News Archive July 2015

RenewableUK is welcoming a new report commissioned by the Committee on Climate Change which shows the cost of offshore wind energy will drop dramatically by the end of the decade, with further significant cost reductions in the 2020s.

The Commission launched a call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to help finance key trans-European energy infrastructure projects yesterday.

Inside US Wind - Vestas bags 537MW in one day

Vestas announced orders for three new projects yesterday.

The Hamburg-based wind turbine manufacturer Senvion is strengthening its management team in order to further build on the strong performance of the 2014/15 fiscal year. Senvion has appointed Manav Sharma as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

First commercial offshore project of the Siemens D6 platform / 6 MW direct drive turbines in a large scale project for the first time / Siemens to service Westermost Rough for 5 years / Eco-friendly power for 150,000 British households

Alstom has been awarded a turnkey contract worth approximately €100 million from Eletrosul Centrais Electricas S/A (Eletrosul) to integrate wind farms located at Rio Grande do Sul State

The agreement would take the form of a joint venture. Once the jointly developed projects are ready to build, SunEdison would acquire them from the joint venture and finance their construction.

Westermost Rough – the first offshore wind farm in the world to make commercial use of giant Siemens 6MW turbines with 75 metre blades - has been officially opened at a ceremony in Grimsby.

Ghana celebrates its first Global Wind Day as over 250 students meet in Ayitepa to learn about wind energy

More than 250 students from local schools gathered at Ayitepa village to celebrate Global Wind Day.

Following a successful year-long pilot phase, the owner/operators have recognised the significant benefits that SPARTA can deliver, including increasing investor confidence and reducing costs.

Financial year 2014/15: Senvion increases revenue by 6.6%; EBITDA up 6.2%

Senvion generated total revenues of EUR 1,926 million in the FY2014/15 (1/4/2014 – 31/3/2015), 6.6% growth versus the previous year.

Summarising U.S. renewable energy export opportunities in selected markets

Today - Brazil / Type: Large Market / Large Market Share / Overall Rank: 3

Deutsche Windtechnik launches service in the UK: 73 Siemens® systems under maintenance contract

The independent service company has therefore assumed responsibility for its first maintenance contracts in the UK.

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced that it is in discussions with Samsung Heavy Industries about potentially acquiring the 7MW offshore wind turbine at Methil for research purposes.

The EU will come close to meeting the binding 2020 target on the deployment of renewable energy sources (RES), with currently implemented and planned RES policy initiatives.

Merkur Offshore has signed with respectively Alstom and DEME a binding Turbine Supply Agreement for the construction of the Merkur Offshore wind farm, including supply and installation of 66 Alstom Haliade 150-6MW offshore wind turbines.

Siemens to supply 91 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 6 megawatts / Order is part of the frame agreement with DONG Energy concluded in 2012 / Race Bank wind power plant to have a total capacity of up to 580 megawatts

Leading renewable energy consultancy, SgurrEnergy, has delivered full technical lenders’ due diligence to KfW IPEX and the European Investment Bank, in support of the achievement of financial close on the 110MW Nordergrunde offshore wind farm.

Report Excerpt - The Submarine Electricity Transmission Market Is Expected to Reach $25 Billion in 2024

Due to pressing interconnection needs, Europe currently represents the largest market for this solution, report finds

The Port of Verkö in Karlskrona, Sweden, is developed through public as well as private investments. Sometimes, the key word is cable: When cable manufacturer ABB expands, the municipally owned Affärsverken expands the grid.

Adwen’s 5 MW wind turbine reaches a yearly output of 22,8 GWh

The Adwen 5 MW offshore wind turbine installed in Gran Canaria has reached a new milestone, exceeding 33 GWh produced.

Senvion is scaling up its Research & Development (R&D) capacities and will open its new R&D Centre in Bangalore, India, in September 2015.

Specialised foundation construction company from Oldenburg and project shipping experts from Bremen bundle respective competencies and experiences in the joint application for and execution of large scale industrial projects.

