When online, the new facility will monitor more than 7,500 turbines globally

Siemens Energy Service has broken ground on a highly-advanced remote diagnostics center for wind turbines, located at the company’s wind service headquarters in Brande, Denmark.

Upon completion, scheduled for autumn 2014, the 1,400 square-meter facility will be one of the most advanced wind turbine remote diagnostics service (RDS) centers in the world. It will host advanced diagnostic operations and monitoring services for more than 7,500 installed Siemens wind turbines worldwide to proactively keep the units operating at their optimum levels of performance.

“As a global leader in the operation and maintenance of wind power plants, it is important for us to continue to advance our services and innovations to meet our customers’ needs,” said Torben Bang, Head of Siemens Wind Power Service. “Our highly advanced, industry-leading RDS operations enable us to support those efforts by monitoring our global Siemens fleet 24/7/365 and flagging potential issues before they become serious. Remote diagnostics is a key component of a smarter and integrated service approach that helps our customers lower the overall cost of energy.

Remote diagnostics is an important part of Siemens’ portfolio of value-added services. Monitoring experts can solve more than 85 percent of all alarms remotely without a service team doing trouble-shooting onsite. Reduced downtime and lower number of turbine visits result in a higher energy output. With vibration diagnostics Siemens can find even the smallest indicator that something may not be operating normally and follow up by recommending proactive solutions before the issue becomes serious. Furthermore, we are able to analyze the data collected to draw trends on individual turbines as well as the overall fleet. The results contribute to enhanced current and future designs and improves existing turbine performance over the long term, thereby lowering the cost of energy.

After testing in 1998, Siemens installed the first condition monitoring system for wind turbines in 2000. Since then the company’s expert team in Brande has continuously developed the technology. In establishing the new remote diagnostics center, Siemens further advances its monitoring and diagnostic capabilities and bundles expert knowledge in one place. The new building will also include a dedicated customer area.

Availon recently announced that its portfolio of wind turbines-under-maintenance has reached the 2 GW milestone since its foundation in 2007.

Availon has experienced steady growth and currently employs a workforce of around 300 employees. In addition to focusing on its core market of Germany, the company is also steadily expanding its global strategic position in the U.S., Italy, Spain, and Poland.

 In 2013, Availon added 134 wind turbines to its portfolio in the U.S. and 105 in the Italian wind market. Much of the over 2 GW output is made of GE 1.5 and Vestas V80/V90 wind turbines as well as wind turbines from Gamesa.

 “Over the last six years, we have successfully built up a great deal of expertise regarding the system types we operate and want to consistently expand upon this to our customers’ benefit,” Availon joint Managing Director Ulrich Schomakers said. “We regard the fact that we provide full maintenance for almost 40 percent of the 2 GW portfolio as confirmation that we have chosen the right path.”

 Availon GmbH is the first independent wind turbine service provider which has been fully certified by Germanischer Lloyd for all processes required for service provision. Its proactive, all-inclusive service for wind turbines covers the entire operational value creation chain, ranging from remote monitoring, maintenance and spare part supply through to troubleshooting and turbine optimization.

The Hertz Corporation has announced that Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation has opened a new facility in Bismarck, North Dakota, to deliver specialty equipment rental solutions for oil producers, refineries, commercial construction, agriculture, wind farming and mining. 

The new Bismarck facility joins neighboring Hertz Equipment Rental branches in Dickinson and Williston, North Dakota and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The company is also serving on site with companies in the area.

The Hertz Equipment Bismarck facility provides a wide range of industrial and commercial fleet for rent or sale including aerial, compaction and paving, earth moving, heaters, power generators, forklifts and other material handling equipment. In addition the location features a retail showroom and offers rentals and sales of small tools, equipment and safety supplies.

Hertz equipment is purchased from the industry’s leading manufacturers and is available for daily, weekly, monthly and long-term rentals. There are also rent-to-own and rental purchase option plans available for the new and used equipment for sale.

