Drawing on the success of prior generations of the ExoFit Harness lines, DBI-SALA/Capital Safety offers what they claim to be the most advanced harnesses available in the industry—the ExoFit NEX.
Marketed as “The Ultimate Full-Body Comfort Harness,” the “NEX” implies that this is the next generation in harnesses. The ExoFit NEX expands on the features and benefits that the at-height workforce has come to rely on in the ExoFit and ExoFit XP products by incorporating ongoing research, new materials, and innovative features into the design and manufacturing processes.

At the heart of the ExoFit NEX are the company’s three-pronged commitment to comfort, function, and durability.

Among the features and benefits are:

• 420 lb. Capacity—Large capacity adds to tool carrying options and jobsite flexibility.
• Revolver Vertical Torso Adjusters—Simple and fast adjustments that eliminate loose ends and lock into place, preventing slippage.
• Hybrid Comfort Padding—Lightweight, moisture wicking and breathable padding won’t move or slip, always keeping the wearer comfortable.
• Tech-Lite™ Aluminum D-Rings—Extremely lightweight alloy commonly used in military and aerospace offers a higher level of security and comfort.
• Integrated Trauma Straps—Provide an adjustable, continuous loop for post fall, minimizing suspension trauma.

Duo-Lok™ Quick Connect Buckles—Lightweight one-handed use with memory-fit web-lock ensures fast, non-slipping connections.

• Protective Shoulder Caps—Provide protection and comfort when carrying heavy materials.
• Molded Lanyard Keepers—Easy holstered snap hooks break away to avoid trip hazard.
• Reflective Material—For greater visibility in dark and dangerous environments, reflective material is integrated on legs, chest, shoulders, and back.
• Built-In Carrying Pocket—Conveniently holds and protects a cell phone, camera, or other items.
• Removable Tool Loops—Allows various tool carrying options.
• Repel Technology Webbing—Water repellent to reduce attraction of mold and dirt—also has up to 5 times more abrasion resistance.
• Stand-Up Dorsal D-Ring—Patented spring-loaded design automatically stands-up, ensuring fast, easy, and safe connections to your fall arrest system.
• Superior X-Design—A single piece of material in the shape of an X wraps around the wearer for the ultimate in comfort, security, and no-tangle donning.
• Radio Holster—Conveniently holds and protects a radio, cell phone, or other item like a Lad-Saf™ sleeve.
• Ultra-Soft Edging—Moves with you. Doesn’t rub or chafe.

ExoFit NEX Wind Energy harnesses, lanyards, and accessories meet OSHA/ANSI/CSA/CE requirements for global compliance.

For more information, visit www.capitalsafety.com.

Gearbox Express, is introducing its Revolution gearbox upgrade. Revolution is a set of upgrades and a new thought process for wind energy gearboxes from 1.5MW up to 2.3MW. Developed by the team at GBX, Revolution addresses the most common premature failure modes of gearboxes.

“The Gearbox Express team has seen many gearbox failures, and a majority of them have the same premature failure characteristics,” said Bruce Neumiller, CEO of Gearbox Express. “We saw a huge opportunity to address these common reasons by integrating upgrades that will provide significantly longer gearbox life.  Revolution is a technical product unlike anything else in the industry and it creates a paradigm shift in the wind industry with a direct, commercial impact on our customers’ business.”

Revolution features:
• 5-year, no-risk warranty
• Case-carburized ring gear
• Timken® case carburized and coated cylindrical roller bearings in the HSS, IMS, and planet positions
• Water-Lok maintains low water concentration
• GBXtreme Filter to six micron while maintaining high flow at 1,000 beta
• Non-desiccant, GBX Water Blocker Breather System
• Factory filled with Amsoil EP55®, ISO 320 oil

Revolution gearboxes are built in Gearbox Express’s 43,000 square-foot, climate-controlled facility in Mukwonago, Wisc., which also offers a highly-flexible, technologically-advanced 3.1MW test stand. In addition to Revolution, Gearbox Express technicians also remanufacture gearboxes to the latest revision level.

“When we started operations in 2012, we had a vision on how to help wind farm owners protect and manage their assets,” said Neumiller. “Our growth has exceeded expectations and Revolution is another vital component to our business model that is based on keeping investments running.”