Largest wind service order ever for Siemens in Germany / Installation of 400 megawatts of wind capacity starts in March 2017 / Commissioning expected in late 2017 / Project financing for wind power plant successfully closed

The International Standards and Patents in Renewable Energy platform, also known as INSPIRE, is the first and most complete solution of its kind, helping users search through, locate and analyse 400 international standards and more than 2 million patents

Inside US Wind - Fact Check: California’s wind energy production remains on target

"Wind energy’s variability has no bearing on its ability to offset the carbon emissions and other pollutants from fossil fuel generation"

DONG Energy has awarded an eight year framework agreement to the Fife-based Briggs Group for the contingency and repair of export and array cables for offshore wind farms throughout the UK and Northern Europe.

HighStep equips existing wind turbines with a portable Lift

Reaching the nacelle at over 50, 60 or even 80 meters many times per day is a big effort even for trained professionals

Inside French Wind - THEOLIA keeps on growing and orders wind turbines for one of its projects in France

As previously announced, THEOLIA is actively pursuing the implementation of its project portfolio in France.

Puerto Rico recently announced that it cannot pay its debt, which the island has accumulated in part due to its heavy reliance on expensive, imported petroleum for electricity

US: An Insight into how US wind power technology is developing

Wind power technology is becoming much more viable, and has huge potential around the world. Here's what you need to know about the state of wind power technology

UK: Work starts on new Alstom facility in Stafford

International engineering company Alstom has held a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work at its new multi-million pound facility in Stafford.

Norway: Statkraft = "A Force of Change"

Statkraft is a company for the future with its strong commitment in renewable energy, writes Bente E. Engesland, head of Corporate Communication in Statkraft, in his editorial article

France: ABB to enable integration of French offshore wind parks

$25 million order for innovative transformer technologies for reliable grid connection

New Nexans facility in Charleston, South Carolina, USA will manufacture Extra High Voltage (EHV) cable to enable Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to develop its Feed-In Tariff (FIT) Program for renewable energy sources

Ireland: Demonstration project to kick-start Irish Offshore Energy Revolution

€8bn green energy industry to emerge from the Irish Sea

The EU Emissions Trading System must focus on modernising Europe’s energy systems to foster a larger integration of renewable energy rather than upgrading antiquated fossil fuel plants, according to the European Wind Energy Association.

Iowa State Aerospace Engineers hit "Gold" with a innovative dual-rotor turbine

“These are fairly mature technologies we’re talking about – a 10 to 20 percent increase is a large change”

The contract covers thirty-three AW125/3000 turbines mounted on 120-meter-high concrete towers / The turbine supply to the Vila Pará complex in Rio Grande do Norte will take place in 2016

China: GE to Build Wind Education Center

GE Announces Construction of New 500-Square-Meter Wind Training Facility in Shenyang / Center Will Offer Technical and Environmental Health and Safety Training for Chinese Wind Industry

Capacity mechanisms should not be a tool to keep unprofitable and unnecessary power plants online as the European Union continues to grapple with overcapacity, according to a paper released by the EWEA

"We do not just have a strong and proud history, we are also a company for the future" - Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Mr. Bente E. Engesland

EDF Energies Nouvelles announces the commissioning of the third section of the Soma wind farm in Turkey via its local subsidiary Polat Enerji, 45% owned by the group. This 100 MW extension increases the total capacity of the wind farm to 240 MW.

Facebook will be powering its newest data center with 100 percent wind energy – making it the latest of several companies to recognize the value of this stably-priced clean power source.

Germany: BBB is the first Wind Consultant certified for LiDAR Measurements

Renewed and enhanced accreditations for German wind expert BBB

Thailand: Gamesa enters the Thai market with an order for the supply of 60 MW at three wind farms

The company will install 30 of its G114-2.0 MW turbines and maintain them for 10 years

ELA Container Offshore GmbH has confirmed its participation at SPE Offshore Europe from September 8th – 11th, 2015. The exhibition will take place at the Exhibition & Conference Centre in Aberdeen.

