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June 2019
ARTICLES
Monitoring wind turbine oils
Oil analysis and condition monitoring for wind turbines is being done using online sensors.
Most wind turbines tend to be in remote locations, making physical access to the gears, bearings, and control systems difficult and not always practical. Condition monitoring programs for wind turbines generally include time-scheduled oil analysis. Unfortunately, servicing of wind turbines is often limited to specific times each year. When the first large wind turbines were […]
R. David Whitby
The science behind A superior wear-resistant coating for roller bearings
How Timken engineered ES302, a better way to avoid costly mainshaft and gearbox repairs in wind turbines.
Steel-to-steel contact is why many bearings fail, why proper lubrication is critical, and why The Timken Company, manufacturer of engineered bearings and power transmission components, works hard to develop advanced surface coatings that combat the problem in the toughest conditions. To extend the life of roller bearings operating in wind turbines, Timken developed ES302, a […]
Doug Lucas
Modern ice detectors for turbines and drones
Turbine ice can be hazardous to people and things, limit energy production, and add stress to blades and towers. Solutions have been complex and expensive – until now.
One ice detector solution for OEMs and operators is to borrow off-the-shelf technology from the global telecommunications industry. Smart phones are manufactured in extremely high volumes around the world. This has forced the price of optical lasers and LEDs down to just pennies apiece. Plastic optical fibers are likewise made in vast quantities, with prices […]
Richard L. Hackmeister, Peter Nyegaard Jensen
NEWS
NRG Systems names new president for next phase
NRG Systems, Inc. recently announced that Evan Vogel has joined the company as president. Vogel brings more than 30 years of experience in power, energy, and renewables to his new role, most recently overseeing marketing and engineering for Schneider Electric’s Solar and Energy Storage Business. Vogel also led Schneider’s transition from hardware focus to include […]
July 9, 2019
Covestro delivers order of raw materials to China
Power generation from renewable sources is a key part of the sustainability concept of Covestro and underlines its commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular goal number 7 for renewable energy (UN-SDG 7). This applies above all to wind power, which is one of the most promising renewable energy sources due to […]
July 9, 2019
ZF Wind Power gets certificate for SHIFT 4k platform
ZF Wind Power’s SHIFT 4k platform received a ‘type and component certificate’ from the international classification society DNV GL, for its complete platform range. In the past, every gearbox design had to go through a long administration process of calculation files, validation results, and more. As of now, all SHIFT 4k designs are covered with […]
July 9, 2019
Siemens Gamesa awarded repowering order in North America
Siemens Gamesa has been selected by MidAmerican Energy Company for the Rolling Hills wind power project for a total of 429.3 MW, the largest repowering order to date in North America. The company will repower the project with 163 SG 2.7-129 and 18 previously sold SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines. Rolling Hills is in Adair, Adams, and […]
July 9, 2019
New Energy Update releases Wind O&M report
With real world data translated into O&M asset and service strategies, the 2019 edition of the Onshore Wind Operations & Maintenance Report provides the complete value chain with the analysis needed to navigate the shifting onshore wind power marketplace and formulate the most cost-effective O&M strategies for your wind power assets. Key reasons to secure the report: […]
June 25, 2019
Airway Services announces ISO 9001:2016 Certificate
Airway Services recently announced the successful completion of its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 audit for its corporate office in San Angelo, Texas. The audit’s objective is to set international requirements for quality management systems. The audit was performed by QAS International (QAS) on April 23, 2019 and Airway Services passed the most recent […]
June 4, 2019
Operators need to invest in disruptive technology, says Onyx Insight
Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) have radically changed the return on investment model for turbine condition monitoring in the United States, helping wind-farm owners make significant OPEX savings. By cutting the cost of condition monitoring systems (CMS), low-cost MEMS sensors have helped wind-farm owners to improve operational planning, cut unscheduled maintenance, and make OPEX savings of […]
June 4, 2019
Siemens Gamesa appoints Alfonso Faubel as Onshore CEO
The Board of Directors of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy recently appointed Alfonso Faubel as the company’s new Onshore Business CEO, effective July 29. “We are very pleased that Alfonso Faubel is joining the company and look forward to working with him,” said Markus Tacke, Siemens Gamesa CEO. “His broad industry experience will support the onshore […]
June 4, 2019
Shell Lubricants launches 10-year warranty gearbox oil to U.S. market
Shell Lubricants unveiled a new synthetic gearbox oil for wind turbines in the U.S. market at AWEA WINDPOWER 2019 in Houston, Texas. With a 10-year warranty, Shell Omala S5 Wind can help to extend operational uptime and reduce unplanned breakdown by offering enhanced protection. “70 percent of U.S. power businesses don’t realize that effective lubrication […]
June 4, 2019
Acciona installs flexible organic photovoltaic modules on turbine tower
The Energy Division of ACCIONA has developed a pioneering solution in the field of hybridization between wind and photovoltaic power. It consists of covering a wind-turbine tower with flexible organic panels to produce energy for the internal electricity consumption of the turbine. The innovative project will allow the study of the performance of the organic […]
June 4, 2019