The Clean Energy Entrepreneurs’ Network expanded from the Solar Energy Entrepreneurs’ Network is one of the largest clean energy networking events in Central Texas attracting over 300 attendees every quarter. The CleanTX Foundation brings this event to the Long Center to recognize the broader aspects of clean energy generation, storage, smart grid, and application technologies and other renewable resources. This venue allows Austin to shine in both technology and arts. Who should attend?

• Entrepreneurs who are starting, or looking to start  a clean energy business
• Investors looking to invest in the fast growing clean energy industry
• Technologists looking to share ideas for new products or services
• Employers in the clean energy field looking to hire  people
• People looking to join start-ups
• Attorneys, bankers and service providers interested in growing with the clean industry.

When: Wednesday August 17, 2011
6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
  
Where: Long Center, Kodosky Lounge
701 West Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas  

To learn more contact Melissa Rabeaux, executive director of the CleanTX Foundation, at mrabeaux@cleantx.org. Go online to www.cleantx.org.

WHAT: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) will join Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta on Wednesday, August 10, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT for a news teleconference to preview the upcoming “National Clean Energy Summit 4.0: The Future of Energy.” They will address the theme of this year’s summit and the impact past summits have had on shaping today’s clean energy policy, as well as efforts to boost clean tech jobs.

The summit will occur on Tuesday, August 30, at Aria Resort and Casino at CityCenter. Co-sponsored by the Center for American Progress, the Clean Energy Project, MGM Resorts International, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), and UNLV, this year’s National Clean Energy Summit will once again convene veteran business executives, energy policy innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and senior public officials from both parties, along with citizens, and students, to discuss the future of our nation’s energy in an effort to adopt more advanced energy policies, create jobs, and make our nation more competitive in the global clean energy economy.

Notable speakers at this year’s summit include Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, California Governor Jerry Brown, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, and MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren.

WHO:    Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
WHO:    John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress

WHEN:  Wednesday, August 10, 2011
WHEN:  1:00 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT

RSVP:     Please contact Wendy Zamaripa at (702) 737-3100 or wzamaripa@kirvindoak.com to request the teleconference information.

With a growth strategy that moves beyond technology and materials for wire and cable jacketing, insulation, semiconductive, and specialty compounds for the power and telecommunications markets, Dow Wire & Cable has made the decision to change its business name to Dow Electrical & Telecommunications.

This is an important step for a business already focused on power and telecommunications cable technology to further fortify its commitment to bring material science solutions to these industries and markets that no other business or company can do in the world. Recent advances in bio-based chemistry have enabled the business unit to play a larger role in personal electronics, appliance, transportation, and building and construction markets.

“Electricity and electrical components are a common denominator across all power and telecommunications resources. After six decades serving these important markets, the time is right to leverage the Dow portfolio in an even wider capacity to bring new technology and products to market,” says Tim Laughlin, general manager, Dow Electrical & Telecommunications. “Beyond this organic growth, we also are exploring several potential alliances with companies whose products and experience enhance or complement our own.”

The Dow Chemical Company has an R&D and materials science heritage that is rich in solutions enabled by plastics, composites, additives and fluids. Combining these assets with Dow Electrical & Telecommunications knowledge and expertise, along with those of other strategic partners, creates a significant opportunity to bring even more value to the growing and dynamic power and telecommunications markets.

Dow Electrical & Telecommunications, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, is a leading global provider of products, technology, solutions, and expertise that sets standards for reliability, longevity, efficiency, ease of installation, and protection that the power and telecommunications industries can count on in the transmission, distribution, and consumption of power, voice, and data. Understanding that collaboration is essential to success, Dow Electrical & Telecommunications works together with cable makers, other industry suppliers, utilities, municipalities, testing institutes, and other organizations around the world to develop solutions and create mutual value that will sustain these industries for years to come. For more information visit www.dow.com/electrical.