Turkey: Vestas secures 46 MW order

Sehzade Enerji places 46.2 MW order, expanding Vestas’ footprint in the growing Turkish market

France: Nordex installs another turnkey wind farm

New customer orders project developed in-house with a wide range of services

Over the last 3 months around 200 primary school pupils from both RCT and NPT have visited Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project to see the construction works with their own eyes from our purpose built education cabin.

Bilfinger Mars Offshore has won an order for the production of 91 steel foundations for the Race Bank North Sea wind park.

US: Carper-Collins Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act

Providing incentive tax credits to the first movers in the offshore wind industry

US: Wind power coming to the Southeast – and a new wind farm proves it

A newsbreak from the Associated Press broadcasted the good news across the country: soon North Carolina will have its first commercial-scale wind farm.

Statnett SF and National Grid has awarded Nexans a contract valued at around Euros 340 million to deliver the subsea cable on the Norwegian side.

Presentation of innovative technologies involving carbon / 600 experts from the worlds of science and business discuss new potential applications for global megatrends

Once fully operational, Vientos del Altiplano will have a total installed capacity of 100 MW and will be able to generate over 280 GWh per year / EGP will be investing a total of approximately 220 million US dollars in the construction of the wind farm

The innovation and research body is inviting expressions of interest from industry to be involved in the 18 month collaborative project consisting of six work packages:

Prysmian, new contract worth around € 550 M for an HVDC submarine interconnector between Norway and the UK / With a total route length of about 740 km the NSN Link will be the longest HVDC subsea cable interconnection ever installed

Europe: EU invests €150 million in energy infrastructure

The bulk of the support will go to projects in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe as well as to projects in the Baltic region.

The Netherlands: Fugro adds cable-lay to its trenching services

Fugro has added cable-lay services to trenching for offshore windfarm and tidal energy sectors.

With HEAVYLIFT@SEA being a dedicated ship design office and SeaRenergy as a full service provider to the offshore industry, the new vessel benefits from best practice from both worlds: Ship design and offshore experience.

UK: Alstom Grid to supply Substation Automation Solutions for three offshore wind farms

Alstom has been awarded substation automation contracts for three of DONG Energy’s offshore wind farms.

The company will install 104 of its G114-2.0 MW turbines at the Amazon Wind Farm US East, located in North Carolina / This 208 MW contract marks the largest single order for the G114-2.0 MW to date in the US

US: Enel Green Power adds new wind capacity to its operations

The Osage Wind farm, with a total installed capacity of 150 MW, is able to generate more than 620 GWh a year

UK: Future Energy Scenarios 2015

National Grid Publishes Glimpses into the Energy Future

Siemens expands power monitoring system with new measuring devices

Siemens expands its power monitoring system from the Sentron portfolio by adding the 7KM PAC5100 and 7KM PAC5200 measuring devices.

UK: Siemens appoints VolkerFitzpatrick to build Hull blade factory

Siemens today announced it had appointed leading UK contractor VolkerFitzpatrick to build its wind turbine blade factory in Hull.

A ground-breaking ceremony on the site of the 80MW Noupoort Wind Farm was attended by representatives from the community of the surrounding Umsobomvu Local Municipality, including Ward Counsellors and the Mayor.

Amazon Wind Farm US East, powered by Iberdrola Renewables, is North Carolina’s First Utility-Scale Wind Farm, which is Expected to Generate More Than 670,000 MWh of Energy Annually

Vestas receives firm and unconditional order for 13 V100-2.0 MW turbines for a wind power plant in South Korea’s northeastern Gangwon Province. These will be Vestas’ first V100 wind turbines in the country.

UK: Plans to produce power from the sun on Carmarthen wind farm site

Vattenfall looking to solar power on Parc Cynog Wind Farm

Next week, Deepwater Wind plans to have steel going into the water as offshore construction begins on Block Island Wind Farm, the nation’s first offshore wind project.