The Bismarck, ND branch employs highly trained staff fully dedicated to providing customers a premier rental experience. The branch is located at 2300 Vermont Ave, Bismarck, ND  58504. Its hours of operation are 7:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday. Local staff can be reached at telephone 701-224-3500.

Axion International Holdings, Inc., a leader in recycled plastic and plastic composite technologies announced that it has received a $150,000 purchase order for its 100 percent recycled Struxure heavy construction mats from Spartan Mat, LLC. The order consists of 7”x45”x16’ and 18’ & 20’ mats which will be distributed across the U.S. and Canada to midstream energy companies and civil contractors.

Axion’s mats were chosen because they are beneficial for temporary support surfaces under active heavy equipment with tracks/treads in wet conditions. Struxure mats have the ability to maintain structural integrity in wet conditions and are estimated to last five times longer than hardwood alternatives.

“The industry currently uses mixed hardwood mats, but the quality of these products is deteriorating and prices are rising with increasing activity across the construction industry,” said Axion’s EVP for building products Dave Crane. “Energy and civil construction projects are on the rise and we are at a trajectory of growth given the demand for more environmentally friendly solutions.”

Struxure heavy construction mats, which are produced from 100 percent recycled material, are engineered using a patented Recycled Structural Composite (RSC) formula making them extremely strong, durable and resistant to rot, fungus, insects, and moisture.

The wind power industry has more than doubled its capacity since 2007 and with it has been a doubling in the demand for crane scales. Sales of Ron Crane Scales by Eilon Engineering have grown proportionately.

In the wind power industry, Eilon Engineering dynamometers and crane scales are increasingly being used in the construction, testing, and maintenance of turbines. Uses encompass:

• Installation
• Dismantling and repair of units
• Weighing and balancing of blades before shipment
• Overload prevention on the motorized hoist
• Proof loads for the motorized hoist
• Measuring tension on tower guy wires
• Blade-bearing inspection

Eilon Engineering manufactures high-quality, durable, wireless or wired crane scales and dynamometers for all manner of heavy rigging tasks, including the installation and maintenance of wind farms.

With over three decades of experience, Eilon has worked with some of the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturers such as Vestas, Siemens and GE, and boasts a client list of top
companies and institutions such as the U.S. military, Boeing, NASA, and Lockheed Martin, as well as other Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses.

Ron 2501
The wireless Ron 2501 dynamometer is particularly suited to the wind power industry. It is the smallest, lightest and most versatile wireless dynamometer on the market and critically ensures that the received and indicated value is 100% identical to the transmitted value. Its small size makes for easy portability and minimal headroom loss.

All Eilon Ron crane scales and dynamometers include:

• The exclusive use of high-grade aerospace steel for load cell bodies
• Shackle holes offset 90 degrees to reduce external movement
• Battery life of up to 2000 hours (4000 hour option)
• Short length for minimal headroom loss
• Light weight and portable
• Advanced wireless technology – multiple load cells can be read from a single laptop in real-time; long transmission range; and low energy consumption
• Fully tested and supplied with a test certificate, including a fully traceable calibration chart

The German company EEW Special Pipe Constructions GmbH and the Danish company Bladt
Industries A/S recently signed the contract to supply the foundations for the first offshore wind farm in the United States.

The two companies—both market leaders within their fields of business—have manufactured foundations for offshore wind farms all across Europe. Bladt Industries and EEW SPC have fabricated well over a thousand foundations each, among which 500 foundations were manufactured through collaborative efforts. Many have been for Siemens 3.6 MW turbines.

Upon completion, Cape Wind will have a installed capacity of 468 MW. The monopiles and transition pieces will be manufactured and shipped to Cape Wind’s staging port. Production will begin in January 2015. The monopiles will be produced at EEW’s facilities in Rostock, Germany and the transition pieces at Bladt Industries’ facilities in Aalborg, Denmark.

With wind power technology gaining popularity and institutional support globally, the wind turbine towers market is expected to increase from $12.1 billion in 2013 to $19.3 billion by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9 percent, according to a report from research and consulting firm GlobalData.

