Winter may be in full swing, but KEEN Utility has already set its sights on spring with a collection of innovative industrial footwear for men and women. Leading the charge are two new indoor industrial silhouettes with stellar anti-slip ratings along with expansions of both the Portland “Built in the USA” series and a new insulated KEEN.Welt introduction. These new styles join a roster of progressive work footwear designed with versatility and comfort in mind for hard working feet and the men and women attached to them.

“Each season we meet the challenge of designing better work footwear toe-on. Every year there is a greater demand for versatile footwear that blends comfort, protection and design,” said Kevin Kious, KEEN Utility Sales Manager. “KEEN was founded on the idea of creating a hybrid shoe equal parts form and function. KEEN Utility is an extension of this belief and each new introduction allows us to build a better foundation for hard-working feet everywhere.”

Among the new Spring 2013 styles are:
A perfect partner to the Lexington, the Albany is superior slip-resistance with a highly breathable boot built for warm weather comfort. Outfitted with the KEEN’s new oil- and slip-resistant outsole, the Albany exceeds Mark II Slip-Resistance safety standards by diverting water and oils away from contact points under the foot through tire-like drainage channels improving traction and stability. A waterproof nubuck leather and mesh upper provide unparalleled breathability while asymmetrical composite toes bring lightweight comfort and protection.

The Lexington outsole exceeds Mark II Slip-Resistance testing standards. The super slip-resistant outsole features drainage channels that direct water and oils away from contact points under the foot, similar to a tire tread, helping to increase stability and sure-footing indoors and out. The low-profile boot features an athletic, hiking-inspired silhouette with waterproof leather and a KEEN.Dry breathable, waterproof membrane that allows moisture out but never in. The Lexington features asymmetrical composite safety toes that deliver lightweight contoured protection. Casual enough to be paired with your favorite pair of jeans during a weekend around the house and durable enough to protect your feet on the job site, the Lexington is a go-to boot for an on-the-go worker.

For more information on the KEEN Utility Spring 2013 collection or to find a KEEN Utility retailer near you, visit www.keenfootwear.com.

Keep up with all things KEEN Utility at www.fb.com/keenutility or www.twitter.com/keen_utility.

HYROFLEX cable clamps are part of a system of various mounting supports for securing power cables in wind turbines. These clamps are supplied in various versions with between three and nine cable mounting segments.

Customized inserts allow for different cable groupings per customer request. The basic frame is formed by a steel support structure, which is fixed to the tower and provides the frame for mounting individual cable segments. This system provides pivoting, spring-action fasteners fixed by snap hooks to prevent the cables from dislodging.

In addition, the clamping band protects against any potential short-circuit forces.

Features of the HRFLEX Series Cable Clamps:
• Two styles available: Half-moon and Star
• For quick installation and excellent support of power cables in wind turbines
• Modular combinations of clamp segments (up to 27 power cables)
• Easy accessibility to all cables
• Cable diameter up to ø35mm
• Sturdy construction
• Fire and short-circuit tested

HYDAC provides fluid power solutions to OEM’s, manufacturers and end users of a variety of heavy duty mobile and industrial equipment. These solutions increase the efficiency, longevity and safety of fluid power systems — even under extreme conditions.

HYDAC has division office locations in Bethlehem, PA, Glendale Heights, IL, Birmingham, AL, and regional sales offices across the United States. The company is also supported across the country by a nationwide distributor network.

For more information about HYDAC’s line of product solutions, call 610-266-0100 or visit www.hydacusa.com.

An innovative carbon brush holder, set to reduce maintenance costs for doubly fed generators in wind turbines, will be introduced by Carbex at the AWEA WINDPOWER 2013 exhibition in Chicago, May 5 – 8 (booth no. 1011).

The Carbex V-type brush holder ensures that all the carbon brushes push against the slip ring with equal force, preventing uneven wear and premature brush replacement. This also reduces electrical and mechanical losses, lowering the temperature of the carbon brushes and improving their lubricating properties. In addition, remote monitoring is simplified, as only one switch per phase is required.