DeepOcean 1 UK Ltd., a subsidiary of DeepOcean Group Holding BV, today announces that company has been awarded the inter array cable installation contract for the Bligh Bank Phase II Offshore Wind Farm offshore Belgium.

Germany: Trianel Offshore Wind Farm Borkum in operation

German Stadtwerke accomplish pioneering work in the North Sea

Inauguration of BBB’s Wind Energy Research Project in Brazil

High-ranking guests appreciate the LiDAR project

UK: RWE UK Wind Control Centre launches third party services

RWE Innogy UK’s Wind Control Centre is soon to enter the market offering renewable and cross technology third party services

Germany: Young falcon rescued from Nordsee Ost substation

Saker falcon Rocket back home at the Berlebeck Eagle Station / RWE donates €300 for the rearing of birds of prey

Germany: Offshore Wind Energy Half-Year Figures 2015

Expansion on schedule: 1,765 megawatts more on line

BVG's report highlights the costs of offshore wind are starting to fall sharply as a result of the introduction of large turbines and advances in foundation technology.

France: Success for EDF Energies Nouvelles’ first crowdfunding campaign

The first crowdfunding campaign launched in France by EDF Energies Nouvelles has been a great success, exceeding its fundraising target by 35%.

Two 700 MVA power transformers were successfully delivered and installed on the platform based in the Warnemüde shipyard in Germany, operated by Nordic Yards.

Scotland: Vattenfall extends environmental surveys on Argyll wind farm proposal

Cnoc an Fhionn programme amended

This experimental facility, set to become a European benchmark as it will be one of the most innovative and powerful in the world, will enable testing for wind power, railroad and civil engineering applications

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is proud of its members for bringing billions of dollars in private investment to the U.S. and employing tens of thousands of American workers.

Germany: VBMS replaced defective cable at Trianel Windpark Borkum phase 2

VBMS completed the repair of an inter-array cable at Trianel Windpark Borkum phase 2.

PTC reaches important milestone: U.S. Senate Finance Committee agrees to extension

AWEA welcomes bipartisan support for wind power / Vote of 23-3 / Industry pushes for quick decision in Congress

France is adopting the 'Energiewende'

The French government wants to set an example for the climate summit later this year in Paris: Reducing nuclear power and investing in renewable energy instead

US: American wind power continues to ramp up in 2015

Policy stability critical so industry doesn’t face another cliff

UK: Wind farm targets green power in 2017

Vattenfall’s Ray Wind Farm to invest £5million in local causes

Gold for Lufft I-Box: Product Film receives several international Awards

The film studio that created the last three Lufft product movies has again received several awards at two international film festivals this year.

RenewableUK, the trade association representing the wind, wave and tidal energy industries, has expressed dismay at the announcement by the Energy Secretary Amber Rudd of even more retrospective changes in the levels of financial support for clean energy.

"We, as Europacable members, are committed to raise awareness and to elevate and defend quality and standards against the increasingly growing threat of substandard products."

NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy has entered into an agreement to purchase the recently constructed 80-megawatt Beethoven wind qualifying facility project located near Tripp, South Dakota.

REYHER is your partner for the BUMAX range

The high-tensile stainless steel fasteners fulfil the highest requirements with respect to quality, corrosion resistance, high strength, fatigue strength and heat resistance.

Thursday 23 July saw senior representatives of Maersk Supply Service, DeepOcean UK and the Damen Shipyards Group gather at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania to witness the launching of subsea support vessel Maersk Connector.

UK: Gamesa to install nine turbines to repower a wind farm

Repowering of this wind farm will enable it to produce twice as much renewable energy using less than half as many turbines

US: Wind ready to meet new call for converting to clean energy

The latest news from the AWEA - Into the Wind Blog.

MMT has been granted a contract from DONG Energy Wind Power for UXO inspections and excavations of various contacts with option on disposal and removal at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm, off the east coast of England.

