The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) released the NOIA Offshore Wind Priorities List for Biden Administration and the Importance of Gulf of Mexico Energy Production to the United States.

The documents are a pair of offshore energy priority proposals, detailing offshore oil, natural gas, and wind policies that President-elect Joe Biden should pursue to bolster U.S. offshore energy as a strategic asset, as well as possible legislation for consideration by the incoming Administration.

“President-elect Biden and the incoming Administration should recognize that offshore energy provides a unique solution to some of their top priorities,” said NOIA President Erik Milito. “American offshore energy is a foundation of domestic energy, accessible jobs and economic opportunity, and billions of dollars of government revenue. Offshore energy production occurs miles from onshore populations, so it avoids adverse environmental justice issues. On top of that, offshore-energy revenues provide the funding for vital parks-and-recreation programs that promote environmental justice solutions for local communities. The ecosystem of oil, natural gas, wind and service and supply companies are not just driving energy and climate innovation, they are providing a way to scale and deploy real-world solutions. There are not many industries that can provide these broad benefits in such a sustainable and responsible manner.”

Offshore oil and natural gas production is an American energy and economic anchor. A study by Energy & Industrial Advisory Partners found that, in 2019, the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry supported more than 345,000 jobs, across every U.S. state, $28.6 billion in GDP, and $5.4 billion in government revenue, including $1 billion that was directed to the Land & Water Conservation Fund.

The outlook for offshore wind is bright. A recent Wood Mackenzie paper indicates that new near-term prospective offshore wind leases could end up generating 37 GW of new electricity, supporting 80,000 jobs annually and creating $166 billion in total investment by 2035.

• Key offshore wind policies highlighted in the NOIA policy paper include:
• Leasing and permitting of offshore renewable energy.
• Appoint renewable energy permitting czar inside executive office of the president.
• Offshore wind investment tax credit implementation regulations.
• Reverse or alter the recent withdrawal of offshore wind leasing acreage.
• Improve coordination on the Pacific Coast between industry and the Department of Defense.

More info: www.noia.org

Vestas Wind Systems, a world leader in sustainable energy solutions, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., a leading global manufacturing and engineering firm, have signed an agreement to expand their partnership in sustainable energy.

The strengthened partnership entails that Vestas will acquire MHI’s shares in the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind (MVOW) joint venture and MHI will acquire 2.5 percent in Vestas and be nominated to a seat in Vestas’ Board of Directors.

Through the strengthened partnership, Vestas makes an emphatic long-term move in offshore wind energy to become a leading player in offshore wind by 2025 and to expand the two companies’ overall leadership in sustainable energy. A new offshore wind turbine platform will also be imminently introduced to improve efficiency and drive the levelized cost of energy further down. The companies also aim to meet customer needs across a wider range of the value chain and increase their global leadership in sustainable energy solutions. To that end and underlining the long-term goal of the agreement, Vestas and MHI will also plan for collaborating in green hydrogen as well as a joint venture in Japan to secure accelerated growth for onshore and offshore wind energy.

“Vestas is the leader in onshore wind, but to accelerate the energy transition and achieve our vision, we must play a larger role in offshore wind,” said Henrik Andersen, group president and CEO of Vestas. “On behalf of all of Vestas, I’m therefore very excited that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shares Vestas’ vision to become a leading player in offshore wind energy in the long term and will strengthen our partnership by becoming a large shareholder and part of Vestas’ Board of Directors. Offshore wind is key to creating a sustainable planet for future generations and offers unique growth, and with (this) announcement, we underline that we want to be an integral part of both.”

“We are very pleased to be able to expand our cooperation and collaboration with Vestas, now more than ever, under the backdrop of increasing need for cleaner and more economical energy worldwide,” said Seiji Izumisawa, president and CEO of MHI. “We will continue to strengthen business cooperation by leveraging our respective strengths to support the growth of clean energy around the world, especially in Japan.”

In Japan, the two companies will establish a joint venture for sales of onshore and offshore wind-power turbines, and Vestas will, as part of the collaboration, plan for establishing parts of its regional supply chain and production in Japan should market volume and cost-competitiveness allow.

The demand for offshore wind energy has accelerated in recent years and is expected to reach about 25 GW per year by 2030. This development is driven by a 67 percent decline in levelized cost of offshore wind energy since 2012 and growing applicability of offshore wind energy, which is mainly driven by high system value, proximity to load centers, better permitting, and public acceptance, as well as large-scale Power-to-X solutions, an area in which MHI has particular expertise and can contribute to across the value chain.

Through the agreement, the two companies seek to accelerate their overall growth journey by integrating onshore and offshore platforms and leveraging Vestas’ strengths in both segments. Specifically, this entails a stronger integration between onshore and offshore technology and modular frameworks.

“On behalf of Vestas, I look forward to welcoming Kentaro Hosomi, CEO, Energy Systems, MHI, to our Board of Directors,” Andersen said. “We hope to benefit from his visionary and strategic mindset as we seek to create a more sustainable planet for future generations.”

Vestas’ planning of the expected integration of MVOW into the Vestas group will commence immediately and run until transaction closing, focusing on synergies in sales, technology, manufacturing footprint and procurement to sustain customer relationships, lower costs, and building a strong shared Vestas culture. Until transaction closing, the executive management of MVOW will consist of Johnny Thomsen, CEO of MVOW; Tatsuichiro Honda, co-chief executive officer and chief financial officer of MVOW; Kentaro Hosomi, deputy chairman of MVOW and CEO, Energy Systems, MHI; and Andersen, chairman of MVOW and group president and CEO of Vestas.

On a stand-alone basis, MVOW is expected to report a consolidated revenue for 2020 of approximately 1.4 billion euros, with an EBIT margin of about 4 percent.

Closing of the transaction is expected to take place within either the fourth quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021.

