Today’s construction job sites are evolving, and project owners demand partner companies that embrace new methods to drive down costs without negatively impacting quality. It is with this in mind that the ALL Family of Companies announces its Shared Equipment Program (SEP), a new approach to equipment rental that can shave millions of dollars and many months off construction projects.

Here’s how it works: A project’s general contractor acts as the primary renter of all lift equipment for the job and then rents it to the subcontractors — a method that helps to eliminate waste, cut costs, improve productivity, and create positive outcomes. More than just equipment, the project also gets support from the ALL team, including mechanics who conduct regular maintenance to keep machines in “rent-ready” condition as they change hands between subcontractors.

When multiple subcontractors arrange for their own equipment, depending on the job site, the ALL Family of Companies’ SEP can eliminate redundancy and waste, which can be as much as one-third of the total project cost. And equipment redundancy does more than add costs — it adds a level of congestion to job sites where space is a premium, which can affect everything from traffic to safety. The SEP addresses all these concerns as ALL works with the general contractor to maximize efficient usage of lift equipment.

ALL developed the program to reinforce its unique blend of resources afforded general contractors, including a broad continental footprint and an extensive and varied fleet. The program works best when all subcontractors have ready access to equipment that meets their needs, from steelworkers who may require hefty all-terrain equipment to painting and electrical contractors whose finishing work requires access equipment such as scissor lifts. ALL’s equipment lineup includes crane types as small and versatile as mini/spider cranes or as large as 900-ton ATs and 1,000-ton crawlers, plus tower cranes, boom lifts/aerials/MEWPs,and boom trucks.

Beyond these extensive equipment resources, the company has the experience and willingness to collaborate both initially and then ongoing, which help make the equipment-sharing process successful. ALL has already executed projects using SEP, saving project owners millions of dollars and helping to complete projects months ahead of schedule.

MORE INFO  www.allcrane.com

Vestas has secured another order in Vietnam for two projects totaling 64 MW in complex mountainous terrain in Quang Tri province.

Leveraging its extensive siting and project planning capabilities, Vestas was able to help the customer pick the right turbine model for the projects’ specific wind conditions to achieve the highest possible return on investment in the challenging sites. With this new order, Vestas has closed more than 160 MW of deals in Vietnam in 2020.

Vestas will supply, transport, install, and commission a total of 16 V150-4.2 MW wind turbines delivered in 4.0 MW operating mode. By providing a full supply and installation scope to the customer, Vestas is showcasing its ability to manage difficult logistics and installation works for larger rotor turbines in remote and complex mountainous terrain, characterized by high gradient slopes and sharp turns with little space for components, logistics, and installation.

The two projects are owned by local project companies Huong Tan Wind Power Joint Stock Company and Tan Linh Wind Power Joint Stock Company.

“Vestas is once again leading the market in Vietnam,” said Clive Turton, president of Vestas Asia Pacific. “We are very proud to partner with local developers Huong Tan Wind Power JSC and Tan Linh Wind Power JSC and look forward to working closely with them to support their growing ambition to develop more wind projects across Vietnam. At Vestas, partnership is at the cornerstone of everything we do. With our in-house siting, logistics, and construction experts, we are able to work closely with all our customers to help them achieve their commercial objectives on all manner of sites around the Asia Pacific region.”

The order also includes a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement for both projects, designed to maximize energy production for both sites. With a yield-based availability guarantee, Vestas will provide the customer with long-term business case certainty. The projects are planned to achieve commissioning in the end of the second quarter of 2021.

MORE INFO  www.vestas.com

Gevo, Inc. recently announced that the two wind turbines that will supply up to 5 MW of fully renewable electricity to Gevo’s production facility located in Luverne, Minnesota (the “Luverne Facility”) are being placed into service and will begin delivering energy. The electricity generated from wind is wired directly to the Luverne Facility, which is expected to enable the Luverne Facility to use the emissions-free energy to produce fuel in the future with a lower carbon intensity score under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard in California.

A special thanks to all who have helped to make this project possible, including Juhl Energy, local landowners, City of Luverne, Rock County, Faith Technologies, First Farmers and Merchants Bank, Missouri River Energy Services, and GE.

