Vestas has received an order for 24 V90-1.8 MW turbines from Oak Glen Wind Farm, LLC, for a wind project near Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. Oak Glen Wind Farm is a subsidiary of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA). Avant Energy, Inc., of Minneapolis is managing the project. The contract includes delivery and commissioning of the turbines along with a five-year service and maintenance agreement. Delivery is scheduled for late summer 2011 and commissioning is expected by the end of next year.

“The V90-1.8 MW turbine is specifically designed to provide maximum power output at sites with medium wind speeds,” says Martha Wyrsch, president of Vestas Americas. “Minnesota is one of the leading states for wind power, and we are excited to help create more clean, reliable energy here. This project also will result in construction jobs and long-term local maintenance positions to be hired by Vestas.”

Formed in 1992, MMPA supplies electric power to its 11-member communities, all of which are located in Minnesota. MMPA is committed to renewable power production. Employee-owned Avant Energy has provided energy management services to public power utilities, universities, and large energy users for more than 20 years. This is Vestas’ 12th North American deal announced in 2010, totaling 1,655 MW among four turbine types. Six Vestas customers have ordered V90-1.8 MW turbines this year for projects in the United States and Canada.

Vestas is the world leader in providing high-tech wind power systems. Since 1979, Vestas has supplied more than 41,000 wind turbines in 65 countries. Vestas sold its first wind turbine in North America in 1981 and since has supplied more than 11,000 turbines to the United States and Canada. The company’s North American manufacturing operations are based in Colorado. This includes a blade factory in Windsor, a nacelle factory in Brighton, and a tower factory—the world’s largest—in Pueblo. Vestas has research and development offices in Texas, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Its global headquarters are in Randers, Denmark. Learn more at www.vestas.com.

Shortly after dedicating its new wind turbine manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas (see Q&A in this issue), Nordex USA secured an order for a 75 MW project using N100 wind turbines from EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. The contract includes a five-year premium maintenance and service agreement as well as the delivery, commissioning, and testing of the turbines. This is the second time EverPower has selected Nordex.

In 2009, EverPower installed 25 Nordex N90 2.5 MW high-speed wind turbines at its Highland Wind Farm, a 62.5 Megawatt project located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. At the time it was Nordex’ largest American wind project, and the first wind farm in the country using turbine generators that large. EverPower currently has advanced stage projects in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington totaling 600 megawatts of capacity targeted for construction within the next three years. “We are extremely pleased to be building on a solid performance record with EverPower,” says Ralf Sigrist, president and CEO of Nordex USA. “Our partnership proves that superior turbine technology makes wind power a competitive alternative to traditional fuels and can help secure the nation’s electricity supply.”

EverPower Wind Holdings develops, owns, and operates utility-grade wind farms and sells clean electricity generated from its farms to local utilities, which purchase this electricity for resale to individual consumers and businesses. The company has offices in New York, Pittsburgh, Portland, Oregon, and Bellefontaine, Ohio, and it is currently progressing wind farm projects in several states. EverPower is owned by its employees and the private equity firm Terra Firm, which has a range of institutional investors with the largest proportion being U.S.-based.

“We are very pleased with the possibility of installing Nordex turbines,” says Jim Spencer, president and CEO of EverPower Wind Holdings. “We have been impressed with the performance and reliability of the turbines installed at the Highland Wind Farm and from previous experience expect that Nordex’ next generation of turbines will have at minimum a 97 percent availability rate. We are also very excited to be the first developer to install turbines manufactured at Nordex’ new Arkansas plant. It reinforces what we have been saying—wind farms create American jobs.”

Currently Nordex’ largest U.S. order to date—150 Megawatts/60 turbines—is being installed at BP Wind Energy’s Cedar Creek wind farm in Colorado. For more information visit www.nordex-online.com.

Capstone Turbine Corporation, the world’s leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, announces that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke recently named Capstone Executive Vice President Jim Crouse to a national advisory committee that will promote U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. The 29-member Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee will advise Locke on the development and implementation of programs and policies to help expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. Crouse and other committee members also will develop strategies to identify and expand export markets for the industries, both in the short- and long-term.

