The Board of Directors of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy recently appointed Alfonso Faubel as the company’s new Onshore Business CEO, effective July 29.

“We are very pleased that Alfonso Faubel is joining the company and look forward to working with him,” said Markus Tacke, Siemens Gamesa CEO. “His broad industry experience will support the onshore business unit in addressing the challenging environment and continuing to deliver value to our customers.”

Faubel, who has 30 years’ experience in the automotive and energy industries, joins Siemens Gamesa from Sentient Science, where he was chief revenue officer of Energy and president of Europe. Sentient Science is a digital provider of materials-science-based life prediction and extension technology in the global wind energy market.

Previously, he worked for Alstom-General Electric as senior vice president, Global Sales & Marketing, based in Switzerland, and as senior vice president of the Alstom Wind Business, responsible for all activities related to Alstom’s onshore and offshore wind business.

Faubel began his career in international industrial sales in 1988 at Ferrex in New York City. He transferred to Accenture in 1990 and to Exen in Rome in 1993. In 1996, he joined Delphi, where he held a number of positions, until moving to Alstom in 2009.

He has a degree in Business Administration and Economics from Richmond, The American International University in London. He has worked in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the U.S., and Mexico and speaks five languages.

“I am honored to join a global company of the caliber of Siemens Gamesa, which has such a clear commitment to delivering clean energy,” Faubel said. “Onshore wind will be a key element of that vision, and I am ready to take on the challenge and contribute to reinforcing our leading position, delivering projects that create lasting value for all our stakeholders.”

Faubel will replace Mark Albenze, who assumed this position on a temporary basis in addition to his role as CEO of the Service Business Unit. Albenze will now continue in his role as Service CEO.

MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

Shell Lubricants unveiled a new synthetic gearbox oil for wind turbines in the U.S. market at AWEA WINDPOWER 2019 in Houston, Texas.

With a 10-year warranty, Shell Omala S5 Wind can help to extend operational uptime and reduce unplanned breakdown by offering enhanced protection.

“70 percent of U.S. power businesses don’t realize that effective lubrication can lead to shorter periods of equipment downtime, having negative ramifications on the bottom-line,” said Warren Cates, senior research scientist at Shell. “Improving this aspect of equipment maintenance can make a significant impact on profitability. Shell’s range of wind turbine gearbox lubricants are designed specifically for exceptional oil life under various extreme conditions, as is demanded by America’s varied climate.”

Gearbox operations and management can be particularly demanding, often in remote locations and challenging weather conditions. They must withstand extremes of hot and/or cold climates, water, dust, and fluctuating wind speeds. These severe conditions and varying loads can cause damage to the gearboxes, including micro-pitting. If a gearbox failure occurs, it can cause significant equipment downtime, leading to monetary loss. With more than 56,600 wind turbines now active across 41 states, with a combined capacity of 97,223 MW, operational efficiency has never been of more importance in the US.

“Shell products have been specifically developed for gearboxes, bearings, and other moving parts of wind turbines,” Cates said. “These sector-specific applications have particular demands and can carry a high penalty for poor reliability, especially if they are in remote locations. The robust wear and corrosion protection Shell Omala S5 Wind offers can help extend the service life of the gearboxes, while innovative foam control and optimal filterability also help to reduce gear and bearing damage. The lubricant’s 10-year warranty gives operators and equipment manufacturers alike the peace of mind that fewer oil changes during a wind turbine’s lifecycle, and consistent protection against equipment wear, can be achieved.”

In addition to lubricant products, Shell Lubricants’ offering also includes on-site technical support and oil monitoring and reliability services to help operators run their plants as efficiently as possible.

MORE INFO  www.shell.us/business-customers/lubricants-for-business/products/shell-omala-gear-oils.html

The Energy Division of ACCIONA has developed a pioneering solution in the field of hybridization between wind and photovoltaic power. It consists of covering a wind-turbine tower with flexible organic panels to produce energy for the internal electricity consumption of the turbine.

The innovative project will allow the study of the performance of the organic panels — an emerging photovoltaic technology — and their application to improve wind-turbine efficiency.

The system has been installed in one of the turbines of the Breña Wind Farm in Albacete, Spain, which Acciona owns and operates. The turbine is an AW77/1500 of Nordex-Acciona Windpower technology, mounted on an 80-meter-high steel tower (hub height).

Installed on the tower are 120 solar panels facing southeast-southwest to capture the maximum of the sun’s rays throughout the day. They are distributed at eight different heights, occupying around 50 meters of the tower’s surface area. The photovoltaic modules, with an overall capacity of 9.36 kilowatts peak (kWp), are of Heliatek technology (HeliaSol 308-5986 model). They are only 1 millimeter thick, and each one has a surface area of 5,986 x 308 mm.

In contrast to the conventional technology used in the manufacture of photovoltaic models based on silicon, these organic panels use carbon as raw material and are characterized by their structural flexibility, which makes them adaptable to different surfaces. Other key features are lower maintenance costs, less energy consumption during manufacture, easier logistics, and the complete recycling of the materials used, although their efficiency is still below that of silicon modules.

