The Liebherr LRT 1130-2.1 boasts the longest telescopic boom of any two-axle RT. (Courtesy: ALL Crane)
ALL Crane will take delivery of Liebherr’s newest rough terrain cranes when the ALL family of companies takes delivery of the first five units through early this year. The Liebherr LRT 1130-2.1 boasts the strongest-in-class 140-USt capacity and the longest telescopic boom (197 feet) of any two-axle RT.
The LRT 1130-2.1 delivers the most economical transport dimensions of its performance class, being able to be transported on conventional low loaders without disassembly.
“ALL has a tradition of making history when it comes to high-capacity RTs,” said Brian Peretin, general manager, sales, of the mobile and crawler cranes division of Liebherr USA. “ALL purchased the very first units of our 90-ton and the 100-ton RT series when they were first released.”
Popular in the North American market, rough terrain cranes are always in high demand for petrochemical maintenance and construction, as well as serving as assist cranes and tail cranes for wind energy assembly and repair. “Larger RTs have become a phenomenon in the past 10 to 15 years,” said Peretin. “They offer many of the same features of all terrain cranes, but with a smaller footprint, pick-and-carry capabilities, and a smaller cash outlay.”
Liebherr developed the LRT 1130-2.1 based on input from heavy RT users such as ALL, who have a feel for what the market demands.
These first five units are expected to be in high demand for applications requiring a solid load chart, long boom, and the need to fit into tight spaces.
Commissioning for the Steelhead projects is set for 2025. (Courtesy: Vestas)
Vestas has received a 135 MW order to power an undisclosed wind project in the U.S. The order consists of thirty V163-4.5 MW turbines, Vestas’ newest high-capacity factor turbine. The project has been developed by Steelhead Americas, Vestas’ North American development arm.
The order includes supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, designed to ensure performance of the asset.
Turbine delivery begins in third quarter of 2024 with commissioning set for 2025.
Highlighting its focus on project development in key markets, Steelhead Americas led all development efforts including permitting, land acquisition, and construction design to deliver to the customer a project that is ready for construction and installation.
Steelhead leverages Vestas’ industry expertise and turbine technology to advance in existing markets and unlock new geographic markets to expand renewable energy across North America.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) announced that Anne Reynolds, a leader in the clean energy industry, will join the organization as the new Vice President, Offshore Wind, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong track record in advocacy and environmental policy.
Reynolds, previously the executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), played a pivotal role in advancing New York’s offshore wind industry and clean energy policies. Her leadership contributed to major policy wins, demonstrating her capability to drive impactful change.
“We are pleased that Anne is joining ACP in this important leadership role,” said Frank Macchiarola, ACP’s Chief Policy Officer. “Her combined background in government and environmental and energy advocacy makes her uniquely qualified to champion cohesive policies to expand the U.S. offshore wind industry.”
In her role, Reynolds will lead ACP’s efforts to advocate for and implement offshore wind strategies, working closely with member companies and state and federal policymakers to further a domestic offshore wind industry with enormous potential.
Her experience, including her role in the New York State Climate Action Council and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, helps bolster ACP’s comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and policy development. Reynolds was also a founder of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance.
Reynolds officially joins ACP on January 22, 2024.
The Port of Albany facility is estimated to generate $163 million in tax revenue during construction and its first year of operation. (Courtesy: Port of Albany)
Proposed offshore wind manufacturing facilities at the Capital Region’s major marine ports will bring an influx of jobs by the thousands while adding billions to the local economy, according to an economic impact assessment released today by the Port of Albany and the Port of Coeymans.
The development and operation of proposed facilities at the two ports — Port of Albany and Port of Coeymans — would support up to 10,000 construction-related jobs, create over 3,200 new jobs, and add $1 billion in wages over the course of construction and first year of operations, according to the assessment. These figures include jobs and wages at the project sites, across the supply chain, and throughout the broader regional economy. Additionally, the projects would generate up to $4 billion in total industry spending stemming from initial investment and supply chain spending over the course of construction and first year of operations.
The ports are key to positioning the Capital Region as a domestic hub for offshore wind manufacturing, with both the U.S. lacking capacity to make turbine components and supply chain issues plaguing the industry. Components made in the Capital Region will reduce America’s reliance on imports while ensuring local communities will benefit from an industry that is expected to peak at 18,000 to 23,000 workers in New York state by 2040.