Gevo is commercializing the next generation of jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel fuel with the potential to achieve zero carbon emissions and address the market need of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with sustainable alternatives. Gevo uses low-carbon renewable resource-based carbohydrates as raw materials and is in an advanced state of developing renewable electricity and renewable natural gas for use in production processes. As a result, Gevo is able to produce low-carbon fuels with substantially reduced carbon intensity (as measured by the level of greenhouse gas emissions compared to standard petroleum fossil-based fuels across their lifecycle).

MORE INFO  www.gevo.com

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy recently announced the final acquisition of all shares in Ria Blades, S.A., the business entity which owns and operates the onshore wind turbine blade production plant in Vagos, Portugal, as well as other additional assets required to operate the facility.

The completion of this acquisition means that the company has fully completed the acquisition of select assets from Senvion.

The manufacturing plant in Portugal offers best-in-class operational features and is well connected by both road and sea. The acquisition will help to strengthen Siemens Gamesa’s competitiveness in its onshore business by absorbing expected growth in production from external suppliers, mainly from Asia, and will become an export hub for international markets. It will further enhance existing manufacturing capabilities and limit the exposure to supply chain bottlenecks, volatility from foreign exchange markets and trade tariffs.

“The acquisition of Senvion’s Ria Blades factory was an opportunity we could not afford to miss,” said Alfonso Faubel, CEO of the Onshore business unit at Siemens Gamesa. “It is one of Europe’s most competitive plants, a cutting-edge facility that is very complementary to our existing footprint. The new plant will help us to serve different markets with different models, and we will do this meeting the highest standards in quality of manufacturing.”

“We are pleased that we were able to complete the acquisition process so constructively together with our new colleagues and partners,” said Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens Gamesa. “We are operating in a highly competitive market environment and to remain successful in such an environment demands that we must continuously strive to find ways to grow and adapt to market dynamics.”

The integration of the Onshore European Service assets and Intellectual Property (IP) began in early January 2020 and will strengthen Siemens Gamesa’s multi-brand service portfolio, allowing the company to service an even broader range of wind turbine technologies.

The Onshore European Service unit acquisition added approximately 9 GW in service fleet in 13 European countries, bringing the total serviced fleet to about 69 GW globally, while diversifying the business mix and geographical representation in Europe, with contracts that have long-term visibility and high renewal rates.

The total purchase price for Senvion’s selected assets, including the manufacturing facility in Vagos, the Onshore European Services assets and IP is 200 million euros (subject to closing accounts confirmatory adjustments).

MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

As wind-farm owners and investors prioritize critical equipment maintenance, reduce subcontractor reliance, and adopt virtual working practices for non-essential kit monitoring and analysis, operational and technology teams have fast-tracked a new working framework for wind-turbine operations and maintenance that will drive future operational efficiencies, post COVID-19.

This is according to a detailed survey of globally diverse senior wind executives, working across the wind technology and operations space. The recently published findings are a result of research undertaken by ONYX InSight, a leading predictive analytics partner for asset owners and operators, as part of an ongoing project, with phase two due later this month.

The research findings take into consideration a mix of qualitative and quantitative data points and, for the first time, provide a comprehensive overview and assessment of the immediate and expected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on wind-farm operations and maintenance best practices. Key report findings directly connected to the evolution of future operational work practices, include:

• An increased reliance on remote/virtual engineering assessment and analytics, in order to prioritize scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repairs.
• A rapid reduction in external subcontractors, coupled with an increased overview and daily management of internal teams and their equipment.
• Increased focus on tackling critical correctives, with an emphasis on deferring or delaying maintenance where not absolutely necessary.

“While there’s no question of the immediate, short-term economic and operational challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presents, it’s increasingly evident that as wind engineering and operational teams are forced to accelerate their adoption of remote working tools, previously unforeseen benefits for many are now being realized,” said Dr. Ashley Crowther, VP of Global Sales and Engineering at ONYX InSight.

“In this respect, and as our global survey of senior wind executives makes evident, the adoption of what might currently be thought of as short-term, temporary, working practices for operational teams may in truth provide an insight into further cost savings and operational efficiencies that will form the framework for future operations and maintenance best practice,” he said.

While the survey respondents make clear the shift from preventative to predictive-based maintenance strategies will accelerate and that reducing the frequency of up-tower work plays a key part in this, most senior executives already anticipate that delays today will result in a disproportionate amount of work undertaken in H2 2020. Many operators are therefore already concerned about the availability of quality labor and workmanship due to the current size and scale of layoffs and the ability for planned maintenance to be undertaken within revised project timescales.