More info: www.mhivestasoffshore.com

A2Z Drone Delivery, LLC, developer of a patented tethered freefall drone delivery mechanism, recently launched its flagship product, the RDS1 (Rapid Delivery System), which maintains a safe hover of up to 150 feet (45.71 meters) while its delivery mechanism controls the payload’s freefall for a safe and accurate touchdown.

Offered as a modular add-on system or as a ready-to-fly platform based on the DJI® Matrice 600 Pro, the RDS1 is designed for payloads up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs.). With a range of up to 3.5 km (2.17 miles), the RDS1 is ideal for rapid deployment of time-sensitive first aid and life-saving medical supplies, or to deliver material to destinations where landing the drone is problematic such as a tossing ship or dense forest.

The RDS1 addresses some of the consumer-protection concerns with drone delivery. By delivering payloads from a safe hover altitude, the RDS1 protects recipients from spinning UAV propellers, while mitigating privacy concerns of low-flying drones and abating intrusive rotor noise. The RDS1’s patented freefall delivery mechanism reduces time-on-station to ensure onboard power can be put to use in other ways. Built on the familiar DJI flight control interface, the A2Z Drone Delivery app combines manual control system operations with an onboard sensor array to manage the package’s freefall and gently stop its descent just above the ground. Rated at 100 pounds tensile strength, the RDS1’s Kevlar® tether and elastic fabric pouch can be reeled back up for reuse or to retrieve materials from personnel on the ground.

“Our rapid delivery system is ideal for situations where a drone cannot safely approach close proximity to its delivery location such as delivering radios or medical supplies to a search and rescue team in a forest or as a more efficient option to deliver and retrieve port documents from awaiting cargo ships,” said Aaron Zhang, founder of A2Z Drone Delivery, LLC. “While other drone delivery platforms are designed to hover close to the ground, our tethered free-fall delivery technique enables efficient and accurate placement without the UAV approaching people, structures, or other obstructions like trees and wires.”

RDS1 Features

The company’s proprietary delivery mechanism incorporates a Lidar sensing system that streams continuous data to the onboard firmware, which controls the payload’s rapid descent. Additional integrated features include:

• Payload status detection: Monitors payload throughout flight and delivery, enabling eventual beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions.
• Pre-flight weight check: Ensures the flight platform is not overloaded and controls payload deceleration.
• Rapid descent calculation: Automatically determines when to slow the payload freefall at the proper distance from the ground.
• Manual delivery control: Intelligent onboard systems provide safeguards while allowing pilots to manually control tethered payload delivery and retrieval.
• Emergency payload abandonment: Allows the pilot to quickly detach the drone from its payload amid flight emergencies.
• Transverse tether winding: Ensures the tether is tightly woven on the reel to maximize capacity and prevent knotting.
• Passive payload lock: Safeguards against payload loss or tether slippage in case of unforeseen power fluctuations and eliminates the need for additional payload housing.

“As we bring this first iteration of our unique rapid delivery system to market, we’re eager to work with our customers to adapt the system to meet their unique mission demands and set our product roadmap to suit their needs,” Zhang said. “We have already initiated development of a ‘tap-and-go’ payload auto-release mechanism to remotely deposit the payload without an awaiting recipient, and while our flexible payload pouches can already accommodate diverse demands, our design team is nimble enough to adapt the delivery system to just about any payload the flight platform can support.”

More info: www.a2zdronedelivery.com/rds1

Leading global infrastructure operator Ferrovial has been selected for the manufacturing and assembly of the SATH floating platform in the DemoSATH project lead by Saitec Offshore Technologies in collaboration with RWE Renewables.

The construction package will last 14 months and covers site preparation, concrete precasting, procurement of steel bulkheads, and assembly of the floater along with management of the supply chain.

The award of the construction contract is a significant milestone for the project and kicks off the on-site works in the already granted area of the Port of Bilbao (northern Spain). Work will start in November 2020 under strict health and safety rules to protect against COVID-19 and will create about 60 local jobs during the peak of the project.

In February 2020, RWE Renewables and Saitec Offshore Technologies announced they were joining forces to test a floating platform for wind turbines off the Basque Coast. The DemoSATH project will deploy the first multi-megawatt floating offshore wind turbine connected to the Spanish grid. RWE Renewables will finance part of the project costs and contribute its extensive experience as the second largest player in offshore wind globally, gaining access to the resulting findings in return.

The SATH Technology floater is based on a twin hull, made of modularly prefabricated and subsequently braced concrete elements. It can align itself around a single point of mooring depending to the wind and wave direction.

“Our ambition is to rapidly advance toward commercial production,” said David Carrascosa, chief technology officer of Saitec Offshore Technologies. “DemoSATH is therefore not only proving the technical feasibility of the SATH technology but is also demonstrating how these structures can be mass produced. Ferrovial is the perfect partner to rely on and to ensure we meet our objectives.”

“We are pleased to see that the DemoSATH project is entering the manufacturing phase now and making good progress towards offshore installation in 2022,” said Sven Utermöhlen, chief operating officer, Wind Offshore Global of RWE Renewables GmbH. “We see great potential for floating wind farms worldwide, especially in countries with deeper coastal waters where this opens up attractive opportunities. As part of this large-scale demonstration project, we are gaining experience with an innovative concrete-based platform technology that will help us to position ourselves in this growth market.”

“This is Ferrovial’s first floating offshore wind project, and it represents a great opportunity to add value to the project, based on our experience in marine construction and landmark pre-stressed concrete structures,” said Alberto Val, Ferrovial construction manager in Basque Country. “Moreover, this project has a large innovation component, not only because of the materials but also because of the manufacturing and assembly processes that it will develop.”