According to the report, China had the largest amount of wind turbine towers installed in 2013, reaching a massive market share of 47.4 percent. This was followed by the U.S., India, and Canada, with respective shares of 7.5, 6.5, and 5.8 percent.

“The growth of the wind turbine towers market is directly related to that of the wind energy industry, which is heavily influenced by favorable government policy, rising environmental concerns, increasing demand for power, and the uncertain supply and prices of energy from conventional sources,” GlobalData alternative energy analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham said.

In fact, the global wind power cumulative capacity is expected to more than double over the forecast period, jumping from 322.5 GW in 2013 to 688 GW by 2020.

However, the lack of sufficient grid infrastructure around the world could impede further wind energy growth in the medium term.

“The existing grid infrastructure is very poor and urgent modifications need to be made in order to accommodate the specific characteristics of wind power,” Nagatham said. “Its upgrade also requires a substantial amount of investment in terms of financial resources and time.”

The shortage of skilled workforces in the global renewable energy industry is also a major barrier, which could potentially lead to project delays and poor-quality services across the wind sector, according to GlobalData.

Helukabel, one of the world’s leading cable manufacturers, has further expanded its global reach by adding local branches in three strategic markets. During 2013 Q3, new affiliates were launched in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, and in the beginning of 2013 Q4, Helukabel Indonesia became the 23rd affiliate to join the global network.

“The addition of local affiliates in the United Kingdom and Indonesia, and the Middle East region will allow our customers in the U.S. and Canada to have a seamless network for supplying cable orders that are bound for these international markets,” said Helukabel USA President Markus Dannheim and Alex Kanouni, vice president of sales and marketing of Helukabel Canada, jointly.

Helukabel UK, with central offices located in Liverpool, will be responsible for customers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from an approx. 5000 sq. ft. facility. With its central location and motorway network, Helukabel UK will offer fast service times to industrial manufacturing applications. With over 15 years experience, Helukabel UK cable specialists will be able to offer cable solutions to applications from the most demanding industries.

Helukabel Middle East will cover the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Pakistan from its UAE base of operations. In Indonesia, Helukabel will provide cable and wire solutions from its facility in the capital city of Jakarta. With 6,000 sq. ft. of warehousing space and additional support from Helukabel Singapore, the diverse manufacturers and customers in this resource-rich, highly-populated country (4th in the world) will benefit from JIT services and support.

The Whitmore Manufacturing Company recently announced today the acquisition of Fluid Defense Systems, LLC., a manufacturer of fully integrated lubricant storage and handling solutions for industry.

Since 2001, Fluid Defense has grown to become the recognized standard in lubricant handling and contamination control for industries ranging from food and beverage production to industrial manufacturing, power generation, and mining. The OilSafe® lubrication management system provides a customizable, intuitive fluid identification environment designed to improve lubricant cleanliness and avoid cross-contamination.

“We are very excited about this acquisition, which enables us to offer a far broader portfolio of best-in-class products to the fast growing reliability market. Fluid Defense has an outstanding reputation for producing intuitive systems that create immediate value for their customers. The synergy between the OilSafe® system and our Air Sentry® branded products is tremendous. We now offer a more compelling product line that provides us with a great platform to build on organically and through future acquisitions,” said Scott Dunbar, Vice President of Filtration and Protective Coatings at Whitmore.

The market for wind turbine rotor blades is projected to witness growth driven by increased government funding of renewable power projects, growing energy consumption especially among developing nations, escalating costs of fossil fuel based energy, rising concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, and the resulting need for sustainable alternate sources of energy. A large number of government-drafted support programs and funding schemes are expected to drive market penetration of wind power technology in the coming years.