Nordex has won the largest order awarded for an onshore wind project in Sweden to date: as of summer 2012 the turbine manufacturer will be building “Blaiken,” a 150MW wind farm. The customers are Skellefteå Kraft, a leading energy supplier in Sweden and Fortum, one of the largest power utilities in Europe, based in Finland. Skellefteå Kraft and Fortum have placed a firm order for 60 turbines for Blaiken, thus accelerating the originally intended call-off schedule of the master agreement entered into last year. The N100/2500 machines will be fitted with Nordex’ new anti-icing system for rotor blades.

The successful development of the anti-icing system was a key criterion for the order. Nordex designed this system especially for sites where there is a risk of ice forming on the rotor blade. This can result in substantial production losses. An integrated heating system now prevents icing, thereby maximising the yield.

In autumn 2010 Nordex installed the first N100/2500 turbines with anti-icing in Jokkmokksliden, the forerunner project to Blaiken. The wind turbine manufacturer tested and optimized the system on the basis of three prototypes and one reference machine. “The cost-benefit ratio of anti-icing persuaded us to have all the turbines equipped with this innovative system,” says Risto Andsten, vice president of renewable energy at Fortum.

“Our new anti-icing system is the result of collaboration between different functions within our company, and we are pleased to now see the system put into commercial operation on one of the largest projects in Europe,” according to Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, chief sales officer at Nordex SE. “We are now able to offer an attractive option for all customers planning projects at locations with ice and frost.”

As a technological leader among suppliers of megawatt turbines, Nordex benefits particularly from the global trend towards large-scale wind turbines. The product range includes one of the largest series wind power systems in the world (N80/N90/N100, 2,500 kW) with more 1,500 of these turbines having been produced to date. This means that Nordex has a crucial edge in terms of experience in operating large turbines compared to most of its competitors in the sector. Overall, Nordex has installed a more than 4,400 turbines with a capacity in excess of 6,600 MW around the world. With exports accounting for over 95 percent of its business, Nordex also has a strong position in international high-growth regions. The company has offices and subsidiaries in 19 countries. In total, the group employs more than 2,500 people worldwide. Learn more at www.nordex-online.com.

VISTAGY announces that Nordex has purchased FiberSIM® software to streamline its entire design-to-manufacturing process for composite wind turbine blades. Nordex is using FiberSIM to develop detailed ply designs, accurate flat patterns and manufacturing output, and complete documentation for the engineering release.

FiberSIM will enable Nordex to enhance the automation of its product development process and optimize assembly glue gaps. Nordex also notes that FiberSIM is a powerful tool for composite design and manufacturing when used within its Creo Elements/Pro (previously Pro/ENGINEER) CAD system. FiberSIM is fully integrated into the PTC Creo Elements/Pro, Dassault Systèmes CATIA, and Siemens NX CAD systems.

“Transferring data between design and analysis can be extremely time consuming,” says Hendrik Klein, chief designer in the Nordex Rotor Blade Division. “But during the testing phase we recognized that if we had a design tool that had a seamless interface to our CAE analysis tools, it would enable us to significantly reduce the product development cycle. FiberSIM also enhances the automation of our development processes, helps us improve blade quality, and alleviates time-consuming reworks in the factory.”

“We’re very pleased that Nordex, one of the premier names in wind energy, has recognized the value of FiberSIM,” says Dr. Olivier Guillermin, director of product and market strategy for VISTAGY (see his article “Composite Blades of the Future” in this issue). “As the wind industry moves toward bigger and more complex blade designs, we’re seeing a maturation of the wind blade engineering process worldwide, and VISTAGY’s products and services are playing a key role in that development.”

VISTAGY, Inc., is a leading global provider of industry-specific engineering software and services that create rich product descriptions for better-informed decision making early in the design cycle. Learn more at www.vistagy.com.

Ontario’s 2,125MW of signed contracts for new wind energy developments represent a multibillion-dollar economic opportunity for the province and a chance to create thousands of much-needed jobs. A landmark study of the economic benefits of the wind energy sector in Ontario demonstrates that meeting the wind energy targets identified under the province’s Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP) would result in billions of dollars of private sector investment in the province and the creation of more than 80,000 person-years of employment between 2011 and 2018. Commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and performed by ClearSky Advisors, a leading independent research and advisory firm, the study is the most comprehensive examination to date of the economic benefits of the wind energy sector in the province.

