Category: Regions


Vestas gets first offshore service contract renewal – boosts self-confidence

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

North Hoyle offshore wind farm.

Vestas has received the first offshore service contract renewal for the North Hoyle Wind Farm, owned by NWP Offshore (RWE npower renewables owns a stake in this company). After the inital five-year service contract, the company decided to renew its arrangement with Vestas, expressing satisfaction with the prior service period.

The North Hoyle wind farm has 30 Vestas V80-2.0 MW units installed. It is located off the northern coast of Wales, and began commercial operation back in 2003.

[source: Vestas, image: -Bish-]


EnBW and Siemens Energy sign contract for Baltic 2 offshore wind farm

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

EnBW has ordered 80 3.6 MW wind turbines from Siemens Energy, for installation at EnBW's Baltic 2 offshore wind farm. This will be Germany's second offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. The actual amount has been hinted to be in the triple-digit million range.

Baltic 2 is located about 32 km north of the island of Rügen, in the western Baltic Sea. Once completed, the wind farm will have 288 MW of installed capacity, capable of supplying about 340,000 average households with clean electricity. It is expected to come on line in 2013. The wind farm will be spread out over a 27 square kilometer area.

[source: Siemens]

AMSC and HHI working on 5 MW wind turbine

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have expanded their strategic alliance to include a joint development effort for a new 5 MW wind turbine. The new unit is aimed at the growing offshore wind energy market. The turbine is being developed by AMSC WindTex and HHI, while AMSC will be making electronic components. Full-scale production of the new units is expected to begin by the end of 2011.

AMSC and HHI already collaborated on the 1.65 MW and 2 MW wind turbines which HHI has been successfully marketing for onshore applications over the past couple of years. HHI sees the offshore wind market as a superb opportunity for the company to expand its wind turbine manufacturing sector.

[source: AMSC]

Panama reviewing 25 applications for 3.144 GW of wind energy capacity

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

The Panamanian Public Services Authority is reviewing 25 applications for wind energy development, which if accepted, could total in 3144 MW of installed wind energy capacity in this Central American country, effectively doubling the amount of power produced from wind energy.

Two major projects under review are 600 MW Donoso wind farm (also the largest of the group), proposed by Fersa Panamá, and the 500 MW Eólico Bocas Bay wind farm in Bocas del Toro.

[source: Central America Data, image: Merriam-Webster]

Alstom launches ECO 110 3MW wind turbine

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Alstom announced the official market launch of the company's new ECO 110 3 MW wind turbine, aimed at low to medium wind sites. The 110 meter rotor makes the new unit one of the largest in the world for onshore implementation. The new model is based on the company's PURE TORQUE rotor support technology, which protects the gearbox and drive components from shocks caused by load surges. By keeping the gearbox and other drive components detached from the support structure, the deflection loads are transmitted directly to the wind turbine tower.

ECO 110 has been designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs (one of the most significant factors for wind farm operators), while keeping the standard dimensions allowing transport using existing transport equipment and vehicles. Additionally, the rotors spin at up to 14 rpm, keeping the noise level very low.

[source: Alstom]

Iberdrola Renovables boosting its global position with EUR 9 billion over next three years

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in General Wind

Iberdrola Renovables announced plans to invest EUR 9 billion over the next three years in order to boost its global leadership position and expand international operations, focusing on profitable markets worldwide. Most of the company's growth is to come mainly from the US market, where the company will be investing EUR 4.9 billion, while other investments include EUR 1.9 billion in the UK, EUR 1 billion in Spain, and the remaining EUR 1.2 billion for investments in other parts of the world.

Iberdrola Renovables wants to accumulate about 16 GW of installed capacity by 2012, projecting a 15-20% earnings rise rate in this period. Investment and expansion efforts are going to happen in these key areas of the company's operations:

  • United States: the company wants to expand operations and increase installed capacity in eastern and south-eastern states.
  • Offshore wind: the company has a formidanle pipeline of projects in Europe – one of which is the Round 3 development in the UK, the 7.2 GW offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.
  • R&D&i: the company is going to be making further commitments towards researching new technologies and improving operating efficiency. One of the major projects will be renewables integration into power grids, improving tidal, biomass and marine energy operations.
  • Financial strength: maintaining financial foundations, improving efficiency, adapting investments to the economic environment, reducing the cost per MW installed.
  • Sustainability: a sustainable growth plan, which will create value for all the stakeholders.

[source: Iberdrola]

DONG Energy gets loan from EIB for London Array wind energy project

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

DONG Energy signed a loan contract with the European Investment Bank, under which the EIB is to provide EUR 250 million as a loan facility to the company for the purpose of financing of deliveries by Siemens Wind Power and Per Aarsleff. The loan represents a part of the total financing needed for the realization of the London Array project.

The first phase of London Array will have 630 MW of capacity, and is expected to come on line in 2012, and provide power for the 2012 Olympics to be held in the UK. Once completed, the London Array will be the world's largest offshore wind farm. The project is owned by DONG Energy, Masdar and E.ON.

[source: DONG Energy]

Italian investment in Honduras bringing a new hydropower project

June 10th, 2010 | Posted in Hydro

Italy is investing USD 31 million in the Nacaome Region of Honduras, which will result in a new hydropower plant, the José Cecilio del Valle power plant. Along with the power plant, the project will include irrigation.

According to the Italian spokesperson in Honduras, efforts are now under way to organize the project, communicate it to the local communities and to government entities. There was no mention of the amount of capacity to be installed at the new hydropower plant, but judging from the investment amount, the plant will be a small to medium sized facility.

[source: Central America Data]

ADBA hosting first UK anaerobic digestion and biogas show – UK AD and Biogas 2010

June 9th, 2010 | Posted in Biomass

Due to the rising interest in the waste-to-energy sector and the government's continous efforts towards clean energy, the renewable energy industry is seeing unprecedented growth. In the UK, in particular, emphasis so far has been on wind and marine energy, but as of recently, biomass as a source of energy has become a very interesting field. Many case studies have shown that biomass energy conversion facilities can produce clean energy at a lower price than other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) is hosting a trade show in Birmingham, UK, at the beginning of July, with the goal to bring together leading industry professionals, featuring workshops, seminars and key issues debates. The two day show will offer the general public, as well as industry professionals, a chance to get a more clear picture about the developments and plans in this energy industry sector.

more »

Ballast Nedam to install foundations for Walney II offshore wind farm

June 8th, 2010 | Posted in Wind

Ballast Nedam Offshore, a Dutch construction company, has been awarded the contract to construct and install the wind turbine tower foundations at the Walney II offshore wind farm, in the Irish Sea, some 20 km off the west coast of England. Ballast Nedam is to install 51 foundations, which will later carry 51 3.6 MW wind turbines, totalling in 183.6 MW of installed capacity at the wind farm.

The foundations will be tubular steel piles, forming part of the foundations. These monopiles, each weighing up to 1000 tons, will be the heavies ever used in offshore wind farm projects. The monopiles' weight is at the very limit of the carrying capacity of the company's construction vessel, the Svanen (Swan). The first monopiles are expected to be put in place in Q2 2011. The Svanen will have installed 250 monopiles for the purpose of offshore wind farm construction, soon after the Walney II work begins. It has so far participated in projects such as Rhyl Flats, Gunfleet Sands and Belwind wind farms.

The foundations contract has been awarded by Walney Offshore Windfarms, a joint venture between DONG Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy.

[source: Ballast Nedam]

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