to use a larger model,” Kaplowitz said. Suppliers continue to release higher capacity turbines as developers seek a lower cost per megawatt.

The approval of Vineyard Wind, the U.S.’ first large offshore wind project, was delayed when BOEM expanded the scope of the environmental review to take into account larger turbine considerations, previously unavailable fishing data, a new transit lane alternative, and cumulative risks from multiple offshore wind projects. The environmental review took three years to complete and the 800-MW project is due online in Massachusetts waters in 2024.

The new rules also remove the requirement for site assessment plans (SAPs) for meteorological buoys, providing further savings for developers.

Developers will also be allowed to pay the cost of decommissioning the asset at the end of its life incrementally over the lease term, rather than upfront as required currently, which will create significant savings over the life of the project.

BOEM estimates that the new rules will save U.S. offshore wind developers $1 billion over 20 years, mostly due to the change to decommissioning funding.

The rule changes will help clarify development processes and avoid some delays but the exact impact on project timelines is unclear. Approval processes will remain rigorous and can involve around a dozen federal agencies, industry sources said.

More specific timelines within the rules would help developers plan resources, Kaplowitz said.

“Adding these timelines could be very helpful in terms of making the length of the process more predictable,” he said.

More info: www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind

SKF has developed a compact cartridge pump that provides effective lubrication to applications such as small agricultural and construction machinery.

The pump, called AECP,  automatically lubricates up to 22 lubrication points making it more time and cost-effective – than manual methods. The pump dispenses grease from standard tubes that are widely available from distribution or retail outlets.

“Using standard grease tubes makes refilling an auto-lube system as easy as refilling a grease gun,” said Jordan Butler, lubrication product line manager at SKF. “This saves operator time and automates a time-consuming maintenance task.”

Typical applications include dozers, loaders and farm machinery such as balers and municipal equipment. This type of machinery is typically lubricated manually, which has downsides such as time consumption and the cost of repairs, which is picked up by the equipment rental fleet owner.

The system is also more straightforward for the end-user and keeps both grease and the machine clean. OEMs are likely to see a reduction in warranty claims over traditional manual greasing methods.

Other benefits include increased equipment availability and reliability; simpler maintenance; lower cost of maintenance and spare parts; and easier retrofitting.

The AECP requires no special refilling tool or equipment. Grease is stored in standard grease cartridges making it easy to swap out and prime while the motor and pump elements pull grease in a metered way. The use of cartridges also allows for a wide range of lubricants. It also fits into tight spaces and can withstand harsh working conditions and environments.

The pump can be used to create a small progressive lubrication system when combined with SSV progressive metering devices. A built-in sensor gives early warning that a cartridge needs replacing. For more advanced monitoring options, the AECP can be operated with a controller.

The pump is ready for sale in North America, with global availability in the works.

MORE INFO  https://www.skf.com/us

Emerson has combined its power expertise and renewable energy capabilities into the Ovation Green portfolio to help power generation companies meet the needs of customers navigating the transition to green energy generation and storage.

By uniting the recently acquired Mita-Teknik software and technology with its own Ovation automation platform, renewable energy knowledge base cybersecurity solutions and remote management capabilities, Emerson has created a new extension of its power-based control architecture. The resulting portfolio focuses on the emerging clean energy market to provide simplified renewables automation to help power producers build and scale sustainable operations.

“Countries around the globe are focused on transitioning to a clean energy economy in the coming decades, and while green energy is a simple concept everyone understands, the road to implementation is not always clear,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water solutions. “With the Ovation Green portfolio, our software, support and solutions are unified in one system from a single trusted provider to help power producers more quickly, easily and reliably manage their renewable electricity operations.”

Renewable electricity capacity has seen record growth in recent years. However, transitioning to cleaner energy systems or scaling up existing ones is a complex undertaking for power producers. Wind turbines, solar arrays, lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen electrolyzers and hydroelectric power all use a wide variety of automation software and technologies. As renewable portfolios grow, the number of applied technologies will multiply, increasing learning curves and adding complexity to operations as solutions from different vendors require additional integration. While some existing systems can provide layers of connectivity between very specific assets, the Ovation Green portfolio will deliver a single set of purpose-built software and solutions that supports different technologies in one standardized, intuitive system.

By gathering, collating and contextualizing vast amounts of data created by renewable generation and storage assets, Emerson’s Ovation Green portfolio provides a clear view of renewable operations in a seamless space. The portfolio will empower actionable intelligence from a unified platform to drive faster, more informed decisions to increase availability and production while reducing operations and maintenance costs.

MORE INFO  https://www.emerson.com/en-us/automation/ovation-green