News Archive January 2022

OX2 pushes for development of Swedish offshore wind farm

OX2 has applied for a Natura 2000-permit for an offshore wind farm off the coast of Sweden.

Hexicon and Avapa Energy form joint venture for Italian floating market

Hexicon has been looking for a partner to join forces with in developing floating wind power projects in Italy.

GE Digital has entered into an agreement to acquire Opus One Solutions Energy Corporation, a software company that helps electric utilities optimize energy planning, operations, and market management.

Siemens Gamesa and Iberdrola have signed several maintenance contracts totaling 1,928 MW at 69 of the energy group's wind farms in Spain and Portugal for a period of between three and five years.

ERG takes three wind farms into operation

Italian developer ERG announced the commissioning of two wind farms in Northern Ireland which are the companies first in the UK and another one in France.

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier recently executed three new contracts and reservation agreements with a combined revenue of up to EUR 80m. The contracts will cover approximately 300 days in 2022 and 200 days in 2023, in both Europe and Asia Pacific.

Big honour for RWE's UK Head of Regulatory Affairs

Zoë Keeton was awarded the OBE by Her Majesty The Queen in New Year Honours List.

As the energy sector develops, PEAK Wind continues to evolve its business to prepare for a new energy future which is dominated by renewables and a far more flexible power system.

Wind and solar expansions soar in the U.S.

According to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources are now adding more than 2,250 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity each month.

Port of Hanstholm to become Europe's greenest and first CO2-neutral fishing harbor

Danish port of Hanstholm and European Energy have the intention of forming a partnership to form the basis for an energy community at the port.

“Our new Board represents the broad depth of our growing association and also reflects the diversity of today’s corporate culture," says ACP CEO Heather Zichal.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) recently released its Draft 2022 Integrated System Plan (ISP), carving out the roadmap for where the Australian energy industry is heading and lays out how the energy system can transition away from fossil-fuels towards cheaper, cleaner renewable energy.

Coal threatens net zero goals

The International Energy Agency warns in its latest annual market report that the rapid economic recovery has driven global coal power generation to a record in 2021.

US DOE hails its achievements in 2021

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a goal to cut solar energy costs in half by 2030, and announced a joint target with the Interior Department to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Large order for Finnish wind farm placed with Nordex

Nordex will deliver 56 Delta4000 turbines of its latest turbine type N163/6.X of the 6 MW class to a Finnish wind farm.

Lambrecht meteo presents large portfolio

Lambrecht meteo is a leading provider of maritime products around the world.

Statkraft strengthens position in the UK

Statkraft’s EV charging business Mer acquires Elmtronics.

It's tilting at windmills - in the truest sense of meaning: The EU Commission has presented its plan for the future taxonomy regulation with nuclear energy and natural gas to be declared as sustainable - protest followed promptly.

The agreement is about financing the co-development of offshore wind projects using BW Ideol’s patented Damping Pool® technology over the next 5 years.

Italy: EDPR starts operation of Monte Mattina and Sant'Alessandro wind farms

Both wind farms have a combined capacity of 70 MW.

Ingeteam launches its Smart Automation 4.0 Laboratory

Ingeteam announed the launch of its Smart Automation 4.0, their 'laboratory of the future', which is located at the Technology Park of Bizkaia in Spain.

Goldwind wins 84MW order in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On December 16, 2021, Goldwind successfully signed a contract for the Ivovik 84MW wind power project in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a plan to strengthen New York's renewable energy leadership and make a nation-leading $500 million investment in offshore wind as part of the 2022 State of the State.

Huisman to supply giant crane

Huisman has received an order from Danish company BMS Heavy Cranes to supply a 3,000-meter-ton ringer crane with an option for a second unit.

BlueFloat Energy and Falck Renewables push for offshore wind in the Celtic Sea

Plans for the Llywelyn and Petroc floating offshore wind farms are advancing at a pace.

RWE and Northland Power reveil plans for German offshore wind cluster

RWE and Northland Power have joined forces to co-develop a 1.3 gigawatts cluster of offshore wind farms in the German North Sea.

Leeward Renewable Energy has announced the company has successfully completed the full-scale repower of its Crescent Ridge Wind Farm located in Tiskilwa, Illinois, in the last months.