52 direct drive wind turbines for three projects in Ireland and Scotland / Long-term service contracts for continued reliability / Clean renewable energy for almost 100,000 households

Brazil: ACCIONA totally complies with the requirements for nationally-sourced components to sell wind turbines

The Company is compliant with the latest requirements established by the BNDES, six months in advance of the deadline.

US: Businesses pledge to increase renewable energy use

AWEA: Several of these companies focused their pledges on renewable energy, and five companies have goals to reach 100 percent renewable energy use.

US: TransAlta Announces Acquisition of Long-Term Contracted Solar and Wind Assets

The assets acquired include 21 MW of solar projects located in Massachusetts and a 50 MW wind facility in Minnesota.

Kenya: GE and Partners Announce New Renewable Energy Project to Boost Kenya's Power Grid

Project follows a successful run of more than $2.5 billion worth of booked orders across Africa in the last year

The European Commission has been looking at the impact of the deal on competition and has raised a concern about the possible decrease in gas turbine competition that may result from the deal.

UK: Marine and offshore approvals for SKF UK condition monitoring services

SKF (U.K.) Limited has won marine certification from two of the world’s leading approvals bodies for its extensive range of condition monitoring services.

Germany: Launch of battery project

Statkraft has started construction works for a 3 MW battery project at the site of the Dörverden run-of-river power plant.

Veja Mate is far offshore and in deep water, the project requires a large installation jack-up that can ensure safe and efficient transport and installation of XL monopiles.

The US are getting their first offshore wind farm: After a few days of delay due to bad weather the first jacket foundation of the Block Island offshore wind farm was sunk into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island on July 26.

Germany: ELA Container Offshore GmbH celebrates it’s 1-year anniversary

Numerous offshore projects have been completed since the company was founded in August 2014

Sales up 35% to EUR 1.1 billion / 66% increase in EBIT to EUR 61.5 million / Order intake up 49% to over EUR 1.3 billion / Sales target for 2015 raised to EUR 2.0 - 2.2 billion

CWind, a leading provider of integrated services to the wind industry, has today announced that it is providing corrosion protection services to Ballast Nedam at Butendiek Offshore Wind Farm (OWF).

UK: Banks Renewables completes investigation work at Lambs Hill wind farm site

Site investigation work in advance of construction at a new wind farm in North East England has been completed.

In the first six months of 2015, the European offshore wind industry installed more new capacity than in any other year on record as several projects reached completion and deployment of larger turbines increased.

American wind power can help states affordably and reliably comply with the pending Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution from power plants, with independent studies confirming wind will play the largest role in the lowest-cost compliance mix.

Senvion, one of the leading wind turbine manufacturers worldwide, installed wind turbines with a total capacity of over 285 megawatts (MW) in the first six months of the calendar year 2015 in Germany.

Spain: Zero wind power megawatt installed in Spain in the first half of 2015

The lack of activity in the domestic market endangers both the Government’s Energy Plan and compliance with 2020 European objectives

Construction work is officially underway at the £300 million Kilgallioch Windfarm, located 5 kilometres south of Barrhill, South Ayrshire and 5 kilometres north east of New Luce, Dumfries and Galloway.

Transmission capacity of offshore grid connections in the North Sea reaches 4,300 megawatts (MW) / Two thirds of the federal government's expansion target achieved

Germany: Double-digit market share for Nordex

Manufacturer installs 140 megawatts in the first half of the year

UK: Vattenfall stops wind energy development

Development of Nocton Fen Wind Energy Project ceases amid planning policy change

DONG Energy has signed an agreement with EDF Energies Nouvelles under which the company will acquire DONG Energy's lease for the offshore wind demonstration site in Frederikshavn in the northern part of Denmark.

RenewableUK, the wind and marine energy trade association, says new Government statistics released show that onshore and offshore wind energy is playing a crucial role in securing clean energy supplies for British homes, offices and factories.