Gamesa has signed a supply agreement under which it will supply 128 MW of its turbines to a Brazilian wind farm complex being developed by Gestamp Wind, the wind energy subsidiary of Gestamp Renewables, in Lagoa Nova in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The development encompasses five wind farms: Santana I (20 MW), Santana II and III (30 MW each), Lanchinha (28 MW) and Pelado (20 MW).

The scope of the agreement includes the manufacture, supply, transport, installation and commissioning of 64 G97 wind turbines, each with unit capacity of 2.0 MW, as well as the complex’s  foundations civil works. The wind turbines are scheduled for delivery throughout the year, and the facility is expected to be commissioned at the end of this year.  Gamesa will also maintain the facility’s services for 10 years.

Gamesa has secured supply contract for over 1,000 MW in Brazil, in less than two years. As of last September, Gamesa had already installed 394 MW of capacity in Brazil, one of the company’s priority markets in the short and medium term.

Supply Agreement in Turkey
Gamesa and Gestamp Wind have also entered into another agreement under which the former will supply the latter 10 MW of wind turbines for a project in Turkey. The company will install and commission five G90-2.0 MW turbines at the Adares wind farm, which Gestamp is developing in a joint venture with Faik Celik in Selçuk, in the province of Izmir. Gamesa will maintain these turbines for 10 years. This facility is slated for completion during the second half of this year.

REpower Systems SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Suzlon Group, has signed contracts to deliver 103 wind turbines with a total capacity of over 266 MW for 24 community wind farm projects in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany. The contracts were concluded with different contractors who were previously represented by a purchasing association.

REpower signed a primary memorandum with the purchasing association, “Schleswig-Holstein GmbH Wind,” in December 2012. This memorandum assured the participants from 52 projects in Schleswig-Holstein binding conditions in a model contract. The participants could choose the appropriate offer from the final negotiated contracts of four different manufacturers for their own location. REpower has won 55 percent of all potential wind turbines for itself in this process.

The projects will employ various types of turbines from the MM82 with a 59 meter hub height, to the 3.2M114 with a hub height of 93 meters. Eleven wind turbines of the signed projects are already in the implementation phase and are to be commissioned quickly. The other projects will be completed by 2015.

 “With these contracts, we are significantly expanding our position in Northern Germany,” said Andreas Nauen, CEO of REpower Systems SE. “This is only possible because we have a suitable turbine for each individual site in our product portfolio, from Lübke-Koog in the far north, to near Fehmarn in the east of Schleswig-Holstein, and also because we have the ability to implement the interests of customers optimally with our staff on site.”

GL Renewables Certification, issued seven new certificates for different models of ACCIONA Windpower’s 3 MW AW 3000 turbine.

With these new certificates, Acciona Windpower now has 15 awarded for its 3 MW platform, a range of turbines for which the company has supplied or has orders for over 1,300 MW.

Specifically, GL Renewables Certification issued the Design Certificate for the AW 125/3000 IEC IIIa wind turbine, with a 125 meter rotor, 120 meter concrete tower and 61.2 meter blade, for grids of 50 and 60 Hz. This model is specially adapted for sites with low wind speeds. 

GL has also given the Type Certificate for another six models of the AW 116/3000 turbine with a 116 meter rotor. Apart from validating the design, this certificate indicates that AWP has a quality management system according to the ISO 9001 standard, that the manufacture of the main components of the turbine is done in line with the  highest quality standards, and that the turbine is capable of passing the prototype tests defined in current standards.

The Type Certificate has been awarded to the models of the AW 116/3000 for 120 meter (hub height) concrete tower and for 92 meter tubular steel tower. Acciona Windpower also holds Type Certificates for three other turbine models offered on its 3MW platform: the AW 100/3000 IEC Ia (100-meter rotor), the AW 109/3000 IEC IIa (109-meter rotor), and the  AW 116/3000 IEC IIa (116-meter rotor)— all mounted on 100-meter concrete towers.