“We will work closely with the committee to help achieve President Obama’s goal of making the United States a leader in the global green economy,” Locke said in a press release. “U.S. companies in these critical sectors need to take full advantage of increased exporting opportunities and thus will create green jobs for Americans that are needed to sustain our economic growth.”

Secretary Locke has recognized Capstone Turbine in the past. In June Capstone representatives joined him at a signing ceremony that was part of the first U.S. International Trade Mission to China under the Obama Administration. The event in Beijing recognized the distribution agreement between Capstone and Sino Clean Energy and acknowledged the companies’ efforts to broaden China’s use of clean-and-green microturbine technology developed in the United States. In addition, Capstone’s innovative U.S.-based technology and successful exporting record led Secretary Locke to award the company the Presidential E Award for Exporting in 2009. “Jim’s years of experience in the worldwide energy marketplace, and deep knowledge about decentralized energy systems will play a crucial role in advising Secretary Locke on these critical programs,” according to Darren Jamison, Capstone’s president and CEO.

Jamison noted last June during the announcement of the Beijing signing ceremony that “Sales of our low emission microturbines overseas rose significantly the last three years. The Commerce Department opens doors for us, provides advice and exceptional service, and assists with market assessments domestically and in Asia and Europe. With their help we’ve been able to broaden our network of Capstone distributors worldwide, which has led to increased sales.”

Capstone products offer a clean-and-green energy solution that ensures a reliable and uninterrupted power supply, low maintenance, and controlled energy costs. Energy efficiencies can approach 90 percent, especially in combined heat and power (CHP) or combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) applications. In CCHP applications, for example, the Capstone microturbines produce reliable electricity. At the same time, waste heat energy is captured and recycled to heat and air condition a facility via absorption cooling, thus greatly increasing system efficiencies. Learn more at www.capstoneturbine.com.

PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services announces that Fred Hilsendager has joined the company as vice president. He brings more than 20 years of retail and wholesale brokerage experience, as well as expertise in the design of leading-edge insurance, risk management, and warranty solutions for renewable energy companies, with a particular emphasis on the needs of wind turbine manufacturers.

As vice president Hilsendager will be responsible for working with retail brokers, project developers, alternative energy investors, and others across the country to promote and manage new business opportunities for the PowerGuard team. He will be based in Chicago, adding significant experience and depth to PowerGuard’s team in the eastern United States. “Demand for PowerGuard’s products and services—particularly our industry leading PowerCLIPTM  warranty solution—has increased exponentially,” says managing principal Mike McMullen. “Having a top alternative energy professional of Fred’s caliber on the ground for us on the east coast will improve our ability to stay ahead of this demand. Fred knows our products extremely well and we are pleased and excited to welcome him to PowerGuard.”

Prior to joining PowerGuard Hilsendager worked for retail broker Holmes Murphy & Associates
in Chicago, where he founded and managed their Renewable Energy Division. Earlier in his career
he held a range of production, account management, and underwriting positions at wholesale broker Tri-City and retail brokers Willis Group Holdings and the Hobbs Group, focusing on the needs of Fortune 500 accounts that included Merck & Co., Inc., General Electric, Ryobi, Mafco, Inc., and the New York Stock Exchange. Hilsendager holds finance and risk management degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia and can be reached at (312) 953-0293 or fhilsendager@powerguardins.com.

PowerGuard is a managing general agent and Lloyds cover holder specializing in the design and underwriting of unique insurance and risk management solutions for wind, solar, and other alternative energy companies. Its founders and principals have more than 20 years of experience providing innovative products and services to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the energy business.

PowerGuard’s warranty product—PowerCLIP—is the most comprehensive contractual liability coverage available to renewable energy manufactures, project developers, power generation operators, and the financial institutions and private equity firms who invest in them. For additional information visit www.powerguardins.com. 

Vectora Transportation, LLC, has been selected by Invenergy Wind LLC to provide multi-modal turbine transportation, handling, and related services for various wind farm projects in the United States. Deliveries will involve 134 complete turbines including nacelles, towers, blades, hubs, and ancillary parts, which Vectora will transport from nearly a dozen different origins in eastern Canada. The shipments will be among the largest wind logistics projects in 2010 due to the distance of travel and number of components involved.