Three wind industry veterans founded GBX, and succeeded in attracting millions of dollars of investment capital along with a $3.4 million low interest, revolving loan from the Wisconsin State Energy Program. Additional investments are forthcoming as GBX pursues its next growth phase.

“We are a company built by gearbox guys,” said Neumiller. “We saw an absolute hole in the wind industry for an advanced company providing dedicated gearing, bearing and gearbox expertise. We have the best people, equipment, and parts. I’m looking forward to what we announce in the future.”

For more information, visit gearboxexpress.com.

Awareness is growing in the wind industry about the severe impact that erosion on the leading edge of wind blades can have on turbine output. Erosion can lead to a significant loss in annual energy production, costing owners and operators thousands of dollars. Blade repair and protection can help provide significant annual energy production improvements, reduce costly downtime, and protect the integrity of the blade.

3M™ Renewable Energy Division introduced an innovative solution for wind turbine blade protection at WINDPOWER 2013 on May 6. 3M Wind Blade Protection Coating W4600 is a two-component polyurethane coating that provides excellent erosion protection properties to help prevent and repair leading edge erosion on wind blades.

3M has a proven history of providing highly durable solutions in the industry with its 3M Wind Blade Protection Tape. This product has provided significant reductions in leading edge erosion, and has also helped extend maintenance and service intervals. Designed to offer game-changing performance and protection, 3M Wind Blade Protection Coating W4600 further expands 3M’s portfolio of erosion protection solutions. The coating is designed for application in OEM facilities and can be easily applied via brush or casting.

“3M has performed extensive testing on this product, and customers will see that it provides superior performance for a critical industry need,” said Christian Claus, business development manager, 3M Renewable Energy Division. “We are proud to expand our product offering to the wind industry.”

For more information, visit www.3M.com.

Vestas has secured a firm and unconditional order for the delivery of 166 V100-1.8MW wind turbines along with a 20-year service and maintenance agreement for the 299MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project, a joint venture of EDF EN Canada, Inc. and Enbridge. It marks the largest order for Vestas wind turbines in Canada.

Deliveries for Blackspring Ridge, located near Lethbridge, Alberta, are scheduled for the second half of this year and commissioning is expected to occur by mid-2014.

“We appreciate these two global energy companies making a long-term commitment to Vestas. Our partnership with EDF EN Canada and Enbridge shows their confidence in our ability to deliver turbines safely and on time,” said Chris Brown, president of Vestas’ sales and service division in Canada and the U.S. “This project also will increase our market leadership position in Canada and further builds on our strong service business in Alberta.”

The 20-year service agreement—the longest in Vestas’ history in the U.S. and Canada—features the Active Output Management (AOM) 5000 service option. AOM 5000 features an energy-based availability guarantee to ensure the turbines are operational when the wind is blowing. This service option includes the VestasOnline® surveillance system that remotely controls and monitors the turbines and predicts potential maintenance issues. This allows Vestas to plan maintenance so the turbines are operational for the maximum amount of time.

“Blackspring Ridge is an important addition to Enbridge’s fleet of renewable projects as it significantly expands our wind energy portfolio in the Alberta market, which we first entered nearly a decade ago with our Magrath and Chin Chute wind farms,” said Don Thompson, Vice President, Green Energy, Enbridge Inc. “Alberta is an attractive environment for wind investments due to its high wind capacity factor and access to transmission. We welcome this opportunity to continue expanding our renewable energy assets into Western Canada and are pleased to continue our relationship with EDF EN Canada and Vestas.”

Vestas’ U.S. factories in Colorado will be involved in manufacturing components for Blackspring Ridge, which will become Canada’s sixth wind power plant to use V100-1.8 MW turbines. Overall, more than 600 V100-1.8 MW turbines are producing energy at 13 sites across Canada and the United States.

EDF EN Canada and Enbridge will develop and own Blackspring Ridge. Once commissioned, it will be the largest wind power plant in Western Canada with the capacity to provide electricity to nearly 140,000 households.

“EDF EN Canada looks forward to our first opportunity to install Vestas turbines in Canada as part of the Blackspring Ridge project,” said Al Kurzenhauser, COO for EDF EN Canada.  “Alberta is a promising market that allows us to expand our wind development success into Western Canada. The project further builds on our relationship with both Vestas and Enbridge, demonstrating our business model to optimize assets throughout North America.”