Nordex SE is extending the “Generation Delta” turbine platform launched in spring 2013 with the addition of a turbine for light-wind locations. With the N131/3000, customers will not only be able to choose from strong and moderate-wind turbines but now also from a highly efficient system specially designed for IEC-3 locations. The N131/3000 combines the proven advantages of the high efficiency and low sound power levels of the Generation Gamma’s N117/2400 turbine with the benefits of a high nominal output and the technical advances of the Delta platform.

A special feature of the N131/3000 is the substantially larger rotor. With rotor blades measuring 64.4 metres in length, the rotor diameter is 14 metres larger, thus producing a close to 26 percent increase in rotor sweep. This sweep plays a key role for energy yield. For this reason, the N131/3000 will achieve substantially improved project economics compared with existing turbines particularly at light-wind locations. The N131/3000 can derive up to 28.6 percent more yield from sites characterized by lighter winds. The reason for this is that Nordex also has raised the nominal output of this product for locations with wind speeds of less than 7.5 m/s by 25 percent to 3.0 MW.

 Nordex is offering the N131/3000 on tubular steel towers with a hub height of 99 and 114 metres for international markets. The target markets for the N131/3000 are Central Europe, Scandinavia and Turkey, as well as selected regions in Africa and the Americas.

One particular advantage of the turbine is the low operating sound power level. At nominal power, it achieves a sound power level of only 104.5 dB (A) — an advantage in densely populated regions or at noise-critical locations. A range of noise-optimised operating modes make it possible to run the turbine specifically meeting the requirements of those locations and so to reduce emissions even further.

The N131/3000 is based on the technical platform used in Generation Delta. All relevant certificates and documents required to apply for building permits have been available for the moderate-wind turbine N117/3000 and the strong-wind version N100/3300 since summer 2013. The first three Generation Delta turbines are in operation in Germany and Denmark. In Finland, two further cold-climate turbines were recently installed.

The first light-wind N131/3000 turbine is to be installed in the fourth quarter of 2014. Series production of the turbine is scheduled for 2015.

Goldwind recently announced the first successful installation of its 2.5 MW PMDD wind turbine, as part of a 50 MW turbine supply contract with the Romanian company Mireasa Energies S.R.L. The installation also marks the first Chinese wind turbine in Romania as well as Eastern European Market.

The Mireasa project is located in Constanta, Romania’s second largest harbor city. The city is on the west coast of the Black Sea—170 kilometers east of the capital city of Bucharest. The Constanta region is one of the country’s most prosperous areas.

Constanta has several benefits, including a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius, annual rainfall of 600 to 800 millimeters, and the main attraction for electric generation is its abundant wind.

Goldwind customized its permanent-magnet direct-drive wind turbine to optimize its operating performance for local conditions in Constanta—a standard practice for the company’s installations. The objectives are to make the best use of the wind resources and to provide the most durable long-life performance for each installation, given the location’s environment.

Twenty Goldwind 2.5 MW wind turbines were expected to be shipped to Romania by the end of 2013. The turbine installations and connections to the local electric grid are to be completed in June. Monsson Alma, a local wind power developer in Romania, will operate the wind farm.

Castrol has signed a global three-year deal with Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems to deliver first and service fills for all of its new builds and existing turbines.

It is projected that Castrol will deliver in excess of 1.5 million liters per year under this deal. The agreement follows the full product approval for global use, which came after a three-year trial.

“This agreement is the result of a close collaboration with Vestas using  our extensive expertise to deliver the best result for the company,” John Carey, vice president for  Castrol Lubricant’s business for aviation, industrial, marine, and energy said. “At Castrol, working alongside our customers is key to developing solutions that are able to meet their needs, and Castrol Optigear Synthetic CT gear oil has been formulated specifically for use in wind turbine gear box applications.”

ASTM International approved Test Method D7889, “Standard Test Method for Field Determination of In-Service Fluid properties using IR Spectroscopy,” in October. The approval represents official confirmation that the FluidScan handheld infrared oil analysis technology from Spectro Inc. meets ASTM guidelines for the analysis of in-service lubricants.