The Port of Albany is building the nation’s first offshore wind tower manufacturing facility; once completed, the 626,000-square-foot complex will annually produce up to 150 towers to support the turbines, which will be floated down the Hudson River.
Meanwhile, the Port of Coeymans is planning to break ground in 2024 on a production, staging, and transportation site for nacelles, which house the critical components needed to convert wind into clean energy. The Port of Coeymans has also proposed a standalone project to manufacture and transport wind turbine blades. The projects are expected to be completed by 2026 and 2027, respectively, with production ramping up to a maximum of 60 nacelles and 180 blades per year.
Other highlights of the economic impact assessment:
• Earnings created by new jobs at the ports will lead to increased household spending — and demand for workers in other businesses across industries that are impacted by the increased household spending. The health care, social assistance, finance and insurance, accommodation and food services, and retail sectors are projected to get the biggest boost, leading to an additional $525 million in sales throughout construction and first year of operations, as well as 1,040 local jobs and $61 million in annual wages for each year of operations.
• The Port of Albany facility is estimated to generate $163 million in tax revenue during construction and its first year of operation, including $9 million for Albany County and $10 million for the City School District of Albany.
• The Port of Coeymans facility is estimated to generate $232 million in tax revenue through its first year of operation, including $12 million for the county and $12 million for the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District.
These projects will also promote industry diversity. Hundreds of eligible, local serviced-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs) and minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) will have the opportunity to access contracts estimated worth $71 million during construction and $23 million in the first year of operations of the ports’ offshore wind plants.
“This shows the power ports play in commerce in New York. The coordination on this is exceptionally forward thinking for both renewable energy production as well as domestic supply chain,” said Richard Hendrick, CEO of the Port of Albany.
“Offshore wind manufacturing is an unprecedented opportunity for Albany County and validates the county’s economic strategy focusing on alternative energy and green technology,” said Kevin O’Connor, CEO of Advance Albany County Alliance.
“New York’s ports are essential to enabling the state’s bold carbon emissions reduction goals and economic development initiatives. Our analysis shows that investment in offshore wind can deliver major long-term regional economic benefits. The Port of Albany and the Port of Coeymans reflect an exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity to build new infrastructure for clean energy, support thousands of new jobs, and spark billions in economic activity,” said Rebecca Karp, Founding Principal and CEO of Karp Strategies.
SunZia Wind and Transmission will employ more than 2,000 workers on-site during construction, including heavy equipment operators, electricians, laborers, and others. (Courtesy: Pattern Energy)
Pattern Energy Group LP, a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure, has closed an $11 billion non-recourse financing and begun full construction of SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind, which together is the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history.
SunZia Transmission is a 550-mile ±525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona with the capacity to transport 3,000 MW of electricity across Western states. SunZia Transmission will deliver clean power generated by Pattern Energy’s 3,515 MW SunZia Wind facility, which is being constructed across Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel counties in New Mexico.
“Our hope is this successful financing of the largest clean energy infrastructure project in American history serves as an example for other ambitious renewable infrastructure initiatives that are needed to accelerate our transition to a carbon free future,” said Hunter Armistead, CEO of Pattern Energy. “We’d specifically like to thank our shareholders for their support of Pattern’s efforts to deliver this critical project and meaningfully advance the world’s energy transition.”
This financing includes an integrated construction loan and letter of credit facility, two separate term facilities, an operating phase letter of credit facility, an innovative tax equity term loan facility and a holding company loan facility.
“SunZia represents an important step forward in the global transition to renewable energy and we are pleased to support Pattern as it works to bring this project toward completion,” said Bill Rogers, managing director, global head of sustainable energies, CPP Investments. “CPP Investments’ ability to provide a unique combination of flexible capital and deep expertise places us well to support projects like SunZia, which we expect will provide attractive, risk-adjusted returns to the CPP Fund over the long term.”
SunZia Wind and Transmission will employ more than 2,000 workers on-site during construction, including heavy equipment operators, electricians, laborers, and others.
Turbine delivery is expected in the first quarter of 2025. (Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)
Vestas has received a firm order from Strom 2020 GmbH & Co. KG for the Bosau wind project in Germany.
The order consists of seven V150-6.0 MW wind turbines and includes supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines. Upon completion, Vestas will service the turbines under a 20-years Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement.