For the prototype, the structure and the 2-MW wind turbine will be assembled in the port of Bilbao. The base of the structure will be about 30 meters wide and 64 meters long. The platform, including the turbine, will be towed to its anchorage point in a test field (BIMEP) two miles off the coast at a depth of 85 meters. Hybrid mooring lines, composed by chains and fiber anchored to the seabed will hold the floating body in position. The unit is expected to go into operation early 2022. The power generated by DemoSATH will provide enough annual electricity to meet the power needs for 2,000 homes and will prevent emissions of more than 5,100 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The objective of the project is to collect data and gain real-life knowledge from the construction, operation, and maintenance of the unit. DemoSATH will test the offshore behavior of the platform, in addition to the construction procedure to be used in the future for mass production. The various sections of the floater will be first precast and then assembled in order to prove the efficiency of the industrial fabrication conceived by Saitec Offshore Technologies for upcoming commercial wind-farm developments.

SATH technology will also demonstrate its capacity as a local content enabler, largely due to the use of concrete as main construction material. The DemoSATH project will spend 90 percent of its construction budget with the local supply chain (less than 50 kilometers from the site.)

More info: saitec-offshore.com

Clir Renewables, a leading provider of performance assessment software for renewable energy, recently called on asset owners to benchmark the performance of their renewable energy equipment at portfolio, rather than project, scales.

While a number of high-profile manufacturers have recently announced losses owing to the repair and replacement of turbines with blade or tower defects, very few of these serial faults are made public until they affect the manufacturers’ balance sheet. Therefore, in order for asset owners to understand what issues might be recurring, a lack of transparency around “big picture” operational data must be addressed.

Clir argues that in the absence of industry-wide transparency on serial defects, owners need to use their asset and project data to build a portfolio-wide understanding of asset health and act on issues before they affect performance or result in a critical failure.

Today’s turbines are four times as large as the average assets installed in the wind power boom of the 1980s, with the next generation of turbines set to reach new heights offshore. However, as complex, highly innovative new technology is rolled out across the globe, major unknowns around asset performance in specific environments remain. As such, recurring issues are often only recognized and addressed many years later.

“Often, serial defects do not surface until the asset has been operational for more than 10 years; however, if operational and performance data from new turbines was freely shared between the manufacturer, the owner, and the operator, defects common to certain models could be identified and addressed early,” said Gareth Brown, chief executive officer, Clir Renewables.

“At Clir, we are taking three key steps to overcoming the issue of missing data on serial defects,” he said. “Firstly, by facilitating owner-to-owner collaboration on specific issues. This gives our clients the ability to either jointly tackle an issue or learn from each other’s first-hand experience. Secondly, by building a knowledge base of known issues that have been identified through our supported asset base and complimented by decades of in-house domain expertise. Lastly, by arming clients with the right information during turbine-supply-agreement or service-and-maintenance-agreement negotiations to ensure the most favorable terms are in place should defects occur.”

“Unfortunately, this level of information sharing is not the norm,” Brown said. “However, by analyzing turbine data holistically from Day 1 of operations, benchmarking performance against every other turbine of that model in the owner’s portfolio and against Clir’s supported portfolio as a whole, common issues — serial or otherwise — can be tackled before they impact operations.”

Recently, Clir announced that more than 5GW of renewable energy assets have been signed up to the firm’s platform over the last year.

More info: www.clir.eco

When it comes to wind park operations, data is invaluable — indeed, it is utterly critical to a healthy business. The general consensus in the industry, however, is that that 80 percent of the employee time spent on wind-farm data is used in cleaning it up, while only 20 percent is spent on actual analysis and optimization.

SCADA International has now addressed this challenge with the launch of Robotic Data Intelligence, a patented new software solution that automatically cleans, organizes, and reports wind-farm data. By doing so, the innovative software ensures the data enhancement that underlies operational optimization.

“Gathering and cleaning data are two of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks in operating a wind park,” said Thomas Bagger, CEO of SCADA International. “Nevertheless, they are vital elements of a successful operation. But while high-quality data supports good decision-making, poor or missing data can mean missed opportunities and lost income.”

The new software was designed to complement OneView® SCADA software and its well-known data-collection features. While OneView® SCADA retrieves data and provides precise calculations of up and downtime, production losses, and availability, Robotic Data Intelligence organizes and qualifies that data. And that makes it possible to dedicate more time on analysis and optimization and less on validation.

“The reason wind-park operators use so much time to systemize the data they’ve gathered is that unfortunately, errors in event sequences are not unusual,” said Bo Lovmand, SCADA International’s R&D director. “For instance, a reset can mean anywhere from a couple of minutes to several months of incorrect calculations. With this new software solution, such errors will be discovered immediately — and automatically. Robotic Data Intelligence gathers data from several sources, cleans it by weeding out incorrect and duplicate data, and formats it all in accurate, easy-to-understand summaries.”

The new software was developed in consultation with a group of experts who specialize in different types of wind turbines. In that way, SCADA International has ensured the best overview of operating situations, regardless of the makeup of a particular wind turbine fleet.

Bagger notes Robotic Data Intelligence is undergoing further development in order to make it possible to customize advanced reporting systems.

“One of our chief goals is to improve transparency in calculating turbine availability, both operational and contractual,” he said. “By doing that, we’ll make it possible for wind-park operators to develop optimization strategies that utilize existing equipment and free up more time to find solutions instead of identifying problems.”

More info: scada-international.com

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is excited to welcome wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage industry leaders and partners at the Canadian Renewable Energy Forum to be held virtually November 9-10, 2020.

The Canadian Renewable Energy Forum builds on the legacy of long-established annual wind and solar energy industry events in Canada and has been expanded to encompass issues and opportunities for the wind energy, solar energy, and energy-storage industries in Canada within a single program. The Forum’s 10 concurrent sessions will focus on key elements of Canada’s energy transition including electricity market reform, hybrid projects combining renewable energy and energy storage, rapidly growing corporate and customer demand for renewable energy, and more.