A traditional brush holder set-up includes a number of brushes that are fitted around the slip ring and adjusted individually. Brushes typically wear unevenly as each has different pressure against the slip ring.

The V-type holder eliminates these variations. The brushes are fitted and locked into position in single brush pockets. Through equal load on all carbon brushes, and lower temperature, the V-type holder gives longer life to the brushes, resulting in longer service intervals. This can mean substantial savings on maintenance, as visits to remote locations can be very costly, particularly in offshore applications.

The design of the V-type holder simplifies fitting and facilitates service, saving time while on site. The compact holder is located just inside the inspection hatch of the slip ring compartment for easy access. Only one adjustment is required for the holder. There is no need to adjust the angle and contact surface of the individual brushes.

The Carbex V-type holder is patent-pending in the U.S., EU and China. It is available for all common designs of doubly fed generators in the market. The design is modified for the requirements of each OEM to fit the existing bolt holes in the shield. For more information, visit www.carbex.eu. 

Leitwind announced today the commissioning of the Deliceto wind farm, which is now grid-connected and operating in Apulia, Italy. Leitwind was contracted by Elce Energia Spa in 2012 to build the 24MW Deliceto wind farm, which is made of 16 Leitwind’s patented LTW80 1.5MW gearless turbines.

The wind turbines were delivered from the Telfs; Leitwind’s Austrian manufacturing facility. Leitwind was able to build the wind farm in only six months, from signing the supply contract to commissioning the project.  The Deliceto wind farm will produce 57 GWh of electricity annually, which represents renewable power for over 18,000 Italian households.

“Leitwind was responsible for the transport, installation and commissioning of the wind farm. Furthermore, a full service contract for 15 years was finalized, which guarantees the customer efficient energy production and optimal technical availability”, states Leitwind’s CEO Anton Seeber.

The Deliceto wind farm adds to the 40MW of wind energy capacity already installed by Leitwind in Apulia in the past years. Due to the favorable wind conditions, Apulia is one of the leading wind energy areas in Italy.

“This order is of importance for the further development of renewable energy in this region. Moreover, the project creates new jobs in a region which has to deal with a high unemployment rate”, emphasizes Seeber.

These projects demonstrate Leitwind’s continued commitment to the Italian energy market. This past autumn 2012, Leitwind added an additional 5 LTW77 1.5 MW turbines to its existing six wind turbines wind farm in Montecatini, Tuscany. Due to the ideal wind conditions at the site, the eleven LTW77 wind turbines, with total rated power of 16.5 MW, are efficiently producing clean energy in Tuscany.

The Leitwind partnership involves support in all fields, from the first contact with authorities up to completing and placing the system into operation and finally developing a tailored maintenance program.

For more information visit en.leitwind.com

World Smart Energy Week, a grouping of eight renewable/smart energy exhibitions, will take place from February 27 – March 1 in Tokyo at Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. Newly added this year is WIND EXPO, an exhibition with as many as 300 participating organizations launched by Reed Expositions Japan Ltd. with the support of the Japan Wind Power Association.

The WIND EXPO opening ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on February 27 at 9:30 a.m. local time. This ceremony is open to all participants. However, pre-registration is required.

The keynote presentation, entitled “Industry Leaders’ Strategies and Outlook on Wind Power Generation,” will be held at 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, February 27. Attendees will hear from executives with Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, Eurus Energy Holdings Corp., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Vestas Wind Systems A/S.

The keynote address is preceded earlier in the day at 10 a.m. by a special keynote entitled “Toward a New Energy Society System in Japan,” delivered by Hiroaki Niihara, Director General of Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The expo will also feature a technical conference, which will feature sessions led by industry specialists on a variety of topics, including (but not limited to): market trends and outlooks, offshore wind power generation, wind simulation, grid integration, and large-scale wind turbines. Registration is required for the technical conference. Visit the expo website for a full list of topics, registration, and pricing.