“There is no question the Green Energy Act and its Feed-in-Tariff program have made Ontario a leading destination for wind energy investment in North America and around the world,” says Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. “An ambitious vision for wind energy development and a stable policy environment is critical to ensure we fully capture Ontario’s wind energy opportunity. This industry is right now driving much-needed job creation in places like Windsor and Niagara while reinvigorating this province’s proud manufacturing tradition. We must continue to build on successes to date. Any failure to proceed with and respect signed contracts would cause investors to lose faith in the Ontario market, ultimately putting jobs and investment at risk at a time when this province needs both.”

In addition to 2,125MW of signed contracts in place today, applications have already been made for an additional 6,672MW of wind energy development in Ontario. Ontario is Canada’s wind energy leader with 1,636MW of current installed capacity. Each 100MW of wind energy development represents a minimum of 100 jobs, $2.5 million in private investment, and $300,000 in revenue to municipal governments in the form of taxes and an equal amount to rural landowners in the form of lease payments. Each 100MW of wind energy also provides Ontarians with enough clean, affordable electricity to power about 30,000 homes.

“Wind energy investors around the world are looking to jurisdictions that have clear and well defined targets for wind energy development and a comprehensive and competitive policy framework to support such investment going forward,” says Hornung. “These conditions exist today in Ontario and the wind energy industry is poised to invest significantly more in Ontario if these conditions remain in place. The wind energy industry is keen to invest, create green jobs, and build a cleaner electricity system in Ontario.”

CanWEA is the voice of the wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy throughout Canada on behalf of its more than 450 members. Learn more at www.canwea.ca.

3TIER, a global leader in renewable energy risk analysis, announces the release of new 90 Meter Wind Prospecting Tools. The Web-based service gives wind project developers and financiers immediate access to 90 meter resolution wind resource data across the continental U.S.—the highest resolution data currently available on demand. Such finely detailed data reveal how even small terrain features will affect wind power generation, enabling anyone with a financial stake in a project to better manage spatial risk during the earliest stages of project development.

“This low cost offering provides wind project developers and financiers with an unrivaled ability to pinpoint promising sites and begin the process of assessing their long-term potential,” says Scott Eichelberger, director of resource assessment. “It lets them more quickly and accurately evaluate sites before deciding whether to invest in more costly on-site observational campaigns and in-depth resource assessments that are required to generate ‘bankable’ production estimates.”

3TIER developed the 90 Meter Wind Prospecting Tools as a direct result of client interest in affordable access to high-resolution wind resource data. Clients can now purchase instant, online access to the entire continental U.S. or just a specific region of interest. The tools provide high-resolution wind resource data at multiple hub heights via an online interface that allows clients to view annual and monthly mean wind speed data, Weibull distribution parameters, and wind direction data. In addition to viewing the data online, clients will be able to download data in GIS format for a small incremental cost.

To produce an accurate and cost-effective 90-meter resolution dataset, 3TIER used a combination of mesoscale numerical weather prediction modeling and its own proprietary downscaling technology. Blending the two approaches achieves a commercially desirable balance between cost and accuracy, giving clients an affordable tool to effectively manage their wind resource risk during the preliminary stages of project development.

“We have created a very affordable point of entry into a suite of services that help our clients manage the risk of wind resource variability,” Eichelberger says. “At each step, we balance the accuracy we can achieve with the cost of achieving it, providing a laddered approach that ultimately yields the level of certainty each client requires to effectively manage their wind resource risk.” To learn more go to www.3tier.com.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will hold its 2011 customer support seminar September 26-28, 2011 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Presentations will follow the theme of “Tapping Into Your Potential” and include manufacturer case studies, a dealer panel discussion, technology-use sessions and plenty of networking opportunities.

This AEM seminar will help attendees offer a full “customer support experience” to their product buyers, and it reinforces the bottom-line importance of superior product support in customer satisfaction. The seminar is targeted to equipment manufacturing professionals in areas including product support, service and parts sales and marketing, customer support training, technical publications, warranty administration, parts distribution and parts inventory management. During the seminar, AEM will reveal results of its biennial surveys on parts policies and practices of whole goods manufacturers as well as companies involved in attachments, components and supplies.