Vestas installed its first wind turbines in the Canadian market in 1997 and since has become the leading wind-turbine supplier in the country and in Alberta.

For more information, visit www.vestas.com or www.edf-en.ca.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman on April 10, detailed President Barack Obama’s $28.4 billion Fiscal Year 2014 budget request for the Energy Department. Poneman emphasized the President’s continued commitment to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that prioritizes investments in innovation, clean energy technologies, and national security. The Department’s budget request is part of the administration-wide effort to strengthen the American economy with energy that is cleaner, cheaper and creates sustainable jobs. The FY 2014 budget request represents tough choices aimed at focusing taxpayer resources on areas that will yield the greatest benefit over time.

“The United States faces one of the greatest challenges ahead, the opportunity to lead the global clean energy race.  We must continue to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world to meet this challenge,” said Deputy Secretary Poneman.  “This budget reflects strong commitments to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice, while embracing the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy which expands both oil and gas production and investments in new clean energy technologies, while advancing our national security.” Specifically, the President’s FY 2014 budget request for the Department of Energy:

• Invests in innovative research to lead in research, development, deployment, and production of clean energy technologies;
• Establishes a new goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030;
• Calls for Congress to establish an $2 billion Energy Security Trust;
• Creates a new Race to the Top for Energy Efficiency and Grid Modernization;
• Helps consumers and businesses save money and improve their energy efficiency through the President’s Better Buildings Initiative;
• Supports groundbreaking basic science research and innovation to solve our energy challenges and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of science and technology

For more information, visit www.energy.gov or www.whitehouse.gov.

Wind energy grew 28 percent in the United States in 2012, setting a new installation record and confirming its status as a mainstream energy source, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report for 2012, released in April.

In its best year ever, the U.S. industry topped all energy sources with 42 percent of all new U.S. electric generating capacity. Over 6,700 new wind turbines were erected, which produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 3.5 million homes. Overall, America finished the year with 45,100 wind turbines that can power 15.2 million homes.

The bumper crop of wind energy benefited the U.S. economy across all 50 states, through $25 billion in private investment in new U.S. wind farms, tens of millions of dollars paid to landowners and local communities in lease payments and property taxes, and billions in projected savings for electricity consumers.

“We had an incredibly productive year in 2012,” said AWEA interim CEO Rob Gramlich. “It really showed what this industry can do and the impact we can have with a continued national commitment to renewable energy. We’re doing what Americans overwhelmingly say they want: making more clean, renewable energy, and creating good jobs in U.S. factories.” The report found that more than 550 factories across the nation provide parts and services for the wind energy industry, which accounted for more than 80,000 American jobs in 2012.

While jobs numbers were hampered as the year went on by Congress’s delay in renewing the primary incentives for American wind power—the production and investment tax credits—their extension on Jan. 1, 2013, for projects that start this year has sent the industry back to work.

Among project developers, NextEra Energy Resources installed the most new U.S. wind energy capacity in 2012, amassing 1,505MW. Iberdrola Renewables came in a distant second with 716MW of new installed capacity. EDF Renewable Energy, Caithness, and Duke Energy rounded out the top five, with 658MW, 640MW, and 620MW, respectively.

Geographically, Texas extended its lead among states generating wind energy. It also led all the other states in new wind energy installations. The Lone Star State realized the addition of 1,826MW of wind energy, and exceeded 12,000MW of capacity—accounting for more than a fifth of the nation’s wind energy installations. California eclipsed Iowa for second in total installed capacity with the addition of 1,656MW of wind energy capacity. Kansas (1,441MW), Oklahoma (1,127MW), and Illinois (823MW) followed in new 2012 capacity.

On the global scale, the record year for new U.S. wind energy installation narrowly edged the new installations in China (13,000MW), but accounted for just less than 30 percent of global wind energy installations in 2012. New wind energy installations globally in 2012 amounted to 41,236MW.

General Electric maintained its top position as the world’s leading turbine manufacturer, installing 3,003 turbines (5,014MW), amounting to a 44.5 percent market share in number of turbines (38.2 percent share of capacity). Siemens, Vestas, Gamesa, and REpower (Suzlon) rounded out the top five.