“We are pleased to work together for the first time with Strom 2020 and would like to express our thanks to Strom 2020 for their trust in us,” said Jens Kück, Senior Vice President Sales Onshore for Northern and Central Europe at Vestas. “The V150-6.0 MW is the ideal choice for a site with stronger wind speeds and can thus make an important contribution to the energy transition in Schleswig-Holstein.”
“After many years of planning and some ups and downs along the way, we are pleased to have won Vestas as a contractual partner for our wind farm in the municipality of Bosau. We are excited about the coming years, the construction and operation of the wind turbines, and we are optimistic about the future and look forward to a good cooperation,” said Malte Carstens, Managing Director of Strom 2020.
With the order, Vestas’ announced order intake for 2023 passes 10 GW. This is the eighth consecutive year that Vestas passes the 10 GW mark since pioneering the global wind industry more than 40 years ago.
The project site is located in Schleswig-Holstein between Lübeck and Kiel. Turbine delivery is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025 with commissioning scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025.
Integrated Power’s custom engineering department produces electrical control panels, power distribution products, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, enclosures, ISO container modifications, and electrical powerhouses. (Courtesy: Integrated Power Services)
IPS, a North American solution provider for electromechanical equipment, rotating equipment, and power management systems, has acquired Wind Solutions LLC. The company, based in Sanford, North Carolina, specializes in repair upgrades, accessory components, and patent-protected yaw system components. Wind Solutions works with owner-operators and utilities across North America.
The acquisition strengthens IPS innovations in utility-scale renewable energy power generation with in-house design, engineering, and modeling. Wind Solutions has built its business with innovation, intellectual property, and speed to market.
“We’re proud to join IPS and its North American network,” said CJ Winslow, Wind Solutions founder and president. “Our engineering and product development will strengthen IPS single-source capabilities for wind power and open new markets for our innovations.”
“IPS is excited to welcome CJ Winslow, Brad Baldwin, and their colleagues at Wind Solutions to IPS,” said John Zuleger, IPS President and CEO. “Wind Solutions has leveraged a strong intellectual property platform and a focus on wind customer needs to improve wind turbine efficiency and reliability. This team brings valuable engineering and state-of-the-art technical talent that will help us build our service offering to wind customers across North America.”
Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, IPS has service centers, distribution centers, and field service offices across North America, combining industry-specific experience with engineering resources to revolutionize reliability for customers.
Nuvvon’s energy battery materials and batteries are ideally suited for energy storage applications (Courtesy: Nuvvon)
Nuvvon, innovators in alternative solid-state battery materials, is partnering with Rutgers EcoComplex- Clean Energy Innovative Center and its WindIgnite Offshore Wind Supply Chain Accelerator Program to advance renewable energy storage and sustainable development.
Through the partnership, Rutgers will focus on developing and commercializing Nuvvon’s solutions in energy storage that contribute to the development of a sustainable Offshore Wind (OSW) supply chain and address environmental challenges.
Nuvvon’s energy battery materials and batteries are ideally suited for energy storage applications due to cheaper cost per unit energy compared to current technology lithium-ion batteries. These batteries also can pack more energy into a given volume or weight. Unlike liquid electrolyte batteries, Nuvvon technology is fire resistant for safe use close to buildings, simplifying the supporting local grid network.
“Nuvvon is determined to be in the vanguard of this energy revolution in its home state of New Jersey, providing batteries and battery materials to support wind and solar energy generation,” said Jonathan Lex, Nuvvon Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer. “We identify with Rutgers’ aims for energy justice with fair access for all to cheaper energy.”
“Energy storage is essential in efficient utilization of renewable energy. The collaboration will help drive innovation in renewable energy storage where Nuvvon Inc. can play an essential role,” said Serpil Guran, director of Rutgers EcoComplex.
The need to properly value the high performance of battery storage systems, including their accurate and fast frequency response, is one aspect of a broader need for wholesale electricity market reform in the face of rapidly evolving power systems.
Clean energy finance industry expert Álvaro Ortega is Gazelle Wind Power’s new CFO. (Courtesy: Gazelle Wind Power)
Gazelle Wind Power, the developer of a next generation floating offshore wind platform, has appointed clean energy finance industry expert Álvaro Ortega as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ortega is the former vice president of finance at Avangrid Inc., a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange and the U.S. subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola.
