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17/05/2013 14:36
Holmen to build wind farm in jointly-owned company
Together with investment fund Eurofideme 2, Holmen has decided to build a wind farm in the municipality of Norrtälje in a jointly-owned company. The annual production is an estimated 165 GWh and the wind farm is planned to commence operation in autumn 2014.

Eurofideme 2, a renewable energy infrastructure fund of Mirova*, has acquired half the shares in the company that Holmen founded to run wind power production on its own land in the municipality of Norrtälje near Hallsta Paper Mill. The decision now marks the start of installation of 17 wind turbines with an installed power capacity of a total 51 MW and an expected annual production of 165 GWh. An environmental permit has already been obtained. According to the plan, the turbines will be taken into operation in autumn 2014.

“This project will exploit Holmen’s excellent opportunities to produce wind power on its own land,” says Holmen’s President and CEO Magnus Hall. “It is also an important element in our focus on renewable energy, set to increase our self-sufficiency in electricity.”

“It is a great opportunity for Eurofideme 2 to be co-investing in this project of national interest for wind in the Stockholm County with a high quality partner like Holmen” commented Raphael Lance, Director of Eurofideme 2.

The cost of constructing the wind farm is an estimated SEK 650 million and will be financed by a bank loan to the jointly-owned company plus capital from shareholders Holmen and Eurofideme 2. Holmen’s investment will largely be met by income from the sale of shares in the company, and the transaction will therefore not have any noticeable effect on Holmen’s cash flow. The transaction will affect Holmen Energi’s operating profit in the second quarter by approximately SEK 100 million.
17/05/2013 13:41
Sweco to reinforce power supply in Småland
Sweco has been chosen by Svenska Kraftnät (the Swedish national grid operator) to plan a new power line that will reinforce transmission of electricity from the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant. The contract is worth over EUR 1.6 million.

“This reinforcement of the national grid is important in ensuring the operating reliability of the Swedish power transmission system, but is also a vital enabler for the existing plans to build a new electricity interconnection to the island of Gotland. We are proud that Svenska Kraftnät has chosen Sweco to provide comprehensive expertise in the energy supply area,” says Erik Severin, President of Sweco Energuide.

Sweco’s assignment includes detail planning, site surveys, steel and concrete structures and visualisation. The end result of the project will be a 150 km long overhead line with a voltage of 400 kV. The line will be connected to the national grid and will create the conditions for a capacity increase at the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant. The planning and design process will continue until the spring of 2016. Sweco will also provide support in the project until the finished lines are completed at the end of 2018.
14/05/2013 08:01
Alstom to supply 2x800 MW boilers to BHEL for Gadarwara super thermal power plant
Alstom has been awarded a contract by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)[1], to supply components and services for the 2x800 MW Gadarwara super thermal power plant at Gadarwara, Narsingpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. This contract is worth approximately €100 million.

Under the scope of the contract, Alstom Thermal Power will cooperate with BHEL in designing the boilers and supply pressure parts of the 800 MW supercritical boilers along with pulverisers and airpreheater components. It will also assist BHEL with technical advisors during the erection and commissioning of the two units. Key components will be manufactured from Alstom’s state-of-the-art facilities in Wellsville and Concordia in the USA as well as in Durgapur and Shahabad, India. Unit I is expected to be commissioned in 2016, whilst unit II is expected to be commissioned in 2017.

Andreas Lusch, Senior Vice President of Alstom Thermal Power’s Steam business, said: “We are delighted to continue to partner with BHEL on this project. Alstom is committed to further invest and develop in India in power sector”.

The new Gadarwara contract is a confirmation of the strong cooperation established since 2005 with BHEL. It comes in addition to seven contracts signed with BHEL between 2008 to 2012 for supercritical boilers in Barh II, Krishnapatnam, Bara, Yeramarus, Bellary, Mouda and Nabinagar in India.

Alstom’s supercritical coal-fired boilers are state-of-the-art technology. They are designed to address the challenges of the power industry in India, i.e. to achieve increased efficiency and reduced emissions. The supercritical boiler technology helps in achieving about 3-4% higher plant efficiency compared to conventional subcritical design.
08/05/2013 07:33
Veidekke to build wind farm in Berlevåg
Veidekke Entreprenør AS has been commissioned by Varanger Kraft to build infrastructure, foundations and a transformer building for the Raggovidda wind farm in Finnmark. The value of the contract is NOK 120 million excluding VAT.