The FluidScan method provides direct, immediate measurement of multiple lubricant condition parameters via Spectro’s patented Direct Infrared Spectroscopy (DIR) technology. DIR operates without wet chemistry and requires no solvents; only one drop of oil is needed for analysis.

To gain certification of the FluidScan method as a worldwide fluid field analysis standard, Spectro worked with ASTM Committee D02.96 for In-Service Lubricant Testing and Condition Monitoring Services to develop the D7889 Standard Test Method.

Test Method D7889 specifically describes the way the FluidScan process measures soot, anti-wear additive, oxidation, nitration and sulfation. Performance levels published in D7889 for those in-service fluid properties (measured by repeatability tests) show that FluidScan analysis provides the measurements at levels comparable to established FTIR methods. In essence, the Test Method covers six existing FTIR In-Service Test Methods for lubricant analysis. Additionally, D7889 discusses the use of a FluidScan device to provide acid/base data, water content and other relevant parameters, and also establishes ASTM guidelines for creating infrared calibrations.

U.K. marine services provider James Fisher Renewables has launched an oil change system utilizing technology patented by Sage Oil Vac. The Ship-to-Turbine system is designed to improve speed and efficiency in offshore wind turbine gearbox oil changes.

The oil exchange pumping technology includes an on-board filtration system that filters new oil to ISO-approved levels. Fresh oil is also heated for easier flow during the exchange. Time savings are realized by vacuuming new oil directly from a bulk tote or barrel. The systems also allows for flush and/or rinse capabilities. Sage Oil Vac equipment sold in Europe features CE tanks for compliance with European Union safety and environmental requirements.

James Fisher Renewables launched the STT system in November, building on the successful use of the technology in onshore applications. A range of product variants were created specifically for offshore use. These variants were based on application-specific oil volumes, oil types, umbilical lengths and ease of mobilization, and protection from the marine environment.

Availon recently announced that it won a full maintenance contract for seven Vestas wind turbines. The German multi-brand service provider is taking over the full maintenance of seven out of a total of 12 Vestas V80 turbines in the Hakenstedt wind farm. The wind farm is located 30 kilometers west of Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

 “The seven 2 MW turbines, were commissioned in 2003 and are to be maintained by Availon for five years as part of the ‘WindKeeper Complete Modular’ full-maintenance package. The contracts (began) in mid-December 2013, initially for two wind turbines and will then be extended to five further turbines at the start of March 2014,” commented Ulrich Schomakers and Markus Spitzer, Availon’s chief executives.

 The contract, with an availability guarantee of 97 percent, includes the maintenance of all wind turbines including the wear parts package occurring twice each year, full-time remote monitoring, oil change and unscheduled maintenance, amongst other things. Furthermore, the repair or replacement of individual wind turbine components, up to and including add-on parts for major components, is also included in the deal.

As part of the full maintenance agreement, Availon will be collaborating with Energiequelle GmbH, a German renewable energy project developer and operator based in Kallinchen, a suburb of Zossen near Berlin, who will be responsible for the technical management of the wind turbines. In the area of wind energy, Energiequelle now controls the technical management of more than 600 turbines, predominantly in Germany.

“We have had previous positive experiences with Availon over the past five years relating to another wind farm, with another type of turbines. That’s why we are looking forward to expanding the cooperation with Availon as part of further projects,” says Lars Schiller, head of technical management at Energiequelle GmbH.

Marshall Wind Energy LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RPM Access LLC, has commenced construction of its 74 MW wind farm in Marshall County near Beattie, Kansas.

Since project initialization in 2009, local landowner and community enthusiasm coupled with mutually beneficial arrangements established with Marshall County have underpinned the ongoing success of this development effort.

Marshall Wind Energy executed a high voltage transmission interconnection agreement with Westar Energy and Southwest Power Pool in mid-2011. Under the terms of this arrangement, the two companies are coordinating their efforts to pursue all design, engineering and construction activities related to the Westar 115kV Marshall County Wind Farm Switching Station and the Marshall Energy Rock Substation. Energization is scheduled for August with wind farm commercial operations expected by year’s end.