In a new trend report titled “Wind Turbine Rotor Blades,” Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides cursory insights into rotor blades, including applications, future prospects, and corporate initiatives of key companies worldwide. The report also provides global and Asia-Pacific market estimates and projections for Wind Turbine Rotor Blades in US dollars for years 2012 through 2017. Also covered are companies such as Acciona SA, Blade Dynamics Ltd., DeWind Company, General Electric Company, LM Wind Power Group, Modular Wind Energy, Nordex SE, Siemens Energy Inc., Tecsis Wind, and Vestas Wind Systems A/S, among others.

For more details about this trend report, please visit www.strategyr.com/TrendReport.asp?code=146081.

Giving assembly engineers an alternative bonding technology for joining low surface energy thermoplastics such as polypropylene or polyethylene, global adhesives supplier SCIGRIP has developed its PPX5 acrylic-based adhesive that effectively bonds polyolefin substrates with little to no surface preparation or primers required.

“The PPX5 adhesive was specifically developed for high-performance bonding of these popular thermoplastic polyolefins,” explained Karen Brock Amoah, North American sales & marketing director. “PPX-5 delivers superior bonding properties without the use of solvents or volatile compounds, while requiring minimal surface preparation. In addition, it produces a bond with excellent resistance to water and humid environments, and cures at room temperature.”

While polypropylene and polyethylene plastics are used extensively because of their low cost and durability, they are difficult to bond because their surface properties repel most adhesives. The introduction of the PPX5 acrylic adhesive provides an alternative bonding technology to mechanical assembly or solvent welding.

PPX5 structural adhesive is a two-part acrylic-based plastic bonder designed for application at a 10:1 adhesive/activator mix ratio by volume, with working time of between two to four minutes, and fixture time of about 90 minutes. The off-white mixed adhesive is resistant to most industrial solvents.

The PPX5 can be used to bond dissimilar plastic substrates (polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and PMMA); metals (carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum); or fiber-reinforced plastics with a minimum of surface preparation to reduce labor costs and production cycle times.
Adhesion properties of the PPX5 adhesive includes a shear strength of 500 – 870 psi (for thermoplastics); and 500 – 940 psi (for polyethylene to metals), measured at 75°F/24°C.
The PPX5 adhesive is available in convenient dual-component 50 ml cartridges.

For more information, visit www.scigrip.com.

Favorable wind conditions at new WTAMU facility allowed testing and data collection to be completed in only 29 days, instead of normal 8 to 18 months

One month following the opening of an advanced wind turbine test facility at West Texas A&M University, UL announced they have completed the Power Performance testing and data collection on a small wind turbine in 29 days. Depending on wind conditions, this testing typically takes from 8 to 18 months to fill all of the required wind parameters.

The Power Performance testing is one portion of the AWEA 9.1 certification. For the Power Performance portion of AWEA 9.1, the turbine must be tested at a variety of wind speeds. The wide range of annual average wind speeds at the UL wind test laboratory allowed the data to be collected in 29 days. To achieve AWEA 9.1 certification other tests must be completed, but the Power Performance portion typically takes the longest due to the number of different wind speeds which are required to meet the standard.

“Being able to complete the Power Performance portion of the AWEA 9.1 certification process, means the certification process will be finished much quicker,” said Adam Holman, laboratory director at the  UL/WTAMU wind turbine test laboratory. “Because our wind turbine test laboratory is in the Great Plains Wind Corridor, we were able to reduce the certification testing time and the manufacture will be able to go-to-market sooner.”

“UL, the DEWI Group and West Texas A&M University collaborated to establish this outdoor wind test laboratory to provide services for large and small wind turbine manufacturers,” said Jason Hopkins, business development manager for wind at UL. “This site is great for installing wind turbines for extended periods for research, performance measurements and certification purposes.”

The wind turbine test facility is located at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas–with over 400 acres available. Turbine manufacturers can use this site to test, measure and certify their turbines or prototypes. The service portfolio includes different measurements (power curve, mechanical loads, acoustic noise/vibration and electrical characteristics for grid connection, certification of wind turbines/components, as well as customized test programs, data collection and testing consultation.

EDP Renewables will use GE’s Wind PowerUp to increase the power output of 402 GE 1.5-77 wind turbines located at five U.S. wind farms. PowerUp is a customized software-enabled platform that increases a wind farm’s output.