Veidekke will design and build infrastructure for the facility, which includes a 9 km access road to the wind farm, about 12 km of internal roads, parking spaces, cable trenches and foundations for 15 wind turbines. In addition, Veidekke will build a transformer building approximately 300 m² in size.

""We are very pleased with winning this contract. We have just handed over Lista Vindkraftverk to Fred Olsen Renewables, so this allows us to further utilize the expertise we have acquired. Wind farms are an exciting area that we want to pursue, and green energy is something we want to work with,"" says project manager Kjell Skjølingstad of Veidekke.

The 15 wind turbines will produce up to 45 MW (megawatts) installed capacity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 9,500 households. Veidekke is currently starting planning, and construction work in Berlevåg will start in June. The wind farm will be completed in late autumn 2014.
07/05/2013 11:06
EWEA reaction to BusinessEurope's call on EU energy policy
Commenting on the call from BusinessEurope Director General Markus J Beyrer on EU energy policy, European Wind Energy Association CEO Thomas Becker said:

""It sounds a little old fashioned when BusinessEurope claims that fighting climate change is not compatible with cost-competitiveness and security of supply. What have they been doing for the last 15 years? What planet were they on?

The main problem of the energy situation today in Europe is the massive subsidies - still in 2013 - going to fossil fuels and nuclear.

If that was corrected and with a properly functioning electricity market there would be no discussion of what choice policy makers would make for the energy mix.

But even without such a correction, wind energy is already cheaper than nuclear, and in an increasing number of locations already cost competitive with new gas and coal.

Wind energy does not have to be bought and transported into Europe from sometimes unreliable suppliers. Paying higher and higher bills for importing fossil fuels is not my idea of security of supply.

A 2030 target for renewable energy is the best way to make all renewables more cost-competitive, would create jobs and huge investment in Europe - rather than in some fossil-fuel producing country. It would ensure that the world-leading European wind industry grows and flourishes even more.

It is time for BusinessEurope to stop representing the interests of fossil fuel exporting regimes and start representing the interests of European businesses.""
30/04/2013 11:05
Wärtsilä signs service agreement for Mozambique power plant
Wärtsilä, a leading global supplier of flexible and efficient power plant solutions and services, has signed an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Central Termica de Ressano Garcia, owned by Sasol New Energy from South Africa and the Mozambique state utility, Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM). The three year agreement was signed in April 2013 and covers the company's gas engine power plant in Ressano Garcia, Mozambique.

The Central Termica de Ressano Garcia plant will be powered by a total of 18 Wärtsilä 34SG engines running on natural gas, with the gas being fed from the Pande and Temane gas fields. It will be the largest power plant running exclusively on gas engines to be installed in Mozambique, and the second largest on the entire African continent. The power plant is scheduled for completion by May 2014, and the electricity produced will be sold to EDM.

""Our extensive experience and deep know-how in the O&M field, in combination with the efficiency and reliability of the Wärtsilä equipment, will be of great value in ensuring the success of this important project. The Central Termica de Ressano Garcia gas engine power plant is designed with high operating efficiency, low generating costs, and a minimal carbon footprint in mind. These are all areas where Wärtsilä excels. Wärtsilä's presence in southern Africa is becoming increasingly significant, and is likely to strengthen further as the use of natural gas fuel continues to be developed,"" says A.P.Singh, General Manager, Wärtsilä Solutions Support Services, South Europe & Africa.

By taking responsibility for operating and maintaining this power plant, Wärtsilä will implement its global best practices to ensure that it delivers the design output with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Local employees of Central Termica de Ressano Garcia will also be trained as part of this agreement.

Once completed, the power plant will significantly contribute to Mozambique's power generating infrastructure, and will help meet the country's growing demand for electricity. Furthermore, because of its low emissions this project will be a major advance in developing low carbon electricity generation in the region.

Wärtsilä is an experienced operator, with a proven track record in operation and maintenance services. Globally, more than 17 GW of generating capacity in both marine and land based installations - a total of 544 installations - is covered by Wärtsilä's asset management and other service agreements. 28 such agreements are in Africa.The Central Termica de Ressano Garcia agreement is Wärtsilä's first O&M agreement in the Republic of Mozambique.