“We are pleased to be working with one of the largest and most respected developers in North America,” says Vectora Transportation President Christopher Ball. “For a complex project such as this, our multi-modal approach allowed us to reduce their overall project transportation cost and also provide the reliability of inventory staging close to the wind farms.”

Utilizing a multi-modal approach optimized for cost and service efficiency Vectora will ship components via water, rail, and truck, utilizing the Great Lakes for marine transport, key railroad partners, and selected specialized trucking partners. Shipments originate at Vectora’s distribution center at the Port of Cacouna, Quebec, as well as various rail transloading points.

In order to support Invenergy’s demanding construction schedules, as well as other customer projects, Vectora has established a new multi-modal distribution center at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The distribution center at Burns Harbor will support both inbound and outbound rail, marine, and truck shipments, and provide forward-positioning of inventory for Midwest wind farm construction activity. The deepwater port at Burns Harbor accommodates both barge and deep-sea vessels and provides access to all Class I railroads. Learn more by visiting www.vectoratransportation.com.

Duke Energy’s Top of the World Windpower Project near Casper, Wyoming, is now online and producing clean, renewable electricity. The 200MW wind farm, located in Converse County, supplies wind energy to PacifiCorp under the terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement. The 110 wind turbines that comprise the project are capable of producing enough electricity to power approximately 60,000 homes.

With Top of the World now producing electricity, Duke Energy has 935 MW of wind power in commercial operation. This figure will rise to nearly 1,000 MW when the 51-MW Kit Carson Windpower Project in eastern Colorado comes online. In total, Duke Energy has committed more than $1 billion since 2007 to build its wind power business. “The remarkable growth of our commercial wind energy unit over the last three years illustrates our commitment to building a significant emissions-free power generation business,” says Keith Trent, group executive and president of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses. “Developing renewables projects under our low-risk business model will continue to be an important part of our company’s future.”

Top of the World is Duke Energy’s fourth and largest wind farm in Wyoming. The company’s 99-MW Campbell Hill Windpower Project in Converse County came online in 2009. Duke Energy also owns and operates two wind farms near Cheyenne: the 29-MW Happy Jack Windpower Project, which began commercial operation in 2008, and the 42-MW Silver Sage Windpower Project, which came on line in 2009. One of the turbine blades atop Tower 90 at Top of the World was inspected by President Barack Obama during his visit to the Siemens manufacturing facility in Fort Madison, Iowa, on April 27, 2010. Siemens supplied 44 wind turbines for Top of the World; General Electric supplied 66 turbines.

Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar, and biopower projects. DEGS builds, owns, and operates electric generation for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities, and industrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercial transmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of the future. Learn more at www.duke-energy.com.

Gamesa and the Newport News Shipbuilding operations of Northrop Grumman Corporation have signed an agreement to work together on offshore wind technology. The agreement calls for the companies to cooperate on the launch of Gamesa’s first G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype in the United States, using Gamesa’s multi-megawatt technology and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s broad experience in challenging marine environments.

Gamesa is currently designing and developing a G11X-5.0 MW offshore Wind Turbine (WTG) specifically for the marine environment and built upon the technologies already extensively tested and validated in the G10X-4.5 MW platform. Gamesa is teaming with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News to utilize their proven expertise in heavy load logistics, systems performance and reliability, and the applications of such technologies in the marine environment.

To install in the G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype Gamesa and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding are setting up an initial team of as many as 40 engineers in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. This highly skilled team will perform all of the preliminary work required to install the prototype by Q4-2012, including site selection, permitting, final construction and installation of the prototype, and testing.

“Gamesa has said before that it intends to play a significant role in the offshore market to ensure that it can tap the demand generated in the Northern European market, specifically the United Kingdom, starting in 2015, as well in the United States,” according to Dirk Matthys, CEO of Gamesa in the U.S. “Our alliance with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding will give us the opportunity to test our technology on a short-term horizon, as well as to enhance and strengthen it, thanks to the skills and experience offered by a global leader in naval structures. This partnership further demonstrates Gamesa’s continuing commitment to and expansion in the North American market with both land and sea-based wind turbine technology.”

This announcement comes as federal and state governments intensify their focus on developing offshore wind energy. Offshore wind projects totaling more than 5,000 megawatts have been proposed and are in the planning or development stages in the United States. The turbine and foundation systems created by Gamesa and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding address the market’s main concerns, namely efficiency of civil engineering infrastructures—the number-one investment expense in offshore wind—turbine reliability, low maintenance and servicing requirements, and minimizing the cost of generating electricity.