“The History of Harley” is the opening keynote presentation, emphasizing the important connection between sales and its iconic customer experience, and the seminar includes a tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum. Noted regional author and historian John Gurda will provide insights into the role Milwaukee played in the growth of AEM’s industry sectors and the people and products that “made Milwaukee famous.” Topics in the AEM 2011 customer support seminar include:

• Marketing and the customer experience (AGCO case study)
• Offshore or reshore – an objective look (Harry Moser, U.S. manufacturing advocate and  
   chairman emeritus, Agie Charmillles)
• Dealer panel on key issues, needs
• Customer value-loyalty models (Dressta)
• Contact centers/call support and customer service (Manitowoc case study)
• Telematics and interactive surveys shaping the customer experience (JCB case study)
• Tier 4 impact on training, safety, maintenance (Caterpillar)
• Parts and service – understanding and meeting customer expectations (CNH case study)
• Social media in product support (Miller Electric case study)
• Technical training – Internet advances (Stihl case study)
• Animation and e-learning in the future of interactive training (Almon, Deere & Company)

AEM education programs offer CEUs (Continuing Education Unit credits). Complete seminar information and registration details are posted online in the “education” section of www.aem.org.

In the quest for more efficient supply-chain operations, wind energy manufacturers are devoting more and more time to managing their relationships with suppliers. So what is the key to maintaining a long-term supplier relationship, and how can suppliers ensure they live up to their clients expectations?

With the increasingly trans-national nature of manufacturing and supply chain activities, many suppliers must now also prove that they possess the infrastructure capability to roll out components, modules or products on a global scale, while also providing assurances over its on-going financial stability. “OEMs look for short and flexible reaction times. Suppliers must also support improvements in the yield of customers products,” says John Kop, Commercial Director at Netherlands-based Advanced Tower Systems. Jaime Anso, from Acciona Windpower, says that “We consider that supplier relationships must bring value to both companies, as we understand that that is the only way to build long lasting relationships.”

Reflecting the importance of forging industry relationships, leading manufacturers and suppliers have committed to meeting this September to address the most crucial issues of key selection criteria and inter-company requirements.

With 14 turbine manufacturers, more than 10 suppliers in addition to offshore owner/operators, the Global Wind Turbine Supply Chain Conference—to be held September 7-8, 2011, at the Hotel Kempinski in Hamburg, Germany—is set to be the premier forum for suppliers to connect with their customers and determine how to move forward in establishing key relationships and securing long term contracts. Learn more at www.windenergyupdate.com/supply-chain. Also contact Will Broad, director of Wind Energy Update, at +44 (0)207 375 7516 or will@windenergyupdate.com.

Capital Safety announces that Joe Reimer has joined the company as president of the Americas region. He has more than 25 years of experience in the global personal protection equipment industry. For the past 15 he has been president of the fall protection division of Dalloz and senior vice president of the height safety group within Sperian Protection and Honeywell. Reimer will be based at the company’s Red Wing, Minnesota, facility and have responsibility over the business in North and South America.

Reimer has a long history as a strong advocate for height safety and the expansion of fall protection standards, including serving as a board member on the International Safety Equipment Association. “Joe’s background in fall protection and drive toward true globalization makes him an ideal leader for the growth of the industry and our company,” says Anders Pettersson, Capital Safety CEO. “He joins Capital Safety on the heels of a record year, with some phenomenal opportunities ahead of us in 2011 and beyond. With Joe on our team we will continue to strengthen our leadership position in the U.S. and Canada and increase our aggressive expansion within Latin America.”

Capital Safety is the world’s leading manufacturer of fall protection, confined space, and rescue equipment, with 20 operating sites worldwide and a passionate commitment to quality, innovation, and safety. Capital Safety is home of the DBI-SALA, UNILINE and PROTECTA brands. All of Capital Safety’s fall protection and rescue systems are backed by extensive training, knowledgeable technical assistance, and professional customer service. For more information call (800) 328-6146 or visit www.capitalsafety.com.