An Operations and Maintenance agreement is a comprehensive form of asset management. Typically, O&M agreements can be tailored to cover the entire scope of operational, management, and maintenance services, as well as providing performance guarantees for the installation. Wärtsilä undertakes all aspects of operating and maintaining the power plant, including labour, spare parts, maintenance, administration, human resource services, the training of local employees, technical support, logistics management and security.
26/04/2013 10:25
Deal closure marks beginning of E.ON and Sabanci strategic partnership in Turkey
E.ON SE, Düsseldorf, today closed its acquisition of 50 percent of Enerjisa Enerji A.S. from Vienna-based Verbund AG, completing the asset-swap agreement the two companies signed in December 2012. In return, Verbund acquired E.ON’s interest in a number of hydropower stations in Bavaria. E.ON and its strategic partner Sabanci, a major Turkish conglomerate that owns the other 50% of Enerjisa, will now work together to realize their ambitious plan for Enerjisa which reflects the shareholders’ strong commitment to the Turkish market. On finalization of the privatization process for the Ayedas and Toroslar regions, Enerjisa’s distribution companies will have a substantial customer base of 9 million, while in generation Enerjisa plans to reach 7.5 gigawatts of capacity in operation by 2020.

Enerjisa’s executive team under CEO Yetik Mert was joined today by Holger Kreetz of E.ON SE, who will jointly lead the company with Yetik Mert and serve as the company’s COO.

Sabanci Holding Chairman Ms. Güler Sabanci said: “I believe Enerjisa will reach its new and ambitious targets as the leading and the most innovative energy company of Turkey through the hard work of its team and shareholders, along with the contribution of E.ON, who is eager to grow in the Turkish market. We achieved success on electricity distribution tenders through intense support and determination of our new partner, E.ON. Together with E.ON’s faith and confidence in Turkey and Enerjisa, we will continue to contribute to the sustainability of the Turkish electricity and natural gas markets in all aspects.”

E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen said: “Today marks another important milestone in E.ON’s development as a global energy solutions company. By finalizing the acquisition of a stake in an established and successful power company with nearly 2 gigawatts already in operation, we’ve given E.ON a significant market position in Turkey, which is one of our target growth markets. This confirms E.ON’s strategic belief in the growing Turkish market and our faith in Enerjisa as a strong player in this market. Enerjisa’s successful participation in the recent privatization auctions for two power sales and distribution companies will enable the company to significantly increase its access to end-consumers, thereby achieving an important strategic objective at a fair price. Our value-enhancing partnership with Sabanci will combine our expertise and resources to build one of Turkeys leading power companies.”
24/04/2013 07:32
Alstom and Renova Energia sign a first contract worth €450million in Brazil to equip one of the world’s biggest onshore wind projects
Alstom Renewable Power and Renova Energia, a leader in wind power generation in Brazil, signed the first contract, as part of the agreement announced in February 2013, to supply equipment to wind farms in Bahia State. Worth around €450 million, the contract was booked in fiscal year 2012/13. These farms will represent a capacity of 513 MW out of the 1,200 MW of the frame agreement. The equipment will be delivered from 2015 onwards and it will generate revenues starting into fiscal year 2014/15.

The partnership between Alstom and Renova covers one of the biggest projects in the global onshore wind market., Further contracts will follow this first milestonein the coming years to fulfil the total amount of wind turbines agreed between the companies.

“It is the first contract of all the projects which will be worth a total of more than €1 billion. These projects will generate at least 1.2 GW of electricity and double the current wind generation capacity in Brazil”, says Jérôme Pécresse, President of Alstom Renewable Power.

The agreement signed in February includes the supply, operation and maintenance services of around 440 onshore wind turbines in Brazil. These turbines will be manufactured in Alstom’s plant in Camaçari, in the state of Bahia. Alstom has committed to establish a wind cluster in Bahia in partnership with other companies for the production of the main components of the turbines.

Alstom’s ECO100 onshore wind turbine platform is composed of the ECO122, ECO110 and ECO100 wind turbines, with a unit capacity from 2.7 to 3 MW. It is one of the most proven platforms in the wind market.

Alstom has more than 2,500 turbines currently installed or under construction across more than 150 wind farms worldwide, representing a total capacity of over 3,800 MW.
23/04/2013 09:36
ABB to acquire Power-One to become a global leader in solar photovoltaic (PV) inverters
ABB (NYSE: ABB), the leading power and automation technology group, and Power-One, Inc. (NASDAQ: PWER), a leading provider of renewable energy and of energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions, have announced that their boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Power-One for $6.35 per share in cash or $1,028 million equity value.

The transaction would position ABB as a leading global supplier of solar inverters – the “intelligence” behind a solar PV system – to a market forecasted by the International Energy Agency to grow by more than 10 percent per year until 2021. This rapid growth is being driven by rising energy demand, especially in emerging markets, rising electricity prices and declining costs.

