News Archive November 2020

Despite Pandemic: Record Third Quarter in the U.S.

The U.S. wind industry installed nearly 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity in the third quarter of 2020, setting a record for third-quarter additions

EIA: Utility-Scale Battery Storage Costs Decreased Sharply in the U.S.

Battery storage systems store electricity produced by generators or pulled directly from the electric power grid and redistribute the power later as needed.

ENGIE to Develop Australian Onshore Wind Farm

ENGIE Australia & New Zealand has announced to develop the Hills of Gold Wind Farm near Nundle, New South Wales.

Nezzy² Passes Another Test

Floating wind turbine Nezzy² successfully passed another test and even withstood a storm tide

Ramboll and GDG have been contracted by SSE Renewables to provide a conceptual design for the turbine substructures for Phase 2 of the Irish offshore Arklow Bank project.

Brüel & Kjær Vibro (B&K Vibro) has substantial experience retrofitting a wide range of turbines and typically begins the entire retrofit process with a site visit. This is a necessary task, since there are usually five to eight sensors that have to be precisely installed on the drive train and tower, together with the monitoring system hardware, in order to achieve an effective monitoring solution.

Four Highlights from AWEA’s Q3 Report

The AWEA Into the Wind Blog posted four notable highlights to keep an eye on

Boralex Passes 1 GW Mark on French Soil

Boralex has announced the commercial commissioning of the 11 MW Blanches Fosses wind farm in France, passing the mark of 1 GW on French territory.

Scania Uses Green Electricity in Production Facilities

Commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania has converted its production facilities worldwide to renewable energies and thus achieved its target set for this year.

RenewableUK Publishes Onshore Wind Project Intelligence Report

The total capacity of onshore wind in the UK could grow to 30GW by 2030

Update for Ccertification Approach to Mitigate Wind Farm Risks

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has updated its global project certification approach for wind farms

RWE and Nordex Close Transaction for Onshore Wind Assets

RWE and Nordex SE have successfully completed the process of acquisition of Nordex’ European onshore wind and solar development platform by RWE.

Siemens Digital Industries successfully deployed industrial communications network solutions at Siemens Gamesa’s wind turbine blade factory at Green Port Hull.

DNV GL Advisor to CI III Monegros Energy Holdco Refinancing 12 Wind Farms in Spain

DNV GL provided technical advisory services to a consortium of six lenders for the refinancing of twelve wind farms in Spain

China to Build Europe's Largest Onshore Wind Farm

Chinese company PowerChina plans to build Europe's largest onshore wind farm to date in Ukraine. The project's location though is quite explosive.

Siemens Gamesa Posts Results for Fiscal Year 2020

Record order intake of €14,736m in fiscal year 2020 contributed to a healthy order book of €30.2bn (+18.6% y/y), providing a solid foundation for the future

PNE Strengthens Position with PPAs

PNE bundles the electricity volumes of various wind farm sites and takes over the structuring and negotiation of the power purchase agreement.

CWind Finishes Service Work at East Anglia ONE Windfarm for 2020

CWind worked with Rovco to carry out this year’s campaign.

News of the Day

What are the prospects for renewable energy under a new U.S. President? How would a potential change in office affect climate protection? BloombergLaw is answering these questions.

Vestas Adds Another Polish Contract to its Order Book

The wind project, which is the fifth project together with Polenergia, will be located in south-west Poland in the Dolnoslaskie voivodship.

Overall the speakers, almost without exception, confirmed that the pandemic is having an impact on developments and on new installations this year, and that there are many delays in different phases of project implementation.

GWEC Report Predicts Installation Numbers for 2020

The wind industry is showing resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic

Gamechanger for Australia's Energy Supply in Victoria

The state of Victoria is building a Big Battery that will give their energy supply a transformational boost

The United States have kept the world on tenterhooks over the past few days: Who will be the next President? Will Joe Biden win the election? What other accusations does Donald Trump take out of his drawer? Meanwhile, the fact that the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement last Wednesday has been pushed into the background.

Clir Renewables, the leading provider of performance assessment software for renewable energy, has today called on asset owners to benchmark the performance of their renewable energy equipment at portfolio, rather than project, scales.

First 'Robo Walk' on Offshore Wind Turbine

The UK has achieved the world’s first blade walk by a robot on an offshore wind turbine, the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult reports.