To further boost the productivity of the wind farm design process, GL Garrad Hassan presented an updated version of its WindFarmer software at AWEA Windpower 2011. The software facilitates the layout of wind farms to maximize the power produced while minimizing the environmental impact. The new release of the software offers project planners and developers an even more powerful tool for wind farm design and energy yield calculations.

Users of Geographic Information System (GIS) systems benefit from WindFarmer 4.2 now supporting a wider range of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Shape files, giving more options for importing object locations (turbines, houses, viewpoints, etc.), boundaries, and terrain contours. The new version provides developers with new tools for the design and optimization of regular turbine layouts, and improved modeling of array effects between large wind farms. The environmental engineer will find an updated shadow flicker analysis that uses map projection information to automatically detect longitude and latitude and True North-Grid North deviation. Met data analysts will benefit from its expanded MCP+ Module that provides more versatile data displays and analysis, for example allowing a choice of the number of direction sectors and the scaling of TAB files.

WindFarmer previously supported 10 languages—Chinese, English, German, Greek, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Turkish, and Portuguese—to which the 4.2 release adds Arabic and Polish language versions. GL Garrad Hassan provides not only the software but training and technical support in all 12 languages.

Professionals around the world work with WindFarmer to design both onshore and offshore wind farms of all sizes. This software tool integrates wind farm energy and environmental assessments with wind farm layout design and data handling. It is acknowledged not only for its user-friendly interface and the speed and accuracy of its calculations, but also for the transparency of its data models. For more information visit www.gl-garradhassan.com/windfarmer.

Winergy Drive Systems exhibited its latest innovation in products, including its new 3MW HybridDrive and a new 2.75MW gearbox, at this year’s American Wind Energy Association WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition. The 3MW HybridDrive combines a gearbox and a permanent magnet generator into one product. The direct linkage of the two-stage gearbox and the permanent magnet driven generator shortens the drive train by approximately 35 percent. This design allows for a significant reduction of the nacelle size and minimization of the overall weight, both important factors for on and offshore applications. This solution makes for an easy fit into any nacelle configuration.

The new HybridDrive complements the company’s existing portfolio of gearboxes, couplings, generators, and converters for the wind industry. “For 30 years, Winergy has been developing innovative products and solutions for our wind industry customers,” says Stefan Tenbrock, CEO. “With our new HybridDrive we have developed a compact product that offers exceptional power efficiency and great serviceability.”

The HybridDrive has a modular design, featuring single elements for assembly/disassembly, and can therefore be serviced through the nacelle internal service crane. “This represents an essential advantage compared to other existing integrated solutions which require removal of the complete nacelle in service cases,” Tenbrock says.

The new 2.75MW gearbox will be installed in more than 300 wind turbines as part of a wind farm being developed in Oregon, according to Terry Royer, CEO of Winergy’s American operations. The project is considered to be the world’s largest land-based wind farm, covering 30 miles and generating an estimated 845 megawatts of electricity, or an estimated 2 billion kWh annually—enough to provide electricity to 235,000 homes.

“We take much pride in all of our products, and our 2.75 MW gearbox, assembled in our Elgin, Illinois, production facility, presents a new benchmark for our team,” accoreding to Royer. “We anticipate a strong interest from companies looking for the next generation of wind energy solutions.” To learn more visit www.winergy-group.com.

NRG Systems, manufacturer of wind measurement equipment for the global wind energy industry, announces the introduction of its new IceFree Hybrid™ XT turbine control sensor designed to provide longer bearing life and improved vane response characteristics. Suitable for all weather conditions, including offshore, this sensor meets industry demands for reliability and performance while helping wind farm operators deliver more power more of the time.

“For wind farm owners, operators, and turbine manufacturers, getting more power from the wind and extending the life of their assets is of primary importance,” says Larry Jacobs, marketing manager. “Turbine control sensors help them do just that. They are essential devices that operate in turbulent, harsh conditions and help control some of the most critical functions of a turbine.”