Of note, the Forum will open November 9 with a panel on Canada’s Energy Transition. Michelle Chislett (managing director, Canada and U.S. Development, Northland Power and CanREA Board chair) will moderate a discussion between Frank Davis (Country Head – Canada, Pattern Energy Group), Brian Douglas (VP – Sales, HES PV), Jeff Jenner (CEO, Potentia Renewables), and Annette Verschuren (Chair and CEO, NRStor).

On November 10, the Forum will open with the Innovation and Collaboration plenary that will bring together chief executives from regulated utilities and provincial system operators: Sophie Brochu (President & CEO, Hydro-Québec), Michael Law (President & CEO, Alberta Electric System Operator), Mike Marsh (President & CEO, SaskPower) and Terry Young (Interim President & CEO, Independent Electricity System Operator).

The day will close with the Canada’s Energy Future plenary, moderated by Chris Severson-Baker (Interim Director, Business Renewables Center Canada), where attendees will hear from sustainability leaders of companies such as Telus, RBC, and Oxford Properties, as well as the City of Edmonton on their interests in accessing renewable energy for their customers.  

CanREA is using a global virtual events platform to deliver a real forum experience in a virtual environment like no other. Attendees will be able to converge and connect with all participants, attend plenaries and education sessions, and come together in the designated “Power Together” networking sessions and showcase opportunities.

MORE INFO  renewablesassociation.ca/event/canadian-renewable-energy-forum-wind-solar-storage

WindEnergy Hamburg will not be on the Hamburg exhibition campus this year. Instead, Hamburg Messe und Congress plans to host a fully digital event in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its global impact on trade fairs and international traveling.

“Following extensive consultations with our co-organizer, WindEurope, our partners VDMA, BWE and GWEC, and the exhibition committee, we have decided to host WindEnergy Hamburg 2020 as a new digital event,” said Bernd Aufderheide, president and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. “In the face of growing infection rates in many countries and international travel restrictions, planning a physical trade fair with participants from all around the world is next to impossible. Our decision gives our exhibitors and visitors a reliable basis for planning and provides us with an opportunity to make the wind industry’s leading networking event a great success on the digital stage.”

Hamburg Messe und Congress is working vigorously on the development of digital formats that will allow all participants in WindEnergy Hamburg to have a successful trade fair experience in the present unusual situation.

“We are in the process of reinventing and expanding the trade fair concept,” Aufderheide said. “Through our digital program, we want to bring the industry together this year despite the difficult circumstances. When we meet again on the Hamburg Messe und Congress exhibition campus in 2022, some of these new services might turn out to be welcome additions to the proven trade fair concept.”

The digital program will include company and product profiles along with comprehensive, up-to-date background information, plus education, business, and networking opportunities. It will even be possible to make appointments for meetings in virtual meeting rooms, among other features.

“We are trying to replicate as many aspects of WindEnergy Hamburg in the digital space so that exhibitors in particular will have an opportunity to present themselves and interact with the global community,” Aufderheide said.

One of the highlights that had been planned for the event, the Premium Conference by WindEurope, will likewise be held digitally.

“This year’s WindEurope Conference comes in a new form,” said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson. “For the first time, alongside the main conference program, there’ll be a ‘Wind TV’ channel, which will give access to exclusive live and on-demand content, so, you won’t just be tuning into Teams/Zoom panels.”

The high-level virtual conference will focus on how to unleash wind’s full potential. The coverage will include permitting, community engagement, electrification, renewable hydrogen, technology and innovation, and the wind-energy supply chain.

More info: www.windenergyhamburg.com

Avangrid Renewables, a leading developer of utility-scale solar, onshore and offshore wind projects, recently announced the appointment of Bill White as head of U.S. offshore wind and Sy Oytan as deputy CEO of Vineyard Wind. Through its partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Avangrid Renewables is jointly developing Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts, and Park City Wind, which will supply Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively, with clean renewable energy.

White will lead the development and implementation of Avangrid Renewables’ overall offshore wind strategy in the U.S. Oytan will be joining White’s team and will oversee business management, finance, development, and delivery for the Vineyard Wind and Park City projects.

“Throughout his career, Bill has helped lay the foundation for the U.S. offshore wind industry,” said president and CEO of Avangrid Renewables Alejandro de Hoz. “His experience, expertise, and relationships will further strengthen Avangrid Renewables’ position as an industry leader. Sy’s background in offshore wind-project development and delivery makes him a tremendous addition to our team. His expertise will facilitate the successful development of these two groundbreaking offshore wind projects for Massachusetts and Connecticut.”

In addition to the two southern New England projects, Avangrid Renewables is developing its wholly-owned Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project, a proposed 2,500-MW offshore wind project off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. In total, Avangrid Renewables has an offshore wind development pipeline of nearly 5 GW, enough to power approximately 2 million American homes.

“I’m proud to join the pioneers of the North American offshore wind industry,” White said. “Avangrid Renewables is leading a new American energy transition that will create thousands of jobs while producing clean, affordable energy to tackle our mounting climate emergency. I am thrilled to join such a strong team dedicated to launching the future of U.S. clean energy offshore.”

Prior to joining Avangrid Renewables, White served as president and CEO of EnBW North America, the U.S. offshore wind subsidiary of the German utility. He was previously the senior director of offshore wind sector development for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center where he led the state’s offshore wind planning efforts and directed initiatives to support the responsible siting of offshore wind projects.

Additionally, White served in the White House as a special assistant to the president and as assistant secretary at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. He is a graduate of Boston College’s School of Management and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Vineyard Wind is breaking new ground with the first large-scale offshore wind farms in the waters of the United States,” Oytan said. “Joining the team that’s helping make this project a reality and growing a new U.S. industry is a terrific opportunity.”