“The hybridization project in Breña means the optimization of the use of space for renewable energy production, and it will enable us to test the efficiency of organic photovoltaics, a technology that we believe has one of the best improvement curves in terms of technological efficiency,” said Belén Linares, energy innovation director at Acciona. “That is why we have decided to pilot it.”

The immediate application of the Breña project is to produce part of the energy that the internal systems of the wind turbine need. When the turbine is running, some of the energy generated is used to power the auxiliary systems. In shutdown mode, certain systems need to continue functioning so they are fed from the grid, which means that the wind turbine is registering a net consumption of energy.

The new photovoltaic system with panels on the tower will be able to cover, completely or partially, the energy demand related to the operation of the wind turbine when there is solar radiation, or even — in a possible later phase of the project — when the sun is not shining. This would be done through a battery storage system, leading to an improvement in the net production sent to the grid.

The organic panels are connected to two inverters that convert DC into AC for later connection to the grid, which supplies the electrical equipment of the wind turbine.

The entire system is monitored with a view to evaluating it under real conditions, both from the point of view of energy production and degradation of the solar modules. Conceptually, it is a very innovative design in relation to previous experiences in wind power-photovoltaic hybridization, based on panels installed on the ground.

The idea is part of a wide-ranging innovation project driven by Acciona to study a number of emerging photovoltaic technologies, with the aim of pioneering the adoption of more efficient solutions in each case and consolidating its leadership as a PV developer. The company currently has more than 1,200 MWp in operation or under construction in different parts of the world.

MORE INFO  www.acciona.com

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently announced the creation of CLEANPOWER, a new exhibition hub that will bring together the utility-scale wind power, solar power, and energy-storage industries when it launches in Denver next May.

AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan broke the news during WINDPOWER 2019’s Welcome General Session.

“The future of American energy is clean and renewable,” he said. “We’re proud to announce CLEANPOWER, an exhibition hub designed from the ground up for the diverse clean energy industry and supply chain professionals who are building that future. We’ve welcomed multi-technology businesses at WINDPOWER for years. Now we’re throwing the doors open, creating an even bigger opportunity for companies in wind, solar, storage and other clean energy technologies to learn and do business across the utility-scale power sector.”

The WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition will continue as the heart of CLEANPOWER, with the addition of exhibition space and conference programming for utility-scale solar, storage, and other clean energy technologies. By incorporating these technologies into a single exhibition hub, CLEANPOWER will create efficiencies for exhibitors and attendees with multi-technology business models. Pure-play businesses will benefit from increased show traffic and opportunities to build beneficial partnerships across the cleantech industry.

CLEANPOWER marks the latest evolution of AWEA’s conferences and exhibitions, which have existed in one form or another since 1974. In recent years, the content of WINDPOWER and AWEA’s other conferences have evolved in step with trends in the power sector toward multi-technology businesses and projects. Already, nearly half of WINDPOWER attendees and exhibitors have multi-technology business units.

WINDPOWER 2019’s theme, WIND+, emphasized how wind, solar, and storage can work together to build a cleaner, stronger power grid for the future, and energy storage played a big role at WINDPOWER 2018 with remarks from Energy Storage Association CEO Kelly Speakes-Backman. Last year, AWEA also launched the Clean Energy Executive Summit as an outgrowth of the longstanding AWEA Fall Symposium.

“The CLEANPOWER hub will bring in new attendees and exhibitors from across the spectrum of utility-scale renewable industries,” said Jana Adams, senior vice president, Member Value and Experience, AWEA. “We look forward to announcing more details about CLEANPOWER 2020 in the coming weeks.”

Partnerships with leaders in the solar and storage industries will be essential to the success of CLEANPOWER. AWEA will announce formal partnerships in the lead up to the first CLEANPOWER expo in 2020.

More info: awea.org

The Timken Company, a world leader in engineered bearings and power transmission products, has built a powerful portfolio of solutions aimed at helping wind-turbine operators and manufacturers improve the reliability of their assets and move the industry forward.

At American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER 2019, May 20–23 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, attendees can tap into the power behind the power at Booth #1221. Timken wind experts will be there to discuss the latest technologies for improving wind-turbine performance while minimizing costly, unanticipated repairs that continue to affect operators in all parts of the world.

“Timken’s extensive testing and development has pioneered stronger solutions for the wind industry,” said Rick Brooks, wind-energy sales manager for Timken. “Our commitment to advancing wind energy has resulted in a broad array of power transmission products that have shown to reduce spending and drive down cost per kilowatt hour for our customers. We focus on the complete project life cycle to increase annual energy production at wind farms around the world.”

AWEA attendees can visit the Timken booth to learn about innovations for improving the life cycles of critical components in wind turbines, including:

Superior Coupling Technology: Timken imagined a better way to transmit torque between the gearbox and generator while protecting attached components from overload and stray currents. Next-generation Lovejoy® couplings, bolted to an AeroTorque WindTC™ torque control, are now available for 2-MW-plus turbines. These innovative couplings integrate directly with the generator hub, include an anti-flail feature and use a composite fiberglass spacer for weight and cost efficiencies. A standard torque limiter offers protection against peak loads, primarily protecting the coupling from damage during torque spikes, while an AeroTorque-enabled coupling provides added advantages such as reducing peak torque by up to 40 percent and reducing torque oscillations up to 70 percent to extend gearbox life. Together, Lovejoy and AeroTorque are part of a stronger technical solution for making reliable gearbox-to-generator connections.