“Finding someone with a track record like Álvaro’s is rare. Due to his financial expertise and passion for renewable energy, his joining the team is a home run for Gazelle as we enter an exciting phase in our company’s development,” said Gazelle CEO and founder Jon Salazar. “As the financier of one of the first commercial-scale offshore wind projects in the U.S., his impressive résumé and commitment to clean energy development make him ideal for this position.”
As VP of finance at Avangrid, Ortega managed investor relations and treasury for the company, which has a ~$12.1 billion market capitalization. Before that, Ortega served as CFO of Vineyard Wind, where he played a central role in achieving the financial close and commencement of construction for the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, the 800MW Vineyard Wind 1.
“There were several factors that drew me to Gazelle, the first being Jon’s passion and the world-class Gazelle team. Moreover, I believe the company is positioned to lead the industry because its technology excels under the most extreme conditions while utilizing fewer resources and less steel compared to its counterparts. Additionally, it offers a simpler assembly process and maintenance, which further enables the competitiveness and acceleration of offshore floating wind. This aligns with what the future of this industry demands,” commented Ortega.
Ortega has an MBA from Babson University, renowned for its entrepreneurship education. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of the Basque Country and a Certificate in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy from Yale University. Ortega will lead all financial aspects of Gazelle’s business as the company focuses on demonstrating its next generation design through a pilot plant in Agucadoura, with renewable energy developer WAM Horizon.
“In offshore development, the focus should not solely be on manufacturing the technology but also on making it affordable, especially during challenging times when supply chain costs have risen,” Ortega said.
The joint industry project encompasses concrete structures, geotechnics, and floating technologies and welcomes additional partners. (Courtesy: DNV )
DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has launched a new Joint Industry Project (JIP) called Concrete FLOW that will optimize requirements for concrete floaters, specifically tailored for floating offshore wind farms.
At the kick-off meeting 14 key partners committed to redefining global standards for the production of concrete floaters in the offshore wind industry. The collaborative results are earmarked for incorporation into future DNV service documents.
Concrete FLOW aims to drive innovation by uniting key industry players. “This initiative symbolizes a collaborative effort to set new standards and challenge existing ones, laying the groundwork for the future of floating wind,” said Kim Sandgaard-Mørk, Executive Vice President for Renewables Certification at DNV.
Concrete floaters pose special challenges, such as leak proofness, which govern the design of the floater. Balancing controlled cracking of concrete structures to maintain floatability and ensure long-term durability is crucial. DNV sees concrete floaters as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to steel floaters, particularly for larger turbines.
Notably, Concrete FLOW is the first JIP dedicated to concrete floaters for floating offshore wind. Its objective is to customize standard requirements for industrial production to enable serial production. The goal is to reduce costs and streamline the manufacturing process.
The project encompasses concrete structures, geotechnics, and floating technologies and welcomes additional partners.
The team anticipates conducting activities over a period of 1.5 to 2 years, gathering additional support offers to solidify the JIP’s scope and impact.
Global technology and software leader Emerson has launched the DeltaV™ Edge Environment, a first-of-its-kind integrated software solution that expands the capabilities of the evolving DeltaV automation platform to provide an operational technology (OT) sandbox for data manipulation, analysis, organization and more.
Teams can deploy and execute applications to run key artificial intelligence (AI) engines and analytics close to the data source with seamless, secure connectivity to contextualized OT data across the cloud and enterprise. The DeltaV Edge Environment empowers teams to more quickly deliver operational improvements tied to productivity, sustainability, and other business objectives.
Emerson’s DeltaV™ Edge Environment, a secure-by-design solution, maximizes the accessibility of contextualized DeltaV data across the enterprise to fuel deeper operational insights. (Courtesy: Emerson)
Valuable data in intelligent devices, machines, and systems helps enable enterprise-wide analytics, expands operational insight and feeds the AI engines catalyzing innovation. However, OT data is often trapped beneath layers of systems and networks, adding complexity and removing meaningful context. The DeltaV Edge Environment expands the horizons of the distributed control system (DCS), creating a secure data superhighway where users can seamlessly socialize contextualized data directly with cloud and enterprise applications while also leveraging a built-in execution sandbox — a testing environment for critical innovation tasks such as generating dashboards, running applications, and training AI tools.
“Operations and IT increasingly rely on data from the control system to optimize production and increase intelligence for OT improvements, sustainability, and other digital transformation initiatives,” said Claudio Fayad, vice president of technology for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “The DeltaV Edge Environment is the first step in defining the control system of the future, extending the DeltaV DCS with the capability to move data and configuration easily and securely while simultaneously empowering users to drive innovation as they safely run applications and scripts inside the DCS.”