Oytan joins Avangrid Renewables from Arup, where he led offshore wind development efforts for the multinational engineering firm. Previously, he worked for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority where he spearheaded a range of offshore wind port and supply chain development initiatives for the State of New Jersey. During his career, he led the development, delivery, construction, and advisory on 6.5 GW of onshore and offshore wind-energy projects in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He has also held a variety of leadership positions at Siemens Gamesa and Schlumberger. He is a mechanical engineer with a master’s degree in industrial management from Clemson University.

White and Oytan will be based, respectively, in Avangrid Renewables’ and Vineyard Wind’s offices in Boston, Massachusetts.

More info: www.avangridrenewables.com

Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training providers in North America returned to action quickly after COVID-19 lockdown eased, with courses in the first six months of 2020 increasing by 56 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

The results are published in GWO’s Half Year Report, Training in the Pandemic, which reveals that while activity across the global network fell by as much as minus-86 percent during March, April, and May owing to COVID-19 lockdown, North American training centers were still able to train more people in 2020.

This growth was driven by several newly established training centers opening their doors and adding capacity to the network as wind-energy employers in North America increasingly request the standard for their workforces.

“Despite the pandemic, GWO remains on course to meet the annual target our members set last year to double the number of new training centers, courses completed, and certification bodies able to audit GWO training centers,” said Wesley Witt, head of Quality Management and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and chair of GWO North America Committee. “I thank all our GWO training providers across North America who have safely delivered training throughout the past several months by making modifications to facilities and classrooms, among other actions, while continuing to help achieve our vision of an injury free work environment.”

Global safety training volumes fell minus-15 percent in the first six months of 2020 compared with the same period one year earlier. While the total of courses declined in Europe, growth also continued in Asia/Pacific.

“It was encouraging to see how quickly GWO training providers returned following lockdown,” said Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of Global Wind Organisation. “In most cases, they have continued this increased activity into Q3. Our members are the world’s largest employers in wind power, and they have supported training providers during COVID-19 by developing standards and requirements for virtual classroom training and blended learning solutions with digital elements. There are now over 40 training providers around the world certified to provide digital or virtual courses. At the beginning of 2020, there was just one, so there are more options available should the worst effects of lockdown return.”

“The first half of 2020 was the most challenging period many of us has ever experienced, and, unfortunately, it appears, for a number of countries, the spread of the virus has increased again,” said Paul Robbins, chief health and safety specialist at Vestas and chair of GWO. “However, our commitment to safety is the priority. Technicians will be required to install and maintain our growing wind power infrastructure in spite of many risks posed by COVID-19, and I believe the GWO network is well prepared to support our workforce and ride out the worst effects of any repeat situation this winter.”

More info: www.globalwindsafety.org

Croda International Plc, which uses smart science to create, make, and sell specialty chemicals that improve lives, recently announced a new partnership with Sentient Science for the recommended use of Croda’s Rewitec additives for wind-turbine gearboxes and main bearings.

In 2019, Croda acquired Rewitec GmbH and began to offer Energy Technologies customers nano- and micro-particle-based additives to increase the durability of machinery by lowering friction and reducing wear. Sentient Science validated Rewitec’s DuraGear gearbox oil additives for use in wind-turbine gearboxes in 2017.

This brand-new partnership will see Sentient apply physics and data science expertise, combined with Croda’s Rewitec additives, to calculate the lifetime extension of critical rotating components. It will also examine how Rewitec’s GR400 grease additive, developed specifically for main bearing durability improvements, can improve equipment lifetime.

Sentient Science provides DigitalClone^® for wind operations and maintenance, which uses a unique combination of physics and data science to give a holistic view of the health and remaining useful life of an asset’s critical systems and components. This information is used for predictive maintenance programs to reduce operations and maintenance costs and ultimately to prolong asset life. Sentient is able to calculate and demonstrate durability improvements imparted through using Croda’s Rewitec technology, which provides asset owners the option of extending the lifetime of their assets instead of costly part replacements.

“The competitive energy market is forcing energy producers to optimize maintenance practices and reduce operational expenses,” said Scott Gardiner, business development specialist for energy technologies at Croda. “Major correctives are the largest cost drivers in the wind-energy market, specifically gearbox or main-shaft replacement. The cost of this replacement can completely change the asset’s profitability during its lifetime. The Rewitec technology is currently helping customers reduce failure rates and extend the life of these critical assets. We are excited that customers can now utilize Sentient’s DigitalClone^® to provide RUL projections in conjunction with our Rewitec technology.”

“As wind turbines age, operators are seeing a higher number of onshore and offshore wind assets running with damage, specifically in critical rotating components like gearboxes and main bearings,” said Ed Wagner, GM of wind operations at Sentient. “Our customers have been waiting for data to compare next generation additives, like Rewitec, against up-tower part replacements. And while this may not be a solution for every wind turbine, we do have data to substantiate improvements in gearbox life and expect to show the same in main bearing life.”

More info: sentientscience.com

Leading renewable energy consultancy and service provider, Natural Power, was recently appointed by BayWa r.e. Wind LLC as Independent Engineer of Record for its 250-MW Amadeus Wind project north of Rotan, Texas, currently under construction.

“We appreciate the opportunity to serve as Independent Engineer on Amadeus in support of tax equity and construction debt financing,” said Chris Mertes, head of Advisory at Natural Power in North America. “Natural Power and BayWa r.e. take the role of Independent Engineer seriously, and the experience and results we provide will be of significant benefit to the wind project’s long-term success.”

The team undertook a full review of the project’s engineering designs, turbine technology, operating contracts, financial models, and permits prior to the start of construction. Beneficial aspects were highlighted, and areas of potential risk were flagged for further investigation and resolution. Natural Power will continue to support the project with construction monitoring through completion.

Once operational, the project will deploy GE wind turbines across nearly 25,000 acres of federal, state and privately held lands, and could generate enough clean, renewable energy to power more than 75,000 homes annually.