“Solar PV is becoming a major force reshaping the future energy mix because it is rapidly closing in on grid parity,” said ABB’s CEO, Joe Hogan. “Power-One is a well-managed company and is highly regarded as a technology innovator focusing on the most attractive and intelligent solar PV product. The combination of Power-One and ABB is fully in line with our 2015 strategy and would create a global player with the scale to compete successfully and create value for customers, employees and shareholders.”

Power-One has one of the market’s most comprehensive offerings of solar inverters, ranging from residential to utility applications, and a broad global manufacturing footprint. It also has a power solutions portfolio that is adjacent to ABB’s power conversion business. Power-One employs almost 3,300 people, mainly in China, Italy, the US and Slovakia. In 2012, it generated $120 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) on sales of approximately $1 billion.

“This transaction delivers significant value to our shareholders and will enable Power-One to accelerate its growth,” said Richard J. Thompson, CEO of Power-One. “Together we can better address the growing worldwide demand for innovative, renewable energy solutions and strengthen our global leadership. I believe ABB is the right partner and now is the ideal time for our companies to join forces.”

ABB’s leading portfolio in power and automation, global footprint and service organization make it a natural player in solar PV. For many years ABB has brought its solutions to the solar PV industry and is on track to generate sales of more than $100 million in solar inverters in 2013. Solar inverters are one of the fastest-developing technologies in power electronics, requiring substantial research and development (R&D) resources. In 2012, ABB invested about $1.5 billion in R&D overall.

“The combination of these two successful companies will create significant value-driven growth based on innovation – which means inverters offer opportunities for differentiation – global reach, high quality and technology leadership,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, head of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division, into which Power-One will be integrated. “The acquisition supports the implementation of the division’s strategy for renewable energy and the goal to build on our strength in power electronics.”

The transaction is structured as a merger and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval of Power One's shareholders at a special meeting and receipt of customary regulatory approvals. The merger agreement contains certain agreed deal protection mechanisms. Investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake Sumeru have entered into an agreement to vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2013. ABB will finance the transaction out of its own funds.

Credit Suisse acted as financial advisor to ABB, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acted as legal advisor. Goldman Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to Power-One, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as legal advisor.
23/04/2013 07:38
Avantha Group company CG awarded $60 million contract by Ministry of Electricity, Iraq
Avantha Group Company CG has been awarded a major contract for $60 million for the turnkey construction of four high voltage GIS substations by the Electrical Transmission Project Office of the Ministry of Electricity (MOE) in Iraq. The company will design, manufacture, deliver and install the substations, thus helping upgrade and reinforce the existing 132 kV electricity transmission grid.

This win showcases the widened product scope and extended capabilities of CG that enable the company to offer optimal solutions to customers who are looking for integrated systems in smart power transmission. The technological up-gradation will help reach efficient power supply to end customers.

The delivery will include all electrical engineering works, 12 power transformers, medium voltage and high voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) and SCADA/control and protection systems for the high voltage substations. The project is expected to be completed by August 2014.

CEO and Managing Director Laurent Demortier of Avantha Group Company CG said: “We thank the Ministry of Electricity in Iraq for renewing their trust in CG, which has supported Iraq for the last 25 years and helped build its electrical infrastructure. CG has supplied high quality, reliable T&D products and has a successful track record of building similar substations in the Middle East region. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the Ministry in Iraq as a long-standing partner.”
22/04/2013 15:19
EU Parliament fails to fix carbon market - EU must act
""The European Parliament today voted against repairing the collapsing carbon market"", said Rémi Gruet, Senior Climate Advisor of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) in Brussels. ""MEPs have voted against the polluter pays principle and putting a market-oriented price on carbon emissions"".

""This makes the ETS irrelevant in Europe's bid to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The carbon price will continue having no impact on investment decisions in the power sector"" Gruet added.

EWEA backed the plan to delay auctions for additional emissions allowances (""backloading""), because over allocation of allowances, and the economic crisis, led to a significant surplus of free allowances to heavy industry. Combined with a large influx of credits from international projects, the price crashed.

Given the failure of the European Parliament to support an effective carbon price, EWEA urges the EU to urgently negotiate a way forward on backloading and for the European Commission to propose a long-term solution to create an effective carbon market.
19/04/2013 08:17
Panasonic HIT® solar panels meet TÜV long term sequential test challenge
Panasonic continues to assert its claim to possessing the best quality high-performance modules. The results currently being evaluated from the latest series of tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland confirm both internal tests and customer feedback: With a power loss below 8 %, HIT solar modules show a striking performance over a simulated module life time.