Specifically in relation to labor-availability and working practices, the report findings also identify that a delay in maintenance programs has created a backlog of non-critical or discretionary operational challenges. While most respondents acknowledged that the reduction in this backlog could primarily be overcome through the return to work of fully-utilized operations and maintenance teams, some senior operational executives are already forecasting an increase in turbine reliability and performance failures as a direct result of these maintenance delays.

“Every day, we are trusted to track and support over 5,000 wind turbines all around the world,” said Bryan Rabenau, VP of Technology and Marketing. “This, combined with our established track record of providing technical project performance, reliability, design and investor due diligence support to more than 1,000 projects, provides us with a unique insight into wind operations and technology teams. As our research makes clear, the COVID-19 crisis leaves almost no area of the renewables market untouched — and its therefore beholden on all of those working within the market to share knowledge, risks, and best practice, in order for the wind industry to learn lessons from this pandemic and to return stronger, as global wind adoption escalates.”

MORE INFO  https://bit.ly/2xDWia3

Crew transfer vessel (CTV) operators have pioneered a digital approach to modern fleet operations in recent years, using the vessel health and performance data gathered through advanced remote monitoring to drive operational improvements and maximize quality of service. This evidence-based approach to operations is now coming into its own as CTV firms seek to manage the challenges presented by Covid-19 and ensure “business as usual” as far as possible for offshore wind farms.

That is, at least, according to Reygar, a leading provider of innovative remote monitoring and reporting platforms to the marine industry, which is working in collaboration with a number of leading CTV operators to accelerate the development of its BareFLEET interface to give each firm the insight they need to navigate Covid-19.

To limit the spread of the virus while continuing to service the vital offshore wind sector, vessel operators have adapted their operations to reflect distancing measures and guarantee access to personal protection equipment (PPE). These measures have included minimizing the number of passengers per vessel and reducing the number of transfers in order to limit the exposure of crew to busy transport hubs, but it has also seen engineering teams required to coordinate both planned and reactive maintenance from home.

BareFLEET monitors the health and performance of critical equipment across each vessel — including engine health, fuel consumption, motion, and impact onto the turbine — reliably transmitting this data to the shore team via the cloud. Through BareFLEET’s reporting, CTV operators have full visibility over the activity and condition of each vessel, and with it, the insight needed to enhance operational efficiency. Naturally, this generates a commercial advantage in times of normal operations, but in unprecedented times like the present, this level of insight is coming into its own.

“Comprehensive vessel data from Reygar’s BareFLEET system is proving decisive in maintaining our high-quality services throughout Covid-19 measures,” said Andy Calderbank-Link, Operations Director at Seacat Services. “By monitoring motion, impact, and vessel speed we can guarantee the safety and fitness to work of the crew and technicians keeping the U.K.’s offshore wind projects generating and optimize the time these key workers spend on site.”

“Likewise, the live engine data provided by BareFLEET  is central to ensuring we have vessels available when required,” he said. “The insights into vessel health and performance delivered remotely by BareFLEET means that the engineering team have eyes on the boat and can manage maintenance from the shore, allowing our crews to focus solely on getting technicians to projects safely.”

“Companies want and need access to the best possible data when they simply do not have the boots on the ground,” said Chris Huxley-Reynard, managing director of Reygar Ltd. “We are currently consulting with a number of our CTV operator clients to accelerate the development of BareFLEET’s database interface, with the aim of making as much live and modeled data as possible available to operators looking to manage transfers while crew numbers are limited.”

“We are making it possible for them to query our databases in an even more flexible way, making sure this data is both highly detailed and managed intelligently to communicate what they need to know about the health of the vessel and events such as push-on, transit, and transfer,” he said.

More info: www.reygar.co.uk

The first annual CLEANPOWER Conference and Exhibition scheduled for June 1-4 in Denver, Colorado, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government-imposed physical and legal impediments — including quarantines, stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions, and concerns over the well-being and safety of all attendees, exhibitors and staff — have resulted in CLEANPOWER 2020 no longer being viable.