“BayWa r.e. selected Natural Power for this critical role based on its reputation for providing careful, actionable due diligence on wind projects, as well as the widespread acceptance of their work product by the tax equity community,” said Florian Zerhusen, CEO, BayWa r.e. Wind LLC.

Earlier this year, BayWa r.e. Wind announced it had secured a tax equity commitment from a consortium led by GE Energy Financial Services. The project has also executed a hedge agreement with Morgan Stanley and, in the most difficult market since the financial crisis of 2008, closed on a construction loan with Commerzbank. BayWa r.e. has used 5 percent safe harbor equipment to qualify the project for 100 percent PTCs.

In the past 12 months, Natural Power’s U.S.-based advisory team has provided technical due diligence on nearly 15 GW of renewable project capacity within North America, including 11.5 GW of late-stage, pre-construction wind projects, delivering work for major sponsors, and tax and equity investors.

More info: www.naturalpower.com/us

Avangrid Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., developer of the Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project, recently announced the opening of a new Virginia field office to support project development and help ignite a new industry off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.

Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind is a proposed offshore wind-energy project to be built approximately 27 miles from the Outer Banks in the Kitty Hawk Wind Energy Area (WEA), designated by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The commercial lease for the 122,405-acre WEA was awarded to Avangrid Renewables by BOEM in 2017. Since then, the company has been studying the area in detail, most recently launching an advanced meteorological buoy in July 2020.

The new office at 249 Central Park Avenue in Virginia Beach will welcome members of the growing Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project development team who have been working in the region to facilitate ongoing site assessment activity, local stakeholder meetings, and community outreach.

“Offshore wind will play a key role in Virginia’s clean-energy economy for decades to come,” said Bobby Dyer, mayor of Virginia Beach. “We are very excited to have Avangrid Renewables building that future here in Virginia Beach with the Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project.”

Once complete, Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind is projected to have a generation capacity of up to 2,500 MW, or enough to power approximately 700,000 homes. The construction and operation of the project are expected to create hundreds of jobs and represent hundreds of millions of dollars of direct investment in Virginia and Hampton Roads.

MORE INFO  www.kittyhawkoffshore.com

Brüel & Kjær Vibro, one of the leading worldwide independent suppliers of condition monitoring solutions for rotating machinery, has launched the VIBROPORT 8000 (VP-8000) Portable Vibration Analyzer for rotating and reciprocating equipment.

The new VP-8000 is a specially configured and packaged version of Brüel & Kjær Vibro’s VC-8000, which is an internationally renowned machinery protection system. The VP-8000 features the same universal measurement modules (UMMs) and the rugged and field-proven design as the VC-8000, but it is optimized for portable dynamic data collection and diagnostics.

There is a wide range of applications for VP-8000 for both plant operators and service providers. It is ideal for verifying the condition of machines after a turnaround and those repaired prior to service start-up. It is also used for steady-state and transient condition monitoring (i.e. during a run up and coast down) for observation and trending of machines following an event (e.g. operational process changes or machine fault detection). VP-8000 can also be used as a mobile platform for monitoring a number of machines within the plant that are not instrumented or that only have protection. VP-8000 can be used both as a portable data collector and as an analyzer. Advanced diagnostics offered by Brüel & Kjær Vibro’s best-in-class SETPOINT® condition monitoring software (CMS) include:

• Shaft/bearing: Orbits, full spectra, shaft centerline plots, Bode plots, polar plots, etc.
• Reciprocating compressor: PV plots, rod load, rod reversal, impact monitoring, etc.
• Two-plane balancing.

The VP-8000 connects to rotating machines and captures real-time vibration and process data for immediate monitoring and diagnosis of equipment health or via the VP-8000 flight recorder for storing data for remote analysis. The VP-8000 can be connected to the buffered outputs of most machine protection systems with BNC outputs, or it can be used with temporarily mounted sensors on machines where there is no monitoring system. Data can also be exported to the OSIsoft PI data historian.

“The VC-8000 is normally permanently installed and connected to one or several rotating or reciprocating machines, but customers found that the system’s ease of use, outstanding data acquisition capability, and robustness enabled use as a portable data acquisition system,” said Albert Vontz, head of business unit industrial, Brüel & Kjær Vibro. “In its portable form, the VP-8000 user enjoys multiple methods of data acquisition. They can connect to their existing machinery protection systems to immediately view, log, and share all data needed to understand machinery behaviors. The VP-8000 can be connected to machines for hours, days, or months and all the while it will collect valuable data — even without a computer connected to the rack. The system operates equally well in standalone modes, linked to a laptop, or to an OSIsoft PI historian.”

The VP-8000’s patented intelligent waveform capture ensures critical waveforms are never missed. It can rapidly capture and trend data at 80 ms and is versatile enough to scale from 1 hour to 1000-plus hours of data capture. With 24-channels, the VP-8000 features 32 GB removable SD storage, 256 GB internal SSD storage, resolution from 400 to 12,800 spectral lines, and sampling from 16 to 1,024 samples per second.

MORE INFO  www.bkvibro.com

For 75 years now, the HARTING Technology Group has been driving technological
change and providing decisive impetus for the future.

The vision formulated in 1996 by the owner family “We want to shape the future with technologies for people” remains the guiding star of our entrepreneurial activities. September 1 marked the 75^th anniversary of the founding day of the family company.

The manufacturer of everyday products such as waffle irons and irons has evolved into a
worldwide leading supplier of industrial connection technology for the three lifelines of data, signal, and power, a global player fielding innovative products and solutions focusing on Industry 4.0 and digitization. HARTING has successfully opened up new markets with its technologies in the core business of connectivity, such as e-mobility and resource-saving power generation.