Jan De Nul launched its Offshore Installation Vessel Les Alizés at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China, reaching ianother milestione in the construction of the vessel.

Pattern Energy announced it has completed construction and begun commercial operation of its suite of the 1050 MW Western Spirit Wind power projects in New Mexico.

Government introduced policies will drive US energy transition

The US will continue to add significant renewable capacity additions during the forecast period to meet its target of reaching 80% clean energy by 2030.

As part of the new agreement, Manchester City and Masdar will collaborate on a range of partnership activations, including the launch of a new global campaign, aimed at raising awareness on the importance of climate action and mitigating climate change.

RWE to build another wind farm in Germany

RWE is commencing construction of the Evendorf wind farm in Lower Saxony, Germany.

DNV to certify wind turbines for South Korea

DNV has been selected by the Korean Energy Agency (KEA) to deliver Type Certification services for the Korean wind energy market.

Under the 10-year agreement, Equinix will purchase 85% of the green energy and guarantees of origin to be produced by the Björkliden wind farm in Finland.

Natural Power reaches 100 GW milestone in North America

Natural Power has delivered technical advisory services on more than 100 GW of renewable energy projects in North America, the company said.

Blackstone invests $3 billion in renewable energy developer Invenergy

Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is an investor across energy, transportation, digital infrastructure and water and waste infrastructure sectors.

Despite energy crisis: renewable power in Asia Pacific gains competitiveness

Wood Mackenzie forecasts that by 2030, electricity from renewables (mostly utility PV) will be at a 28% discount to coal in the Asia Pacific region.

The global energy innovation system is currently in poor health, with weaknesses across most indicators, warns a new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy.

“The variety of transformer projects that we have recently been awarded is testimony to breadth and depth of our power transformer portfolio,” said Eric Chaussin, Senior Executive High Voltage Products Division Leader at GE’s Grid Solutions.

OX2 finishes first wind farm in Poland

OX2 has handed over the 21 MW Zary wind farm to MEAG.

Emerson takes part in PosHYdon project for green hydrogen production

The PosHYdon project is a pilot that aims to validate the integration of offshore wind power and offshore natural gas and hydrogen production at sea

Ørsted’s entry into the FlagshipONE project is a testament to the company’s strategic ambition of building a global leadership position within green fuels and renewable hydrogen.

Top Global Risk: Climate Crisis

According to the Global Risks Report 2022 by the World Economic Forum, climate risks dominate global concerns as the world enters the third year of the pandemic.

BUMA selected GE Power Conversion as the partner for the electrical equipment, due to their long-term business relationship and experiences with the end customers installed base.

Germany’s new Green Minister for Economics and Climate, Robert Habeck, presented the plans including a massive expansion of wind energy with up to 10 GW of annual new onshore wind installations towards the end of this decade.

ACP welcomes BOEM's push for offshore wind in the U.S.

The Gulf of Mexico and the Humboldt Wind Energy Area offshore Northern California have been taken into consideration for the development of offshore wind energy projects.

Germany's new Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, has taken stock of the country's position in the climate crisis. Unsurprisingly, the results are quite sobering. At the same time, however, the minister spreads a spirit of optimism.

PNE AG commissions two German wind farms

PNE AG has further expanded its internally operated portfolio by commissioing two onshore wind farms in Germany.

Iberdrola has formally concluded an agreement to take control of over 2,000 megawatts (MW) of US offshore wind capacity, consolidating its position as one of the largest developers of offshore wind in the country.

Eneco and INEOS sign PPA for offshore wind energy

INEOS has agreed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement for renewable offshore wind power in Belgium with sustainable energy producer Eneco.

The Crown Estate invests in new research to help protect UK marine life

The research projects will help to enable the coexistence of offshore wind farms with a thriving marine environment.

Nexans has received the first order under the frame agreement to manufacture approximately 110km of high voltage subsea cables to South Fork Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource.

Ørsted’s Board of Directors has taken final investment decision (FID) on Ballykeel Onshore Wind Farm in Northern Ireland. The 16 MW wind farm will be located in the Antrim region in the north-eastern part of the country.