Without knowledge of when it will again be appropriate to bring together large groups of people or when travel restrictions and bans will be lifted, in addition to the complicated logistics that go into organizing a conference of this size, AWEA is unable to reschedule CLEANPOWER 2020. However, AWEA is moving forward with its scheduled fall events at this time.

CLEANPOWER 2021 will be June 7-10, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

MORE INFO  CLEANPOWER 2020 FAQs

Siemens Gamesa continues to push the boundaries of onshore wind power following the first order for industry leading 170-meter rotor wind turbine.

The company will deliver eight units of the SG 5.8-170 to Danish developer and wind-turbine operator Eurowind Energy A/S for the Knöstad project (46 MW) near Karlstad, in Sweden.

The landmark order will mark the debut of the onshore wind turbine with the largest rotor in the industry, capable of capturing more wind in medium- and low-wind sites. Additionally, the turbines will operate at a capacity of up to 6.2 MW, resulting in record high annual energy production (AEP). Siemens Gamesa has also secured a 25-year full-service agreement.

This will be the second project to feature the Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform in Sweden. In December, the company reached an agreement to supply 35 SG 5.8-155 to Arise AB and Foresight for the Skaftåsen project. In less than a year since its launch, the company has secured orders for the turbine’s two variants, which have rotors of 155 and 170 meters respectively.

“We are delighted to see how fast this platform is penetrating the Scandinavian market, one of the most sophisticated in the world when it comes to wind power,” said Alfonso Faubel, Siemens Gamesa’s Onshore CEO. “This deal also marks an extension of our strong partnership with Eurowind Energy A/S having worked together in the Thorup Sletten project. It is always rewarding to see customers committed to strengthening our collaboration.”

“After a successful integration of the Thorup Sletten project in Denmark, the country’s largest onshore wind farm in operation, we are happy to further strengthen our relationship with Siemens Gamesa with the Knöstad project,” ,” said Jens Rasmussen, CEO of Eurowind Energy A/S. “We are looking forward to start building with the largest onshore turbine available at present. At Eurowind Energy A/S, we believe that a continuous improvement of LCOE is evident for the industry, and we consider the SG 5.8-170 as a step in this direction.”

As one of the largest consumers of electricity per capita in the world, Sweden has pioneered the adoption of new technologies to bring down both the cost of the electricity and CO2 emissions. According to WindEurope, the country is expected to double its wind capacity from 7.4 GW to 14.9 GW by 2023, and the government has set a target of 100 percent renewable electricity production by 2040. One single SG 5.8-170 turbine is capable of providing enough power for close to 5,000 European homes a year, while avoiding the emission of 15,000 metric tons of CO2 over the same period, the equivalent to planting 200,000 trees.

The wind turbines will be installed during the second half of 2021 in an area of forest. They will have a 115-meter hub height tower, meeting the maximum height permitted even with the turbine’s large rotor size.

The Siemens Gamesa 5.X combines the best of the company’s engineering schools, producing a technologically superior wind turbine built on proven solutions to reduce risks. The platform introduces the largest unit capacity in the Siemens Gamesa onshore portfolio and the largest rotor diameters, 155 and 170 meters, which optimize performance in high-, medium- and low-wind conditions.

With a highly flexible design that enhances the entire value chain, from manufacturing through logistics to construction and service, the platform’s versatility makes it suitable for a broad range of sites. The platform also integrates advanced control technologies and strategies to offer flexible power ratings depending on noise requirements, ambient temperature and electrical performance, further expanding its suitability for all kind of sites.

MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

Pure Safety Group™ (PSG), manufacturer of fall protection equipment used by workers at height, has introduced the new Checkmate© Xplorer industrial full body harness for fall protection to the U.S. market.

The harness, designed to be more comfortable than conventional harnesses during periods of suspension and frequent loading, features visual alert stitching, an intuitive way for the user to understand the correct way to wear the harness. Its limited slip dorsal D-ring has a precise amount of vertical adjustment built in and is designed to keep the D-ring in place after multiple loadings. Its large front ring allows for multiple attachments and uses a lightweight aluminum quick-connect buckle to ensure a safe final connection.

Hardware on the Xplorer is specifically designed to be ergonomically suited to the product’s functions, reducing wear on the webbing, allowing easy connections, and providing critical pivot points for a greater range of motion. For maximum comfort, the harness features unique curved webbing that follows the contours of the body for a closer fit and an innovative sub-pelvic assembly for greater support and increased comfort during suspension. The Xplorer meets or exceeds the requirements of OSHA 1910.140, OSHA 1926.502, ANSI Z359.11-2014, EN 361:2002, EN12277:2007 Type A, and EN358:2000.