New generations of offshore turbine systems offering higher installed capacity will be required in order to meet the expected rising demand in the offshore wind energy market in the medium and long term. To this end Gamesa is already working on the rollout of another family of offshore turbines with a capacity of 6-7 MW, with a pre-series potentially available in 2014. More information is available by going to www.gamesacorp.com or www.northropgrumman.com.

Nordex has begun production at its newly built wind turbine manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The plant’s first production crew recently began assembling a wind turbine nacelle, which houses the engine and other key components and sits high atop the turbine tower. “Two years ago we announced our intention to make Nordex wind turbines in the U.S., for the U.S.,” says Ralf Sigrist, president and CEO of Nordex USA, Inc. “Today we’re putting our hands to the metal and doing it. We hope Congress will do the same by finally passing meaningful renewable energy legislation.”

The first Jonesboro production crew completed a 10-week intensive training program at Nordex’s flagship plant in Rostock, Germany. Training will continue during the early phase of production, with the team’s German counterparts taking up residence in Jonesboro for several months to work alongside their new colleagues.

“There’s no way to do this without international exchange,” according to Joe Brenner, vice president of production. “Wind energy has tremendous potential in the U.S., but it’s about more than just creating green jobs. We have to transfer expertise in order to build a wind industry workforce. Nordex is investing in such a workforce and bringing the needed skills to America.”

Nordex broke ground on its manufacturing plant last September, pictured above, completing construction in July of this year. The company has hired 150 employees in the U.S. to date, including 42 in Jonesboro, and has plans to employ up to 1,000 nationally over four to five years. About 80 percent of the workforce in Jonesboro are locals. Construction on a second facility for assembling rotor blades is also planned for the future.

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 1,300 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 4,200 turbines with a capacity in excess of 6,000 MW around the world. For more information visit www.nordex-online.com.

Korindo Wind, an ISO 9001:2008 certified wind tower and monopile manufacturer, has earned ISO 14001:2004 certification for its environmental management systems. The certification is the result of an audit completed in September 2010 by Geneva-based SGS, a world leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification for companies in a range of industries. Korindo Wind is one of the few wind tower manufacturers in the world to earn the ISO 14001 certification.

“This International Organization for Standardization certification further validates Korindo Wind’s dedication to the values of stewardship and responsibility,” according to Ricky Seung, president of Los Angeles-based Kousa International, exclusive agent for Korindo Wind. “It’s important that companies engaged in renewable industries demonstrate this kind of commitment to sustainability and the health of the planet. Korindo Wind customers now have even greater assurances that, as we continue to manufacture one of the primary components for wind energy, we are continuously seeking innovative ways to limit the environmental impacts of our operations.”

ISO 14001:2004 provides a framework for a holistic, strategic approach to an organization’s environmental policy, plans and actions. While the standard does not lay down specific levels of environmental performance, organizations must demonstrate a commitment to compliance with applicable environmental legislation and regulations, along with a commitment to continual improvement in their environmental management systems.

Korindo Wind, a division of The Korindo Group, has a technologically advanced plant in Ciwandan, Indonesia, that features a highly efficient linear production line with an annual capacity of 800 towers. The company also provides Precision LogisticsSM, a comprehensive, risk-free logistics solution based on Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping. For more information go to www.korindowind.com.

The Stearns® Division of Rexnord Industries, LLC, has launched a new high torque brake designed to easily fit into the drive system of any type of heavy industry equipment. The Series 7EC Electric Caliper brake is spring-set/electrically-released and is used for dynamic stopping, E-stop, and/or holding-only applications. The floating caliper design compliments a variety of tough industry equipment including material handling systems, commercial elevators, industrial lifts, wind turbines, hillside trams, and lock-gate hoists for hydro-electric dams.

“Stearns is the number one supplier of spring-set electrically-released motor brakes in North America,” says Gary Zwick, Stearns product manager. “The new electric caliper brake will continue to bring our customers a top of the line product with efficient technology that outlasts the competition, meaning lower maintenance costs and increased productivity.”