Field-Proven, Wear-Resistant Mainshaft Bearings: Recently, Timken analyzed a mainshaft spherical roller bearing that had seen seven years of demanding service. The bearing, which had been removed due to nonrelated issues, was one of the first to use a proprietary surface coating developed by Timken that greatly minimizes steel-to-steel contact. Examination revealed little-to-no adhesive wear and no evidence of the bearing entering the next stages of damage. Timken estimates the bearing would have operated 15 to 20 years, giving wind-energy producers a new option to consider when it comes to avoiding the pain of costly down-tower repairs.

Case-Carburized Bearings to Resist Cracking: White-etching cracks (WECs) remain a leading cause of gearbox bearing failure. Timken offers carburized bearings that can better withstand WEC propagation compared to standard through-hardened bearings, which can result in more than double the product life in demanding applications.

Timken also provides wind-farm operators the support they need to take greater control of their operation. In an industry that sees new challenges every day, H&N Wind Power Systems by Timken can keep you online from routine inspections to unexpected overhauls. The expert team at H&N has solved problems safely, professionally and efficiently since 2002, offering a full suite of up-tower services, including gearbox oil changes, bearing replacements, shaft repair, and carbon brush replacements, as well as large corrective work including complete generator rebuilds.

It takes stronger products and people to reach new heights in wind energy, and at AWEA 2019, attendees can tap into both by getting to know Timken and its complete inventory of solutions for most turbine models. Onshore and offshore, Timken applies its expertise to the smallest and largest platforms, giving you access to a powerful combination of OEM-certified techs, experienced engineering teams and bearing and power transmission experts who can generate a positive ROI for your operation.

More info: timken.com/wind-energy

EdgeData, LLC recently added Lorie Hines as director of operations. In this role, Hines will manage operations of BladeEdge, EdgeData’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven image analysis engine for the wind industry.

“Lorie brings valuable insight and experience to the BladeEdge team during a time of rapid growth,” said Chris Shroyer, president and co-founder of EdgeData. “She possesses a combination of technical knowledge and project management expertise that will enable BladeEdge’s capacity for growth. We’re delighted to add her capabilities to our leadership team.”

As director of operations, Hines will draw on her experience in technology, risk management, and problem solving to oversee the technical architecture that supports all BladeEdge applications. BladeEdge is powered by EDDIE, the company’s AI analytics engine designed specifically for the wind industry. EDDIE enables automated condition assessment of blade inspection images, data analytic processing, and report generation.

The BladeEdge application suite includes the BladeEdge Controller Application (BE-APPSM), the BladeEdge Capture Assurance Tool (BE-CATSM), BladeEdge Analytics, and the BladeEdge User Dashboard. Together, these applications streamline wind-farm management, from data capture to data management, and ultimately artificial intelligence and analytics.

Hines also will manage the BladeEdge application development team to ensure the regular and timely release and integration of innovative operations solutions and will work with BladeEdge’s strategic partners in marketing, security, and more.

Hines has led a successful career in the technology industry, most recently serving as operations and systems manager/project manager at RSM US LLP, a leading provider of audit, tax, and consulting services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At RSM, Hines developed a successful strategy for deploying an internal client engagement software tool for a consulting firm spanning several industries. Her previous experience includes leading a team of 12-plus business analysts at Aegon Asset Management as a business analyst and quality assurance manager and deploying a company-wide information security standards and requirements compliance program as the information security officer at TransAmerica.

More info  bladeedge.net

Pure Safety Group (PSG), the largest company dedicated solely to fall protection, has introduced the Checkmate TR3 Tripod, used as Personal Protective Equipment to access workers and provide fall protection in confined space environments.

The tripod features an innovative new crown and foot design that makes it stronger yet more lightweight than other tripods. The design is representative of the new advancements in height safety that are being created by the innovation team at Checkmate.

The TR3 is one of 20 new fall protection products PSG is launching in 2019 into the construction, oil and gas, energy, utilities, telecom, mining, and transportation industries. It is the first Checkmate product to be launched in North America. Checkmate is a U.K.-based company that was acquired by PSG in 2018. Checkmate products are made of superior materials and designed for companies who want the latest high-performance products for their workers at height.

The TR3 tripod legs lock in the open position automatically during use, easily disengage for folding, and are adjusted for proper height with captive pins. Detent pins secure them to the tripod using PVC-coated keeper wires. The tripod’s pivoting spiked feet and rubber soles allow for its use on soft or hard surfaces. It’s anti-splay webbing, which prevents the tripod legs from splaying under a load, can be neatly tucked into their own housing slot for storage.

When used in conjunction with other Checkmate equipment, the TR3 can be used as an anchorage for suspended work and winch operations and as a secure fall arrest point.