In addition to the industry’s record growth last year, a growing trend augured well for its future: new purchases of wind power by 74 electric utilities, along with at least 18 major industrial consumers and 11 school and universities—all taking advantage of the chance to diversify their energy portfolio and stabilize and lower energy costs, typically on long-term, fixed-rate contracts. Rising utility interest has been seen again this year since the PTC extension, with at least seven utilities issuing new requests for proposals to purchase over 1,000MW of wind power.

Top 2012 wind energy industry facts, by the numbers:

• 13,131 – The amount of installed capacity, in megawatts, installed during 2012 in the U.S.
• 60,007 – The amount of total installed capacity to date, in megawatts, in the U.S.
• 25 – The total investment, in billions of dollars, in U.S. wind energy projects during 2012
• 890 – The number of utility-scale wind projects currently operating in the U.S., consisting of more than 45,000 turbines

AWEA Business Members can download their copy of the complete U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report by logging onto the Member Center at www.awea.org.

*Source: American Wind Energy Association; American Wind Energy Association U.S.
Wind Industry Annual Market Report Year Ending 2012.

The U.S. Department of Energy and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are announced the teams selected to take part in the inaugural DOE Collegiate Wind Competition.

The following 10 student teams were selected through a competitive process to compete in the inaugural competition:

• Boise State University
• California Maritime Academy
• Colorado School of Mines
• James Madison University (VA)
• Kansas State University
• Northern Arizona University
• Pennsylvania State University
• University of Alaska – Fairbanks
• University of Kansas
• University of Massachusetts – Lowell

The elite educational programs have committed to formulating an interdisciplinary team, integrating the three principal competition contests into students’ coursework and senior design projects. The competition contests are designed to reach students from various engineering and business programs to provide them with engaging, real-world project experience as they prepare to enter the workforce. The selected programs garnered organizational support from their institutions as well as private-sector and community support.

The Collegiate Wind Competition is a forum for undergraduate college students of multiple disciplines to investigate innovative wind energy concepts; gain experience designing, building, and testing a wind turbine to perform according to a customized market data-derived business plan; and increase their knowledge of wind industry barriers. NREL is facilitating the inaugural competition, which will take place in spring 2014.

“Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing electrical energy options in the United States, and the industry requires a skilled workforce with talented people from engineering, business, and communications backgrounds, This competition will help attract students from a wide range of disciplines into this exciting industry,” DOE Wind Powering America initiative National Director Jonathan Bartlett said.

The theme of the inaugural competition is to design and construct a lightweight, transportable wind turbine that can be used to power small electronic devices. A principal contest involves testing each team’s prototype wind turbine in a wind tunnel under specific conditions. Each team’s business plan and turbine will also be evaluated against other pre-weighted criteria. The third event of the competition will be a team-to-team debate relating to current wind market drivers and issues. Teams will be judged on the members’ understanding of the issues posed to them, their communication of potential solutions, and their ability to promote constructive dialogue.

This competition is an opportunity for collegiate institutions to showcase student ingenuity and the programs that the students represent. In addition to this national recognition, the turbine from the college or university with the best overall score will be placed on temporary display at the DOE headquarters building in Washington, D.C. The competition enables NREL and DOE to support innovative and forward-thinking educational institutions that incorporate renewable energy technologies, helping to foster the growth of the future wind energy industry and workforce.

For more information, visit www.nrel.gov or www.energy.gov.

Full capacity has now been reached at the 630MW first phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the London Array. The commissioning of the 175th and final turbine happened at 4:09 pm local time on Saturday, April 6.

With all turbines now exporting power to the national grid, London Array is expected to produce enough green electricity to power nearly half a million homes a year. Turbine installation was completed in December 2012; since then the project has focused on fully commissioning and putting into operation all 175 of the 3.6MW Siemens turbines by this spring.

“This is the final major milestone of the construction phase and the culmination of more than two years’ offshore construction work which began in March 2011 with the installation of the first foundation,” said Project Director Richard Rigg. “It has been a complex operation but I am delighted that the commissioning of the wind farm has now been completed on schedule, despite the worst of the winter weather.”

The project has started handing over to the Operations and Maintenance Team. This will be completed in the summer when the last shallow array cable has been buried.