Guarantees offer the consumer a basic quality assurance, but do not help much when it comes to choosing high quality modules. In order to provide a more reliable orientation, TÜV Rheinland, an independent global provider of technical, safety and certification services, created a more accurate approximation of long-term reliability for power output under actual outdoor operation. This Long-Term Sequential Test method evaluates multiple stresses submitted to two identical PV modules. The modules undergo multiple stress tests consecutively instead of the usual certification testing case (for IEC 61215) where each module is subjected to only one stress test. This comes much closer to simulating real exposure. With this test, TUEV Rheinland can approximate more accurately the real outdoor solar module behaviour, in order to increase confidence of consumers in module quality and guarantee claims.

Throughout the Long-Term Sequential Test, the HIT modules maintained a constant level of performance after 1,000 hours of UV exposure, 2,000 hours of damp heat testing, 400 cycles of thermal cycling testing and four 10-cycle test blocks of humidity freeze testing. This gives a very important advantage to HIT modules with respect to energy yield estimates and bankability comparisons. With long term results backed by independent research, customers can make an educated choice and rely on the brand promise: 25 years guaranteed top performance, an investment that is sure to pay off.
18/04/2013 09:18
MAN Diesel & Turbo Supplies Engines for Power Plants in Lebanon
MAN Diesel & Turbo is supplying a total of 14 18V48/60 engines for two new power plants in Lebanon which will in future produce electricity for the state-owned supply company Électricité du Liban. The power plants, which will deliver an output of 194 MW and 78 MW respectively, are being built by a consortium comprising the Danish power plant specialist Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC) and MAN Diesel & Turbo in Zouk and Jiyeh, near Beirut. In addition to the engines, the order from MAN Diesel & Turbo also comprises kits for converting the engines to gas-powered operation: as soon as the region’s gas infrastructure is up and running, the engines will be switched to dual-fuel capability, allowing them to be operated both with liquid as well gaseous fuels. The order for the consortium is worth approximately EUR 270 million.

The power plants will use the Diesel Combined Cycle product combination, in which the waste heat from the engines is utilized in order to power a further steam turbine. This achieves an excellent degree of electrical efficiency of more than 48 per cent in total.

With a total output of 272 MW, the new power plants will play an important role in safeguarding a stable and reliable supply of electricity to the region: “The two new power plants in Zouk and Jiyeh are an important first step in the efforts to reform the Lebanon's energy sector, efforts which are aimed at markedly improving the entire country's power supply,” says Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’s Minister for Energy and Water.

“The power plants in Zouk and Jiyeh are our first order of this size in Lebanon and are an important reference project in the Middle East,” says Dr. René Umlauft, CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo. “There is a great need in Lebanon to expand energy production. This makes the country highly interesting for our Power Plants division.”

The two power plants will be handed over to the clients Électricité du Liban and the Lebanese Ministry for Energy and Water in 2014.
16/04/2013 10:09
Roxtec seals new deal with energy giant Western Power Distribution
Bury based Cable and pipe seal manufacturer Roxtec has won a new deal in the substation sector with one of the UK’s biggest electricity providers Western Power Distribution (WPD).

The deal sees Swedish owned Roxtec supply its safety seals to a collection of electricity substations operated by WPD in the South West of England. WPD is the electricity distribution operator to more than 7.7m customers living in the Midlands, South Wales and the South West of England.

Roxtec UK managing director Graham O’Hare said Roxtec is seeing sustained growth in the substation sector.

“Western Power Distribution is highly regarded in the energy sector and this project is a great show case for our products”, he said. “On this project we have been used to seal cable entry points into the substation to protect the substation from the risk of flooding. Roxtec’s triplex seals have been designed and tested for use with single core cables, commonly used in the energy sector. Substations are a key growth market for us and we have developed a range of solutions to improve on site safety and operations. Our depth of knowledge and experience means our cable seals are becoming the industry standard.”

Roxtec supplied its H3 trefoil seal for the project to seal high voltage cables at the point they enter the substation. Mr O’Hare said Roxtec is supplying 132 kV and 33 kV substations which are the primary and secondary connection points for the processing of electricity from the national grid (see notes to editors).

“It is very important on this project to provide seals that are strong enough to support the weight of the HV cables to maintain an adequate and even seal around the cables,” he said. “There will be natural flex and movement in the cables during operation which can create a leak path into the substation. With this project it is vital the substation is protected from flooding. Water ingress is hazardous for substations as even a small amount of water in a cable trench can increase the relative humidity in the air. This in turn increases the likelihood of partial discharge and ultimately a costly power outage.”