A contract has also been signed with Mortenson Construction to provide balance-of-plant design and construction management activities. Marshall Wind has established a local business office in Beattie. An on-site construction management office and equipment have been mobilized to support construction of access roads to wind turbine locations along with substation site grading and foundation work activities that are now underway.

Renewable energy generated by the project will be purchased by multiple entities via long-term contracts. In September, Marshall Wind signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for 20 MW with the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC). The project will qualify for current renewable production tax credits (PTCs). Located within the Southwest Power Pool market region, Marshall Wind in 2014 is positioned to offer for sale under long-term contract(s) the remaining available capacity.

The project is anticipated to create more than 150 jobs during the construction phase and approximately four permanent positions. The wind farm will also benefit the community by strengthening the local economy and providing a steady flow of revenue to Marshall County.

EDF Renewable Energy has announced it has acquired the 200 MW Hereford 1 Wind Project in the Texas Panhandle from Lincoln Renewable Energy and construction has commenced.

Encompassing approximately 15,000 acres in Deaf Smith County, southeast of the town of Hereford, the project will take advantage of the CREZ (Competitive Renewable Energy Zone) transmission lines connecting the wind generating capacity of the Texas Panhandle to high electricity demand areas in the state. EDF Renewable Energy has also secured a long-term, fixed-price hedge agreement for the expected energy production.

EDF Renewable Energy presently has 561 MW of wind capacity either in construction or ready-to-build in the State of Texas.

Greenbriar Capital Corp. announced in December that it has commenced formal construction at its 80 MW Blue Mountain, Utah wind energy site. Blue Mountain is a fully contracted 80 MW wind energy project holding a 20-year energy sales agreement with PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Mid-American Energy Holdings Company (itself 89 percent owned by Berkshire Hathaway).

Construction has been awarded to RMT, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin, a subsidiary of IEA Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, LLC of Chicago. RMT is a world leader in renewable power engineering, procurement and construction services having built over 5,000 MW of renewable energy facilities.
Construction began December 9th and will qualify the project for Federal Investment Tax credits.

Coupled with the redesign of its website, AWS Truepower has revamped its online Knowledge Center—a virtual library of articles, maps, videos, technical papers, and other resources of interest to renewable energy industries.

The company’s new website has undergone a significant overhaul, and now contains a greater volume of timely information, user-friendly navigation, as well as a new aesthetic design.

Online dashboards allow the user to view and download information interactively, anywhere they have an Internet connection.

Wind energy-specific dashboards include:

• Wind Site Assessment Dashboard, for resource maps and data
• Wind Data Management Dashboard, for wind monitoring data
• Wind Forecasting Dashboard (to be added soon), providing low-cost forecasts up to a week in advance

In addition, the website highlights AWS Truepower’s portfolio of software and consulting services.

Copper electrical wire and cable manufacturer Cerro Wire LLC, has introduced a powerful electrical calculations app for the iPhone and iPad, giving electrical contractors instant access to an easy-to-use, all-in-one tool for computing field measurements.

Electrical contractors can calculate conduit fill, voltage drop, and amperage all within a single mobile app.

Using the conduit fill calculator, users can enter the type of conductor, the size of each conductor, the type of conduit being used, and the length of the conduit run, and the calculator will return the recommended conduit fill.

For voltage drop calculation, users enter the length of the conduit run and the type of conductor, and the calculator will return the recommended conductor size based on NEC-recommended amperages.
The amperage calculator simplifies an NEC amperage chart into a convenient calculator.

The app can calculate voltage drop for 120V, 208V, 240V, 277V, and 480V voltages, as well as 277/480V and 120/280V 4-wire voltages. Calculations work for THHN/THWN, XHHW, or USE copper or aluminum conductors.

The conduit fill calculator applies to 14 AWG through 750 MCM conductor sizes, and works for  EMT, ENT, FMC, IMC, PVC, Type EB PVC, LFNC-A, LFNC-B, LFMC, and RMC conduit types.