By using PowerUp, EDPR is expected to increase power, generating more than 420,000 MWh of additional energy each year, which would provide the equivalent power used by 33,000 average U.S. homes. The contract model between GE and EDPR is structured to minimize risk while enabling new technologies to be quickly added to the EDPR fleet as they are developed in the coming years.

The wind farms that will be installing PowerUp are Blue Canyon V wind farm in Oklahoma, the Meadow Lake III wind farm in Indiana and the Top Crop I, Top Crop II and Railsplitter wind farms in Illinois. When PowerUp is activated, a GE software program performs a complete before and after wind farm power performance analysis, validating the performance improvement. By adjusting performance dials, including speed, torque, pitch, aerodynamics, and turbine controls, PowerUp is able to improve the power output of each unit and the overall wind farm.

Mita-Teknik announces authorized distributor agreement with IPS (Integrated Power Services), a leading service provider of electric motors and generators in North America. IPS will provide sales and service support throughout North America for various Mita-Teknik wind turbine retrofits.

Mita-Teknik’s retrofits provide cost-effective technology updates to older wind turbines, which are designed to reduce O&M costs, and increase wind turbine performance and earnings. These retrofits include main control systems, turbine application software, SCADA, grid connection systems, condition monitoring and park control.

Mita-Teknik adds its name to the growing list of leading OEMs that look to IPS for service and sales support in North America. IPS has twenty-two locations providing coast-to-coast coverage throughout North America, and provides local, regional and national in-shop repair, up-tower service, equipment storage and product and parts sales to owners and operators of 800+ wind farms in North America.

As of January 7, the GICON®-SOF Floating Offshore Foundation is a patented invention in the U.S. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued certificate number 8,622,011 B2 entitled ‘Floating foundation supporting framework with buoyancy components, having an open-relief design‘ that protects the intellectual property of the invention in the U.S. market. Patents already exist in Europe. The GICON®-SOF is patented until July 7, 2017, with an extended protection running until January 8, 2029.

“The USA will be one of the leading markets for offshore wind development in the future. Therefore, it is an important step for GICON to achieve patent protection for our SOF in the U.S. market,” GICON’s CEO Prof. Jochen Grossmann said.

The GICON® SOF Floating Offshore Foundation provides new opportunities for offshore wind farm development. It offers various advantages compared to ordinary offshore foundations as the SOF can be deployed in both shallow water (from 65 ft. onwards) and deep water (up to 1,640 ft.). Furthermore, the fully-assembled structure including mounted turbine can be towed to the deployment location leading to a more cost-effective and less weather dependent installation. Tests show that the GICON® SOF is as stable as a conventional, bottom mounted offshore wind foundation. The construction and deployment of a full-scale model is planned for 2014/2015.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., the world’s biggest shipbuilder and a leading wind turbine supplier, has announced that it completed installation of a 5.5 MW offshore wind turbine prototype on Kimnyeong Wind Farm on Jeju Island, South Korea.

The offshore wind turbine, measuring 100-meter hub height and 140-meter rotor diameter, is the largest unit ever installed in South Korea. It can generate energy to power about 1,100 households a year. Hyundai Heavy will start a test run on the turbine from March for certification by UL/DEWI-OCC, an authentication institution within this year.

This offshore wind turbine prototype is designed to withstand the strong wind of 62.5 m/s, and to be protected from corrosion caused by the sea water.

“We not only plan to supply the three same size offshore wind turbines to the South-Western 2.5GW Offshore Wind Farm Project in Jeolla province, South Korea, but also to accelerate marketing campaign overseas including Asia and Europe on the basis of ample experiences and knowhow we have accumulated from a variety of offshore plant projects,” said an HHI official.

Hyundai Heavy has installed accumulated 100 MW of wind turbines in Korea and around the world to date.

For more information, visit english.hhi.co.kr/.