Mr O’Hare said Roxtec is presently working with a number of companies in the power transmission, distribution and renewables market, supporting both new build and existing substations.
15/04/2013 08:11
Martifer Solar completes two photovoltaic projects in Spain in a total of 4.26 MWp
Martifer Solar, subsidiary of Martifer SGPS, has just concluded two photovoltaic projects in Spain, in a total of 4.26 MWp. The company was responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the projects, a photovoltaic park of 3.8 MWp in Lorca, Murcia, and a rooftop installation of 460 kWp in Toledo, being in charge, from now on, of the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services of both installations.

The Lorca plant, owned by third parties, occupies an area of 4.5 hectares and it consists of about 15,800 modules, which are installed on MPrime solar trackers, Smartracker® technology. With a production capacity of 7.145 GWh/year, it will be able to avoid approximately 1,700 tons of CO2 emissions per year, generating enough electricity for the consumption of over 6,000 inhabitants.

The 460-kWp installation was built in the rooftop of the Prilux Group facilities, in an area of 7,500 m2. With over 1,800 modules installed in fixed structures, it has a production capacity of 0.67 GWh/year, an amount of energy equivalent to the consumption of about 500 inhabitants. This photovoltaic system will avoid approximately 160 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

""These projects reflect the excellent work that Martifer Solar always carried out in Spain, the country where we have already installed 60 MW. Although this is a mature market, which has been facing many changes in the sector regulation, we still deserve the trust of our customers and partners, being known for our experience and quality, in every business segment"", says Jesus Pacheco, Martifer Solar’s COO for Spain.
12/04/2013 07:45
Successful certification of Winergy HybridDrive components
The HybridDrive from Winergy successfully completed all the prototype tests at the system level in September 2012. Now, TÜV Rheinland verifies the properties of HybridDrive after successful certification of the components in compliance with GL 2010. With this as basis, this innovative drive system has the best prospects for the future.

On April 9, 2013, at the Winergy booth at the Hanover Fair, Frank Witte, Deputy Head of the Certification Office for Wind Energy Systems with TÜV Rheinland, handed over the certificate to Matthias Deicke, Winergy project manager for HybridDrive. This certificate confirms that HybridDrive successfully completed the design verification in compliance with the requirements of the GL2010 directive.

""We are very satisfied that the HybridDrive system, comprising gearbox and generator, was able to be so quickly certified. As a consequence, we can offer our customers a real benefit as HybridDrive has been checked and verified regarding basic production criteria and specification features by TÜV Rheinland – as independent and approved Institute – even before a turbine is engineered. This saves our customers a substantial amount of money in the complete type certification process"", explained Matthias Deicke after he received the certificate.

The certified HybridDrive was developed by Winergy for a new wind turbine system belonging to W2E Wind to Energy, based in Rostock, Germany.

The close cooperation between Winergy and W2E Wind to Energy when developing the new W2E-120/3fc wind turbine system shortened the development time, both for the wind turbine system as well as for the HybridDrive. Further, the results of the HybridDrive achieved in the system test were convincing. A rated efficiency of over 96% was able to be successfully verified – an extremely good value. This value applies to the combination of gearbox and generator, whose designs have been optimally harmonized and coordinated with one another.

Both individual components achieve an efficiency of approx. 98%. The certified HybridDrive has a rated torque of approx. 2550 kNm, a power of 3 MW and weights approximately 34 t (including the oil lubrication system). HybridDrive has been designed for wind turbine systems with a rotor diameter of 120 m. Other sizes and power ratings are available on request.

After some delay in the project, this future-proof technology will continue to move forward as W2E Wind to Energy was able to successfully sell licenses for this turbine to other companies. It is assumed that the first 3 MW wind turbine systems under license from W2E will be equipped with a HybridDrive from Winergy in the coming months.

About Winergy
Winergy, with its headquarters in Voerde, Germany, is the leading drive train component manufacturer for wind turbines. It has supplied more than 70,000 gearboxes. With more than 30 years of experience, Winergy offers gearboxes, couplings and services to wind turbine manufacturers as well as wind park owners / operations & maintenance companies. The product portfolio covers power ratings between 750 kW and 6.5 MW. This is complemented by a high quality professional service portfolio. Production and service locations are located in Europe, China, India and the US, while the base of service partners is expanded continuously on a global level.

About W2E Wind To Energy GmbH
W2E Wind to Energy GmbH develops complete wind turbine systems in the multi-megawatt class. It also certifies and supports the operation of prototypes. W2E independently initiates, supports and gets involved in all of the relevant areas of the development phases. The services it performs in-house include developing the concept, designing the machine elements, dynamic simulations, load calculations, FEM, operational control and closed-loop control and designing and specifying the electrical systems.