Other exhibitions scheduled for the week focus on related smart energy technologies, including: fuel cells, photovoltaics, smart grids, and rechargeable batteries. This will provide wind-specific visitors and exhibitors the opportunity to connect with wind and other energy sector professionals. As many as 125,000 visitors and nearly 1,900 exhibitors are expected to participate in World Smart Energy Week. Visitors are encouraged to enter freely into all concurrent shows.

For more information, including a list of exhibitors, e-Guidebook, and seminar navigator, visit the following: Reed Expositions Japan website  (www.reedexpo.co.jp/english/); WIND EXPO website (www.windexpo.jp/en or www.wsew.jp/en).

Vestas has received a three-year extension from Alliant Energy to provide service and maintenance for 121 V82-1.65 MW wind turbines at the Whispering Willow Wind Farm — East in Iowa.

Under the agreement, Alliant Energy chose the Active Output Management (AOM) 2000 service option. This consists of scheduled maintenance and VestasOnline®, a surveillance system that allows Vestas to monitor and remotely control the turbines to ensure the turbines are running optimally.

“We are fortunate to work with the high-caliber team at Alliant Energy,” said Chris Brown, President of Vestas’ sales and service division in the U.S. and Canada. “Our V82-1.65 MW turbine is a proven performer across North America with a high availability. This service contract also ensures jobs for Vestas employees who make sure the turbines operate safely and with maximum electrical output.”

Vestas has performed service and maintenance at Whispering Willow Wind Farm ­— East since the site began operations in 2009. The wind power plant can produce enough electricity for about 50,000 households.

“Our company is pleased to partner with Vestas to extend our service and maintenance agreement for our 200MW Whispering Willow Wind Farm — East,” said Tom Aller, Senior Vice President of Energy Resource Development at Alliant Energy. “Renewable energy is a key component of our long-term energy resource supply. As a result, we need a company that can keep our wind generating facilities operating at an optimum level. Vestas is an industry leader in servicing and maintaining wind generating facilities. Our partnership with Vestas provides good jobs for working families and ensures that this wind farm will continue to produce emissions-free energy for the benefit of our customers safely and efficiently.”

Alliant Energy owns three other projects using the V82-1.65 MW turbine. In December, Alliant Energy began commercial operations at the Franklin County Wind Farm in Iowa, which includes 60 V82-1.65 MW turbines. In 2008, Alliant first worked with Vestas to build the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Wisconsin, which consists of 41 V82-1.65 MW turbines. Vestas also supplied 122 of these turbines to the Bent Tree Wind Farm in Minnesota, which began commercial operations in 2011.

Alliant Energy’s utility operations provide electricity and natural gas to more than 1.4 million customers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

For more information, visit www.vestas.com.

General Electric will install its WindCONTROL advanced software to help maximize energy output at two First Wind projects in Maine that feature a total of 95 GE wind turbines. The GE technology will regulate curtailment by monitoring and controlling the wind turbines’ ramp rates, effectively easing power spikes and putting less strain on the turbine compared to constant starts and stops.

First Wind is a Boston-based independent wind energy company that owns and operates turbines throughout the United States.

“The effect of curtailment on wind turbines has been an area of concern for us. The application of GE’s WindCONTROL technology to our wind turbines in Maine will help the units maximize energy capture while mitigating the strain on our units as we regulate power production,” said First Wind’s Vice President of Operations EJ Martin.

Using GE’s WindCONTROL, turbine owners can earn back power that may have been lost due to inefficient controls for meeting curtailment. The software automatically controls the output of each wind turbine in the wind farm, versus an approach that depends on starting and stopping units to meet a power demand. The more precise regulation of power not only meets requirements despite wind variation but also allows the wind turbines to run more efficiently and reliably without compromising grid stability. By avoiding the continual stop and start of the turbines for power regulation, GE’s WindCONTROL eases the stresses on the wind turbines and helps to extend the life of turbine components.

The two Maine-based wind farms that will be upgraded with GE’s WindCONTROL technology are located in Rollins and Stetson. The Rollins site has 40 GE 1.5-77 turbines while Stetson contains 55 1.5-77 turbines.