The DeltaV Edge Environment helps production teams meet their need to more easily and securely engage with automation data and manipulate it into actionable information to steer digital transformation. A single, encrypted, outbound-only flow of data helps authorized users ensure they have constant access to near real-time data without risk of users accessing the control system — a common risk with traditional custom-engineered solutions. Users can run applications for visualization, analytics, alarm management, digital twin simulations, and other needs with the contextualized data available on the DeltaV Edge Environment. OT teams will know the rich data they use is a precise replica, always up to date and fully reflective of the current operating condition.
The DeltaV Edge Environment leverages open, common protocols such as OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) to provide contextualized data while standard application programming interfaces such as representational state transfer architectural style (REST API) and scripting tools such as Python provide the sandbox environment in which users can design and run applications.
The new Primero series is the result of 20 years of KASK helmet design and manufacturing innovations. (Courtesy: KASK)
KASK, a designer and manufacturer of head protection, has introduced its Primero series of safety helmets for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
After the successful launch to the EU market, KASK introduced two new Primero versions, one compliant with the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 and the other with the Canadian standard for Industrial Protective Headwear CSA Z94.1-15.
“The strategic launch of Primero expands our product portfolio, allowing KASK to support even more users’ needs for upgraded head protection. As we move forward, Primero will be an important part of the KASK mission to enhance safety and performance in the workplace,” said Fabio Cardarelli, KASK America CEO.
The new Primero series is the result of 20 years of KASK helmet design and manufacturing innovations. This history enabled KASK to develop a helmet that optimized key components, making manufacturing more efficient, while maintaining comfort and safety that has become the brand’s calling card.
Primero was developed to provide advanced head protection that was easy to use for a wide variety of wearers in a wide variety of applications. To aid in this goal, Primero series helmets are ready-made to accept a range of KASK safety accessories, including many that are used with the well-known Zenith X series helmets. Primero safety helmets are available in vented and closed shell and in a variety of colors.
“Companies told us they wanted a helmet that provided an easy path to upgrade their level of protection from a hardhat,” said Alex Dabelstein, VP of Sales, KASK America. “The Primero provides this path, in a lightweight helmet that utilizes proven KASK comfort and design technologies, while maintaining KASK’s commitment to worker safety and performance.”
Vestas has named Anne Pearce as its new Chief People & Culture Officer. (Courtesy: LinkedIn)
Vestas has appointed Anne Pearce to the position of Chief People and Culture Officer. Beginning in January 2024, Pearce will become Executive Vice President of People & Culture and will join Vestas’ executive management team.
Pearce comes from a position as Vice President of Human Resources at Shell plc, one of the world’s energy majors. In the role, Anne Pearce will lead the continued development of Vestas’ P&C organization and efforts to attract, develop, and retain employees.
Prior to joining Shell, Pearce built her international profile through HR leadership roles within industrial companies in North America, EU and Asia Pacific.
”We’re excited to welcome Anne to Vestas to lead People & Culture and take our P&C organization, services and operations as well as leadership across the company to the next level. The energy transition requires us to have the right people at the right time and place and elevating our P&C organization further is key for us to create the organization and operations that allow us to grow sustainably in the future. Anne is a seasoned international profile that brings a wealth of experience from leading companies, including an energy major like Shell, and we look forward to having her on team Vestas,” said Henrik Andersen, Vestas President and CEO.
“I am delighted to be joining Vestas as CPCO and excited to be part of the Vestas’ journey to become the global leader in sustainable energy solutions. I look forward to working closely with Executive Management and the People & Culture management team and organization on building Vestas’ organizational capability and leadership to thrive in the energy transition,” said Pearce.
Pearce was born in New Zealand before moving to Australia and now lives in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining Vestas, she had leadership positions in AXA, Bluescope Steel, ArcelorMittal and Shell. As part of joining Vestas, she will relocate to Denmark.
Lars Hohmeier (right), a Cabinet Products manager at Weidmuller USA, provides hands-on instruction about cabinet box products for attendees at a Distributor Connect training session. (Courtesy: Weidmuller USA)
Weidmuller USA has introduced Distributor Connect, a highly customized distributor training experience. This program is designed to elevate training for Weidmuller USA’s partner distributors to an unprecedented level of immersion into the company’s extensive lines of smart industrial connectivity products and solutions.