EIB and LBBW Get Advice from Hogan Lovells

International law firm Hogan Lovells has advised Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the financing of four wind farms near Poznan in Poland.

Schaeffler: Strong Q3

Wind business in Greater China continues to grow

Developing a Renewable Hydrogen Project in Germany

The electrolyser by Ørsted and bp is expected to be powered by an Ørsted North Sea offshore wind farm.

Biden Climate Plan: Focus on All Renewables

Under the Biden Administration, it is expected that offshore wind will experience substantial growth from projects, supply chain development, and job creation.

PNE AG with successful operational development in the first nine months of 2020

Results after nine months on target / Guidance for the entire year confirmed again

IEA Report: Renewables Grow Despite Pandemic

Renewables will account for almost 90% of the increase in total power capacity worldwide in 2020

Wood Mackenzie: Europe Loses Global Energy Storage Battle

Policy makers are underestimating the flexibility challenge ahead, says Wood Mackenzie.

During the manufacturing evaluation, TÜV NORD inspects the manufacturing process and the produced components of a wind turbine, such as rotor blades, gearboxes or the tubular steel towers. The manufacturer can thus prove that he is able to deliver the required quality and perform series production.

Planet Earth Rejoices

Even if Donald Trump still refuses to admit his election defeat, the U.S. will soon have a new President named Joe Biden. The biggest winner of this election success is likely to be the climate.

We support companies with the planning, installation and maintenance of wind turbines. The quality management requirements of our customers and our practical daily experience of assembly work form the basis of research and development at M-PT. The internationally renowned manufacturer RAD Torque Systems has authorized M-PT to be the sole German sales and service partner for its products.

Agile Wind Power at the Clean Growth Summit

Agile Wind Power has recently joined the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and will take part in the virtual event The BSCC Clean Growth Summit

GE's Haliade-X Rotor Blade Gets Component Certification

LM Wind Power’s record-breaking 107m blade for the GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X platform has received its Component Certificate from the TÜV Nord

First V164-9.5 MW Turbine Installed on Floating Platform

It's the most powerful turbine in use at a floating wind project ever.

The global energy company Eni and the Norwegian energy entrepreneur and investor HitecVision have announced the establishment of a new joint venture company, Vårgrønn, with the aim of developing new green energy projects in Norway and the Nordic market.

Nordex Receives Another US Major Order

Nordex Group received a 63 turbine order for the Delta4000 series N149/4.0-4.5. The name of the project and developer have not been disclosed.

ABB Marine & Ports has been selected as a key technology partner for a far-reaching EU project exploring the use of remote offshore inspection and maintenance techniques for wind farms.

Siemens Gamesa Presents New SG 4.7-155 Turbine

The latest addition to the Siemens Gamesa 4.X platform will optimize energy production at low wind sites

GE's Haliade-X 12 MW Prototype Receives DNV GL Type Certificate

GE Renewable Energy announced that its Haliade-X 12 MW prototype has received a full type certificate from DNV GL

Turbine manufacturer Vestas has secured a 50 MW order for ERG wind project Sandy Knowe. The project will be located in Scotland and will feature 14 V112-3.45 MW turbines in 3.6 MW Power Optimised Mode.

Intuitive radio control for complex operation / Simple and ergonomic selection of single and tandem crane control / Demag SafeControl ensures safety-oriented switch-over between operating modes

Rattlesnake Wind Farm Sold to Investment Company

Goldwind Americas has announced the sale of its Rattlesnake Wind Project in Texas to an investment company advised by Exus Management Partners last week.

Prysmian Group confirmed with improved score, to 86 points from 84 points in 2019, in the ELQ Electrical Components & Equipments on the Dow Jones Sustainability World index

Recycling Wind Turbine Blades

The NCC has today launched an initiative to accelerate the development of technology, processes and materials that address the recyclability and future development of composite wind turbine blades.

SCADA International Optimizes Operation of Hybrid Energy Parks

The trend in energy generation in coming years points toward increasing complexity, which brings new challenges in monitoring and overall management.