Benj Sykes, Country Manager for DONG Energy’s UK Wind business, said: “Building London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is a great achievement. As we now look to our pipeline of future projects, DONG Energy is determined to drive down the costs of our offshore wind farms to €100 per megawatt hour for projects we’ll be sanctioning in 2020. What we have learnt at London Array, together with our continuing focus on innovation in technologies and techniques, will help us achieve that.” “London Array is a significant achievement in renewable energy,” said Tony Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK. “The world’s largest operational offshore wind farm will be capable of generating enough energy to power nearly half a million homes and reduce harmful CO2 emissions by over 900,000 tonnes a year. It’s been a tough time for the team working on site. The recent bad weather and north easterly winds have whipped up the waves preventing access to the site so this milestone is true reward for their hard work.”

London Array is being built around 20km off the coasts of Kent and Essex on a 245km2 site. Phase One covers an area of 90km2 and includes 175 turbines with a combined capacity of 630MW. A possible second phase could add enough capacity to bring the total to 870MW. The project consortium partners have the following shareholdings: DONG Energy owns 50 percent, E.ON has 30 percent and Masdar has a 20 percent stake.

 For more information, visit www.londonarray.com.

General Electric has announced that a prototype of the world’s most efficient high-output wind turbine, the new 2.5-120, is operational at a test site in Wieringermeer, Netherlands. The 2.5-120 is the company’s first brilliant wind turbine, driving higher power output, improving service productivity and creating new revenue streams for customers.

The 2.5-120, announced in January, harnesses the power of the Industrial Internet to analyze tens of thousands of data points every second allowing for management of variable wind sources to provide smooth, predictable power. The turbine integrates energy storage and advanced forecasting algorithms while communicating seamlessly with neighboring turbines, service technicians and operators.

As the first wind turbine to bring together world-class efficiency and power output at low-wind-speed sites, the 2.5-120 captures a 25 percent increase in efficiency and a 15 percent increase in power output compared to GE’s current model.

The turbine’s high efficiency and high output unlock higher returns for wind farm operators at low-wind-speed sites. The turbine’s advanced controls and 120-meter rotor enable increased energy capture and greater power output in low-wind areas. The taller tower, which has a maximum hub height of 139 meters, makes it ideal for heavily forested regions in places like Europe and Canada.

GE has worked with ECN, a Dutch independent research institute for renewable energy, for the past decade to validate its newest technologies. The 2.5-120 prototype will be tested and validated in accordance with the highest GE and industry standards through fall 2013.

For more information, visit www.ge-energy.com.

Australia’s 420MW Macarthur Wind Farm, largest in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring Vestas V112-3.0MW turbines has officially opened. Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel participated in the event, which included leading Australian state and federal government officials.

Owned by Australian-based AGL Energy and New Zealand-based Meridian Energy, the Macarthur Wind Farm is a genuinely global construction, engineering, and technology project, with equipment and personnel coming together from four continents. Vestas and Leighton Contractors combined to deliver the logistically complex, AUD $1 billion Macarthur Wind Farm three months ahead of schedule. 

With the Macarthur project, Vestas has installed more than 50 percent of the cumulative wind energy capacity in Australia. When the 168MW Musselroe project comes online later this year, that number will rise to almost 60 percent.

“Vestas is strongly committed to the Australian market and very pleased to have such good working relations with our key customers here,” Engel said. “Australia is now enjoying the benefits of large-scale clean energy investment and jobs, thanks to its Renewable Energy Target. Bipartisan support for this policy is a crucial element in creating the long-term business certainty to make billion dollar investments like the Macarthur project a reality.”

The Macarthur project was the first to purchase the Vestas V112-3.0MW wind turbine. AGL Managing Director & CEO Michael Fraser says, “The V112-3.0MW is the perfect solution to meet our need for a highly-productive and cost-effective turbine for the medium wind speeds on the project site.”

 For more information, visit www.agl.com.au or www.vestas.com. 

3Floorsup, developer of WTGservice.com, has today announced that First Wind is to adopt its industry-leading maintenance management system. First Wind has selected WTGservice maintenance management system for its in-house service operations. The wind industry-specific software will be used by First Wind technicians to track, manage and analyze asset history on First Wind’s turbines across the continental USA and Hawaii.

“We are looking forward to using the WTGservice system as we grow our operations at First Wind,” said First Wind’s Vice President of Operations, E.J. Martin. “WTGservice has a strong track record in the wind industry and we’re pleased to be working with them.”