MORE INFO  www.puresafetygroup.com

Quality Companies, the global offshore and onshore construction, fabrication and electrical and instrumentation company, has appointed Wayne Lacey as vice president of operations for Zadok Technologies.

Based in Houston, Lacey will be responsible for supervising and managing the sustainability and profitability of all of Zadok Technologies’ operational procedures.

Lacey joins Zadok Technologies from his role as president of Cotech IRM Services Inc., where he was responsible for the company’s launch and successful growth since 2007. Previously, he served in a number of project and operational management roles in the oil and gas industry around the globe.

“Wayne brings a wealth of leadership, project management, and problem solving skills to Zadok Technologies, having previously grown a start-up company into a successful, multi-million dollar corporation,” said Clay Nunnally, CEO of Quality Companies. “His entrepreneurial spirit, along with his global breadth of experience, promises to bring great value to the Zadok Technologies brand. We welcome him to the leadership team.”

“Having successfully managed people, projects, and assets across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, I am excited to now bring my experiences to Zadok Technologies — an international leader in instrumentation and electrical, testing and inspection, fabrication and telecommunication services,” Lacey said. “I look forward to the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.”

Lacey holds a degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix.

MORE INFO  qualitycompanies.com

Vestas has secured a 99 MW order for two projects in Jiangsu Province in China.

Both projects will feature a mixed site configuration consisting of V155-3.3 MW and V110-2.2 MW turbines.

The order includes a supply of 16 V155-3.3 MW and 21 V110-2.2 MW turbines as well as a 20-year Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement.

This is the second order of V155-3.3 MW turbines, Vestas’ latest 4 MW platform variant designed for low-wind conditions since its introduction in China in June 2019. The order also features Vestas’ first 20-year service agreement in China, a milestone that showcases how Vestas, by leveraging its industry-leading service capabilities, can optimize life-time performance and improve business case certainty for its customers in the world’s largest wind market.

“The order is significant in two ways, as it demonstrates the V155-3.3 MW turbine’s suitability for China’s low wind market and marks our Chinese customer’s increasing trust in Vestas’ long-term service capabilities and commitment,” said Thomas Keller, president of Vestas China. “I believe with the shift of attention to the entire lifecycle of wind farms, more of our Chinese customers will partner with us on long-term service contracts.”

The order takes Vestas’ announced order intake in China to about 550 MW in the first quarter of 2020.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2020, while commissioning is planned for the third quarter in the same year.

Customer’s name and project’s name are undisclosed under customer’s request.

MORE INFO  www.vestas.com

Pemamek has delivered two PEMA production automation lines, designed for foundation pin pile production, to CSBC Corporation, Taiwan.

The investment is a part of CSBC’s business development initiative to become an offshore wind-energy turnkey provider and expand its operations in the national offshore wind-energy markets.

The modern production automation solutions will enable CSBC to significantly increase its competitiveness, but also boost manufacturing capacity and end-product quality.

“We are glad to cooperate with experienced production solution provider for the wind energy sector,” said Leo Chen, executive vice president for CSBC Corporation, Taiwan. “This investment will reinforce CSBC’s position as the key player in the Taiwanese offshore wind energy markets and support the company to take a major leap towards future goals.”

The delivery included two extensive PEMA production automation lines designed to manufacture pin piles for offshore jacket foundations. The technologically advanced lines have the capacity of processing pin piles up to 350 tons and 90 meters.

The PEMA production line for foundation pin piles include:

• Three longitudinal seam welding stations.
• Two assembly stations capable of welding internal circular seams.
• Two welding platforms that weld simultaneously with two welding heads.
• Integrated heavy-duty roller beds with polyurethane rollers.
• Hi-tech PEMA WeldControl 500 control system with laser-tracking, designed for multi-pass welding.

In addition to the machinery, the agreement includes training, production start-up support, preventive maintenance package, and local service support with an authorized PEMA service partner.

Manufacturing with the PEMA production lines has already started at full speed as CSBC will supply a significant number of foundation pin-piles for Ørsted’s 900-MW Greater Changhua, scheduled for 2021.