Distributor Connect sessions are held at The Weidmuller Application & Training Center at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Richmond, Va. The monthly, multi-day interactive training experience is structured to provide distributors with a deeper understanding of Weidmuller’s products, automation technology and solutions.
“The distributors meet and interact in-depth with our product managers and skilled trainers who present all the products and solutions their customers need,” said Caroline March-Long, Director of Marketing and Market Intelligence for Weidmuller USA. “Attendees participate in hands-on demonstrations of our automation and connectivity products. Also, this unique master class for distributors simulates real-world problem solving that will enhance their knowledge and professionalism.”
“The Distributor Connect training program adds tremendous value to the relationship that we have with our distributors in North America,” Tom Neff, Director of Distribution Sales. “We want them to experience for themselves that Richmond, Va., is the destination for a deep dive into the application-specific solutions and future-oriented products that have made Weidmuller a pioneer and global leader in smart industrial connectivity and automation technology.”
March-Long said that a new Advanced track will be launching in 2024 as part of the company’s investment in providing opportunities for product training. “The Advanced track is even more technical and will focus on automation and Industrial IIoT for automation engineers,” March-Long said.
The Weidmuller Application and Training Center is a smart connectivity and automation training program for employees, customers and other partners across North America.
Katrick’s wind panels can be fitted to existing structures, greenfield sites, and microgrids. (Courtesy: Katrick Technologies)
Glasgow-based greentech company Katrick Technologies has developed a new form of wind power technology that does not use rotary parts. Katrick Technologies’ Wind Panel instead uses the ducting effect and converts mechanical oscillations into clean energy. The principles of the ducting effect used to develop DWTs apply to the Wind Panel and have been instrumental in the development, patenting and validation of the technology.
The Wind Panel uses several channelling ducts containing aerofoils. These aerofoils convert the kinetic energy of wind to mechanical oscillations, which are then converted to energy.
The aerofoils operate independently from one another, in contrast to the rotary blades of a turbine. Energy is collected in smaller pockets, meaning that unlike traditional rotary technology, the Wind Panel can capture instantaneous changes in wind speed and direction. This makes the panels sensitive to gust winds and a higher range of speeds and frequencies than turbines.
Thanks to the unique design and ability to capture a wider variety of winds, the panels can be fitted to existing structures, greenfield sites, and microgrids. They can be installed at ground level to capture ground-effect winds and benefit from the increased flow rate found in previous research.
The Wind Panels provide a new solution for wind energy in locations where traditional turbines are not viable.
Windscope is developing tools to enable asset managers to pair their inventory data with predictive maintenance data. (Courtesy: Windscope)
More effective integration of predictive maintenance data and inventory data from component suppliers will be central to mitigating the impact of supply chain challenges on operational wind energy projects. This is according to Windscope – a hardware-free platform for maximizing wind turbine health and availability.
At present, the wind industry faces a multitude of pressures in the face of inflation and the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted manufacturing and stretched supply chains.
“To further the goals of the industry in a challenging economic climate, we need to create a more transparent environment in which predictive analytics can be used to optimize maintenance of assets, taking into account lead times for components and supply shortages. Ability to understand component condition is the keystone around which an optimized supply chain can start to form,” said Joe Donnelly, Windscope CEO.
“The immediate benefits of such an approach are clear, but there is also huge potential for exciting innovations, such as live tracking of component prices for asset owners, enabling them to make well-informed procurement decisions and secure components at the most favorable pricing. In the future, we could even see automated ordering of components based on condition, further streamlining the procurement process, and reducing the administrative burden on stretched asset management and engineering teams.”
Windscope is developing tools to enable asset managers to pair their inventory data with predictive maintenance data.
“By creating stronger connections between operators and their supply chain, we can help overcome the challenges posed by aging fleets, increased lead times, and rising costs, ultimately ensuring the continued growth of renewable energy,” Donnelly said.
To address these challenges and promote efficient management of tight inventory schedules, Windscope has called for closer partnerships in the 3rd party and OEM supply chains, in particular between asset managers and their component suppliers, facilitated by predictive maintenance software platforms.
By gaining access to component health data from operational fleets, suppliers will be able to anticipate when these components require replacement, enabling more efficient inventory management and procurement planning. In turn, keeping asset owners updated on a live basis about component stocks and their availability can help to reduce unplanned downtime, and enable asset managers to better prioritize maintenance.