GE previously announced that First Wind selected GE as its service provider for First Wind’s entire fleet of 264 GE wind turbines at eight sites across the United States. The eight-year comprehensive service agreement expanded upon existing contracts with First Wind and was the first contract to cover an entire fleet of wind turbines signed by GE at that time.

GE’s comprehensive offering of wind service solutions is a testament to our commitment to help our renewable energy customers increase power production and revenues from their installed equipment. We have a long-standing history with First Wind, and the addition of WindCONTROL software to its existing service agreement will further benefit the fleet,” said Andy Holt, general manager of wind services for GE’s renewable energy business.

For more information, visit www.GE.com.

Registration is now open for EASTEC, the largest manufacturing exposition and conference in the Northeast, according to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

“Demand has been building for two years and, judging by the quality of exhibitors applying for space, EASTEC is definitely your best option for keeping operations current with the latest technologies and management strategies,” said Kim Farrugia, SME senior show manager.

More than 10,000 manufacturing professionals are expected to attend the event, which alternated years with Mfg4 — Manufacturing for the Future, in 2012. EASTEC features resource centers, keynote speakers, panels and exhibits on growth industries including aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, commerical machinery, electronics, fabricating and plastics. Nearly 500 exhibitors are expected at the 2013 event, including industry leaders Brooks Associates, Compumachine Inc., Delcam, FANUC FA America, FARO Technologies, Mitsubishi and Pratt & Whitney. Attendee registration for the exposition is now open.

New features for 2013 include a panel discussion on workforce development the first day of the event, competitive student manufacturing event for regional high schools, new networking opportunities and area plant tours.

EASTEC 2013 takes place May 14-16 at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass.  The event layout is organized in five exhibit categories to help attendees navigate the grounds: Design, Engineering, and Rapid Technologies; Tooling, Workholding and Machining Accessories; Automation, Quality and Process Improvement; Plant, Energy, and Environmental Efficiency; and Precision Manufacturing Equipment and Systems.

For more information, visit www.easteconline.com.

WKN USA announced today that it began operations for two wind projects on December 22, 2012. After completing the development, the company managed the construction for its parent BayWa, which acquired a majority stake in WKN USA in August 2011. “We are very pleased to have successfully completed both projects on time and on budget for our new major shareholder”, states Florian Zerhusen President and CEO of WKN USA.

Project Mozart is located just north of Rotan, Texas and deploys twelve Nordex N100 2.5MW turbines. The 30MW project interconnects to the local grid system within ERCOT and is expected to deliver energy for more than six thousand households annually. This is the first phase of a larger 250MW development. WKN USA developed and constructed the nearby 63MW Snyder wind farm, which still deploys the tallest towers in the United States at 105 meters.

Project Wagner is located in Palm Springs, California deploying two Vestas V90 3MW turbines, the largest generator in the area producing as much energy as up to sixty of the older surrounding wind turbines. In November, the project was prominently featured in a news story on wind power in Palm Springs by FOX News 5 San Diego .

WKN USA, LLC is a joint venture between Germany’s BayWa AG and WKN AG. Based in San Diego, WKN USA is a leading turn-key developer of renewable energy projects. Formerly operating under Windkraft Nord USA, Inc., with support from BayWa, WKN USA can engage in a full range of activities including development, construction, finance, ownership and operation of projects as well as acquisitions of projects in in any stage of development and the turnkey financing, construction and sale of projects.

For more information, visit www.wknusa.com.

GE and Taiwan Power Company have signed a five-year, full service agreement (FSA) covering 26 GE 1.5-MW class wind turbines operating throughout Taiwan. Under the agreement, valued at nearly $11.4 million, GE will provide a full scope of services including planned and unplanned maintenance, repairs and spare parts. The agreement guarantees fleet availability of greater than 95 percent.

“GE’s record of proven service performance was important to us in signing this agreement,” said Chen Yi-Chen, chief of the department of renewable energy, Taiwan Power Company. “We are confident that GE will provide a high level of professional service for our wind turbine fleet, including availability guarantees and predictable expenditures on turbine operation in the years ahead.”