The results of the development are offered to potential customers in the form of a license. The product comprises the documentation, which allows the licensee to manufacture, erect, commission and maintain the developed wind turbine systems. The documentation includes calculations, verifications, certificates, parts lists, specifications, descriptions, drawings etc. including training documentation.

W2E Wind to Energy GmbH was founded back in May 2003. The number of employees has risen from 7 up to 30. A subsidiary has been established in Canada. W2E has business relationships with customers in Germany, China, India, Turkey, Iran and other countries. The portfolio includes wind turbine systems with ratings of 1.3 MW, 2.0 MW, 2.5 MW and 3.0 MW.

About TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland is one of the world's leading companies in providing independent testing services and has a long tradition extending back over 140 years. It has 17,000 employees in 500 locations in 65 countries around the world. They generate an annual revenue of 1.5 billion euros. These independent specialists stand for quality and safety of man, the environment and equipment in almost all areas of life. TÜV Rheinland tests and checks technical systems, products and services, supports projects and configures processes for companies. These experts train a wide range of people in numerous jobs and sectors. To do this, TÜV Rheinland has a global network of recognized laboratory, testing and training centers. TÜV Rheinland has been a member in the Global Compact of the United Nations since 2006 – standing for increased sustainability and the fight against corruption.

In the area of wind energy, TÜV Rheinland offers a comprehensive range of services for manufacturers, operating companies, investors and insurance companies. The company supports customers around the world with assessments and measurements and carries out risk and damage analyses. Its portfolio also includes the certification of wind turbine systems and wind projects. TÜV Rheinland is a recognized certification organization for type and component certification of onshore and offshore wind turbine systems according to national and international standards.

The company offers sophisticated services, such as analyzing locations and investigating building ground. It also monitors manufacturers, coordinates statics and checking statics – and provides quality monitoring and construction supervision services. In addition, for wind turbine systems, TÜV Rheinland carries out acceptance and repeat tests as well as tests and checks as part of its construction supervision services. The company also provides support when it comes to transporting and installing offshore wind turbine systems and transformer platforms. It also provides a range of marine warranty survey services. The company is also successful in applying the neutral monitoring principle to the quality assurance of global supply chains.
04/04/2013 08:36
Millions of Euros for innovative wind energy demonstration projects
A call for renewable energy project funding, which potentially totals tens of millions of Euros under NER300, was launched by the European Commission today.

NER300 is the EU's funding programme for innovative demonstration projects for renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS). However while no CCS projects qualified for funding as part of the first call in 2011, renewables projects got EUR 1.2 billion - with six wind energy projects granted EUR 273 million total.

""In the first call the wind industry proved how innovative it was, winning a substantial portion of the funding available"", commented Vilma Radvilaite, Regulatory Affairs Advisor at the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). ""However, to be considered under the second call wind energy developers will need innovative projects that are supported by a national government ahead of a 3 July deadline. Although the deadline is tight and companies will need to move fast, EWEA encourages its members to apply.""

In order to qualify, developers must apply in their Member State to be selected for co-financing. Then the Member State will submit the selected projects to the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, by 3 July 2013.

The wind categories have remained the same as for the first call, and include offshore wind farms with very large turbines, floating offshore turbines and onshore wind turbines for complex terrains and cold climates.
04/04/2013 08:00
CG to power Van Oord’s Luchterduinen offshore wind farm in The Netherlands
CG, along with its consortium partners, has been awarded a $44 million contract for the construction of an offshore HV substation in the Netherlands from Van Oord Offshore Wind Projects BV. CG, in consortium with Cofely Fabricom and Iemants, will design, deliver and install the high voltage offshore substation for the Luchterduinen project. The Luchterduinen offshore wind farm is located 23 km from the Dutch coast between Noordwijk and Zandvoort and has an installed production capacity of 129MW. The 43 wind turbines will generate green electricity for nearly 150,000 households.

CG will design, engineer and manufacture the overall electrical system. The delivery will include all electrical engineering work, two step-up power transformers, medium voltage and high voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), auxiliary/earthing transformers, an MV reactor, and the SCADA/control and protection system for the substation. The project is expected to be completed by August 2015. The customer valued in particular CG’s expertise in consulting and advising for the most optimal grid connection design, taking into consideration grid connection requirements from the Dutch transmission grid operator, TenneT.