The HARTING Technology Group is a leading global supplier of industrial connection technology for the three lifelines data, signal, and power with 14 production facilities and 44 sales companies worldwide. In addition, the company also manufactures checkout zones for retail, electromagnetic actuators for automotive and industrial series production, charging equipment for electric vehicles, and hardware and software for customers and applications in automation technology, mechanical and plant engineering, robotics and transportation, and more. About 5, 300 employees generated sales of 750 million euros in 2018/19.

MORE INFO  www.harting.com

The U.S. wind industry installed more than 2,500 MW of new wind power capacity in the second quarter of 2020, bringing total American capacity to nearly 110,000 MW, according to the newly released Wind Powers America Second Quarter Report 2020.

The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) report reveals that many U.S. wind developers managed to get their projects over the finish line during the three-month period, despite the significant challenges associated with COVID-19.

“American wind power is immensely proud of its 120,000 workers who have fought to bring additional clean, reliable electricity to American citizens, even in the initial stages of the global pandemic,” said Tom Kiernan, AWEA CEO. “This work is more important than ever during these challenging times. America’s largest source of renewable energy remains committed to building on its 50-state footprint of investment and job creation and to continue adding affordable, clean power to local communities across the country.”

Fourteen new wind projects totaling 2,546 MW became operational across nine states during the second quarter, enough to power 860,000 American homes and setting a record for second quarter additions. Texas led the country with 810 MW of new wind projects installed, followed by Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, and Nebraska. Missouri passed 1,000 MW in total capacity in the second quarter, making it the 20th state to reach the gigawatt milestone. There are now 109,919 MW of operating wind power capacity in the United States, enough for more than 33 million American homes.

Wind-power development and construction activity also remained resilient in the face of the pandemic, partially thanks to additional flexibility from the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding tax credit qualification. Construction activity reached another new record in the second quarter, with 25,318 MW being built across the country. Another 18,310 MW are in advanced development. The combined 43,628 MW represents a four percent year-over-year increase from the second quarter of 2019.

Offshore wind also made significant strides in the second quarter. The country’s first wind project in federal waters — the 12 MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project — completed installation of its two turbines in June. The project is now undergoing testing and will start commercial operations later this year. Elsewhere, Eversource Energy and United Illuminating signed contracts for the 804 MW Park City Wind offshore project during the second quarter. As a result of this activity, offshore wind now represents 21 percent of the wind power pipeline at 9,112 MW.

New wind projects installed in the second quarter were already nearing the end of the years-long development process and had the materials and components on hand to complete construction before the COVID-19 pandemic began to create supply chain disruptions for the broader American wind industry. New federal IRS guidance provides one additional year of safe harbor tax flexibility for near-term projects, but COVID-19 continues to present significant challenges for U.S. wind development. The American wind industry is working with Congress and other renewable energy leaders to address the impacts of the pandemic and to continue adding jobs and investments to the U.S. economy during this difficult time. U.S. wind power remains focused on protecting our workers and supporting local communities as we strive to deliver clean, safe, and affordable power to our country.

MORE INFO  www.awea.org

World-leading naval architects, BAR Technologies, and Chartwell Marine, a pioneer in next-generation vessel design, have been awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design and construction of the innovative new BAR 30-meter crew transfer vessel (CTV).

This AiP is a further stepping-stone toward an advanced, class-certified, Jones Act compliant fleet of offshore wind support vessels for the U.S. market. Following on from the AiP awarded to the Chartwell 24 vessel design earlier this year, it expands the range of complementary options available to the industry for highly efficient and capable vessel support.

Vessels servicing the expanding East Coast offshore wind development areas will increasingly need to travel farther for longer, while navigating deeper waters and greater wave heights. This must be achieved without compromising on efficiency or environmental standards, in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard guidelines surrounding emissions and Right Whale compliance.

In response to this challenge, BAR, with the support of Chartwell, has developed a 30m CTV, making use of FOSS technology (foil optimized stability system) to enhance seakeeping and maneuverability, while reducing vertical acceleration by up to 70 percent in 2.5-meter wave heights. While offering greater levels of availability in rough seas, the BAR 30-meter CTV also demonstrates up to 50 percent fuel efficiency savings at 15 knots, keeping emissions at bay in line with stringent EPA Tier 4 guidelines.

This initial vessel will be closely followed by a 50-meter variant capable of 45 knots top speed and 30 knots in a 3-meter high sea without exceeding vertical acceleration limits. The 40-passenger boat with a similar hull form and FOSS technology is focused on the replacement of helicopter transfer for workers in the Gulf of Mexico.

This new design will work in partnership with the proven vessels in the Chartwell 24 range, including the Right Whale variant. Alterations to the hull form of the latter have been made to adhere to the legislation in place that protects the migration route of the Right Whale on the East Coast, along with optimized propulsion configurations to meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards.

Securing AiP offers the highest level of assurance that these innovative vessel designs will be built in-line with specific U.S. requirements. As part of the AiP process, the vessel designs have met stringent criteria from the ABS Rules for Building and Classing High Speed Craft 2020. This provides validation that they are well-placed to meet the demands and regulatory requirements of U.S. operations.

“This ‘rubber stamp’ from ABS paves the way for these next generation vessels to fully integrate into East Coast operations,” said Andy Page, naval architect and managing director at Chartwell Marine. “The design of these boats has capitalized on operational experience in the global market, refining the formula for offshore wind support through ongoing research and discussion with stakeholders. With the first Chartwell 24 working in the U.K. and the first U.S. Chartwell 24 in build, we are excited to work with BAR to bring a further, highly versatile option to the U.S. market.”

“Approval in Principle for the BAR 30-meter CTV is an important development that broadens the opportunities for cross-market collaboration,” said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies. “As we work toward the decarbonization of the workboat sector, this latest innovation represents new gains in efficiency, which have been achieved by placing the operational profile at the forefront of vessel design. In this way, we have been able to design a CTV that combines optimal performance in challenging conditions with a significantly reduced environmental impact.”