The IceFree Hybrid XT incorporates protected bearings to guard against dirt and dust, a twin-tail vane design for better performance in off-axis winds, patent-pending magnetic damping for improved stability and accuracy, and enhanced heating properties. “The Hybrid XT represents the next iteration of our turbine control product line,” he adds. “Ease of use, durability and accuracy were primary drivers for NRG Systems in developing this new sensor.”

NRG Systems is an independently owned company that has served the global wind energy industry for 29 years. Its wind measurement systems and turbine control sensors can be found on every continent in more than 145 countries, serving electric utilities, wind farm developers, turbine manufacturers, research institutes, government agencies, and universities. For more information call (802) 482-2255, e-mail sales@nrgsystems.com, or visit www.nrgsystems.com.

Dow Formulated Systems announces the introduction of the COMPAXX™ 700 foam core system for wind blades, the first in a line of new core materials that will help manufacturers extend blade life through the creation of high performance sandwich composites. Extensive sandwich panel fatigue testing following the latest Germanische Lloyd requirements showed COMPAXX 700 exhibits long-term dynamic behavior and shear strength properties yielding lightweight composites with excellent mechanical strength and fatigue resistance. These properties, coupled with peel strength about three times higher than the historical reference of core material PVC 60 kg/m3, create the intimate core-to-skin bond necessary to achieve blade durability. In addition, COMPAXX 700 offers a high run-to-run consistency leading to predictable mechanical properties that structural engineers can use to create more precise blades.

“The COMPAXX 700 foam core, AIRSTONE™ epoxy systems, and our ongoing innovations and capital investments, reflect Dow’s strong commitment to meeting the needs of the global wind power market with industry leading technology, reliable product supply, and consistent high quality,” according to Jean Luc Guillaume, global business leader for Wind Energy Systems for Dow Formulated Systems.

Dow Formulated Systems, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, is a global industry leader in the development and formulation of fully-formulated polyurethane and epoxy systems, focused on providing its customers worldwide with innovative tailor-made solutions through its Energy Efficiency, Alternative Energy & Composites, Infrastructure Life Preservation, Leisure & Lifestyle, and Industrial Castings and Adhesives businesses. Dow Formulated Systems manufactures and markets custom formulated rigid and semi-rigid, flexible, integral skin, and microcellular polyurethane foams and fully-formulated systems as well as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and binders used in applications ranging from residential and commercial construction, infrastructure repair, wind energy solutions, oil and gas, automotive, appliance, furniture, and shoe soles to decorative molding and athletic equipment. Striving to meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Formulated Systems operates a global network of 30 system houses. More information can be found at www.dow.com. 

The Molded Fiber Glass Companies (MFG), announces that the company’s plant in Gainesville, Texas, celebrated the shipment of their 1,000th set of 37-meter composite wind blades. Located 60 miles north of Dallas in the wind farm hotbed of the United States, the 155,000 square-foot facility has been manufacturing wind blades since 1997 and employs approximately 200 skilled workers. The shipment marking the milestone was comprised of 37-meter blades, for 1500kw turbines. This factory has also produced another 500 sets of other blades ranging from 24 to 34 meters.

MFG Texas is part of the Molded Fiber Glass Companies, which has been manufacturing wind turbine components since the 1988. Today wind turbine components comprise one of MFG’s largest business segments. With two factories building wind blades, two factories building nacelles, and one factory building spinners, MFG is one of North America’s leading supplier of composite components for the wind industry. They currently have wind component manufacturing facilities in Ohio, South Dakota, California, Alabama, and Texas.

“What’s interesting to consider is that collectively these blades have generated on the order of 4,234,000,000 kwh of electricity—enough power to supply 1,154,000 average households,” according to Gary Kanaby, director of sales for wind energy. “Our team is gratified to be part of an industry that is poised to make a meaningful contribution to cleaner, independent energy generation for North America.”

MFG is unique among suppliers of composite components to turbine equipment manufacturers, both in output capacity and in composite manufacturing technology. Well known around the world for pioneering the mass production of commercial products out of composites, the company’s internal R&D center is still at the forefront of innovation for composite materials and processes. For example, MFG’s newest 325,000 square-foot blade facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, opened in 2007, is the most advanced facility of its kind with an automated spray booth and robotic root drilling.