This is the sixth large offshore connection project secured by CG since 2008. Previous projects include the Belwind, Amrumbank West, WPD Butendiek, Northwind, and Humber Gateway contracts. The total orders booked by CG for offshore wind connections to the grid, along with its partners, amounts to over $ 200 million and pertains to a combination of executed & unexecuted orders. This contract also confirms CG’s expertise in the development of cost-effective offshore substations.

Over the past years, CG has proven that AC high voltage substations are technically and economically the optimal solution for offshore wind connections up to 150 km. The European market for such connections is expected to grow by 30% CAGR in the next ten years as a result of the rapid development of the segment.

Vice President of CG EMEA Region, Mark Wetton comments, ""The Belgium-based CG Systems, Products and Services units have developed a core competence in understanding the needs of our customers involved in these complex offshore wind projects. CG offers market leading flexible and reliable solutions for this demanding and fast-growing market.""

CG CEO and Managing Director Laurent Demortier said “We look forward to working with Van Oord Offshore and thank them for the trust placed in CG. The development of reliable and cost-effective grid connection solutions for the rapidly growing Renewable sector is one of the key priorities for CG. We not only have developed a unique design but also a cost-efficient supply chain for serving this growing market segment.'
03/04/2013 13:07
“The debate must include heating and cooling” urges the Heat Coalition as the Green Paper
According to the Heat Coalition, of which ESTIF is a member and which is a platform gathering 11 European associations with a stake in the heating and cooling sector, the forthcoming climate and energy policy framework must adequately address the future role of the heating and cooling sector, as it accounts for no less than 45% of the final energy consumption in Europe today.

Unfortunately, the stance taken on heating and cooling in the Green Paper confirms the recent conclusion from the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives publication, arguing that “heating and cooling remain neglected areas of energy policy and technology, but their decarbonisation is a fundamental element towards a low carbon economy”. With virtually no mention of this sector or any reference to the challenges it faces, the Green Paper fails to consider the relevant issues.

However, the Heat Coalition strongly believes that this is the right time to develop a comprehensive European approach for heating and cooling towards making energy more affordable and keeping European businesses competitive, as requested by both the European Parliament and the Council.

Less than a fortnight ago, the European Parliament responded to the European Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050 by calling on the Commission to “consider the full integration of the heating and cooling sector into the transformation of the energy system”; stressing that “readily available renewable energy solutions (geothermal, biomass including biodegradable waste, solar thermal and hydro/aerothermal), in combination with energy efficiency measures, have the potential to decarbonize the heat demand by 2050 in a more cost-effective way, while addressing the problem of energy poverty”2. Moreover, the Council’s conclusions on the renewable energy Communication, agreed last December, stated that “more attention should be paid to the widely untapped potential of renewables in the heating and cooling sector”.

Given these clear signals from both the European Parliament and the Council, the heating and cooling sector should be considered as a crucial pillar supporting the 2030 framework.

Today, the Heat Coalition calls on the European Commission to put forward a comprehensive strategy, which must include improved statistics and data collection process, to promote innovative renewable energy sources and energy efficient solutions throughout the entire energy supply chain.
02/04/2013 14:15
EU Commission's 2030 energy policy needs binding renewables target
The European Commission today opened the debate on EU energy and climate policy after 2020 - offering the energy industry the prospect of the long-term clarity and stability needed for large, long-term investments.

The European Commission's Green Paper on a ""2030 framework for climate and energy policies"" published today in Brussels presents 2030 targets as a key policy option.

""It is important to put long-term climate and renewable energy policies in place, and the European Commission and Council already agree that an increase in renewable energy is a 'no-regrets' option,"" said Justin Wilkes, Director of Policy of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). ""Energy policy debate over the coming months will be crucial to Europe's future.""

¨Member States must now join the European Parliament and the Energy and Climate Action Commissioners in support of a 2030 renewable energy target, together with a greenhouse gas target. This would allow Europe to replace fossil fuel imports with a thriving European wind energy industry generating large amounts of zero-emissions renewable power and technology exports"".

""Setting a binding 2030 renewable energy target would help the achievement of the 2020 targets, by providing the wind sector with the clarity needed to make the necessary long-term investments, thereby driving down capital costs as well as the cost of capital,"" Wilkes said.

Renewable Energy Progress Report

The Green Paper is accompanied by a report on national renewable energy progress. For the first time the Commission warns that it is concerned about the achievement of the 20-20-20 renewable targets by 2020 due to national policy changes. This echoes EWEA's concerns that changes to support mechanisms are driving away investors and making it more difficult and expensive to achieve the 2020 targets. (Special statement on the European energy uncertainty crisis)