MORE INFO  www.pemamek.com

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently issued the following statement on the COVID-19 phase three stimulus bill:

“Congress took unprecedented steps today to protect Americans’ health and safety and strengthen the economy as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA.”

“We applaud its efforts and appreciate its consideration of clean energy in this early stimulus,” he said. “The wind energy industry’s top priority remains focused only on addressing the disruptions caused by COVID-19 by ensuring the safety of the wind workforce, protecting American jobs, and preserving economic investment in local communities. Together we will ensure our country and industry emerge stronger from this global emergency.”

“While we’re disappointed clean-energy sector relief did not make it into the phase three stimulus package, we will continue working with Congress and other renewable energy leaders to find solutions to the specific challenges COVID-19 is causing our members,” Kiernan said. “Relief provisions ensuring renewable projects can secure financing and meet safe harbor continuity schedules are critical to preserving a strong domestic clean energy sector. Making these adjustments to existing tax credits would provide the industry the flexibility needed to accommodate COVID-19 delays, without costing the Federal government any additional money. Taking these steps will protect thousands of American jobs and billions in economic investment, particularly in rural America, while preserving our country’s progress towards a strong economy and clean future. Without assistance, 35,000 American jobs, $43 billion of investment, and $8 billion in payments to local communities are at risk.”

“On behalf of the 114,000-strong wind-energy workforce operating in all 50 states, we thank Congress for its continued renewable energy support,” he said. “Affordable, reliable energy is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. It provides the foundation and powers the infrastructure of our great country, ensuring its operations and functionality can continue without interruption on the road to recovery, and the wind energy workforce is working hard to keep the lights on during this trying time.”

More info: awea.org

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC recently purchased the rights to a 2-turbine 5-MW wind Project, (“Holiday Hill”), from Cornerstone Renewables, LLC (“Cornerstone Renewables”).

Located in Russell, Massachusetts, Holiday Hill is contracted to sell electricity through 25-year offtake agreements with three local utilities. The project reached COD in Q4 2019.

“The Holiday Hill project is an excellent addition to Greenbacker’s wind portfolio, providing long-term, investment-grade cash flows and furthering the expansion of our operating wind portfolio.” said Charles Wheeler, CEO of Greenbacker. “It has been a pleasure working with Cornerstone Renewables to bring this project to fruition.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of a project and community that genuinely cares about developing renewable energy for the future while safeguarding cost efficiency today,” said Alan Robinson, general manager at Russell Municipal Light Department.

“The carbon emissions crisis demands immediate action,” said David Blittersdorf, renewable energy entrepreneur and owner of Cornerstone Renewables, LLC. “Wind energy absolutely must be part of the solution. Community supported projects like Holiday Hill Community Wind provide a model for what other successful projects can look like in the coming years.”

With the addition of Holiday Hill, Greenbacker will own approximately 555.1 MW of generating capacity (including assets that are to be constructed), comprising 177.2 MW of wind facilities, 365.9 MW of utility-scale and distributed solar facilities, and 12.0 MW of biomass facilities.

More info: www.greenbackercapital.com

Bachmann Monitoring, A leading provider of turbine monitoring systems, has developed a condition monitoring system (CMS) with extremely low electromagnetic interference emissions for a highly sensitive Dutch wind park.

Dutch wind park De Drentse Monden en Oostermoer (DMO) represented a real technical challenge for Bachmann. The CMS had to maintain electromagnetic interference emission levels significantly below the typical legal limit. In partnership with turbine manufacturer Nordex Group, whose N131/3900 turbine was built for particularly low interference emissions, Nordex and Bachmann presented a convincing solution to clients Duurzame Energieproductie Exloermond BV, Raedthuys DDM B.V., and Wind Park Oostermoer Exploitatie B.V.

The “DMO” wind park, expected to have a total capacity of 171.6 MW, is near the central antenna field of the “Low-Frequency Array” (LOFAR). This Europe-wide network containing thousands of highly sensitive radio antennas is used by the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy ASTRON to research the universe. To avoid interference with the world’s largest antenna network, electromagnetic emissions from the wind park had to be kept to a minimum. To achieve this, Nordex asked Bachmann to reduce the emissions of its CMS, normally operating in the range of 30 MHz to 240 MHz, to a level of at least 35 dB below the quasi-peak value.