WTGservice.com is the most widely used wind-industry specific product of its kind; used with thousands of utility-grade turbines worldwide in multiple languages. It is used to plan, track and manage turbine maintenance and to analyze and report asset history.

“We’re extremely excited and pleased to be working closely with First Wind as they expand their service division,” said Steven Quayle, 3Floorsup Director of Business Development. “Working with First Wind demonstrates the suitability of WTGservice.com to industry stakeholders of all kinds, from OEM’s to independent service providers to, as in this case, owner operators.”

“The beauty of WTGservice is the front end; technicians just get it. It’s in no way daunting for them. As a result we’re able to meet our client’s greater ambitions for the collection and analysis of a complete service history of their fleet,” Quayle said. The First Wind deal extends WTGservice’s continued growth in the USA market, having achieved 50 percent plus year-on-year growth over the past three years. “It’s another sign that service providers and owners are getting smarter about the effective planning, management and analysis of both scheduled and reactive maintenance.”

With training and implementation already underway, First Wind is expected to be fully operational with WTGservice during April.

For more information, visit www.WTGservice.com or www.firstwind.com.

SAMPE 2013 offers innovative approaches in the materials and processes industry. Four days of high-level content draw on the expertise of the leading M&P producers in the research, government, and academic sectors.

At SAMPE 2013, top M&P industry professionals will lead sessions and provide attendees the tools they need to take their projects to the next level. Dr. John Tracy, Chief Technology officer and The Boeing Company Senior Vice President, Engineering, Operation & Technology will give an opening keynote presentation on developing the future of materials and processes that shape aerospace.

SAMPE 2013 delivers access to industry leading suppliers, education, and networking opportunities. Conference attendees are free to mix and match sessions from a series of composites and manufacturing topics. The organizing committee has also put together eight immersive short course tutorials to provide an overview of M&P hot topics.

Panels will include:

• Global Composites
• Integrated Computational Methods for Composite Materials (ICM2)
• Life Cycle Considerations for Engineered Nanomaterials
• Aviation and Eco-Innovative Materials
• How Can an Educated Workforce Reduce Risk in Composites Design, Manufacturing and In-Service Support?
• Manufacturing Challenges Facing the DoD (ITAR)

The 2013 SAMPE Fellows will be honored at a special Fellow Banquet on Monday evening, May 6 at the Renaissance Hotel. This event will take place during the SAMPE 2013 Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, California, May 6-9.

For more information, visit www.sampe.org.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S appointed Marika Fredriksson as its Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Management. She succeeds Dag Gunnar Andresen, who unfortunately has decided to leave the company by the end of this month due to personal reasons.

Fredriksson has extensive experience in the role as CFO with 15 years in various industries and companies such as Gambro (2009-2012), Autoliv (2008-2009) and Volvo Construction Equipment (1996-2008). Over the years, she has also successfully participated in turnaround processes, change management and M&A. Fredriksson has gained international experience by managing change programs in various parts of the world as well as key acquisitions in Korea, the U.S., and China. She holds a masters’ degree from the Swedish School of Economics in Helsinki.

“I would like to thank Dag Andresen for his important contribution to Vestas. At the same time, I am very pleased that we have managed to find an excellent new CFO in Marika Fredriksson, who will be joining Vestas on 1 May 2013. I am certain that she has the right competences, commitment and cultural fit into our Executive Management team,” said Group President & CEO, Ditlev Engel.

“In Marika Fredriksson we have found a new CFO with the calibre and capabilities addressing Vestas’ needs. I would like to thank Dag Andresen for his contribution to the company during the past year,” said Chairman of the board of Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Bert Nordberg.

With the appointment of the new CFO, the Executive Management team at Vestas Wind Systems A/S consists of Ditlev Engel (Group President & CEO), Anders Vedel (Chief Turbines Officer), Juan Araluce (Chief Sales Officer), Jean-Mark Lechêne (Chief Operating Officer) and Marika Fredriksson (Chief Financial Officer).

For more information, visit www.vestas.com.

Suzlon Group’s U.K. subsidiary, REpower Systems SE, a leading manufacturer of onshore and offshore wind turbines, has reached the historic milestone of 1GW installed capacity across U.K. wind farms. REpower UK is only the third manufacturer in the U.K. to achieve the 1GW watershed.