10th Energy Perspectives Report Published

Equinor’s 10th Energy Perspectives report describes how the world can reach the climate and sustainability goals

Offshore Energy and Nature Coalition Founded

Leading NGOs, grid developers and the wind industry start new partnership to ensure the sustainable development of offshore wind

CIP and Forestalia Invest in Large Spanish Onshore Portfolio

Forestalia and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are pleased to announce an agreement to invest in a portfolio of 27 onshore wind farms under development.

GE Renewable Energy Wins Order from Lithuania

GE Renewable Energy has been selected by European Energy as the supplier for three windfarms in Lithuania

Located 195 km from the nearest point on the UK’s North East coast, the 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm is sited on the shallow central area of the North Sea known as Dogger Bank.

UK Public Supports Renewable Energy

The latest Public Attitudes Tracker, published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, shows 80% of people support the use of renewable energy, while only 3% oppose it.

How to Overcome Bottlenecks in Onshore Wind Energy Expansion?

The key recommendation is to overhaul the slow and complex permitting procedures. This is the main bottleneck for new wind farms.

Clean Energy Road Map for the U.S.

AWEA releases a 100-Day Plan to unlocking economic growth, achieving rapid renewable energy deployment to reach clean energy and climate targets

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is urging the offshore wind sector to sign up to a world-first data collection platform that aims to vastly reduce subsea cable failures which account for the single biggest insurance cost for the industry

RenewableUK Comments on Boris Johnson’s Ten Point Plan for Green Economic Recovery

Prime Minister sets UK firmly on course for net zero

Wind energy in South Africa has an eventful past: once celebrated as a new trend market, its expansion came to a virtual standstill after a change of government. But for some time now, South Africans have again been relying on the power of the wind. This now also benefits the country in the fight against the Corona virus.

The battery-powered torque wrench MAD-S from M-PT Matjeschk-PowerTools is handy, light and, with its built-in sensor technology, guarantees unmatched accuracy. The MAD-S sensor measures the torque immediately in front of the bolt and records every tightening torque for quality control.

Marc Becker to Become CEO of Offshore at Siemens Gamesa

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has announced that Marc Becker is to return to the company as CEO of its industry-leading Offshore business.

Ørsted and NABTU Sign MoU for U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Transition

Ørsted’s agreement with NABTU represents a transformative moment for organized labor and the clean energy industry.

Germany's Federal Environment Minister Schulze said: “We want to emerge from the coronavirus crisis stronger than before. The right way forward is to combine economic stimulus with effective climate action."

Panasonic, Equinor and Hydro will work together towards summer 2021 to assess the market for lithium-ion batteries in Europe and mature the business case for a green battery business located in Norway.

Bladt Industries A/S, a global leader in foundations and substations for offshore wind, and Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned engineering, construction, fabrication and architecture company based in the U.S., have announced a strategic alliance to bring together resources and experience and create local jobs along the Eastern Seaboard.

The agreement would see the French-headquartered company and its future local construction partners use the Port’s land and Firth berthing sites and cooperating towards further developing the facilities and infrastructure

AES Corporation and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) have agreed to merge the sPower development platform, a leading independent solar developer in the US, with AES' U.S.-based clean energy development business to accelerate the energy transition.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) signed a cooperation agreement last week in order to join efforts aimed at increasing the adoption and deployment of wind and renewable energy worldwide.

WindEurope welcomes Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy

The EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy will shape the development of offshore wind in Europe for the next 30 years.

ORE Catapult Calls for Next Generation Blade Manufacturing

The Additive Manufacturing for Wind Blades project will install an advanced manufacturing cell at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth

Wind Energy: #1 Push for Energy Transition

Wind energy is leading the drive to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions, says a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

RWE Sells Shares in British Offshore WInd Farm

RWE has signed an agreement with investment manager Greencoat to sell a 49 % stake in the UK offshore wind farm Humber Gateway

Industrial Guidance Report on Dismantling and Decommissioning

WindEurope presented a new Industry Guidance Document for the dismantling and decommissioning of onshore turbines.

Europe’s top renewable energy organisations are launching the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition today to give voice to businesses and thought leaders that will be decisive in positioning Europe as the world leader in renewable hydrogen, produced via electrolysis and based on 100% renewable electricity.

The report summarizes the Group's financial and extra-financial performance, its vision and strategy, as well as its commitments in terms of Social and Environmental Responsibility (People, Planet, Profit) and some of its most outstanding successes.