Of the 26 GE wind turbines, 23 are located in Taoyuan County, and three are located in Kenting Township. The fleet contributes more than 110 million kWh of green electricity to the Taiwan power grid or enough energy for 28,000 Taiwan households.

GE FSAs are complete packages including all planned maintenance activities such as remote monitoring and troubleshooting, routine services, preventative maintenance, on-site support and parts support as well as unplanned maintenance such as up-tower inspection and repair, condition monitoring, turbine performance and life extension solutions.

The FSA provides customers with operational assurance and the opportunity to work with GE to increase annual energy production and reduced cost of electricity.

“With an experienced field team on-site, the wind turbines will be maintained at a high operating level, enabling Taiwan Power to maximize performance and profitability,” said Andy Holt, general manager of wind services for GE.

“Whenever there is an issue, GE experts will respond quickly and skillfully, keeping any turbine downtime to a minimum.”

GE service agreements are supported by the company’s vast resources, including global service facilities and a network of skilled, highly trained local technicians that are closely connected to GE’s engineering organization.

GE has worked with Taiwan Power Company for decades in the nuclear power and gas turbine sectors and in the wind business since 2005.

Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. is engaged in power generation from fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. A state-owned electric power utility, the company’s principal business activities include power development, power supply and investment in power-related business. Taiwan Power has a generating capacity of 38,082MW and serves about 11.9 million customers.

For more information, visit www.GE.com.

EDF Renewable Energy, formerly enXco, today announced that the 161MW Spinning Spur Wind Project, located in Oldham County, Texas approximately 30 miles west of Amarillo, is operational and supplying electricity to the regional transmission grid.

The project, comprised of 70 Siemens 2.3MW turbines, will deliver carbon-free electricity for the benefit of Southwestern Public Service Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, under a 15-year power purchase agreement and will generate clean electricity sufficient to supply approximately 50,000 average homes. EDF Renewable Services, formerly enXco Service Corporation, will service the balance-of-plant during the turbine warranty period.

“Texas leads the nation in installed wind capacity, due to robust wind resources, a business friendly environment, and supportive stakeholders at the state and local levels,” commented Ryan Pfaff, Executive Vice President of EDF Renewable Energy. “Spinning Spur represents EDF Renewable Energy’s first project in Texas, and we look forward to future opportunities to build on newly established partnerships with the project’s landowners, the local community, and Southwestern Public Service Company.”

Cielo Wind Services, Inc.  (Cielo) of Austin, Texas participated with EDF Renewable Energy in the construction management of the project.  “The Cielo team directed a project spending program for construction contracting with Oldham County businesses and Southwestern Public Service Company customers,” cited Walt Hornaday, a Cielo executive. “The local property tax incentives and Southwestern Public Service Company’s long term wind purchase directly resulted in hundreds of jobs during construction.”

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

Invenergy Wind LLC (“Invenergy”) today announced an investment of approximately $500 million by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (“the Caisse”) in a portfolio of approximately 1,500MW of operating wind farms in the United States and Canada that are owned and operated by Invenergy. Following the transaction, Invenergy remains the majority controlling shareholder.

The Caisse will have a material financial interest in 11 wind projects in the United States and 2 wind projects in Canada. Included in this portfolio is the Le Plateau wind farm located in Québec. Le Plateau is a 138.6MW wind farm located in the Gaspésie region which has been in commercial operation since early 2012. The project sells all of its renewable energy to Hydro-Québec under a long-term contract.

“Invenergy is pleased to enter into this strategic relationship with the Caisse,” said Jim Murphy, Invenergy’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “The Caisse is a world-class asset management firm and we find strong synergies between our operating and their investment philosophies.”

“Through this investment, the Caisse becomes a partner of Invenergy, one of the most significant wind industry players in North America,” said Macky Tall, Senior Vice-President, Infrastructure, at the Caisse. “In addition to generating stable and predictable long-term returns, the projects will enable us to broaden our presence in a forward-looking sector — renewable energy — in Québec, Canada and the United States.”

For more information, visit www.lacaisse.com/en.