Vestas’ first V164-8.0 MW prototype wind turbine has successfully produced its first kWh of electricity, making it the worlds’ most powerful turbine in operation.

“We have now completed the production, testing, and installation of the V164-8.0 MW as planned, thanks to the team’s intense effort during a time when Vestas has reduced its investments and lowered fixed costs. We now look forward to evaluating the turbine’s performance on site,” said Vestas’ Chief Technology Officer Anders Vedel.

The turbine, installed at the Danish National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines in Østerild, will be closely monitored in the coming months to further validate reliability and energy output. The turbine’s installation is a key milestone towards ensuring maximum business case certainty for customers investing in offshore wind. The V164-8.0 MW will be the flagship product for the offshore joint venture between Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

“The V164-8.0 MW delivers industry-leading power output, based on Vestas’ proven technology solutions. Combined with the experience and capabilities of both Vestas and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this puts us in a strong position in the growing offshore market,” said Jens Tommerup, President of Vestas Offshore.  

The V164-8.0 MW is the world’s most powerful wind turbine, with one unit capable of supplying electricity for 7,500 average European households. With a 140-meter tower, the turbine at Østerild has a tip height of 220 meters. The swept area of more than 21,000 m2, nearly the equivalent of four American football fields, increases the amount of energy captured, while reducing operational and maintenance costs by enabling customers to run fewer, larger turbines, with fewer service visits.

Given the necessary pipeline of orders, serial production of the V164-8.0 MW turbine can begin in 2015.

Vestas has secured a 15-year service contract covering 42 V90-2.0 MW turbines at the Topolog Dorobantu wind power plant in Tulcea County in Romania.

The last of the 42 turbines is expected to be installed within April this year. The order has been placed by LUKERG Renew, a joint venture between ERG Renew and LUKOIL. ERG Renew is Italy’s largest wind energy producer, with an installed capacity of 1,340 MW throughout Europe. LUKOIL is a major international vertically-integrated oil and gas company, accounting for 2.2 percent of global output of crude oil.

The agreement is based on Vestas’ Active Output Management (AOM) 5000, which offers an energy-based availability guarantee that ensures the turbines are operational when the wind is blowing. This service option includes the VestasOnline® surveillance system that remotely controls and monitors the turbines. This makes it possible to conduct preventative maintenance that minimises turbine downtime. Topolog Dorobantu wind power plant will be the first project in Romania benefiting from this new service platform.

The Topolog Dorobantu project is one of the largest projects in Romania and produces more than 200 GWh per year, which corresponds to an annual saving of almost 110,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

Ohio Transmission Plant Sets Wind Power Standard Among Major U.S. Auto Facilities

Honda Transmission Mfg. of America, Inc. has finalized installation of a site-based wind power project at its plant in Russells Point, Ohio, through an agreement with a subsidiary of ConEdison Solutions of Valhalla, NY.

The installation of the turbines means that the plant will be the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the United States to obtain a substantial amount of its electricity directly from wind turbines located on its property. Honda Transmission will also reduce CO2 emissions through the use of this renewable energy source.

Studies commissioned by Honda Transmission indicate that wind-generated power is a cost-effective source of electricity for the plant and that the project will not adversely impact local wildlife or the environment. The two wind turbines will supply approximately 10 percent of the plant’s electricity.  Based on their location and actual wind speeds, combined output from the two wind turbines is estimated at 10,000 MWh per year.

The decision to go forward with the project followed completion of a thorough evaluation of renewable energy sources for the plant, which Honda announced in February 2012. The turbines, with blades approximately 160 feet long, have been installed on 260-foot towers on Honda Transmission property.

“We appreciate the support we have received from the township and our neighbors throughout all phases of the project that will help Honda work toward our goal of reducing CO2 emissions,” said Gary Hand, vice president of Honda Transmission.  “This is just one of many ways that Honda is seeking to reduce our environmental footprint.”

“We are proud to be helping Honda strengthen its status as a national leader in sustainability,” said Jorge Lopez, CEO of ConEdison Solutions.  “Through the example set by Honda, the American manufacturing sector will see more ways it can incorporate renewable power into its facilities.”