Investigating alternative reasons for underperformance of turbines

If not addressed, a trend for over-attributing low production solely to wind resource could be damaging to clean electricity output across European wind farms.

GE Renewable Energy announced today an order from Continuum Trinethra Renewables Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Continuum Green Energy) to supply, install and commission 37 units of its 2.7-132 onshore wind turbines for the 99.9 MW Rajkot wind farm in Gujarat, India.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced on Wednesday that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold a wind auction next month for more than 480,000 acres offshore New York and New Jersey, in the area known as the New York Bight.

While charges are already highest in northern Scotland and lowest in SW England, the report finds that charges in some zones are expected to double, compounding the challenge for Scottish projects to lower the cost of energy, compete for Government subsidies and attract continued investment into the sector.

Statkraft to start construction of Brazilian wind farm

Morro do Cruzeiro is project that entails two wind farms, 14 turbines and a total installed capacity of 80 MW.

The IEA finds that emissions intensity from Canada’s oil and gas production has declined in recent years, but the sector remains a major source of greenhouse gases, accounting for about a quarter of the country’s GHG emissions

Prysmian Group has entered into a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) for the supply of power cables in the context of a landmark HVDC submarine cable project in the Middle East, worth around €220 million.

Hexicon's TwinHub floating turbine gets licence

The floating demonstrator project in the Celtic Sea has now been awarded a marine licence, for a renewable energy test site in Cornwall, South West England.

Turbine commissioning at Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm has been successfully completed. The wind farm, constructed by RWE on behalf the project partners, has reached this milestone on time, overcoming the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

Equinor and bp announced the finalization of the Purchase and Sale Agreements with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), for Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind 1.

IEA: Electricity demand surges, putting power systems under pressure

The steep increase in demand outstripped the ability of sources of electricity supply to keep pace in some major markets.

Once operational, the HNH Project will consist of a 1.7 GW onshore wind farm, electrolysers, ammonia plant and port facility, and is expected to produce 1,000,000 metric tons of green ammonia per year

The new Government wants to cut Dutch CO2 emissions by at least 55%-60% by 2030 (compared to 1990) – and by 70% by 2035 and 80% by 2040. This requires significant growth of the share of electricity in the energy mix. And a significant expansion of wind energy within the electricity mix, WindEurope says.

“We are very pleased to continue working with SRP to deliver low-cost, clean, renewable energy to its customers,” said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, one of the world’s largest generators of renewable energy.

Sulzer & Schmid launches solution for multi-GW blade inspections

At the heart of the inspection process is the proprietary browser based 3DX™ Blade Platform which integrates every aspect of the inspection in one place.

The Crown Estate Scotland auctioned 8,600 km² of sea space which could host almost 25 GW of offshore wind. With 15 GW most of the capacity that will now be developed will be floating offshore wind.

RenewableUK: "New era for UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry"

RenewableUK has welcomed the announcement of the results of the ScotWind tender

Neoen gives green light for first stage of its Goyder Renewables Zone in South Australia

Neoen commenced early works on the construction of its 412 MW Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm in South Australia in late December 2021

EDS will be on the critical path to ensure the wind farm is energised and commissioned on time and ensure a smooth transition from commissioning through to the operations and maintenance phase at Baltic Eagle, located off the German coast in the Baltic Sea.

Scottish Renewables praises ScotWind results

Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables: "Exciting and significant moment in Scotland’s renewable energy story"

Akeslos’ digital twin technology is allowing the world’s largest renewable structures to be simulated and designed more efficiently by using a combination of AI and traditional physics based approaches to computational modelling.

Ørsted and Korea’s state-owned utility provider, Korea Southern Power (KOSPO), announced the signing of a MoU, forming a strong partnership to jointly develop an 800 MW offshore wind project in Ongjin county, Incheon.

8.2 Consulting AG announces appointment of new CEO

Heiko Wuttke will take up his position with the renewable energy experts on March 1, 2022.

As part of the logistical work for the construction of Capital Energy's first Asturian wind farm, Buseco, Capital Energy and Siemens Gamesa used three special machines to vertically transport the three rotor blades.

EDP Renewables has closed a project finance deal for the financing of the development, construction and operation of six wind farms with an aggregate capacity of 149.4 MW located in Poland.