Google has announced substantial equity investment in the 161MW Spinning Spur wind farm in Oldham County, Texas. This investment is the first that Google has made in Texas renewable energy but follows a long history of energy investments, especially in wind. The Spinning Spur project joins ten other renewable energy projects in Google’s portfolio, which together are capable of producing up to 2GW of power.

Jeff Clark, Executive Director of The Wind Coalition applauded Google’s decision to invest in Texas wind saying, “Google has been a leader in revolutionizing technologies to improve the products and industries that touch people’s lives. In the field of energy Google has led by example, seeking out ways to improve energy efficiency and by harnessing renewable power to meet their energy needs while reducing their environmental impact.”

“This first investment in Texas follows Google’s incredible track record of wind energy investments across the nation. Google knows that wind is a mainstream, reliable, and affordable source of energy and we welcome their investment and commitment here,” said Clark. “This investment is a testament to the incredible wind energy resources found in Texas and the visionary state policies that have made Texas the nation’s wind power leader.”

The Spinning Spur project is located roughly 35 miles from Amarillo and was developed by EDF Renewable Energy, a member of The Wind Coalition. EDF Renewable Energy is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the energy market including generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply, and trading. The project will utilize 70 Siemens 2.3MW turbines.  The electricity produced has been contracted to SPS, a utility that primarily serves Texas and New Mexico. Spinning Spur is expected to produce enough energy to power over 60,000 average US homes.

The Timken Company announced its acquisition of the assets of Wazee Companies, LLC, a regional leader providing motor, generator, wind and industrial crane services to diverse end markets including oil and gas, wind, agriculture, material handling and construction.  The addition of Wazee to The Timken Company’s process industries segment further expands the footprint of the Timken industrial services business.

Based in Denver, Colo., Wazee had trailing 12-month sales through December 2012 of approximately $30 million. The acquisition brings Timken additional diversified services including motor rewind, generator rebuild, electric controls, industrial bridge cranes and uptower wind maintenance and repair, operating from four western U.S. locations.

“We continue to focus our strategy on further diversifying the Timken services portfolio,” said Carl Rapp, vice president of industrial services for Timken.  “Wazee complements our industrial repair capabilities at existing customers and takes us into critical motor and generator services.

“Wazee has a strong reputation in the region it serves and is led by an experienced management team,” said Rapp. “They bring great technical skills and provide an excellent footprint for us to expand our bearing and gearbox repair services.” Wazee currently operates out of four locations—two in the Denver area, one in Pasco, Wash., and another in Casper, Wyo. Wazee has more than 100 employees.

The purchase includes assets from Wazee’s 2011 acquisition of H&N Electric, Inc., which also offers repair, maintenance and overhaul services for critical motors and wind generators in the Pacific Northwest region.

Evance Wind Turbines, a world leading manufacturer of small wind turbines, is delighted to announce that its 5kW R9000 turbine has achieved full certification from the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) — the US independent body that certifies small turbines that meet or exceed its performance and safety requirements.

The Evance R9000 successfully passed rigorous safety, function, performance and durability testing, in accordance with the AWEA Standard, to become one of only four turbines to achieve full certification from the SWCC.

Kevin Parslow, CEO of Evance Wind Turbines: “It is great news that we have received full SWCC certification for our R9000 turbine. There are R9000 small wind turbines installed across some 17 states, and we’re looking to expand this significantly during 2013. Customers already know our turbine is highly efficient and durable, however it’s good to receive independent confirmation from the SWCC — not only promoting consumer confidence and industry credibility, but also helping to establish pathways to qualify for incentives.”

Montana resident Mike Langert, is already benefitting from efficient energy generation from his R9000 small wind turbine. “Our home has been built to be energy efficient — with well-planned windows, lighting, insulation, and a GSHP heating/cooling system — but we still use 12,000 to 15,000kWh of electricity a year. With the Evance turbine now generating up to 75 percent of our requirements, we are saving a substantial amount on energy costs and reducing our use of power generated from fossil fuels.”