As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind-energy capacity by 2030 and 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently identified a Draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine, opening a 30-day public review and comment period.
The Draft WEA covers about 3,519,067 acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, ranging from around 23-120 miles off the coast. A map of the Draft WEA is on BOEM’s Gulf of Maine webpage.
“BOEM will continue to prioritize a robust and transparent planning process, including engagement with Tribal governments, federal and state agencies, the fishing community and other ocean users,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “BOEM strives to minimize potential impacts and will continue working hard to finalize offshore areas that have strong resource potential and the fewest environmental and user conflicts.”
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up — from rebuilding infrastructure, to driving more than $500 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean-energy investments in the United States, to creating jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat the climate crisis and make communities more resilient.
The Gulf of Maine has significant opportunities for offshore wind-energy development, which will create good-paying jobs and new economic activity. Due to the deep waters within the Gulf of Maine, these areas are also an opportunity to accelerate U.S. leadership in floating technologies.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, BOEM has approved the nation’s first four commercial scale offshore wind projects, held four offshore wind lease auctions — including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sale offshore the Pacific and Gulf Coasts, initiated environmental review of 10 offshore wind projects, and advanced the process to explore additional wind energy areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine, and Central Atlantic. The department has also taken steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive toward union-built projects and a domestic based supply chain.
The Draft WEA has a capacity of more than 40 GW, which exceeds the current combined offshore wind-energy planning goals for the Gulf of Maine states: 10 GW for Massachusetts and 3 GW for Maine. Future adjustments to the Draft WEA will likely be made after incorporating feedback during the comment period, while striving to retain sufficient area to meet the Gulf of Maine states’ planning goals.
To identify the Draft WEA, BOEM worked collaboratively with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to develop an ocean planning model that identifies and minimizes conflicts with coastal and marine resources and ocean users. BOEM also met with and incorporated feedback from Tribes, fishers, and the public to refine the model and inform the potential offshore locations that appear most suitable for floating offshore wind energy development.
The Draft WEA avoids Lobster Management Area 1 and all North Atlantic Right Whale Restricted Areas. The Draft WEA also avoids other important fishing areas and habitats, including important groundfish areas east of the Western Gulf of Maine Closure and within the 10-kilometer buffer from Georges Bank, Platts Bank, Parker Ridge, and Three Dory Ridge. In response to initial conversations with Tribal Nations within Maine, the Draft WEA strives to avoid a majority of the historic and present fishing grounds of those Tribes. BOEM will continue to consult with all Tribal Nations and other stakeholders who have an interest in the region to understand their concerns with potential offshore wind energy development and minimize conflicts.
BOEM also seeks comments on whether to add all or parts of three secondary areas identified for additional analysis but not part of the Draft WEA.
During the 30-day public comment period that began October 19, 2023, BOEM will hold a series of public meetings to outline data and information used to inform the Draft WEA and to discuss next steps.
To comment on the Draft WEA go to regulations.gov and search for docket number BOEM-2023-54. BOEM will accept comments through 11:59 p.m. ET, November 20, 2023.
Vestas has repowered more than 1 GW of U.S. projects in the last five years. (Courtesy: Vestas)
Vestas has received a 90 MW order to repower an undisclosed wind project in the U.S. The order consists of 20 V150-4.5 MW wind turbines.
The order includes supply, delivery, and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a multi-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, designed to ensure optimized performance of the assets.
In the U.S., Vestas has repowered more than 1 GW of projects in the last five years across all major turbine brands.
Turbine delivery begins in the second quarter of 2024 with commissioning scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Chartwell Marine and VARD have announced a partnership to introduce the Midi-SOV, a 55-metre offshore wind. (Courtesy: VARD)
Chartwell Marine, UK pioneer of next-generation vessel design, announced a partnership with VARD, a designer and shipbuilder of specialized vessels, to introduce the Midi-SOV: a 55-meter offshore wind craft. Coming to both the U.S. and European markets in 2024, the vessel represents the combined expertise of the respective crew transfer vessel (CTV) and SOV design leaders, providing a solution to the challenge of expanding wind power across the globe.
As the offshore wind industry continues to grow, the demand for larger CTVs has surged, with larger teams of technicians operating on increasingly scaled-up turbines. However, owing to challenges in seakeeping and hospitality, merely increasing the dimensions of current CTV designs to create more capacity is not feasible.