Joint ventures plan to build and operate two of the world’s first large-scale floating offshore wind farms in UK waters / Partners will use innovative technology to install turbines further from shore to catch more powerful winds as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s ScotWind leasing / As the global economy transitions to a low-carbon future, Scotland has the opportunity to pioneer expertise to develop a new global centre of excellence for offshore wind

Restructuring the Russian wind energy market

Finnish energy company Fortum is initiating a new cooperation in wind power production in Russia with the GPB Bank.

This acquisition is highly complementary to Emerson’s existing control system portfolio and supports the company’s ability to help customers in their quest to digitally transform operations and meet sustainability goals.

Nordex experiences order intake momentum in Q4

The Nordex Group recorded high demand in the fourth quarter of 2021 in line with expectations.

Fugro will perform a combination of geophysical, geotechnical services and laboratory testing to provide valuable insight into the ground engineering challenges along the cable route from the Danish landfalls to the future artificial island location.

Ørsted ranked world’s most sustainable energy company - again

In the new climate leadership handbook, Ørsted points to urgent issues that public and private leaders must resolve now.

The demand for balsa wood in the wind industry has risen sharply in recent years. High demand from China and the U.S. in particular have almost tripled the price in a period of 15 months until mid-2020. China is now trying to reduce its dependence on imports by growing its own timber.

HANNOVER MESSE rescheduled due to Covid

Deutsche Messe AG has rescheduled the HANNOVER MESSE 2022 for 30 May–2 June 2022. The show was originally planned for April.

Appalachian Power searches for wind energy resources

The company seeks to acquire a completed wind and/or solar projects through one or more purchase and sale agreements.

Hellenic Cables to supply array cables for the world’s largest offshore wind farm

Hellenic Cables has been awarded the Dogger Bank C array cable contract by DEME Offshore.

Certex UK wins inspection contract for two British offshore wind farms

Certex was awarded the contract by Equinor, operator of the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast.

The World Wind Energy Association WWEA and the Italian Wind Energy Association ANEV highlight the 20th World Wind Energy Conference WWEC2022 as a meeting place to discuss how the energy supply in Europe and in other world regions can be converted to 100% renewable energy supply.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Netherlands Entrepreneurial Development Finance Company, FMO, are extending an US$ 80 million financing package to Borusan EnBW Enerji A.S., providing a fresh boost to the renewable energy sector in Turkey.

In a filing with the Iowa Utilities Board, MidAmerican’s proposed project, called Wind PRIME, would add 2,042 megawatts of wind generation and 50 megawatts of solar generation.

Bluefield Solar, the UK income fund, has announced the successful acquisition of a 47.5 megawatt peak ('MWp') operational solar and wind portfolio from Good Energy Group yesterday.

Energy transition: No pain, no gain

There will be tangible economic implications of an accelerated energy transition.

Important push for Incheon Offshore Wind Farm

Ørsted and leading Korean utilities sign MoU and take important step in the development of Incheon offshore wind project.

Researchers develop new HVDC prototype

The innovations will improve the reliability and efficiency of high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) power transmission systems, which are used for the bulk transmission of electrical power.

The Government will make a decision on who will carry out the offshore wind farm in the research area in connection with the construction permit for the exclusive economic zone, after the environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been completed

CWind Taiwan and Siemens Gamesa sign CTV charter contract

CWind Taiwan has established a solid partnership with Siemens Gamesa in Taiwan ever since their first work together.

Leeward Renewable Energy and Verizon sign four PPAs

The Projects will utilize wind turbines and thin-film panels from America’s industry leading renewable technology manufacturers.

Schaeffler strengthens robotics business

Schaeffler acquires Melior Motion, a manufacturer of innovative precision gearboxes for industrial robots.

The two companies have signed a MoU to establish closed value chains in their business relationships. In addition to the supply of offshore wind power and the use of renewable hydrogen, the production of low-carbon steel and its use in the components for Ørsted's offshore wind farms are included.

The appointments to LTA and construction monitoring roles marked a hattrick of Dogger Bank successes for K2M, which was selected to undertake those workstreams for all three phases of the project.