The Evance R9000 is a UK-designed and manufactured 3-blade, upwind, horizontal axis wind turbine with a swept area of 23.8 square meters. The AWEA Rated Annual Energy is 9,160kWh, for one year based on an average wind speed of 5 m/s (11.2 mph), and the AWEA Rated Power is 4.7kW at 11 m/s. The SWCC Consumer Label, Certificate and Summary Report can be found here.

For more information, visit www.evancewind.com.

Ingeniería para el Control del Ruido (ICR) has recently finished the final phase of the R&D project Invent, based on the study of the Operational Modal Anlaysis (OMA), for the wind turbine manufacturer Alstom Wind.

ICR’s work on this project consisted of the software development for the realization of OMA in wind turbines. The main aspect which sets this software apart from the others available on the market is its capability to automate the process of OMA. From temporary records, in different speed wind, the software is able to automatically generate diagrams of the evolution of the frequencies of the wind turbine in relation to wind speed. Finally, ICR has conducted special training of the engineering team at Alstom Wind in the implementation of the developed software.

For more information, visit www.icrsl.com/en.

geoAMPS, a technology company specializing in software solutions to manage land rights and infrastructure assets, has joined the worldwide community of companies in the Esri Partner Network as a Silver Tier Partner.

“We’re excited to become a member of the Esri Partner Network,” Yogesh Khandelwal, geoAMPS President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “It further validates our commitment to quality.”

By becoming a Silver Tier Partner, geoAMPS taps into the Esri Partner Network for technological and marketplace strategies to develop and market geoAMPS business offerings built on the Esri software platform.

“We like to take the educational approach, and develop best practices in a way to leverage mapping technology in day-to-day operations for the betterment of our product and the industry. In doing so, we arrive at creative solutions and better decision-making capability by our clients,” Khandelwal said.

Even before becoming a Silver Tier Partner, geoAMPS utilized Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) software and integrated it into each of the software products it offers. geoAMPS has developed products tailored to meet the needs of companies and organizations involved in land services, alternative energy, mine exploration and production, transportation, land reclamation, surveying, mapping, document management, communications and government.

“We welcome geoAMPS as a Silver Tier Partner,” Amy Garner, Esri Partner Coordinator, said. “The ability to leverage online, offline and mobile technologies within the land rights, infrastructure assets and data management markets makes geoAMPS a perfect fit for the Esri Partner Network.”

“We promote Esri solutions to our clients,” Khandelwal said. “We show them the benefits of utilizing that technology. They may not have been previously aware of those benefits.”

For more information, visit www.geoamps.com or www.esri.com.

Vestas has received a 42MW order from Akuo Energy for 14 units of the V112-3.0MW wind turbine for the Minas wind power plant in Uruguay. This will be the first V112-3.0MW wind power plant to be installed in the country.

The contract for the Minas wind power plant comprises delivery, transportation, installation and commissioning of the turbines, a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system as well as a 10-year Active Management Output (AOM) 4000 service agreement. The AOM 4000 is a full-scope service contract, consisting of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and consumables, which offers solid risk management for customers who want an availability guarantee measured against an agreed threshold. This type of contract offers customers assured performance avoiding unforeseen operational costs of any kind. Delivery of the turbines is scheduled for the third quarter of 2013 and the wind power plant is expected to be commercially operational by the end of the same year.

The order has been placed by Akuo Energy, a private French group specialized in the development of industrial power production plants from renewable resources such as wind, sun, water, biogas, biomass and biofuel with wind power representing 85 percent of the group’s activities.

“We are glad to be the first ones to install Vestas’ V112-3.0MW turbine in the country as we believe that it will deliver an efficient power production and, thus, a high return on investment,” states Juan Negro, CEO of Akuo Energy Uruguay, who continues, “At Akuo Energy we are always looking for the best technological solutions based on the resources available and specific local requirements of each particular project and we chose Vestas to provide us with its technologically advanced wind generating solutions for cost-effective wind power plants.”

“It is a pleasure for us to announce the signature of this new contract with Akuo Energy for Uruguay, whose renewable energy agenda we have always been strongly supporting,” states Miguel Picardo Troyano, VP Vestas South America (excl. Brazil), who continues, “We look forward to continuing working with Akuo Energy and expanding wind power in the country.”