 Since its inception in 2005, REpower UK has consistently been one of the fastest growing turbine manufacturers in the U.K. The company has taken just over two years to add a further 500MW to its portfolio since announcing 500MW of installed capacity in the summer of 2010. By 2014, REpower UK is looking to secure 25 percent of U.K. onshore market share and 30 percent of U.K. offshore market share.

 Since REpower UK reached 500MW installed capacity back in 2010, the manufacturer has added a substantial number of wind farms to its portfolio in England, Scotland and Wales. These include the Penny Hill wind farm developed by Banks Renewables which features six 3.4M104 turbines and was the project that took REpower UK to 1GW. 3.4M104 is currently the company’s most powerful onshore wind turbine, and is the most powerful onshore turbine to be installed and operate in the U.K.

Rick Eggleston, Managing Director of REpower UK said: “We are delighted to reach the historic milestone of 1GW of installed capacity in the U.K. We believe this is testament to the quality and reliability of REpower’s turbine technology which is ideally suited to U.K. wind conditions both onshore and offshore. We are committed to developing our market share and installed base in the U.K. wind power sector, and to building further on the successful relationships we have developed since we installed our first turbine in the UK in 2005.”

For more information, visit www.suzlon.com or www.repower.de.

EDF Renewable Energy announced it has exercised an option to acquire the remaining 49 percent interest in the 161MW Spinning Spur II Wind Project from Cielo Wind Power, LP, bringing its ownership to 100 percent.

In addition, EDF RE has signed a turbine supply agreement with General Electric for the purchase of 87 wind turbines with a rated capacity of 1.85 MW each. Spinning Spur II Wind Project spans approximately 16,800 acres in Oldham County, Texas which is approximately 30 miles west of Amarillo. Construction is slated to start in June with an operational date of mid-summer 2014. When complete, EDF RE will have put into service 472 megawatts in Texas.

Spinning Spur II will be one of the first projects to take advantage of the new CREZ (Competitive Renewable Energy Zones) transmission line in the panhandle. The electricity generated will be sold under a 10-year energy purchase agreement.

“Launching our third project in Texas demonstrates confidence in the next wave of wind power’s growth and construction in the State,” said Tristan Grimbert, President and CEO of EDF Renewable Energy. “In 2011, we determined to enter the Texas market with Spinning Spur I, and are pleased to build upon this success and increase our investment in Oldham County. We appreciate our partner, Cielo to open the doors for construction and ownership of these essential projects for the community, which promise to not only deliver clean energy but also economic development.”

For more information, visit www.edf-re.com.

The Switch, a leading supplier of megawatt-class permanent magnet generator and full-power converter packages for wind power and other renewable energy applications, announced today the appointment of David Zhao in the position of General Manager for China.

This hiring of Zhao underpins the Switch’s long-term ambitions to establish itself as the preferred partner in PMG and FPC in a market in which The Switch has been extremely strong. Zhao comes from a mechanical engineering background and previously held senior management positions in the telecommunication and transportation industries. He brings a wealth of capabilities in operations and sourcing. This move represents a further step in fully immersing the company in the market, which is of strategic importance to The Switch.

“The Chinese wind power market will remain challenging, particularly because of overcapacity. But the government still has ambitious plans to support the development of clean energy in the short and medium terms. The Switch has pioneered PMG and FPC technologies, and we are in a favourable position to meet the needs of Chinese manufacturers effectively,” commented Zhao.

Zhao’s leadership mandate includes implementing and applying The Switch’s flexible business model in China to optimize operations and grow its local customer base. One main objective will be to enhance The Switch’s local capabilities as well as improving business processes and promoting the company’s engineering competence.

“David will further improve the communication within the group and among the personnel in China. We have done great work building a good platform in that market and I am sure that our new General Manager will prove instrumental in improving our operations there,” added Jukka-Pekka Mäkinen, Chief Executive of The Switch.

For more information, visit www.theswitch.com.

EDF Renewable Services announced it has secured the operations and maintenance contract at the Edom Hills Wind Farm. Owned and operated by a subsidiary of BP Wind Energy, Edom Hills is located in the San Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs, California.

 The site consists of eight Clipper Windpower 2.5MW turbines generating 20MW of renewable energy. Dalen Copeland, Director of Business Development for EDF Renewable Services, commented “Our experience with the Clipper turbines in Oaxaca, Mexico provides confidence that our O&M team will optimize availability for BP Wind Energy. Our depth of expertise in the San Gorgonio wind regime, complemented by our large local workforce, uniquely positions us to provide a smooth transition with minimum interruption of operations. With this contract, EDF RS services 87.5MW of Clipper wind turbines in the U.S. and Mexico.”