Part of that efficiency is the brake’s ability to easily adapt to drive systems. The disc can be mounted in several locations including directly to a drive shaft (i.e. the disc can incorporate a hub with a QD bushing), bolted to a coupling hub, or directly to large motors since manufacturers can fit the disc to an extended shaft on accessory end of motor. High capacities in torque (500-5,000 lb.-ft.) and speed (up to 10,000 surface feet per minute) are also part of the product’s easy to use design. A high thermal capacity provides additional user versatility through the ability to incorporate gradual stops for high inertia loads.

The brake’s electrical operation eliminates the need for hydraulic or pneumatic components or systems, bringing users a simple, clean and low-maintenance installation. An optional environmental/corrosion protection package that meets IEEE 45 requirements for marine/maritime applications is also available. For more information go online to www.stearns.rexnord.com.

Lufft USA has announced the addition of MODBUS to its list of communication standards, making it one of the most flexible wind and weather assessment products on the market today. Lufft USA announced that its complete “WS” line of weather stations are now available with MODBUS data protocol in addition to SDI12, ASCII, UMB, NMEA, and analog.

MODBUS allows for communication between many devices connected to the same network, for example a system that measures temperature and humidity and communicates the results directly to a computer or programmable logic controller or PLC. MODBUS is often used to connect a supervisory computer, sensor, or group of sensors with a remote terminal unit (RTU) in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. Sensors that communicate via MODBUS are commonly used in renewable energy, building automation, and other industrial processes. Lufft USA believes that the addition of this common method of industrial communication to its list of digital protocols will allow its weather stations to measure climate parameters with nearly any industrial project. For more information call Ann Pattison at (805) 963-7547 or go to www.lufftusa.com.

Vestas Towers America, Inc., announces the grand opening of the world’s largest wind tower manufacturing plant. The new Pueblo, Colorado, facility features nearly 13 million square feet of space and eight miles of on-site railway tracks for the transport of materials and finished tower components. The opening of Vestas Towers gives Vestas, a global leader in wind turbine production, a substantial capability to address growing needs among North American wind power plants for reliable, high performance wind turbines.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined a host of regional and local Colorado dignitaries, as well as president of Vestas Towers A/S Knud Bjarne Hansen and president of Vestas Americas Martha Wyrsch, in making the announcement during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Participants at the grand opening ceremony recognized a factory that currently employs more than 400 workers and is capable, at peak production, of producing 1,090 towers per year.

Vestas Towers America, Inc., has the ability to process more than 200,000 tons of steel per year, which is enough to build two bridges the size of the Golden Gate every year, or the equivalent of 28 Eiffel Towers. Locating the factory along major highway and railroad lines provides Vestas with the ability to meet customers’ needs with locally managed logistical efficiencies, which translates directly to cost and environmental benefits.

“We are extremely pleased to simultaneously provide job opportunities for the local community and outstanding product for our customers made right here in Colorado,” Hansen said. “We have deliberately located our factories in a central region in the U.S.—including our towers, nacelles, and blades plants—because regional centralization allows Vestas to build and ship locally in any direction needed in North America, and that translated to a direct competitive advantage for all of our stakeholders.” Go to www.vestas.com.

3TIER®, a global leader in renewable energy information services, announces its recognition by both Deloitte and the Puget Sound Business Journal in two separate lists that rank companies based on fiscal year revenue growth. This is the third consecutive year that the company has earned this distinction from the Puget Sound Business Journal, receiving a rank of 49th among the top “100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies” in Washington State. This is the first time 3TIER has been ranked on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™.

“3TIER and the other 2010 Technology Fast 500 winners forged ahead in a challenging economic environment to realize exceptional growth,” says Phil Asmundson, vice chairman and Deloitte’s U.S. technology, media, and telecommunications leader. “Deloitte commends 3TIER for this impressive accomplishment.”

Both rankings are based on fiscal year revenue growth. The Puget Sound Business Journal ranks Washington companies over the last three years. The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 is an annual ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in North America. This year’s award winners were selected based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth from 2005 to 2009. During the period from 2005-2009, 3TIER grew 366 percent.