Juan Araluce, Chief Sales Officer of Vestas Wind Systems A/S concludes: “The V112-3.0MW is a versatile and high-performing turbine which allows an efficient power production and gives our customers a solid return on investment. Like all Vestas’ turbines, the V112-3.0MW has been developed by identifying customers’ key needs and translating them into highly reliable wind generating solutions.”

As of 30 June 2012, Vestas has delivered 101 units of V112-3.0MW turbines worldwide representing a total capacity of 303MW, and it has received more than 3GW of firm orders for this model.

The Minas wind power plant project will have an estimated annual production of more than 190,000MWh per year, which will save the environment from almost 59,000 tons of CO2 emissions on an annual basis.

For more information, visit www.vestas.com.

After closing out a year with significant investments in low-emission generation, CPS Energy is kicking off 2013 with 200MW of new wind power. Los Vientos I, a coastal windfarm, is now online and supplying power to Greater San Antonio and the state’s electric grid.

CPS Energy executed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Duke Energy for the power from Los Vientos I, raising its total wind-energy capacity to 1,059MW. The partnership will bring significant educational investments to the San Antonio area while helping CPS Energy shield its customers from environmental regulatory risks by investing in clean energy and innovative technologies, essential components of CPS Energy’s New Energy Economy.

“Coastal wind has the potential to provide us with electric power during summer afternoon hours when energy demand is highest,” said Cris Eugster, executive vice president and chief strategy and technology officer. “It’s a clean generation source for our customers at a locked-in, competitive price, and complements our investments last year in natural gas and solar.”

In addition to Los Vientos, CPS Energy purchases the power generated at Duke Energy Renewables’ Blue Wing Solar Power Project in San Antonio.

Los Vientos is located on 30,000 acres of land in Willacy County, 120 miles south of Corpus Christi and 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. With 87 Siemens wind turbines, rated at 2.3MW each, the facility will generate enough electricity for nearly 40,000 area homes. Most turbines are rated at 1MW.

Wind energy has proven to be beneficial locally and statewide. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) cited at least four new wind power records in 2012.

For more information, visit www.cpsenergy.com. 

Capital Safety, home of the DBI-SALA® and PROTECTA® brands of fall protection equipment, introduces the new and improved DBI-SALA® EZ-Stop™ Lanyard. Lighter, stronger and more durable than ever, the EZ-Stop Lanyard is the industry’s first modular lanyard designed with components that can be replaced individually when worn or damaged, rather than having to purchase an entire new unit. It also features the smallest shock pack in the world, as well as the lightest and strongest webbing and steel rebar hooks on the market.

The new EZ-Stop Lanyard was created as a cost-effective alternative to competing products. The patented one-handed quick connect design offers maximum versatility, allowing users to change pieces on the spot to accommodate various tasks and job requirements, such as leg length, rebar hook size and single or twin leg configuration.

“We base a lot of our new product development on what we hear from customers; what their specific needs are,” said Jacob Shevick, soft goods product manager at Capital Safety at Capital Safety. “We kept hearing that there was an industry need for a product with replaceable parts — not only for the cost-effectiveness of it, but also for the flexibility. The EZ-Stop is a unique product that meets those needs across industries.”

The EZ-Stop Lanyard also features the lightest and strongest components on the market. The new shock pack is 66 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than competing products, making it the smallest available shock pack in the world. It is equipped with 3/4-inch webbing (the thinnest ever offered), which reduces weight and excess bulk for the wearer. The updated steel and aluminum rebar hooks are another industry first for DBI-SALA, featuring a patented locking nose design and a dual-action 3,600-pound gate for ANSI compliance and increased strength.

All components are made with Repel™ water repellent webbing to reduce the attraction of mold and dirt, leading to better abrasion resistance. The EZ-Stop Lanyard’s superior design is equipped with i-Safe™ technology, which allows it to be tracked in inventory and tagged with usage data. The EZ-Stop meets all applicable OSHA and ANSI industry standards.

For more information, visit www.capitalsafety.com.