Molded Fiber Glass Companies is a leader in the field of reinforced plastics and composites, serving diverse markets with a variety of composite material systems. The company has 16 operating entities in the United States and Mexico, strategically focused to supply high value, high quality products and manufacturing services for applications such as wind energy, automotive, heavy truck, defense, and construction. For more information on the company’s wind component manufacturing capabilities e-mail Kanaby at gkanaby@moldedfiberglass.com or visit www.moldedfiberglass.com.

Mortenson Construction will soon break ground on the 44 megawatt Oak Glen Wind Farm, located on a 3,000-acre agricultural site located in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. The project’s owner is the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and its 11-member utilities. Avant Energy, a leading Minneapolis-based energy supply management company, is the developer and the overall project manager.

Mortenson’s scope of work will include the erection of 24, 1.8MW turbines and the construction of foundations, access roads, underground collection, and a 69kV substation. The project is expected to be operational by the end of 2011. “We’re delighted by the opportunity to partner with Minnesota Municipal Power and Avant Energy on our first project together that will help promote the continued growth of  wind energy in our state,” says Tim Maag, a vice president and general manager of Mortenson Construction’s Renewable Energy Groups.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, Minnesota installed 2,192 megawatts of wind energy in 2010 and is ranked as the fourth largest wind market in the United States. Mortenson has installed 1,466 megawatts of renewable energy in Minnesota through the first quarter of 2011, which represents approximately 55percent of the total megawatts throughout the state. Oak Glen is Mortenson’s 19th wind project built in Minnesota.

Since entering the renewable energy market in 1995, Mortenson Construction has become a leading builder of wind power facilities in North America, having built more than 100 wind projects throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to wind power, Mortenson’s Renewable Energy Groups also constructs facilities that generate solar power and other renewable resources, and it is a leading provider of transmission and distribution infrastructure. Go online to www.mortenson.com/wind.

At the WINDPOWER 2011 conference, Moog Industrial Group—a division of Moog Inc.—unveiled a new electric pitch system that offers wind turbine operators higher performance, reliability, additional safety, and lower maintenance costs to address key challenges faced by wind turbine manufacturers and operators. The Moog wind turbine pitch system is equipped with Moog’s new AC synchronous electromagnetic brushless servo motor, which meets the requirements of onshore and offshore wind turbines. The pitch systems also include Moog’s pitch servo drive and backup systems.

Pitch control systems are responsible for the precise positioning of blades, which enable wind turbines to operate at optimum speeds to ensure the highest availability and safety. The harsh conditions that turbines operate in require the pitch system and its components to face, among other things, low and unsteady wind speeds and ambient operating temperatures ranging from -30° C up to +50° C (-22 to +122° F).

“Striking a fine balance between parameters like performance, reliability, safety, and costs are key challenges facing wind turbine OEMs and operators,” says Mauro Gnecco, business development manager, wind energy. “When compared with conventional DC pitch systems, the AC brushless technology is designed to be a very high performance system with lower maintenance costs.”

“A key challenge for wind turbine manufacturers is the selection of a motion control supplier who is capable of providing a pitch control system that maximizes reliability and minimizes mechanical complexity,” according to Sal Spada, research director at ARC Advisory Group. “Pitch control systems combined with synchronous servo motors harness advanced technologies that deliver reliable and consistent performance enabling wind turbine manufacturers and operators to maximize productivity and ROI.”

Moog designed its new wind turbine pitch servo motor to withstand extreme temperatures, vibrations, and humidity. When coupled with the associated Moog wind turbine pitch servo drive, the motor has a very high peak power density and also has the capability to be controlled in sensorless mode, which enables the servo drive to control the motor in situations where position information is lost from the servo motor’s encoder or resolver.

Moog built its pitch servo motors to meet the requirements of corrosion class C5M (according to DIN 12944 standards) and with wind-proof connector technology. The motor is suitable for Hot Climate Versions (HCV) as well as Cold Climate Versions (CCV) in both onshore and offshore environments. For more information please visit www.moog.com/wind.