The tripod’s maximum single-user weight for fall arrest, with one operator, is 310 pounds (141 kilograms) When used in assisted rescue, the maximum combined capacity load for workers is 620 pounds (281kilograms) and, for carrying goods, is 550 pounds (250 kilograms). The tripod meets OSHA standards, exceeds ANSI standards, and will be CSA-certified.

More info  www.checkmateuk.com/products/tr3-tripod/

Kardie Equipment, the largest truck mounted aerial work platform vendor in North America, will be exhibiting at AWEA WINDPOWER 2019 in Houston, Texas. The conference is May 20–23. Kardie will be exhibiting at booth #3803.

In partnership with Bronto Skylift, representatives from Kardie will be at the booth to present the 230-foot XR to North America, giving attendees the opportunity to see the model up close and ask any questions. Representatives will include Kevin Darby, founder and CEO; Jason Baker, director of Sales & Marketing; and Milton Floch, who handles the company’s business development.

WINDPOWER is the largest wind-energy trade show of the year, with regular appearances by the largest players in the industry. Last year, there were 7,600 attendees representing 50 countries, and 440 companies either exhibiting or hosting a meeting room. It is organized by the American Wind Energy Association.

As the industry leader, Kardie Equipment (a TGM Wind company) is the largest North American distributor for Bronto Skylift in Finland. Since 2010, its fleet of 20 units has pioneered access and cleaning in the renewables sector for the world’s largest wind companies. On the heels of its success over the last decade, the company has expanded its capabilities to include various new products and services that will allow it to continue growing and penetrate new industries. Kardie provides the safest, most efficient and reliable AWPs across various industries up to 295 feet.

More info  www.kardieequipment.com

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has become the first wind turbine manufacturer to attain an investment grade rating.

The company obtained a BBB-long-term credit rating, with positive outlook, from Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and a Baa3 outlook stable rating from Moody’s. Siemens Gamesa has debuted in the public rating arena within investment grade.

S&P highlighted Siemens Gamesa’s leading position in the competitive and consolidating onshore and offshore wind markets with an improved scale, installed base and technology, which should help the group to increase market share and lead market consolidation. The rating agency also underlined the company’s conservative financial management and transparent financial policy, with a strong balance sheet, which enable it to preserve strong credit metrics and liquidity.

Moody’s also said the rating is primarily supported by Siemens Gamesa’s leading market position, its high revenue visibility, as evidenced in the order book, its technological edge over its competitors, as well as the related and growing service activities, good regional diversification and moderate financial leverage.

“We are very proud to have achieved an investment grade rating from two agencies of the caliber of Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s,” said David Mesonero, chief financial officer of Siemens Gamesa. “This is a significant milestone for Siemens Gamesa and a recognition of our achievements. The ratings confirm our financial and industrial strength and will enable us to continue diversifying and optimizing our funding sources.”

More info  www.siemensgamesa.com

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced that the state and its partners have reached an agreement on a harbor development plan for State Pier in New London that will enable its revitalization and put in place the needed components to establish the region as a central hub in New England for the developing offshore wind industry.

The Connecticut Port Authority, the state’s quasi-public agency responsible for marketing and coordinating the development of the state’s ports and maritime industry, and terminal operator Gateway, are partnering with Bay State Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource, on a new deal that will redevelop State Pier into a world-class, state-of-the-art port facility through combined public-private investment of $93 million to upgrade its infrastructure and heavy-lift capability. These upgrades will allow State Pier to meet the facility requirements of the offshore wind industry and will benefit the port’s long-term growth by increasing its capability to accommodate heavy-lift cargo for years to come.

“Connecticut’s maritime economy has significant potential to drive economic growth and create jobs across the state, and redeveloping State Pier is a central component to that growth,” Lamont said. “This new public-private partnership reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the state to increase procurement of offshore wind and make the economic expansion of our maritime economy a reality. We look forward to working with our new partners to position Connecticut as a leader in the offshore wind industry and expand economic opportunity throughout the region.”

The State Pier harbor development plan calls for a two-phased effort at State Pier. First, a three-year development project will upgrade the facility infrastructure to meet the heavy-lift requirements of Ørsted and Eversource’s offshore wind components. Second, following the successful completion of the project, Ørsted and Eversource will enter into a 10-year lease agreement granting their joint venture the use of State Pier for wind-turbine generator assembly and staging.

“The Connecticut Port Authority was established to grow the state’s economy and create jobs by investing in the maritime industry,” said Scott Bates, chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority. “For over a year, we have been working toward a vision where increased port activity drives economic growth and creates jobs throughout the state. This Harbor Development Plan brings that vision to life. In the short-term, our local workforce will upgrade State Pier into a world-class port facility, and our regional manufacturing workforce will build components for our new partners in the offshore wind industry. Longer-term, the increased capacity of State Pier will continue to expand the flow of cargo into New London, which will extend our state’s economic reach even farther, benefiting workers throughout Connecticut.”

This deal aligns with the Lamont administration’s plans to expand the use of carbon-free energy sources.