“Our CMS first had to be examined intensively and then adapted to meet this challenging requirement. The emissions are currently far below the legal limits,” said Bachmann Monitoring GmbH Managing Director Holger Fritsch.

Emission values were measured by independent third parties in the test turbine with installed CMS, erected by Nordex last year. ASTRON also confirmed very low electromagnetic emissions from the entire system.

Nordex and Bachmann have enjoyed a successful partnership for more than 10 years. In addition to remote monitoring services and CMS, new CMS functions are being jointly developed. This technological partnership also extends to the latest generation of the “Delta4000,” in which the Bachmann GMP232 module is used for grid measurement, grid protection, and wind-park control.

More info: www.bachmann.info/en/products/condition-monitoring-system

The TÜV NORD experts in the renewable energy sector are starting the new decade with an exceptional project.

The team recently began carrying out its first project certification in accordance with the innovative, internationally recognized IECRE OD-502 scheme. The installations to be certified are the Dutch offshore wind farms Hollandse Kust Zuid 1&2 and 3&4, which together make up one of the most high-performance wind farm zones in the world.

“We’re delighted to be able to apply such an advanced scheme to this kind of lighthouse project, which is a milestone for the entire wind energy industry,” said Silvio Konrad, TÜV NORD general manager with responsibility for the energy sector.

As recently as fall 2019, TÜV NORD was one of the first certification bodies to be acknowledged by the International Electrotechnical Commission Renewable Energy (IECRE) for project certification in accordance with the new OD-502 scheme. Hard on the heels of this achievement came the first order from the Swedish energy company Vattenfall. For the planned wind-farm zone, Hollandse Kust Zuid, Vattenfall initially opted for TÜV NORD to carry out the design inspection and certify not only the foundation and supporting structure work but also the design of the cabling within the farm. Vattenfall then also commissioned TÜV NORD to certify the execution phase. This includes the inspection of the components onshore, transport of the components to the offshore zone and their installation there, and commissioning of individual plants.

TÜV NORD will also finally evaluate the entire certification process and ultimately issue the project certificate.

“Thanks to the two assignments, we will support our partner Vattenfall in every step of the project to ensure that the new wind farm zone is constructed and commissioned safely and quickly,” said Dr. Britta Schacht, senior vice president Certification Renewables at TÜV NORD.

Hollandse Kust Zuid 1&2 and 3&4 will set new standards in many ways. The wind-farm zone will include approximately 140 Siemens Gamesa SG DD-193 wind turbines, each with an output of up to 11 MW. This will result in a total output of 1.5 GW, enough to supply 2 million to 3 million households in the Netherlands with electricity. This makes the wind farm zone, which is being built between 18 to 36 kilometers off the Dutch coast in the North Sea, one of the largest in the world. This project is also of particular importance because, thanks to the gains in efficiency due to technological progress, Hollandse Kust Zuid 1&2 and 3&4 will be the world’s first non-subsidized offshore wind farms. Furthermore, they are being built with a short construction period; it is anticipated that commissioning will begin as early as 2022.

More info: www.tuv-nord-group.com

Texas will host one of the largest-ever gatherings of wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) professionals when Wind Operations Dallas kicks off this April.

The annual two-day event, now in its 12th year, hosts 500-plus attendees representing 80-plus GW of operational assets, or more than 10 percent of all the turbine capacity installed worldwide, according to organizer New Energy Update, part of Reuters Events.

Those attending include representatives of some of the biggest names in the sector, including the turbine makers GE Renewable Energy, Goldwind Americas, Suzlon, and Vestas, and wind-farm operators Duke Energy, Enel Green Power, MidAmerican, Engie, NextEra Energy Resources, and Southern Power.

“The US wind sector is focusing on O&M as a way to cut costs as the production tax credit gets phased out,” said Wind Operations Dallas Project Director Rhys Watt. “That’s why we are seeing unprecedented interest in this event: People are looking for ways to reduce costs safely.”

Wind Operations Dallas will feature 60 exhibition booths and more than 100 speakers spread across three tracks: strategic asset management, technical O&M, and training and workshops. The agenda is designed to help wind-farm owners, asset managers, and operators understand how to:

• Use digital data and the Internet of Things for predictive maintenance.
• Recruit and retain the best possible workforce for wind asset O&M.
• Use contracts that maximize value in the service and supply chain.
• Plan for operations after the production tax credit is phased out.
• Cut downtime and losses from unexpected component failures.
• Improve the lifetime value of turbines and wind farms.