What is the level of customer acceptance and understanding of the smart grid? How can utilities further drive understanding and encourage significant and permanent changes in customer behavior? The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) will delve into these topics with national experts at their Fall Conference in Dallas October 3-6, 2011. The conference titled “Customer Behavior & The Smart Grid” includes a keynote address by Dr. Julie M. Albright from the University of Southern California whose latest research focuses on the social and behavioral aspects of energy efficiency and smart grid technology adoption. Most recently Albright was instrumental in securing a $121 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) for a smart grid demonstration project.

Oncor is the Dallas-based host utility for this event that will draw industry professionals from across the country. The conference will feature a series of comprehensive educational discussions delivered by industry thought leaders. Attendees will also be able to take advantage of numerous networking opportunities, and have the chance to learn about the latest products, services and solutions from 30 exhibitors and industry innovators.

AESP provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience. Its members work in the energy services industry and represent electric and natural gas utilities, public benefits associations, regulatory and non-profit entities, vendors, manufacturers, and consulting firms. For a detailed agenda or additional information about the conference, and for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.aesp.org or call (480) 704-5900.

With 30 N100/2500 wind turbines and a total capacity of 75 MW, the Germinon wind farm located to the west of Paris is currently the largest Nordex wind farm in France. On April 6, 2011, the customer GDF Suez officially inaugurated the wind farm. Germinon features the first Gamma Generation series turbines, which Nordex launched in spring 2010. In developing this high-efficiency class, Nordex drew on its 10 years of experience in the operation of multi-megawatt turbines. The Gamma Generation combines proven technology with specific enhancements derived from the latest research and meeting current market requirements.

With the N100/2500 turbine, utility GDF Suez selected a wind power system that makes optimum use of the mean wind speeds of 7.4 m/s prevailing at the site. As a result, the wind power systems will deliver a combined total of some 226,000MWh of clean energy each year, sufficient to cover the electricity requirements of around 265,000 people. Nordex handed over the wind farm to GDF Suez back in autumn 2010. Briefly after connection to the grid, the majority of the turbines achieved a reliability of over 97 percent.

During the execution of the project last year Nordex organized more than 360 heavy-load hauls to transport the turbine components to their destination. In fact, if all the towers segments were to be laid out end to end they would have a total length of three kilometers. For more information go to www.nordex-online.com.

GL Garrad Hassan’s new power market analysis services utilize state of the art simulation software to evaluate the short and long-term risks to renewable development projects associated with external power market influences. These include assessing the impacts of energy curtailment, policy changes, and infrastructure development and quantifying the financial ramifications that they have for a specific site or project. The new services support investors and developers of renewable energy projects in North America at all stages of the project lifecycle. The power market analysis services complement GL Garrad Hassan’s existing independent engineering portfolio, which has helped to deliver 45 percent of all U.S. and 39 percent of all Canadian wind farms.

As wind power has matured and the volume of projects connected to the grid has risen, there are an increasing number of geographical areas where projects experience curtailment issues. Accounting for the risk related to reduced opportunity for energy delivery, and the corresponding revenue loss, is now an essential factor in determining the value of a proposed site for project development, and it forms a key element of any technical due diligence process associated with a project. Once a project is developed, the opportunity for its extension—as well as its long-term financial viability—can be impacted by factors such as future grid limitations, decisions affecting the design of future energy markets, and changing government policy in relation to renewable energy as part of the broader energy mix.

GL Garrad Hassan is one of the world’s largest dedicated renewable energy consultancies and a recognized technical authority on the subject. It offers independent technical and engineering services, products, and training courses to the onshore and offshore wind, wave, tidal, and solar sectors. Although the GL Garrad Hassan name is new, the company has a rich heritage (see profile in September 2010 issue of Wind Systems at www.windsystemsmag.com). It is born of the integration of specialist companies that, united, form the renewable energy consulting division of the GL Group. GL Garrad Hassan is a consulting company; it has no equity stake in any device or project. This rule of operation is central to its philosophy, something that sets it apart from many of its competitors. For more information contact Gary Moland—GL Garrad Hassan Independent Engineering, San Diego—at (678) 691-5063 or gary.moland@gl-garradhassan.com. Go online to www.gl-garradhassan.com.