Kenneth Westrick, 3TIER’s founder and CEO (see Q&A in February 2010 issue of Wind Systems), credits successful international expansion and continued product innovation as the drivers behind the growth. “Our international offices have built a strong reputation for 3TIER outside the U.S., and they have developed many key relationships which have really established us in the marketplace,” he says. “This translates to increased sales revenue and market share. Our product development and delivery teams have also pushed forward aggressively to provide new offerings to serve the ever-changing renewable energy industry.”

For more than 10 years 3TIER has helped clients make better decisions about their renewable energy investments. 3TIER uses its expertise about weather and climate to determine how both impact wind, solar, and hydro energy resources at specific locations around the world. 3TIER’s suite of products work together to help clients pinpoint the best locations for renewable energy development, assess the long-term resource availability at a site to reduce risk, and forecast actual energy production over multiple time periods to promote efficient energy integration. Additionally, 3TIER’s critical resource data often inform regional planning and policy as renewable energy accounts for an ever-greater percentage of the world’s energy production portfolio.

“3TIER has proved itself to be one of the fastest growing tech companies in North America, and we are proud to honor them as one of the 2010 Technology Fast 500,” says Mark Jensen, managing partner, venture capital services, Deloitte & Touche LLP. To learn more about 3TIER products and services visit www.3tier.com.

FARO Technologies, Inc., (see profile in this issue) and Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology have launched the Innovative Solutions Network, a marketing, sales, and support collaboration in North America. Through the network these two leaders in metrology will provide a broader product solutions offering, including both traditional and portable CMMs. From the simplest to the most complex metrology measurements, the Innovative Solutions Network will offer customers access to more patented technologies, focused applications, and customer support programs and resources.

“The creation of the Innovative Solutions Network will allow us to better serve our customers by providing them with a total metrology solution,” says David Morse, SVP and managing director of the Americas for FARO. “The technologies offered by both companies are among the most advanced equipment available today, and I am excited to see two world class companies like FARO and Carl Zeiss create such a comprehensive metrology solution.”

For years customers have benefited from the world-class support and training programs offered by both companies, along with the extensive knowledge and experience that comes with over 120 combined years of metrology development. Through the Innovative Solutions Network individuals interested in implementing a metrology solution will now have access to expert resources from both FARO and Carl Zeiss. “We are pleased to work with FARO in the launch of the Innovative Solutions Network,” says Greg Lee, president of Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology. “Like us, their strength is in developing the key technologies needed to give customers the best solution. We believe it to be a great benefit to our existing customer base as well as for those who are considering a full metrology solution.” To learn more go to www.faro.com or www.zeiss.com/imt.

The Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC) is located in the heart of one of the most proven wind resources in the United States—the Tehachapi-Mojave Wind Resource Area, in Kern County, California. To provide technical due diligence in support for the $1.2 billion financing of four wind energy projects, Terra-Gen Power, LLC turns to local experts from GL Garrad Hassan. GL Garrad Hassan will also provide inspection and monitoring services throughout project construction, and technical support to underpin the leveraged lease, to be provided by Citibank, N.A, when commercial operations commence.

The independent technical due diligence review conducted by GL Garrad Hassan includes an assessment of the energy production at the site, a review of the site suitability, and a technical assessment of the plant, the equipment, and all of the material procurement, construction, and operation contracts. In addition, the experts analyzed project costs and carried out a full financial model review. GL Garrad Hassan’s final independent engineering and wind resource assessment reports served as a foundation to inform the 10 financial institutions involved in the project financing. Stuart Murray, director of infrastructure and energy finance for Citigroup, says “We are very pleased with the quality of the technical due-diligence performed for us and the rest of the stakeholders on this project by the GL Garrad Hassan team. Their continued support will be instrumental in assuring construction quality and helping us to achieve a successful financial closing at commercial operation.”

The Alta Wind Energy Center is a 3,000 MW wind power development initiative. Construction commenced on the initial 150 MW Alta I project in March of this year and construction of the Alta II through V projects reviewed by GL Garrad Hassan (570 MW) started in July following financial closing. Commercial operation of the four phases is scheduled to occur in the first half of 2011. The term financing of Alta II-V is supported by a 144a bond issuance and structured as a leveraged lease whereby Citibank, N.A., will become the lessor to Terra-Gen at the start of commercial operations. Terra-Gen will manage and operate the wind projects under long-term agreements.