“We’ve worked closely with the Connecticut Port Authority, Ørsted, and Eversource to help realize the collective vision of bringing the offshore wind industry to New London,” Philippe De Montigny and Matthew Satnick, co-CEOs of Enstructure, Gateway’s financial partner, said in a joint statement. “We believe our partnership will yield strong long-term growth for the City of New London and the State of Connecticut. As the port operator for both New Haven and New London, we will also ensure that our maritime terminal operations continue to deliver best-in-class service for our conventional cargo customers.”

“(The) announcement lays the foundation for Connecticut to play a leading role in the United States’ fast-growing offshore wind industry and supports our transition from older, dirtier fuel sources to clean, affordable, carbon-free energy,” said Lee Olivier, Eversource executive vice president for Enterprise Energy Strategy and Business Development. “Our collaboration with the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Port Authority, the City of New London, and Gateway Terminal brings together the resources and expertise needed to redevelop the New London State Pier into a state-of-the-art offshore wind facility to help Connecticut reach its critical greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

“With this public-private partnership comes the significant opportunity for job creation, local investment, and economic benefits for southeastern Connecticut and the wider region,” said Thomas Brostrøm, Ørsted president of North America and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind CEO. “We look forward to continue working with the state, the City of New London, and our partners: the Connecticut Port Authority and Gateway Terminal, as we drive toward a green economy, bring more sources of clean energy to Connecticut, and ultimately lower carbon emissions for our planet.”

“Southeastern Connecticut has long been a center of our region’s maritime economy, and today’s announcement represents a commitment to realize the potential of the New London State Pier — and the jobs and growth that will go along with it,” said Rep. Joe Courtney. “The positive and long-lasting effects of an investment like this — which will create new jobs and increase activity at the port — will be felt across our entire state for years to come. Not only does this investment prepare the State Pier up for future success by upgrading its infrastructure and heavy-lift capabilities, it also creates jobs in the immediate future and keeps our state on track toward expanding the use of renewable energy.”

“As New London has grown, we have formed amazing partnerships with the State of Connecticut, Gateway New London LLC, the Connecticut Port Authority and now the Ørsted and Eversource joint venture,” said Mayor Michael Passero. “Today our city is emerging as an epicenter of innovation as new businesses and supply chains have invested in our community in preparation for this new industry coming to New London. I’m thrilled about today’s announcement of the community host agreement with Ørsted and Eversource. It’s proof that they will be great partners with the city as they join our business community. Most important of all, this is a big win for New London’s taxpayers as we bring in new revenue, new jobs, and new opportunities to the city today and into the future.”

More info  orsted.com

Over the course of a two-day CanWEA Spring Forum in Banff, Alberta, many of Canada’s wind-energy leaders shared a sense of optimism about the growth of wind energy in Canada and the economic and environmental benefits it is delivering as the lowest-price, emissions-free source of new electricity for not only Alberta and Saskatchewan, but for other provinces across Canada.

They also discussed the implications of the Alberta election and subjects such as indigenous engagement, recent developments in Canada’s wind markets, new technologies, and the evolution of government electricity and climate policies.

A Day-1 highlight was a wide-ranging keynote address by Peter Tertzakian, executive director of the ARC Energy Research Institute in Calgary, who described the new energy revolution driven by competition, innovation, supply additions, and lower prices.

“Prices for wind, solar, energy storage, and fossil fuel extraction have come down rapidly,” Tertzakian said. “Alberta, with an abundance of energy sources — both renewable and non-renewable — is well-positioned to lead as an energy powerhouse in Canada.”

The Forum concluded with Chris Turner, a prominent author and journalist, who provided his insights on the challenges the wind-energy industry must address if it is to capitalize on the potential clean-energy development opportunities offered by the Alberta electricity system.

“There is a global energy transition underway, and Canada has a huge opportunity to join the front ranks of this vital project,” Turner said. “We have extraordinary renewable energy resources, conventional energy resources, and a really strong tech sector — all the tools we need to become global leaders.”

The Spring Forum attracted more than 170 attendees and a sold-out exhibitor space to the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel for the April 17-18 conference.

Much of the focus of Canada’s wind-energy industry is now on Alberta and Saskatchewan, where it is poised to grow rapidly in the next few years. Wind energy has proven attractive to the prairie provinces because it has become the low-price leader, and because it helps to de-carbonize the electricity grid. In competitive electricity-supply auctions in Alberta in 2017 and 2018, the auctions secured 1,363 MW of wind energy at average weighted prices of $37 to $39 per megawatt-hour. Saskatchewan’s most recent procurement attracted widespread interest from the wind-energy industry, with the winning bid coming in below $35 per megawatt hour. These recent prices were new lows for wind energy in Canada and make wind energy the lowest-cost option for new electricity generation in the country.

Auction results such as these explain the wind-energy industry’s optimism at the Spring Forum, not only for the prairie provinces, but for all of Canada’s provinces as they strive to deliver affordable, emissions-free, reliable and safe electricity to the benefit of all Canadians.

“The four key attributes of wind energy — low price, emission-free, reliable and flexible — underpin my optimism that wind energy can compete with, and win against, every other large-scale electricity option to meet Canada’s future needs,” said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association. “We are the lowest-cost provider; we generate emission-free power; our product is increasingly contributing to the reliability of the grid; and we offer a flexible and scalable solution to system operators as well as decentralized grids.”