AkzoNobel Accelerates Transition Towards Cutting Carbon Emissions in Half by 2030

The company uses renewable energy at its production sites in various countries.

Load-sway reduction for universal cranes offers crane users an improvement in load handling as standard. Thanks to a smart combination of safety control unit, sensors and radio control, the operator can handle loads faster, more precisely and more safely – an assistance system with high benefits.

Ørsted to Develop More Offshore Wind Projects in South Korea

Ørsted has announced its intention to develop South Korean offshore wind projects with a potential capacity of up to 1.6 GW off the coast of Incheon City.

Prysmian Group Announces Investments in Race to Net Zero CO2 Emission

Prysmian Group announces the launch of a new project aimed at accelerating the race to net-zero CO2 emission.

Sunrise Wind Settles Down

Sunrise Wind, an offshore wind joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource, has purchased a new facility that will serve as the regional O&M hub in Brookhaven Town.

TÜV SÜD Assesses Planned 372 MW Wind Project in Sweden

On behalf of Prime Capital and Enlight, TÜV SÜD has been commissioned as Technical Advisor (TA) with a comprehensive review of the technical fundamentals.

To accelerate the deployment of sustainable energy, the electrification of societies and unlock new growth opportunities, Vestas is now launching a new venture investment programme entitled Vestas Ventures.

The subject has been discussed again and again in recent years, and now plans are getting more tangible: Denmark wants to be the first country in the world to build 'energy islands' - in the North and Baltic Sea. And the British also have ideas.

M-PT Matjeschk-PowerTools as a Companion in the Wind Industry

M-PT has designed and developed the HEM 7 series electric hydraulic pump . Also in demand: the hydraulic torque wrench for M64 screw connections in the wind industry

Siemens Gamesa Secures Canadian Order

Siemens Gamesa secures contract to provide turbines for 130-MW Rattlesnake Ridge wind farm.

Deutsche Windtechnik: Largest ISP

The international service provider for wind turbines Deutsche Windtechnik has achieved a new milestone in its 13-year company history.

Tokyo Gas Joins Joint Venture for Offshore Wind

Northland Power Inc. and Shizen Energy Inc. welcome Tokyo Gas in their joint venture to develop offshore wind in the Chiba Prefecture in Japan.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with Arkema Inc of Pennsylvania, have demonstrated the feasibility of thermoplastic resin and validated its structural integrity on a thermoplastic composite blade manufactured at NREL.

Vestas Supplies Citizen Wind Farm in Germany

The Windpark Hopsten GmbH & Co. KG has placed a 25 MW order with Vestas for their citizen wind park Hopsten

Financial Close for World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm

Equinor and SSE have announced financial close on the first two phases of the Dogger Bank project

Ingeteam Joins Work on 'Green Jade'

Ingeteam has been granted a contract as the electrical system integrator of the very first Taiwanese built offshore wind installation vessel

European Commission Funds Saitec Engineering Floating Project

Saitec Engineering has been awarded with 2.4M€ funding by the European Commission "Blue Economy Window" call for its SATHScale project

Netherlands: Borssele 1 & 2 Fully Operational

Ørsted has fully commissioned the 752 MW offshore wind farm Borssele 1 & 2 in the Netherlands. The wind farm is the second largest operational offshore wind farm in the world.

Wood Mackenzie’s latest report shows most markets in Asia Pacific can expect to see cheaper levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for renewables compared to coal by 2030.

Analysis: Bottleneck for Heavy Lift Vessels Approaching

The demand for specialized installation vessels will soar in the coming years with more and more projects worldwide in the pipeline.

PNE Starts Construction of Two Polish Wind Farms

The PNE Group, which operates internationally in the development and operation of renewable energy projects, is starting construction of two further wind farms in Poland.

Vestas Secures 40 MW Order in Western Poland

Vestas has secured a 40 MW order for the Nowy Tomysl project from SPV Sevivon Windpark, a subsidiary of German project developer PNE AG.

Dogger Bank Feat. Haliade-X Reaches Financial Close

Co-sponsors of the Project, SSE Renewables and Equinor, secured and closed a project finance debt package for the first two phases of the 3.6 GW wind farm

GWEC Launches GWEC India

The organization will help unfold India’s vast wind power potential and support green recovery