The amperage calculator can handle 14 AWG through 1000 MCM conductor sizes.

The app is currently available for download for the iOS platform. Cerro Wire hopes to expand the app to Android at a later date.

Company aligns with leading distributed-scale turbine manufacturer to increase customer savings.

 
United Wind recently announced a partnership with Bergey WindPower. Under terms of the agreement, United Wind will be the exclusive provider of third-party financing options to customers seeking to lower their electricity costs.

As part of the agreement, United Wind will lease Bergey WindPower’s BWC Excel 10 primarily to residential and farm customers. The BWC Excel 10 is the best-selling turbine of its size class in the world and is known for its high reliability, low maintenance, and low wind speed performance.

“One of the major barriers for small property owners and farmers in adopting wind energy has been the initial capital equipment expenses,” said United Wind President Tal Mamo, who in December discussed the lease program during Rochester Institute of Technology’s Wind Power Workshop. “By using new financing models, small property owners can now take advantage of wind turbines without the up-front equipment expenses, to leverage considerable energy cost savings.”

United Wind’s lease program offers significant savings made possible by the first institutional capital investment tax equity commitment of $25 million from GSG Energy Finance. By targeting New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and Maryland states, United Wind can now effectively monetize the tax incentives created by these projects and realize significant savings for its customers.

United Wind plans to partner with CEC Energy and other experienced partners to handle the planning, construction, installation, permitting and ongoing maintenance of each turbine—passing significant savings to property owners with suitable properties.

 Additionally, by partnering with companies like Bergey—those familiar with the local requirements for distributed-scale wind turbines—United Wind anticipates helping in the creation of local job opportunities.

“United Wind’s WindLease program will unlock a huge segment of our market that we’ve been missing,” said Mike Bergey, president of Bergey WindPower. “This is an exciting partnership for us and I believe a bright new day for the American small wind turbine industry.”

The company’s unique wind energy financing model for reducing upfront costs was highlighted at a recent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applications report.

Underscoring the value of the WindLease program, U.S. Department of Energy highlighted United Wind’s energy financing programs within the organization’s 2012 Market Report on Wind Technologies in Distributed Applications report. The detailed report hails the company’s financing model for reducing upfront costs while underscoring the value of supporting the development of distributed wind projects in the rural and farm markets.

	(877) 448-2526		www.unitedwind.com		sales@unitedwind.com
	United Wind		@united_wind

Greg Knitz, President of Alignment Supplies, Inc., announced today the North American launch of the ALiSENSOR® SHAFTLASER™, a completely revolutionary new system for shaft alignment that combines all of the best aspects of Apple’s iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone with the most streamlined and easy-to-use shaft alignment interface ever developed.  “ALiSENSOR has already revolutionized the world of geometric measurement with the ALiSENSOR Level,” said Mr. Knitz, “and now they have changed the game for laser shaft alignment users all over the world.”  At only $4,890, Alignment Supplies expects that the ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER will make cutting-edge, wireless laser shaft alignment affordable and accessible to everyone.

The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER features the most intuitive shaft alignment interface ever developed – in a 3D layout with live alignment diagrams and Graduated Tolerance Control to show both acceptable and excellent tolerances.  Vertical and Horizontal misalignment results are shown simultaneously in a 3D view, making it easier to understand and correct due to this unique, yet common-sense layout.  Like all ALiSENSOR products, all measurement program Apps, like Shaft Alignment and Soft Foot, are simply downloaded for free from the App Store.

The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER system consists of two wireless, Bluetooth laser measuring units, pre-assembled on Versatile Shaft Brackets (with adaptable components for mounting with chains or magnets), extension rods, and more – all in a rugged, compact case.  “Unlike shaft alignment systems where the computer display unit can cost thousands of dollars to replace, the ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER can simply use an iOS device like an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch by downloading the free App measurement programs,” said Knitz.  The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER is part of the Industrial MFi (Made for iPad) program, a groundbreaking integration of the iPad and other iOS devices into industrial-grade tools and equipment which has revolutionized the world of precision measurement systems and equipment.