The Spring Forum began just as the Alberta election results were announced, revealing a victory by the United Conservative Party. Forum speakers emphasized that the wind industry expects to work closely with the new government and the electricity system operator to continue to build the new wind-energy projects that will deliver low-priced power, keeping electricity affordable for Albertans. New wind-energy projects will also help to diversify the economy through the investment of billions of dollars, while creating thousands of jobs that benefit Alberta’s economy and its host communities.

Enel, through its U.S. renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, Inc., recently closed an agreement to purchase Kansas-based renewable developer Tradewind Energy, Inc.

Under the agreement, Enel Green Power North America purchased all of Tradewind’s development platform comprising of 13 GW of wind, solar, and storage projects throughout the U.S. Shortly after the closing of Enel’s purchase of Tradewind, the company signed a definitive agreement with the Macquarie Group’s Green Investment Group to sell Savion, LLC, a 100 percent subsidiary of Tradewind that includes a development platform including 6 GW of solar and storage pipeline projects. The closing of the transaction with Macquarie, expected mid-year, is pending regulatory approval. Through this sale, the company is able to generate immediate returns on portions of the acquired portfolio, while retaining ownership of a strategic pipeline of about 7 GW of wind projects.

This strategic acquisition will enable Enel Green Power North America to manage all aspects of the renewable value chain in North America, from greenfield development through operations. Following the transaction, the company will integrate Tradewind’s development expertise across key areas of renewable growth for the company including wind, solar, and storage.

“Through this deal, we are acquiring an experienced renewable-development company to help carry out our North American growth strategy across all technologies with even greater speed and efficiency, thereby strengthening our position in the competitive U.S. market,” said Georgios Papadimitriou, head of Enel Green Power North America. “We are further able to capitalize on our investment and secure additional value for our company through the sale of certain development assets that will deliver immediate returns.”

The Enel Group and Tradewind Energy, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, have been strategic development partners since 2006, supporting Enel’s growth in the U.S. wind market. Over the course of this partnership, Enel successfully constructed and began operations of about 3.9 GW of capacity developed by Tradewind. With this acquisition, Enel Green Power North America will further expand its presence in Kansas where the company is the largest wind operator with more than 1.4 GW of operational wind energy.

Enel Green Power North America, part of Enel Green Power, is a leading owner and operator of renewable energy plants in North America with projects operating and under development in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. The company operates about 100 plants with a managed capacity of about 5 GW powered by renewable hydropower, wind, geothermal and solar energy. The company is the largest wind operator in Kansas and Oklahoma.

More info  enelgreenpower.com

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) recently placed an order for 143 MW of V126-3.45 MW turbines for the Bearkat II Wind project in Texas.

Bearkat II is the second phase of the Bearkat project, following the successful 2017 commissioning of the Bearkat I project, which also featured V126-3.45 MW turbines.
Including previously purchased components, the project will have a total capacity of 162 MW.

The order includes supply and commissioning of the turbines as well as a 30-year service agreement, which also includes balance of plant operations and maintenance.

“We are pleased to continue the good collaboration with Vestas on the extension of Bearkat,” said Michael Hannibal, partner for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. “Vestas has proven their ability to deliver optimized project performance and reliability.”

“We are thrilled to continue to build our partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and to install the trusted V126-3.45 MW turbine for the Bearkat II project,” said Chris Brown, president of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada. “It’s a partnership founded on our ability to collaborate with CIP across the value spectrum to deliver both best in class technology and best in class service, strengthened by the learnings from our 101 GW global fleet.”

Deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2019 while commissioning is planned for fourth quarter of 2019.

More info  www.vestas.com

Executives from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), representing thousands of companies and stakeholders in the wind industry, will release the 2018 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report at the Greater Houston Partnership on April 9.

WHAT: Texas is the leader for wind energy in America. Members of the media in Houston will have the opportunity to report on the latest information about wind power after remarks from industry leaders and a Q&A period.

AWEA’s U.S. Wind Industry 2018 Annual Market Report will offer a definitive look at U.S. wind-energy industry activity last year in Texas and across the country. The report reveals important industry accomplishments and data driven market trends, including job growth, quantified economic and environmental benefits, and technological innovation. Wind-project contributions to state and local taxes will be included in the report for the first time.

WHO: Leaders of the American Wind Energy Association, the national trade group for U.S. wind power, representing more than 1,000 companies including global leaders in wind power and energy development, turbine manufacturing, and service suppliers. Other participants to be announced in advance of the event.

WHEN: 9 to 9:45 a.m. Central, April 9, 2019; guests should arrive a few minutes before 9 a.m. so the program can begin promptly.

WHERE: The Greater Houston Partnership, 701 Avenida De Las Americas #900, Houston, Texas 77010.

RSVP: Members of the media, industry stakeholders, and AWEA members are invited to attend. Attendees should RSVP to Curtis Walter, cwalter@awea.org, 202-826-3828.