ConEdison Solutions, one of America’s largest energy services companies, will own and operate the two turbines, through its subsidiary, RP Wind, LLC.  The company is working in collaboration with Juhl Energy of Pipestone, Minnesota, which served as the primary developer of the project. Through agreements with Honda Transmission, ConEdison Solutions will generate electricity for the plant, and be responsible for an interconnect agreement with the Logan County Electric Cooperative and an additional agreement with Buckeye Power, Inc., an Ohio electric cooperative.

“We are honored to work with Honda and ConEdison Solutions to provide wind energy at the Russells Point facility,” said Corey Juhl, vice president of project development for Juhl Energy.  “By assisting in the installation of these two wind turbines next to their manufacturing facility, Honda is making tangible and immediate progress towards reducing CO2 emissions.”

Fostering growth of the Japanese wind energy industry is the ultimate drive behind the second annual WIND EXPO—Japan’s only trade show dedicated to wind energy. The three-day event is being presented in conjunction with seven other smart/renewable energy exhibitions as part of World Smart Energy Week on February 26-28 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan.

The newly implemented feed-in tariff has made Japan one of the most attractive markets for renewable energy. As an organizer of World Smart Energy Week (A group of eight smart/renewable energy trade shows, Reed Exhibitions Japan had received requests from numerous industry leaders, organizations, associations, governmental bodies and show participants to launch an exhibition specialized in wind energy.

To live up to the expectation of the industry, Reed Exhibitions Japan launched WIND EXPO in February 2013 as a new business platform in Japan with the support of Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA). The first edition was held with 157 exhibitors and 76,328 professional delegates (including concurrent event attendance) and following up to the success of 2013, WIND EXPO 2014 will be a show not to be missed for those who are looking to invest in the market.

As Izumi Ushiyama, president of Ashikaga Institute of Technology mentioned at the previous show, hopes are high for the future of wind energy in Japan, as well as for WIND EXPO.

“Energy policy has been changed, and the importance of wind power as well as other renewables has been increasing in Japan after the earthquake,” Ushiyama said. “From its huge potential and low cost of power generation, Japanese government regards wind power as a leader in the future renewables, and rapid growth is expected in near future. With this circumstance, I believe WIND EXPO will continue to draw attention worldwide.”

As though to reflect Ushiyama’s predictions, WIND EXPO 2014 will be held with more players from both the local and international market making it an even richer venue to find business connections in Japan.

For instance, as well as continual participation of major wind turbine components and equipment manufacturers, in 2014 more offshore related exhibitors such as floating foundation manufacturers, marine cable manufacturers etc. will be showcasing their latest products and technologies.

The show will also see increase in the involvement of firms from overseas. In addition to the Denmark pavilion from the 2013 show, there will be new international pavilions from the UK and Canada, among others.

Major wind turbine manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi, ENERCON, TECO, Eurus Energy, Zephur have already confirmed their participation.

As many as 170 exhibitors and 80,000 visitors (including concurrent events) are expected at WIND EXPO 2014, including visitors from Japan and all over the world. 

In addition to finding the latest high-quality Japanese products/technologies and new business leads in Japan, WIND EXPO will also be a venue to make connections with top experts in the front line of the business.

Wind energy experts from major industry companies are serving as technical conference advisory committee members to create a world class conference. Experts will be sharing the latest, cutting-edge information at the technical conference.

Conference topics range from industry outlook, to policy hurdles, to global markets.
Full conference details are available online at www.windexpo.jp/en/seminar/. (Conference details subject to change)

______________________________________________________

WIND EXPO 2014 – 2nd Int’l Wind Energy Expo & Conference
Dates: February 26 – 28, 2014
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. local time (10 a.m.–5 p.m. on February 28)
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center)
Website: www.windexpo.jp/en/
Exhibiting inquires: wind@reedexpo.co.jp
Visiting inquiries: visitor-eng.wind@reedexpo.co.jp