“Never before has there been such a pressing need to develop offshore wind vessels that are reactive to evolving operational and financial conditions. Far from being a disaster, we see the failure of the UK’s Round 5 offshore wind CfD auctions as an opportunity for the maritime industry to respond to the fact that developer costs are skyrocketing,” said Andy Page, Chartwell Marine director.
“The Midi-SOV offers a cost-efficient alternative to full-sized SOVs, contributing to the industry’s overall sustainability. We’re putting a strong emphasis on having these vessels manufactured locally, with US-built vessels Americanized for the U.S. market and Europe-built vessels for European operations. Chartwell is leading the charge in CTVs; VARD are a pioneer in the SOV space — so the Midi-SOV is the best of both worlds,” said Page.
The Midi-SOV has been designed to prioritize stability and operability, and to be a cost-effective solution as the offshore wind industry tackles high inflation and increasing costs in its development pipeline. In taking the Midi-SOV design forward, Chartwell started from scratch, taking into consideration the insights of vessel owners, technical suppliers, and wind farm operators to meet the changing needs of the industry.
Proportioned for offshore wind, the vessel’s size hits the “sweet spot” for commercial and operational viability. It incorporates a low waterplane shape that broadens above waterline, minimizing and dampening roll motion. This allows the vessel to remain stable during operations, facilitating walk-to-work capabilities that were previously challenging for smaller scaled traditional SOV forms. Workability and comfort are bolstered by a superstructure that boasts a capacity of 36 single bunk cabins for SPS crew, 20 crew cabins, and extensive crew facilities, which include a gym, auditorium, meeting rooms, and day rooms.
With a strong focus on energy efficiency, this vessel can be equipped with methanol-diesel dual-fuel engines, electric propulsion, and a supporting energy storage system. Its design, balanced displacement, and advanced features position the Midi-SOV as a versatile and forward-thinking solution for offshore wind, marrying crew well-being and environmental responsibility with resolutely high performance.
To prove the Midi-SOV’s suitability, extensive simulation and model testing was conducted in collaboration with Seaspeed Marine Consulting. Throughout the development phase, Chartwell received support from marine firms, including Clarksons, North Star, Seaspeed and Voith. VARD, after conducting due diligence on the vessel design in summer 2023, recognized its potential and committed to developing the design to market.
“With the introduction of the Midi-SOV, Chartwell Marine and VARD are leading the way in opening up a new segment in the offshore wind industry enabling sustainable business at sea, bringing forth a vessel that combines innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Our partnership signifies a commitment to providing operators with state-of-the-art solutions that slot into new and specialised roles that are emerging in markets across the globe,” said Runar Vågnes, VARD senior vice president, sales.
US Wind’s proposal for all three phases in the Maryland project includes installation of up to 121 turbines. (Courtesy: BOEM)
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Project. If approved, the project could generate between 1,100 and 2,200 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the Delmarva Peninsula, which could power up to 770,000 homes.
“Today’s announcement represents another milestone under this administration’s commitment to promoting clean energy production and fighting climate change, while ensuring our efforts are done in a transparent and inclusive manner,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We value the knowledge we receive from Tribal nations, other government agencies, environmental organizations, local communities, ocean users, and others. Working together, we can reduce conflicts and establish a strong foundation for offshore wind energy projects moving forward.”
An Oct. 6 notice will open a 45-day public comment period that ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 20, 2023. The input received during the comment period will inform preparation of the final EIS.
BOEM will use the findings of the final EIS to inform its decision on whether to approve the project’s Construction and Operations Plan, and if so, what mitigation measures to require.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up – from rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, to driving more than $500 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good-paying jobs and building a clean energy economy that will combat the climate crisis and make communities more resilient.
US Wind, Inc. is seeking approval for the construction and operation of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project, which includes three planned phases. Two of those phases, MarWin and Momentum Wind, have offshore renewable energy certificates from the State of Maryland.
US Wind’s proposal for all three phases includes installation of up to 121 turbines, up to four offshore substation platforms, one meteorological tower, and up to four offshore export cable corridors with landfall occurring within Delaware Seashore State Park.
The lease area is about 8.7 nautical miles offshore Maryland and about 9 nm from Sussex County, Delaware.
If approved, the development and construction phases of the project could support up to an estimated 2,679 jobs annually over seven years.
As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind-energy capacity by 2030 and 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently identified a Draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine, opening a 30-day public review and comment period.
