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Category: Rumors

Samsung Heavy Industries turning towards wind turbine production

May 25th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

samsung-heavy

The world's second largest shipyard, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), is thinking about moving towards wind turbine production in the future. With the recent drop in vessel orders, the company needs a new source of work and revenue. The wind market is estimated at around USD 74 billion by 2020, so there is a good chance for long-term engagement in this sector.

SHI is looking for a new plant site, where the company plans to build a production plant for producing 200 wind turbines, with capacities of 2.5 MW and 5 MW. SHI is aiming to build about 500 units by 2015, with a planned generated revenue of about USD 2.4 billion. There are additional plans to raise the production output to a very impressive 1600 wind turbines.

SHI is eyeing the Chinese and Indian wind energy market. The technology for manufacturing wind turbines is similar to the technology used to make propellers, so the company is relatively easily going to make the transition to wind turbine production.

SHI is not alone in its intentions. Another heavy giant, Hyundai Heavy Industries, is also aiming for the renewable energy sector, planning to build a production plant in South Korea.

Australia planning to build the largest solar power plant in the world

May 18th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

Image credit: bwsolar.com.au

Does 1 GW capacity sound large enough? That's how much power their solar power plant will have if the Australians actually stick to this plan. The project costs are estimated ar about USD 1 billion. The plan was announced by Kvein Rudd, Australian Prime Minister yesterday.

Currently, the biggest solar power plant is in California, generating about three times less electricity. The new 1 GW solar power plant will be one of the first major steps in Australia's quest for a clean energy future, but also a way to inject capital and jobs into the economy. This project should later on lead to a whole network of solar power stations across the vast country. Locations are being chosen to fit the existing possibilities for connecting to the power grid, as well as for their insolation characteristics. Rudd added Australia is aiming to become a leader in clean energy on a global scale. Judging by the size of the proposed solar power plant, they mean business.

The USD 1 billion is part of a larger amount of USD 3.5 billion set aside by the government for the development of clean energy. Australia is also planning to become a full member of the International Renewable Energy Agency, which is to have its first global meeting this June.

To get a better picture of the solar energy potential in Australia, check out this page, it has a nice irradtiation map (featured here on the right), but also tables showing detailed values for different cities in Australia, as well as altitude/longtitude/tilt angle values.

Albiasa Solar opens office in Phoenix – doing 340 MW solar thermal project in Arizona

May 14th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

albiasasolar

Albiasa Solar's plans to expand include the strengthening of the company's presence in the US market, one of the most significant in the solar industry. Albiasa Solar has chosen Phoneix, Arizona as their US office, and for reasons that are tied with the US state. The increasing demand for solar projects in Arizona has commanded the most logical choice for the company's
US office. Speaking of which…

A fourth solar thermal power plant is being planned in Mohave County, Arizona. One of the largest in the world, according to the Mohave Sun Power project director, Greg Bartlett, the new solar thermal plant will have 340 MW of installed capacity, and will be located about 27 miles north of Kingman, near Red Lake. The technology used will be the same parabolic trough technology with molten salts for energy storage, as proposed by Albiasa for another 200 MW plant south of Interstate 40, west of US 93.

Sunlight will collected with parabolic troughs and directed towards a tube of oil on each trough. Superheated oil will be transported back to a central facility where it will heat water for feeding a steam turbine, or simply be stored for later use in molten salts.

The new project cost is estimated at about USD 2.1 billion, and will create up to 1500 jobs in the area during its 2.5 – 3 year construction phase. Once completed, there will be 100 permanent jobs at the plant. Construction is expected to start in Q4 2010, and the completion is planned for mid 2013.

GE Energy and Notos discuss wind energy development in Serbia

May 13th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

Yearly mean wind energy potential in Serbia. (Image credit: Wellbury Wind Energy)

GE Energy Development Group for South East Europe met with representatives of Notos, a Serbian renewable energy company (whose 51% stake is owned by US based Green Star Alternative Energy, Inc.), for an exhange of experiences and knowledge in the area of wind data collection, and possibilities for developing wind power projects in the Republic of Serbia.

The two day meeting was part of GE Energy's Strategy for South Eastern Europe, with the main topic being the appropriate and skilled expansion of wind energy in the regional market. The discussions will provide a foundation upon which GE will build a partnership with Notos, to establish the necessary framework for development and execution of future renewable energy projects. More to the point, GE is aiming to increase cooperation between experts from both companies for the purpose of "evaluating and organising a platform from which wind energy projects will be executed". Close cooperation with the Serbian Government was also mentioned as a key factor in moving forward. GE has distinguished Notos as a young company that has quality and management acumen to see projects to their completion. A follow-up meeting will take place some time during May, after which GE and Notos experts will chart a course of action for the implementation of wind power projects in the region.

Belo Blato wind farm (visualization), near Zrenjanin, Serbia. (Image credit: Notos)

Wind energy projects on a local scale have already been happening in Serbia over the years, but no commercial scale projects have been developed so far. Notos will develop a 20 MW wind farm in Belo Blato, near Zrenjanin in Vojvodina (northern Serbia). Initially there were rumors of Vestas being the supplier for the wind farm, but this has obviously changed, as GE Energy is now in serious talks with Notos. Serbia has moderate wind energy potential, but since the country is in a need for more power generation due to high demand, wind power is definitely a good way to go.