The ALiSENSOR platform is developed by GLOi AB, a pioneering company in the Industrial MFi sphere headquartered in Mölndal, Sweden.  GLOi AB was founded by Nils Andersson, a recognized luminary of the laser alignment industry, who originally founded both Fixturlaser AB and Damalini AB, two of the biggest laser alignment and measurement companies in the world.  Andersson, along with R&D / Embedded Systems Director Ali Chitsaz and a full team of Technical Design and Development veterans, have embraced the exceptional opportunities and possibilities of designing products directly for use with Apple’s iOS devices.  GLOi’s core development team also has an illustrious history of over 30 years of designing and developing some of the world’s best-selling laser shaft alignment systems.  GLOi has refined that expertise and modernized it by integrating the iPad – making shaft alignment easier, more reliable, and more affordable than ever.

The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER also incorporates several high-end features to its impressive slate of capabilities, including the ability to perform a standard 9-12-3 clock position measurement, or simply use a minimum of only two 20° rotations of the shafts.  Additionally, the system includes embedded help functions like video demonstrations and instructions.  The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER also features Graduated Tolerance Control, giving users the ability to use both “Acceptable” and “Excellent” tolerances during the alignment.  The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER creates fully-customizable PDF reports which can be preset with template information like Company Name, Operator, Company Logo, and more. The system also possesses the ability to include a photo of the machine (taken with the built-in camera of the iOS device) directly in the report.  The report file is automatically saved when the measurement is complete, and can be easily shared like other files on any iOS device – via email, mms, and even cloud services such as Dropbox.

“The ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER is exactly the type of laser shaft alignment system that people have been waiting for – with high functionality, low cost, and breakthrough technological innovations that just make sense,” said Mr. Knitz.  “We anticipate that the arrival of the ALiSENSOR SHAFTLASER will revolutionize laser shaft alignment and create more incredible possibilities for Industrial MFi technology.”

(800) 997-4467

alignmentsupplies.com

sales@alignmentsupplies.com

UL and West Texas A&M University announce the opening of large-scale wind turbine test facility in Canyon, Texas

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and West Texas
A&M University (WTAMU) in December announced the grand opening of the Advance Outdoor Wind Test Facility in Canyon, Texas, which will provide services for large, small and micro wind manufacturers as well as research and design testing capabilities.

The facility—one of the largest in the world—is located in the middle of the Great Plains Wind Corridor, with favorable wind conditions year round. Wind turbine manufacturers are able to erect turbines for extended periods of time. The facility opens new testing capacity for turbine manufacturers seeking certification to international standards, helping reduce time-to-market and lower costs, as downtime can essentially be eliminated.

The facility allows UL, with the additional services from their DEWI Group, to collaborate with WTAMU in providing small and large wind turbine manufacturers with a location that offers favorable wind resources. This site is favorable for installing wind turbines for extended periods, for research, performance measurements and certification purposes. Due to these conditions, UL’s turnaround time is highly reduced—allowing product to get to market faster.

“Utilizing the technical expertise from our DEWI Group and the WTAMU staff, turbine manufacturers can install wind turbines for extended periods for research, performance measurements and certification purposes,” said Evelyn Butler, Director of Business Development – Energy and Industrial Solutions at UL LLC. “Large and small wind turbine manufacturers will benefit from the favorable wind conditions and UL’s turnaround time which will reduce time to market.”

“The collaboration is a win-win situation for WTAMU, a pioneer in wind energy research. We  offer several unique resources that made this project feasible – location within the Great Plains Wind Corridor, availability of space, and more than 40 years of experience in wind-energy research,” said Don Topliff, dean of the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering.

“The Advanced Wind Turbine Test Facility will give manufacturers the opportunity to have wind turbines, large and small, tested, and if passing, certified to several different standards at one facility: UL Standards 6141 and 6142 for large and small wind turbines, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)certification, Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) certification, as well as several others,” laboratory director Adam Holman said.  