As with last year, Wind Operations Dallas will be co-located with PV Operations Dallas to give mixed portfolio owners and operators the chance to review the latest O&M trends and developments, and seamlessly network across both wind and solar.

“For two days in April, nowhere on the planet will have more wind industry O&M expertise than Dallas,” Watt said. “And as the industry looks to how operations will shape up after 2020, it is crucial for professionals to share best practice with their peers at this event.”

More info: events.newenergyupdate.com/wind-dallas.

Petzl, manufacturer of professional safety equipment, will release an updated VOLT® harness line in March.

The VOLT harness line is designed to provide fall protection and comfortable work positioning for those working on towers or inside wind turbines.

Both models, the VOLT and VOLT WIND® are easy to put on and take off with FAST LT® automatic buckles on the waist belt and leg loops. The lightweight and breathable material on the wide, semi-rigid waist belt and leg loops maximizes air flow while also providing support.

Storage systems on each shoulder strap for the fall arrest lanyards keep the connectors stored away and, in the event of a fall, will release so the absorbers can deploy.

The VOLT model, designed for work on towers and antennas, is constructed with equipment loops along the waist belt for easy tool organization. The VOLT WIND model, designed for work inside wind turbine towers, has a dorsal wear protector to reduce wear along the straps.

In addition to the harnesses, the seat for VOLT harnesses was also updated to provide more comfort while working in suspension.

More info: www.petzl.com

In cooperation with Sika Deutschland GmbH, WINDSOURCING.COM GmbH is again offering free product training this year for customers from the wind-energy and hydraulic steel structures sector.

The training will cover the use of SikaCor^® SW-1000 RepaCor for the professional repair of corrosion protection of onshore and offshore wind turbines and hydraulic steel structures.

The event is aimed at all service companies involved in the maintenance and repair of wind turbines and multi-water structures. It consists of a theoretical part and practical exercises.

“The aim is that the participants will be able to reliably use the product themselves after the training and pass on the knowledge to their employees,” said Stefan Weber, founder and managing director of WINDSOURCING.COM, the Hamburg-based trading company.

Weber said he is enthusiastic about “SikaCor^® SW-1000 RepaCor.”

“Various practical applications in recent months have confirmed this: The product is a revolution in the repair of corrosion damage to on- and offshore wind turbines and hydraulic steel structures,” he said.

Background: The use of wind power, especially on the open sea, demands the highest standards of corrosion protection — and thus maintenance — due to the mechanical and climatic conditions.

“A long and therefore profitable service life of the turbines can only be achieved with conscientious maintenance,” Weber said. “The turbines cannot simply be transported away, especially on the high seas. All work has to be carried out on site in all weather — often by industrial climbers, who have limited access to heavy tools and materials. In addition, protective coatings must dry and harden quickly due to the weather. This is exactly where SikaCor^® SW-1000 RepaCor comes into play.”

The venue for the application training of this innovative product development will be at the Science Center “Universum Bremen.” Because participants from service companies from Germany and all over Europe are expected to attend, the training will be offered in German and English.

More info: www.windsourcing.com/en/trainings/sikacor-sw-1000-repacor-2020/

The company Aerox has just brought to market its leading-edge protection system for wind turbine blades; 20 months of work have been necessary to scale up the manufacturing and application processes of Aerox AHP LEP System, the innovative solution of the company for the protection against erosion of the leading edge of wind turbine blades.

Aerox has accomplished the main objectives of the LEP4BLADES project, developing new manufacturing and application processes that have been validated by wind turbine OEMs and service companies.

“This project has been a success for the company, something that could not have been possible without the collaboration of renowned international institutions such as ORE Catapult, University of Limerick, and University CEU Cardenal Herrera of Valencia as well as the support of reference industrial partners in the sector,” said Raúl Cortés, Aerox CEO.

The results of the work carried out in collaboration with the Spanish service company GDES Wind was revealed at the Wind Turbine Blade Manufacture Conference in Dusseldorf last December. The conference, sponsored by Aerox in the 2019 edition, is the most important international industry event on design, materials, production and performance of wind-turbine blades.

More info: www.aerox.es