Renewable energy in Serbia has mostly been exploited through hydropower projects. The country has several major hydropower plants like the Djerdap 1 and 2 dams (shared with Romania), or the Bajina Basta on the Drina River (western border of Serbia). Small hydropower projects have been developed as early as a hundred years ago, but have been put on the sidelines in the last decades.

Major wind power projects coming to Gansu Province in China

May 11th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

A series of wind power projects have been approved for development in Jiuquan, in the Gansu Province, China, by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The total capacity of these projects is planned to be about 3.8 GW, but that's just a part of a long-term strategy to have about 12 GW of wind power projects installed by 2015.

The first batch of projects consists of 20 wind farms, 18 of which will have 200 MW capacity, and two with 100 MW capacity. Construction is expected to start soon, and completion is planned for sometime in 2010. Preparation for the wind power projects has been completed, with the installment of the 750 kV power grid.

Gansu Province has wind power reserves estimated at about 237 GW, which represents about 7% of the country's total.

Duke Energy building up to 400 mini solar power plants in the the US

May 8th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

As part of one of the first large-scale initiatives for mini solar power in the US, Duke Energy is going to build between 100 and 400 mini solar power plants in North Carolina over the period of the next two years. According to Jim Rogers, Duke Energy CEO, solar and wind power are both going to be key parts of the company's strategy going forward. The company was issued permission to proceed with the US$50 million proposal by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Duke Energy will install solar panels on roofs and grounds of homes, schools, office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses and industrial facilities, starting this year.

In total, the installed solar sites will generate power equivalent to the consumption of about 1300 homes. Juice will flow directly from solar panels to the electrical grid, serving all customers. This initiative by Duke Energy will be the first US and also the largest demonstration of distributed power generation. Electricity is produced at numerous micro-generating sites, rather than concentrated at large centralized production sites.

The company will maintain the panels during their expected 25 year lifespan, and also own the generated electricity. Rental fees will be paid to property owners who host solar panels on their roofs or land. The fees will be based on size and amount of electricity generated at any particular site.

Suzlon gets a 52 MW wind farm contract

May 5th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

suzlon Rumor has it Suzlon just got a 52 MW wind farm contract from Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC). The wind farm is located in Kutch, and is planned to be commissioned before September this year. According to this article, the financial tie-up has been arranged and advance payment has already been made to Suzlon as part of the contract for this project. There is no mention about the actual amount involved at this point.

GSPC has invited bids for setting up a 200 MW wind farm for generating clean electricity in the state in January, this year. Thirteen companies have purchased the bid document, but only two of these companies, Suzlon and Vestas, finally entered the bidding for this project. GSPC plans to award the remaining planned capacity to new contracts, after the first 52 MW wind farm is commissioned in September.

An Australian solar cell and Thai energy authority form joint business for solar power plant development

May 4th, 2009 | Posted in Solar

During the recent Australia roadshow, where Thai Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng visited Australia and discussed potential cooperation areas and deals with the Australian authorities and businesses, among which a joint venture was spawned between EGAT and an Australian solar cell company, for the development of a 63 MW solar power plant in Thailand. This would be one of the first mega renewable energy projects on the Thai market. The deal is rumored to be about Bt10 billion (about US$1.5 billion). Australian associations of investors expressed interest in investing and developing alternative energy projects with Thai companies.

This is a significant development, that could push Thailand and its energy economy in the direction of clean affordable energy. The country has solar energy potential, and offshore wind to an extent. Development of these energy sources will help the country answer the growing demand for energy, as well as bring jobs to the developing economy.

Suzlon considering Ontario as new location for manufacturing operations

April 28th, 2009 | Posted in

suzlon1 Suzlon's decision on whether to enter the market in Canada may come soon. The company is thinking about the Ontario market as a potential home for new manufacturing operation. Suzlon has identified the right combination of policies, infrastructure and local activity in Canada as stimulating enough for the company to consider opening manufacturing operations there. Ontario's Green Energy Act is a very strong initiative which helps differentiate the province from other areas in North America, according to Tulsi Tanti, chairman and CEO of Suzlon Energy Ltd.

Suzlon is considering three factors while thinking about the new location for manufacturing – skilled manpower, logistical costs and government tax support.

EnBW and Nordex partnering to develop wind farm projects

April 25th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

The N100. (Image credit: Nordex)

Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW) and Nordex AG are planning to work together on wind farm development projects in Europe. The two companies are aiming to do joint wind farm development as well as extend wind electricity generation capacities in the next years. The partnership is focused around wind turbine units – the N80, N90 and the N100 (with 2.5 MW nominal output). Nordex has produced more than 1000 N100 units thus far.

Both companies expressed their content with the achieved partnership agreement, hoping to expand areas of operation, as well as installed capacity in the future.

EnBW has just recently made an agreement with Siemens Power Generation which is to supply EnBW with 21 SWT 2.3-93 wind turbines for the Baltic 1 wind farm project, with 48.3 MW capacity. Baltic 1 is just one of four projects, totalling in about 1200 MW. It hasn't been explicitly stated, but maybe the EnBW – Nordex partnership is part of this development as well.