Phil Dutton, vice president of independent engineering at GL Garrad Hassan for the North American region, says “We are thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking project. Not only is its size significant both locally and nationally, it is also innovative in its use of the 144a bond issuance and leveraged lease type transaction, paving the way for similar financings for future renewable energy projects.”

GL Garrad Hassan is one of the world’s largest dedicated renewable energy consultancies and a recognized technical authority on the subject (see profile in September 2010 issue of Wind Systems). 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. 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 which sets it apart from many of its competitors. For more information go to www.gl-garradhassan.com.

IBM announces that energy system supplier Alstom and Ikerlan-IK4, an energy technology research and development organization, are using IBM software to develop wind turbine control systems that significantly improve the performance of sustainable power systems based on wind-generated energy. The new wind turbines leverage a sophisticated system of electronic sensors combined with software from IBM to gather input regarding wind direction, speed, temperature, and other factors to optimize performance and increase efficiency. A central control system collects and analyzes data from each turbine to remotely control individual turbine subsystems, perform diagnostics and manage wind farm power generation. Alstom and Ikerlan-IK4 are using IBM software to help develop and automate the “system of systems” that controls the turbines and their interconnected communications systems.

“Leveraging IBM software helps us apply an automated process to the design and development of Alstom Wind control systems,” says Alfonso Faubel, vice president of Alstom Wind. “This advantage definitely allows us to deliver tailored solutions that are fully adapted to new emerging standards, markets, and client needs.”

Alstom and Ikerlan-IK4 are also using the Gears Software Product Line Lifecycle Framework™, from IBM business Partner, BigLever Software™, to customize their designs to accommodate the varying climates and geographies where the wind turbines will operate.  Alstom and Ikerlan-IK4 estimate that their use of IBM and Big Lever Software reduces development costs by as much as 25 percent and decreases development time by a factor of 10 for each product variation.

“The fact that the wind turbines can be customized to accommodate geographic differences and also adjust to ambient environmental changes adds a layer of complexity to an already a complex software development process,” according to Dr. Salvador Trujillo, chief product line engineer at Ikerlan-IK4. “By using IBM Rational Software for model-driven development combined with BigLever Gears for product line engineering, we can reuse software assets and manage these variations at a pace that allows us to keep up with market requirements.” To learn more visit www.ibm.com.

In a new agreement between Drexel University and Community Energy, Inc., Drexel will purchase Renewable Energy Certificates equal to 100 percent of its energy use, making Drexel one of the top 50 purchasers of wind energy in the nation. This Renewable Energy Certificate purchase will ensure that 84,268 megawatt hours of electricity will be matched annually with wind energy entering the electricity grid. The Renewable Energy Credits will be supplied by renewable energy marketer and developer Community Energy. This purchase will place Drexel among the top five university purchasers in the nation, according to the current Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership rankings.

“We are proud to be a leader among colleges and universities, and to do our part for the environment,” says James Tucker, Drexel senior vice president for Student Life and Administrative Services. “Having our electricity matched with clean, renewable energy is one piece of our larger commitment to sustainability. We hope other institutions will follow our lead and make the choice as well.”

Compared to the average generation mix in the national electric grid, the environmental benefit from this purchase is equal to offsetting approximately 60,518 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the annual impact of which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 12,904 acres of trees or removing 11,571 passenger vehicles from the road, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.

“Drexel University realized the importance of renewable energy early on and Community Energy is proud of our long partnership,” according to Jay Carlis, Community Energy’s vice president. “The decision to substantially increase the university’s wind energy purchase to 100 percent of electricity usage establishes Drexel as a national leader in supporting environmental sustainability.”

Drexel was recently honored by PennFuture, a leading Pennsylvania environmental advocacy organization, with a Green Power Award for leadership in energy efficiency, including deploying an energy monitoring system at the main campus. Additional sustainability efforts include using biodiesel fuel for shuttle buses, purchasing hybrid and battery-powered vehicles, free bike share program, implementing a multitude of energy-saving controls and lighting efficiency measures, use of ice thermal energy for cooling, and wide-ranging recycling efforts. Learn more at www.drexel.edu.

Wind Energy Services Company (WES) announces that the company’s base of operations has been relocated to Gainesville, Texas. Staff and equipment from the satellite operations in Sweetwater, Texas; Independence, Kansas; and Worthington, Minnesota moved to the new location.

