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.

Today, new processes and work methods are being developed along with being improved at an accelerating pace. Tradespeople along with technicians use an expanding range of techniques and they need special tools to use them efficiently. These special tools are used in a wide variety of industries, especially the wind power industry where they are used in production, assembly and repair/maintenance.  To be useful, a tool needs to enable precise, ergonomic, safe and damage-free work. The special tools simplify work with new materials, shapes and sizes, bringing users and companies tangible benefits.  They save time and costs, while at the same time helping maximize work safety—an important part of trouble-free production and maintenance work.

In close cooperation with users, Rennsteig engineers develop tailor-made, high quality tools for a wide variety of applications and industries that meet and often exceed all quality parameters.
As a German producer of these high quality hand tools, Rennsteig Tools, Inc. designs and manufactures state-of-the-art tooling “Made in Germany.”  The company follows a long tradition of specialty hand tool development and manufacturing which enables it to craft exceptionally dynamic hand tools.

The SRW 1000 tool is no different in this aspect.  It has been designed for applications where large shafts and bearings transmit very high forces and torques.  For example, wind power turbines, hydroelectric power facilities, press construction, ship building and aerospace.  It is easily operated with an Allen key (which is included), ratchet wrench or cordless screw driver with an adapter (also included) and is designed for installing along with removing retaining rings in one operation.  The tool is usable with retaining rings ranging from a diameter of 400–1000mm (15”–40”).  Opening to a width of 250mm (10”), the tool securely holds the ring open using a self-locking precision spindle action.  The interchangeable paired tips that are supplied with the tool come in a 6mm and a 9mm size (custom designs are also available) to cover the different diameter holes in these large retaining rings.  The tips hold the ring securely due to short, direct contact sockets.  These tips are made of high strength, hardened and tempered steel.

For more information about the SRW 1000 along with Rennsteig Tools, Inc. and its other line of tools, please visit www.rennsteig.us.  Also, check out this link to a video on the use of the SRW 1000, http://youtu.be/6KOpH3_dz5Q.

Transhield, Inc. is a global supplier of custom fit covers for shipping and storage protection for a variety of industries, including wind power applications. These wind power application covers are a patented alternative for heavy, expensive custom tarps or conventional hand wrapping with the added ability to shrink the cover for a tight fit, resulting in quality protection for wind power products including root end sections, tower sections, blades and other products. These custom fit covers offer protection against dirt and water during shipping and storage for a smoother transition from factory to field. Various openings can be designed into the covers allowing zipper or Velcro openings for access or different trailer configurations with wind tower section covers. Covers are easy to apply, can be removed quickly and easily and in many cases are reusable.

Made from Shrinkable Fabric™, Transhield covers consist of three layers: an outer layer that is UV-resistant and anti-condensation, the middle layer is a hot melt adhesive containing no solvents and a soft, cloth-like polyester inner layer. These covers feature the patented Adhesive Additive Delivery—Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (AAD-VCI) system which provides 100% protection from corrosion during transportation and storage. This unique non-abrasive composition protects against the elements during transportation and storage without causing damage to paint, gel coats or decals of products.

For more information about Transhield, Inc.’s line of custom fit covers, visit www.transhield-usa.com/transhield_windpower_covers.html. 

Deal includes 20-year service agreement for 299MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project

TORONTO — 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 299 MW 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; 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 United States. “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 V100-1.8MW turbines. Overall, more than 600 V100-1.8MW 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.

With renewable and green energy sources making global headway in recent years, surging interest has spawned an increasing number of renewable energy conferences and exhibitions. While everyday consumers can make small changes to reduce their carbon footprint, the most marked impact can be seen when the industry starts implementing green technology. In order to stay current on technological  innovations, as well as perform routine business functions such as networking,  the industry relies on expositions and conferences.

Throughout Asia, industry leaders have, for a number of years now, turned to World Smart Energy Week, hosted by Reed Exhibitions.

 The 2013 event was held February 27–March 1 at Tokyo Big Sight. Due to high demand, the inaugural WIND EXPO was added to the event this year. Participation in the WIND EXPO was more than respectable considering the infancy of that portion of the conference.

“We started FC (fuel cell) EXPO in 2005 and kept launching new exhibitions—PV (photovoltaic) EXPO, BATTERY JAPAN, International Smart Grid Expo, Eco House & Eco Building Expo,” Tad Ishizumi, president of Reed Exhibitions Japan said during the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony. “And in the ninth year, WIND EXPO is newly launched. Therefore, we welcome a record number of 1,890 exhibitors as one of the world’s largest of its kind.”