Note on parking: Parking for Partnership Tower is in the Avenida North parking garage with entrances on Rusk and Capitol. Please enter through the entrances marked “Public Parking.” Greater Houston Partnership visitors can park in visitor or public designated spaces on garage levels 4 through 7. After you park, take the garage elevator to the first floor lobby. Take the building lobby elevators to the ninth floor. Please bring your parking ticket with you for discounted validation. Upon leaving GHP offices, you will need to pay at one of the pay meters.

Embracing disruptive digital technologies for the collection and analysis of wind-turbine data offers the best route to reducing the costs of operations and maintenance programs.

This is according to more than half (55 percent) of the asset and operations managers attending ONYX InSight’s European Technical Symposium in March.

Disruptive technology is entering the wind-energy sector quickly and helping to improve the cost-basis for running wind-turbine maintenance programs. From micro-electro mechanical sensors (MEMS) for gathering turbine data to machine learning algorithms that improve data analysis, owners and operators of wind farms in Europe need to embrace these technologies to maintain their position in the industry.

“Operators that continue to rely on traditional O&M practices to manage their profitability and overlook the rise of disruptive digital technologies risk losing out,” said Dr. John Coultate, head of Product Development at ONYX InSight. “Failure to embrace these technologies and apply them appropriately will see them overtaken by competitors able to reliably and profitably operate wind farms at lower cost.”

MEMS sensors, which lie at the heart of the digital disruption of wind-turbine monitoring, are produced annually in the billions at significantly lower cost than the piezoelectric sensors they are replacing. Greater versatility means MEMS sensors can be used to capture much more data about turbine behavior. MEMS sensors’ digital data outputs also eliminate the need for additional costly signal conditioning, making it easier for operators to run data analysis using another disruptive technology, machine learning.

A majority of attendees recognized the need for involving specialists to implement and harness the kinds of digital technologies that could be seen as disruptive. More than half said they recognized the need for third-party expertise to support digital integration and analysis of turbine data.

“The technology is here to stay, the only barrier to adoption is access to quality data,” said Dr. Xiaoqin Ma, head of Technology at ONYX InSight. “Machine learning can make sense out of large quantities of data that human analysts might find overwhelming. With vast amounts of data being collected through hundreds of channels from every single turbine every second, ML is essential for understanding turbine condition and reducing the cost of maintenance programs.”

“Properly trained machine learning algorithms, backed up by intelligent engineering experience, can add real value to the wind-energy industry,” he said. “Without the right support for quality data inputs and guidance from experts, however, users of machine learning, disappointed by its outputs, risk overlooking a powerful tool that will drive OPEX cost reductions into the future.”

Dr. Ma and Dr. Coultate were speaking to more than 50 wind asset and operations managers from across Europe, at the ONYX InSight Technical Symposium in Manchester. Presentations and panel discussions focused on the technology trends and adoption by wind-farm operators looking to drive lifetime extension and reduce the cost of operations and maintenance.

“The symposium once again proved itself a welcoming forum for operators to share experiences, freely discuss the challenges they face and learn and understand current best practices and solutions that will help them get the best form their assets,” said Bruce Hall, CEO of ONYX InSight.

More info  www.onyxinsight.com

A trial of NRG Systems’ Bat Deterrent System at the Pilot Hill Wind Project in Illinois yielded an overall reduction in bat fatalities of 67 percent and greater reductions with species commonly affected by wind projects.

The results of the trial were announced on March 27, 2019, by EDF Renewables, the developer/owner of the Pilot Hill Wind Project, at the AWEA Wind Project Siting and Environmental Compliance Seminar in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Located in Kankakee and Iroquois counties, the 175-MW Pilot Hill Wind Project was made possible by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft Corporation and has been in commercial operation since 2015.

Testing of NRG’s ultrasonic acoustic Bat Deterrent System was conducted at Pilot Hill between August and October of 2018. Fifteen out of the facility’s 103 turbines were outfitted with Bat Deterrent Systems. A 5.0 m/second cut-in speed curtailment was simultaneously applied at the deterrent-equipped turbines.
“Our goal with this trial was to gauge the efficacy of combining curtailment with NRG’s Bat Deterrent System to reduce bat mortality at wind turbines,” said Michael Azeka, director of Environmental Strategy at EDF Renewables. “The results of this trial are very encouraging and suggest that this approach to minimizing bat impacts is a compelling one for the wind industry.”

There are several bat species present at Pilot Hill, including multiple migratory tree species. The testing revealed a significant reduction of 72 percent with silver-haired bats, 71 percent with hoary bats, and 94 percent with big brown bats. Eastern red bats proved harder to deter, with 58 percent reduction in mortality for the two treatments together.
At the moment, raising cut-in wind speed is the most widely used method for reducing bat mortality at wind turbines. While effective, many wind plants in North America experience a significant loss of energy production when this curtailment is implemented.

“The Pilot Hill trial is especially encouraging because it suggests that we can minimize bat impacts while increasing the amount of energy produced at wind plants struggling with this crucial issue,” said Brogan Morton, senior product manager at NRG Systems. “This is a win for all parties involved, including developers, conservationists, and, most importantly, the planet.”