WES is taking these necessary steps to position the company for long-term profitability in the current challenging economic environment. WES is a wholly owned entity of the Molded Fiber Glass Companies (MFG), a diversified manufacturer of composite components for wind energy equipment as well as products for the automotive, trucking, construction, and defense industries. Going forward, WES service centers will be strategically co-located with existing MFG manufacturing operations, resulting in cost reductions for facility maintenance and human resource administration.

The MFG facility in Gainesville, Texas, currently produces wind energy blades and a mix of other large composite products. The state of Texas has the highest concentration of wind energy farms in the U.S., and the proximity to this dense customer base will support the company’s mission to provide industry leading, rapid response, onsite repair and maintenance services for wind blades, nacelles, and spinners.

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, construction, material handling, and water treatment. An entity of the Molded Fiber Glass Companies, WES provides fast response, onsite FRP composite repairs and maintenance for wind energy equipment including new sites, retrofits, and inspections. The company’s mobile response service teams are trained and equipped to quickly assess and make repairs from lightning strikes, shipping and installation damage, structural cracking, leading edge erosion and coating failure, blade balancing, and cosmetic/general warranty needs. Repairs can be handled prior to erection (shipping and handling damage), uptower, onsite with the blade removed, and offsite for more extensive factory repairs when necessary. WES employs 50-plus certified composite wind repair technicians who conduct approximately 90 percent of repairs onsite. Learn more at www.windenergyservicesusa.com.

Thomson introduces the 2010 Guide to Motion Solutions for Clean Energy Applications. The guide reviews some of the most significant considerations that design engineers should take into account to maximize the reliability, accuracy and efficiency of their solar panel and wind energy machines, with specific information on the benefits that linear actuators, precision linear actuators, and screw jacks can bring to these challenging applications.

“Robust linear actuators from Thomson are an easy to apply ‘green’ alternative to hydraulic or manual actuation,” according to Rob Gallagher, marketing communications manager, global. “Design engineers will benefit from a wide range of actuator platforms with flexible design and envelope possibilities to meet the diverse requirements for solar tracking systems and the key operating components of wind power, and this guide is designed to help them quickly and easily start to navigate the options.”

Thomson industrial linear actuators are engineered to deliver robust, reliable operation in the wide ranging outdoor conditions a clean energy facility is likely experience. Their industrial linear actuator products feature proven weather protection (ranging from IP56-67) to provide maintenance free 20-year life based on one complete cycle per day. Thomson’s proven power drive units can hold static loads of up to 4000lbs and provide superior resistance to back driving in high wind conditions. Temperature ratings cover significantly varied conditions, ranging from -40F to +185 F. The Thomson screw jack product line provides reliability and versatility in a variety of clean energy applications. Technically mature and with an easy-to-mount rectangular housing, they are easily extended to form wide-area jack systems with the aid of a wide range of accessories. Call (540) 633-3549, e-mail thomson@thomsonlinear.com, or go online to www.thomsonlinear.com.

By safely channeling harmful shaft currents away from bearings to ground, Electro Static Technology’s new AEGIS™ WTG wind turbine grounding ring prevents bearing damage that could otherwise cause generator failure, unplanned downtime, costly repairs, and lost revenues. Maintenance-free, effective at any RPM, and available for any size wind turbine generator, the ring is designed for OEM installation or easy up-tower retrofit.

High-frequency currents induced on the shafts of wind turbine generators can reach levels of 60 amps and 1200 volts or greater. If not diverted these currents will discharge through the generator’s bearings, causing severe electrical damage that results in bearing failure and catastrophic turbine failure, sometimes in as little as six months or less.  The AEGIS WTG’s patented conductive microfiber technology effectively steers these currents away from the bearings and safely to ground.

The WTG is engineered to safely divert up to 120 amps of continuous shaft current at frequencies as high as 13.5 MHz and discharge up to 3000 volts (peak). Ideal for use as part of a preventive maintenance program to protect against premature bearing failures, it can be installed whenever bearings are replaced. For more information contact Adam Willwerth, sales and marketing manager, at (866) 738-1857 or sales@est-aegis.com. Go online to www.est-aegis.com.