Under the terms of the agreement, EDF Renewable Services will provide a suite of operations and maintenance services for wind turbine generators. EDF Renewable Services is an industry leader, providing O&M services to more than 7,000MW of wind and solar projects across North America. With over 25 years of experience and 450 full-time, trained and certified wind technicians employed, EDF Renewable Services has the resources and experience to optimize project availability and maximize revenues.

 For more information, visit www.edf-re.com.

After years of steady but unimpressive growth, the global carbon fiber industry is finally set for a boom in revenue, thanks to burgeoning demand from the wind energy market, according to the latest report from business intelligence company GBI Research.

According to the firm’s latest release, global carbon fiber demand will hit 153,700 tons in 2020, climbing from 52,500 tons in 2012—a massive increase of 193% in just eight years.

Wind energy—a vital segment of the rapidly expanding renewable energy market—will be the key driver of the carbon fiber industry, GBI Research colcluded.

Currently, wind turbine blades constructed from Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dominate the industry landscape, but due to their greater rigidity, lower weight and reduced cost, producers are making the move to carbon fiber alternatives. 

A brand new design, Norm Tooman Construction’s IronClad™ Extreme Duty Foundation Anchor Bolt Caps were developed to address the need for caps that resist damage from falling sheet ice and environmental exposure while more effectively sealing out moisture in humid or salt water environments. Extreme Duty caps feature four separate sealing surfaces including an o-ring and an outer flexible skirt. The Extreme Duty cap self-taps to screw onto the bolt, which allows for increased pressure at the seal and use on multiple sizes of rods. The company has more than doubled the thickness of the polypropylene material and maximized UV protection. The Extreme Duty cap will accommodate bolt projections from 6–16 inches and features a ½-inch ratchet drive receiver within a hexagon nut at the top for fast installation and removal. Heated grease or cosmoline can also be injected or poured through a protected port at the top of the Extreme Duty cap, displacing any condensation that could potentially accumulate around the lower portion of the nut. As with all of Norm Tooman’s products, the IronClad Extreme Duty Foundation Anchor Bolt Cap is proudly made in the USA. Norm Tooman Construction also sells Corrosion Block™ grease, which is applied to each bolt prior to cap installation. It is important to remember that bolt caps are most beneficial when used in conjunction with excellent quality anti-corrosion grease and thorough grease coverage on the bolt.

For more information, visit www.normtoomanconst.com.

Lubrication abnormalities are a major cause of equipment downtime and failure. To prevent those costly occurrences, the FluidScan® Q1100 handheld infrared oil analyzer from Spectro Inc. enables users to determine when oil is no longer fit for use due to liquid contamination or degradation. The compact instrument provides direct, immediate measurement of water, total acid number (TAN), oxidation, glycol, total base number (TBN) and other 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. In addition, the unit’s patented flip-top design speeds test preparation and cleanup.

The route-based capability of the FluidScan Q1100’s operation allows the device to virtually eliminate mislabeled samples and long wait times for laboratory analysis. The results highly correlate to TAN and TBN laboratory tests conducted with ASTM D664 and D4739 titration methods and water tests with the ASTM D6304 Karl Fischer Titration method.

Routes, similar to thermography or vibration routes, can be downloaded from the Emerson AMS Suite’s OilView™ software to the Q1100. Results can be uploaded back into OilView.  Oil data can be analyzed, along with data from other predictive maintenance techniques, in the Emerson AMS software for Machinery Health™ Management. The Q1100 includes a large and expandable reference library of industrial mineral and synthetic lubricants for gearboxes, turbines, compressors, and hydraulic systems.

“The FluidScan Q1100 provides a compact, easy to use and powerful entry product for customers seeking to adopt or expand their onsite oil analysis activities,” Spectro president and CEO Brian Mitchell said. “It also extends the oil analysis capability for existing users of the Spectro 5200 TriVector™ Oil Analyzer by enabling route-based oil analysis and an interface with OilViewTM and AMS Suite Asset management software.”

For more information, please visit www.spectroinc.com, or call 978-431-1120.