The Pilot Hill trial was preceded by a two-year study at the Los Vientos Wind Energy Facility in Texas, which saw an overall reduction in bat fatalities of 54 percent. NRG’s Bat Deterrent System is available is North America. The company plans to hold trials of the technology in Europe in 2019.

More info  nrgsystems.com

Industrial artificial intelligence leader, Uptake, was recently named a 2019 New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF). The award recognizes ground-breaking companies fueling the transition to a lower-carbon economy and bringing new ideas for business models, technologies, market structures, and commercial opportunities.

“I’m proud of the entire Uptake team and our commitment to our energy, transportation, and industrial customers who use our artificial intelligence platform and applications in the field everyday,” said Uptake CEO Brad Keywell. “Our goal is to delight customers with impactful outcomes, and each new customer offers further proof of our belief that AI and data science should power operational decisions in major industries. Our market leadership has been fortified by our independence from any singular OEM. Further, the impact of our delivered outcomes has been magnified through our ownership of the world’s most comprehensive dataset of equipment failure patterns. Through the Uptake lens, industry productivity looks even better.”

With the massive amount of data generated by industrial machines, companies are increasingly searching for simple ways to turn this data into action that improves their bottom line. Using artificial intelligence and data science, an intelligent industrial platform turns machine data into insights, predictions, and recommendations. With insights, people can improve all aspects of industrial performance, make better-informed decisions that affect both topline and bottom line financials, and help optimize the overall business.

The winners from more than 185 applicants were assessed against three criteria:

• Potential to scale the opportunity and have global impact.
• Level of innovation of the technology or business model and the novelty it brings to the market.
• Momentum by showcasing substantive progress in the form of strong commercial partnerships, the distribution channels in place and sales growth.

Uptake’s APM software improves productivity and efficiency by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to create business value from operational data. Traditional asset management only covers routine maintenance tasks and fails to anticipate and adjust to the ways industry operates its business. Today’s asset-intensive environments require a new approach with industrial data science generating OEM-agnostic insights, predictions and recommendations for any asset.

More info: www.uptake.com/industry-solutions/energy

MSA recently announced the launch of the new V-SERIES full body harness line for fall protection: V-FLEX™, V-FIT™, and V-FORM™. Each is designed for comfort and differing needs.

With the V-SERIES, users can focus on their work instead of their harness. The exclusive racing-style buckle eliminates the need for chest straps, creating a closer, more comfortable harness. An athletic cut contours the harness to the body for increased upper torso mobility. A pull-down adjustment allows the wearer to easily and quickly make adjustments in order to get the right fit.

The V-SERIES harness line is suitable for use in multiple work-at-height applications in industries such as construction, general industry, and oil and gas.

More info: MSAsafety.com/vseriesfallprotection

Vestas has received a 224-MW order in the U.S. for V110-2.0 MW turbines.

The order includes supply and commissioning of the turbines as well as a 10-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2019 while commissioning is planned for fourth quarter of 2019.

The project and customer are undisclosed at the customer’s request.

More info: www.vestas.com

Ingeteam Power Technology, an independent global supplier of electrical conversion equipment, recently announced it contracted more than 4 GW of wind-energy converters globally in 2018.

With a total of 45GW installed capacity to date, the company remains the No. 1 supplier of wind-power converters in the world.

The Ingeteam Group closed the year with a 15 percent increase in turnover compared to 2017.

Ingeteam achieved these strong results despite price pressures on the wind supply chain due to an increasing competition among OEMs, as well as the recent industry slowdown in Brazil and India, two strategic markets for Ingeteam.

“The wind industry as a whole has weathered a challenging period in India and Brazil last year. That impacted our sales a little, but the slowdown has leveled off and we expect orders to rebound strongly this year,” said Ana Goyen, director of Ingeteam Wind Energy.

Going forward, Ingeteam will benefit from the excellent growth outlook of the global wind sector, which becomes competitive with other energy sources in an increasing range of market conditions. This encouraging general environment combined with a stabilization in global prices and Ingeteam’s strong focus on innovation and client partnerships, provides an excellent foundation for the company’s future performance. For 2019, the company expects to experience steady sales growth, with major gains in all key markets.

In particular, the company’s recent investment in India in a facility equipped with state-of-the-art production technology is providing solid sales momentum. The feedback from both local and international clients is overwhelmingly positive.

“This highly efficient production center is based on a modular design, and boasts agile production lines, so we can swiftly embrace our client needs,” Goyen said. “Our customer-centric approach is really paying off there. We are happy to report that we have delivered our first units in 2018 and that our orderbook is very healthy going forward. We anticipate that about 25 percent of the total capacity we aim to deliver in 2019 will be manufactured in our Chennai factory.”

Ingeteam’s strategy to position itself as a complete solution provider for wind OEMs has proven very successful over the years.

“We can supply equipment from any of our production facilities in Europe, Asia, North and South America, applying the same standards and know-how,” Goyen said. “We can also deliver the most efficient and specialized support and service to clients from our sales and service centers strategically located all over the world.”

More info: www.ingeteam.com