Investment allows LM Wind Power to hire 170 workers for its Grand Forks, North Dakota blade plant

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $150 million in clean energy tax credits to build U.S. capabilities in clean energy manufacturing. The credits will go towards investments in domestic manufacturing equipment by 12 businesses. Through the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program (48C Program), these awards will help create thousands of jobs across the country and increase U.S. competitiveness in the global clean energy market.

The awards include domestic manufacturing of a wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and will support thousands of new manufacturing jobs in nine states and dozens of supply chains throughout the United States.

Among the recipients were the following companies that are either directly or indirectly involved in the wind energy industry:

– LM Wind Power Blades (ND) Inc.
A $700,000 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit will allow LM Wind Power Blades (ND) Inc. to re-equip its Grand Forks, N.D., facility for increased participation in the North American large-blade market. The workforce at the facility will grow by 170 people as a result of the project, which improves the processing capabilities of materials used in manufacturing.

– Jyoti Americas, LLC
Jyoti Americas LLC was selected for a $6.7 million 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit for its facility in Conroe, Texas, which is the only fully-automated lattice transmission tower manufacturing plant in the United States. The expanded 20 acre, 50,000 metric ton capacity plant nearly quintupled American manufacturing capacity for lattice transmission towers, which will support the increase in transmission of renewable energy into the grid. The Conroe Plant employs a workforce of 165—with plans for at least 200—and features 11 state-of-the-art computer numerical controlled machines and a fully-enclosed, zero-emission galvanizing.

– Southwire Company
Southwire Company was selected for a $6.1 million 48C Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit to re-equip its facility in Villa Rica, Georgia. The company is the leading manufacturer of cable and wire used in electricity distribution in the United States, including control cable for use in renewable energy and smart grid applications. The facility, which will reach full capacity in 2014, is positioned to help foster growth in American manufacturing by producing necessary components for expansion of renewable energy, and will result in 10 construction jobs and 60 new direct manufacturing jobs.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz announced the 48C Program awards at the Energy Department’s American Energy and Manufacturing Competitiveness Summit, jointly sponsored by the Council on Competitiveness. As part of the Department’s broader Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, this summit brought together industry, government, academia and the Department’s national laboratories to address national challenges in manufacturing and energy.

“Cost-effective, efficient manufacturing plays a critical role in continuing U.S. leadership in clean energy innovation, and the tax credits announced today will help reduce carbon pollution from our vehicles and buildings; create new jobs and supply more clean energy projects in the United States and abroad with equipment made in America,” Secretary Moniz said.

Rockwell Automation has initiated a project to optimize manufacturing assets at a U.S. Army-owned, contractor-operated, metal-parts manufacturing plant in Scranton, Pa. The work is one of two test-bed efforts in the $10 million Smart Manufacturing Leadership Consortium (SMLC) project to develop the first open smart-manufacturing (SM) platform in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Energy-supported project will show how the SM platform of SMLC can be used for real-time management of energy across many small, medium and large U.S. manufacturing companies. The technologies developed by the consortium are expected to help improve energy productivity, reduce carbon dioxide, and boost production output.

Rockwell Automation is one of the principal members of the SMLC, along with University of Texas – Austin, University of California – Los Angeles, Emerson, Honeywell Automation and Control Systems, Schneider Electric, Praxair and others.

Avantha Group Company, CG was awarded the certification from Germanischer Lloyd Renewables Certification (GL RC), for its liquid immersed SLIM and Bio-SLIM distribution transformers. The testing for adherence to certification norms was carried out according to GL’s Guidelines for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines, Edition 2012. The transformers are hermetically sealed with biodegradable fluid which reduces the risk of pollution at environmentally sensitive locations, such as offshore wind farms.

The certificates are valid for five years (2018). The certificates were awarded for CG’s system design, the implementation of design requirements in Production and Erection (IPE), and quality system. Prototype tests were conducted as a part of the Design Assessment of the components.