Lamprell announced to work with an undisclosed client to confirm the terms of a reservation agreement that will secure capacity in Lamprell’s Hamriyah yard for the work as negotiations proceed towards contract award.

Floating offshore wind projects will receive more than £60 million in public and private investment to develop new technologies that will enable turbines to be located in the windiest parts around the UK’s coastline, the Government announced.

Welcon orders welding robots at Inrotech

Inrotech’s automated robot welding solution is specifically designed according to Welcons’ requirements in order to efficiently handle complex welding’s on floating foundations.

US Congress needs to act on Build Back Better Act now!

Clean energy employers in the U.S. urge Congress to act now on Build Back Better Act for this "“once-in-a-generation opportunity".

Nexans wins partial order to consolidate cabling system in Colombia

Nexans supplied more than 390 km of low and medium voltage cables.

Apex Clean Energy announced that its 225 MW Great Pathfinder Wind executed a PPA with Meta (parent organization of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) for the full capacity of the project.

Sustainable Finance Market Outlook for 2022

Green bonds doubled in issuance between 2020 and 2021, with volumes reaching more than $620 billion.

The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities announced that German energy company RWE was awarded the concession to build the Thor offshore wind farm. With a capacity of 1 gigawatt, it will be the country's largest offshore wind farm.

GE annouces results after challenging year

GE announced plans to form three independent, investment-grade, industry-leading companies focused on the growth sectors of aviation, healthcare, and energy.

European energy companies failing on net zero commitments

The business plans of major European power utilities fail to reach the intermediate targets necessary to deliver on their net zero pledges.

Siemens Gamesa selects Port of Nigg as home base for Moray West OWF

Siemens Gamesa has signed a conditional agreement with Global Energy Group to use Nigg as the base for installation works.

Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance toughens its climate targets

The new protocol binds the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance to halve its portfolio emissions by 2030.

New project to drastically reduce shipping emissions

Maersk Supply Service and offshore project developer Ørsted are working on a system to advance the decarbonization of the maritime industry by eliminating idle emissions.

The companies want to cooperate in the exploration for the development of two floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea with a total capacity of approximately 700 MW.

Under the motto "Portugal Makes Sense", companies from Portugal will display products and solutions for digital transformation, energy transition and reliable supply chains and demonstrate to German companies why it makes sense to minimize risk by sourcing from, outsourcing to, innovating with, and investing in Portugal.

When establishing the Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm near Rügen begins in a few weeks, the 27 wind turbines and monopiles will be shipped out of the port in Roenne.

Vattenfall finished installing its largest onshore wind farm yet

All wind turbines are in place at Blakliden Fäbodberget in northern Sweden.

The Polish portfolio of European Energy secured a EUR 53.5 million financing on five Polish wind farms with a total capacity of 44.675 MW, while the company also signed a new multi-year PPA with German 595 Solutions GmbH.

The 8MW offshore wind turbine, which was developed as an industry-academia-research sector cooperation project led by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) since 2018, is Korea’s largest wind turbine to date.

International engineering company COWI steps away from fossil fuel projects

The Danish company plans to transform its business and reach 100 per cent revenue within sustainability-related projects in three to five years' time

During recent trials at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, the drones demonstrated their ability to hover autonomously and manoeuvre close to vertically suspended wind turbine blades.

Global investment in the energy transition totaled $755 billion in 2021 – a new record – off the back of rising climate ambition and policy action from countries around the world, says BloombergNEF.

Cadeler: strong backlog for years to come

Cadeler wins a contract with Vestas and an undisclosed client, leaving the company with a strong backlog for the coming years.

The usage of SOVs will significantly improve the efficiency of service operations at offshore wind farms in China, including the stages of construction support and O&M, says Ulstein.

Joint venture partners Ørsted and Eversource will charter five new offshore wind CTVs from New York-based, WindServe Marine and Massachusetts-based, American Offshore Services (AOS).

wpd supports offshore wind development in Romania

wpd offshore is well prepared to advance all necessary steps and processes in order to make Romania the first country to install offshore wind farms in the Black Sea

Shell supplies China with green hydrogen for Winter Olympic Games

Shell has started operations in one of the world’s largest hydrogen electrolysers in China. The production of green hydrogen is powered by onshore wind.