Among the organized events at the WIND EXPO portion of the event were technical conferences and product and technology seminars, in addition to the exhibition and the keynote sessions. The keynote session was held at 2 p.m. local time on February 27, and was entitled “Industry Leaders’ Strategies and Outlook on Wind Power Generation.”

As a whole, more than 76,000 attendees attended World Smart Energy Week. More than 11,000 participated in seminar sessions.”

Occupying a substantial section of the east hall at the convention complex, WIND EXPO was filled with attendees. More than 100 exhibitors from across the globe eagerly promoted products, services, and technologies that ran the gamut of wind energy production and associated industries. No known segment of the industry was left unserved by the exhibition.

Innovative wind turbine design was displayed prominently, as were  energy-conservation  components. Short tutorial demonstrations of various types and brands of safety gear and its’ proper use were presented several times an hour.

A primary event focus was the development of, and the large, timely technological advances in making offshore wind farms a substantial source of energy within the Asian markets­—Japan in particular.

Varied design approaches were offered by different exhibitors, but the prevailing and most-popular topic centered around offshore floating wind turbines. Many of these platform designs combined wind and solar energy technologies as a viable, sustainable, efficient means for  green energy generation.

Of particular interest among those in attendance  was Fukushima Forward, which seeks to replace traditional energy sources with offshore wind farms located in the ocean. These turbines would collect wind and solar energy and then redirect the collected power to a central hub that could then convert the power to be used across Japan. If successfully implemented, the plan would serve as an example to future energy projects on the viability of offshore wind energy as an option when seeking to replace aging, unsustainable power supply methods.

In its inaugural event, the WIND EXPO was a resounding success at introducing new technology and providing vital networking opportunities within the field. Attendees and exhibitors alike appeared eager to make new business connections and to learn about new technologies. Foundations have been laid to make future shows larger and more successful.

For more information on WIND EXPO and World Smart Energy Week, please visit www.wsew.jp/en.

— By Meghan Hall

Wind energy industry leaders, academics, and professionals will convene in Chicago on May 5–8 at the American Wind Energy Association’s annual WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition. The 2013 event, which will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center, is expected to draw nearly 600 exhibitors, consisting of manufacturers, developers, contractors, consultants and service providers.

According to the association: AWEA WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition is the annual focal point for those who work in the wind energy industry; it’s where serious wind professionals convene to grow their companies, find real solutions to business challenges, learn from industry leaders and experts, discover the latest in industry products and services, and reconnect with colleagues and friends.

The event is built around a three-pronged approach to serving wind energy industry companies and personnel. Areas of focus are: networking; education; and exhibition/sponsorship. The association describes these areas of focus as follows:

• Networking– A unique aspect of WINDPOWER is its focus on networking, and the numerous special events that allow attendees and exhibitors to grow and maintain their personal and professional contacts in fun, casual, and entertaining settings. Each networking event is an excellent networking opportunity, and a great way to spend quality time with staff, colleagues, and industry peers. From receptions in the exhibit hall, to dinners in Chicago’s favorite venues, to golf tournaments… there’s no shortage of ways to connect with your fellow attendees.

• Education– Each year, AWEA collaborates with wind industry leaders to ensure the WINDPOWER Conference Program is relevant and illuminating. And this year, AWEA is making a concerted effort to build a WINDPOWER program that provides attendees with real solutions to today’s serious business challenges. The Conference Program will prepare attendees for facing a changing wind energy future, strengthening our economy, and developing a sound, profitable energy market. As a venue to discuss perspectives, methods, and strategies for maintaining and increasing profitability in an environment of technical, economic, and political change, WINDPOWER is the best place to obtain this knowledge.

• Exhibition and sponsorship– The Exhibition Hall at WINDPOWER 2013 Conference & Exhibition will be the one place to see the industry’s leading products and services, learn industry brand names, network with top-level industry decision makers, and generate numerous high-quality business leads. WINDPOWER sponsorship generates unmatched exposure that helps establish your company as a market leader. Sponsorship provides a clear platform for company and product promotions, leaving a lasting impression on event attendees.

Regular registration for the WINDPOWER 2013 event is currently open, and will remain open through the conference. Attendees who register prior to the event will not be charged additional fees for on-site registration.

For more information on WINDPOWER 2013 Conference & Exhibition, including registration information, exhibition, conference schedule, lodging, and special events, visit the event website at www.windpowerexpo.org. For more information about the American Wind Energy Association, please visit www.awea.org.

Editor’s note: Wind Systems magazine is a media sponsor for WINDPOWER 2013 Conference & Exhibition.