MORE INFO  www.chartwellmarine.com

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been awarded two new onshore wind project sites in Texas with a total installed capacity of 325 MW.

The projects include the supply of 65 SG 5.0-145 wind turbines and a multi-year service agreement.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the summer of 2021 with the two sites getting commissioned by end of that year. This win takes Siemens Gamesa’s total installed capacity close to 6 GW in Texas, strengthening its position as one of the top three OEMs in the state.

“An order of this size evidences the strong suitability and success of the SG 5.0-145 for the U.S. market,” said Shannon Sturgil, CEO of Onshore North America at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “We are proud to contribute enough low cost, clean energy for nearly 100,000 average U.S. households to Texas, a leading state in wind energy.”

The SG 5.0-145 wind turbine from Siemens Gamesa has proven to be a very successful product in the U.S. Its new state-of-the-art control system with enhanced blade aerodynamics optimizes power generation. It has a flexible power rating that ranges between a 4.0 to 5.0 rating, thereby providing a uniquely tailored solution that fits the specific site conditions. Its modular design allows for increased mechanical capacity and optimal adaptation to logistics and construction requirements, providing greater efficiency and a reduced levelized cost of energy (LCOE).

The U.S. is a key market for Siemens Gamesa with 22 GW installed across 34 states, providing enough energy for over 6.5 million average U.S. homes. The company has a strong footprint consisting of manufacturing, service, and offices.

MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy recently announced it has signed 10-year service agreements with an undisclosed customer at two sites in North America featuring Senvion MM92-2.05 turbines for a total of 184 MW.

Both sites include service, maintenance, and warranty agreements with an availability guarantee.

As part of the deal, the company will provide remote monitoring, supply chain access and specialty tooling, design and engineering support, and software updates, while fully using the existing hardware and infrastructure on site to ensure the performance and reliability of the turbines throughout the product lifetime.

“We are pleased to bring our service expertise to these sites,” said Juan Gutierrez, Service CEO of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “This contract builds on the success we’ve seen outside the Senvion acquisition scope and owning the intellectual property makes SGRE a natural choice to extend the lifetime value of those wind projects and improve the customer’s original business case.”

Since the acquisition of Senvion’s Onshore European service assets and Intellectual Property (IP) in early January 2020, the company has secured almost 1 GW of service agreements outside of the transaction perimeter in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe.

With nearly 72 GW under service globally, including more than 10 GW of multi-brand turbines, Siemens Gamesa is a leading service provider in the industry. In North America, Siemens Gamesa provides service and maintenance to wind projects with a total output capacity of 13 GW.

MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

Noted Icelandic wind-based renewable energy company IceWind recently announced its launch in the United States. IceWind’s groundbreaking products, the Freya, is for residential uses, while their Njord line is available for commercial applications such as powering telecommunication towers, outdoor advertising, on-site office trailers, and more.

“We are excited to bring our turbines to America,” said IceWind’s CEO Sæþór Ásgeirsson. “With a blustery midsection, gusty extremities, and an overall interest in renewable energy, we are looking forward to America embracing our unique wind turbines for both residential and commercial applications. Our recent demo event on the Texas coast over the Independence Day weekend proved that there is great interest among Americans for a robust individual solution to renewable energy.”

The U.S. operation will be based out of San Marcos, Texas, and helmed by Daryl Losaw, a modular home builder, investor, consultant, and entrepreneur.

“When I first saw the IceWind turbines in Iceland, I knew I had to bring them to market in the U.S.,” Losaw said. “They are perfectly complementary with solar, a great stand-alone solution for very windy places, and a handy answer for small-energy outdoor applications that will cut down on carbon from generators, diesel engines, and maintenance calls.”

The current residential model, the Freya, is useful as a supplementary power source, so it will cut users’ power usage and costs, but not fully power the average home. Should customers want or require a complete wind solution, two to three Freyas will power most average small-scale residential power needs excepting central air conditioning for a price comparable to installing photovoltaics (solar). Other residential applications include powering small vacation cabins, separately metered home offices, and small additional dwelling units (ADUs), and backup emergency power when needed. IceWind’s Freya is an excellent solution for residential renewable power as they are silent, aesthetically pleasing, have a 25- to 30-year lifespan, can work both on- and off-grid, require negligible operation and maintenance costs, and can generate power at wind speeds as low as 7.8 mph, a gentle breeze.

The Njord commercial models are ideal for many applications: powering telecommunication towers, electricity for outdoor advertising (lighting, mechanical features), replacing generators used at construction sites and other remote offices, and more. The beauty of IceWind’s products is how sustainable and hardy they are in challenging conditions. Unlike the diesel generators used in these applications, they never need refueling and rarely need maintenance.

IceWind’s turbines are built to withstand blizzards, dust storms, hurricanes, sleet, heavy rain, and more. IceWind’s proprietary generator seal protects foreign particles such as dust, ice, water, or dirt from entering the generator and interfering with the gearbox. The generator seal also prevents water from entering the gearbox and freezing gears, a massive problem in cold climates. The turbine is coated with a hydrophobic de-icing agent to protect against ice, preventing freezing and ice buildup. IceWind turbines use excellent material selection, including heat-treated aluminum outer blades and stainless steel inner blades that provide a long material lifetime with superb strength and stress resistance. To compare, many commercial vertical axis wind turbines and horizontal axis wind turbines are made of nylon fiber, steel, plastic, and fiberglass, significantly inferior materials than those used by IceWind.

“We are so thrilled to bring the power, beauty, and reliability of IceWind’s turbines to the U.S., and know that this will be just the start of a new pillar of renewable energy in the U.S., home installed wind power,” said IceWind’s U.S. project manager Samuel Gerbus, who spent several months in Iceland with the IceWind team last year.

MORE INFO  www.icewindusa.com