GE to equip four wind projects in Germany

GE said its 2.75-103 wind turbine, with 50.2-meter blade, provides a larger blade swept area giving wind developers greater energy capture and improved project economics. The new units will generate some 250 million kWh of electricity a year - enough to supply more than 70,000 German households.

GE expects to commission seven turbines in 2013 in North Rhine-Wesphalia and 34 turbines in the Cuxhaven area in the same year. All 41 wind turbines will be manufactured in Salzbergen in Lower Saxony. The turbines will feature a 98.3-meter-high tower and a rotor diameter of 103 meters to capture more energy.

Energiekontor also signed a wind service agreement with GE including an extended spare parts and servicing contract for maintenance, routine inspections and remote monitoring, along with manual resets to be undertaken by on-site service technicians and technical measures for troubleshooting and fault rectification.

GE to equip four wind projects in Germany

Infigen, Pioneer form strategic alliance for solar projects in US

The agreement provides for the further development of approximately 300MW of solar energy projects located in California, Arizona and Texas. The projects range in size from 20MW to 100MW, with initial project construction potential from 2013 onwards, subject to market conditions.

“We are excited about this transaction as it adds advanced development projects to our portfolio allowing Infigen to grow its business in markets that are complementary to our existing operating assets” said Andrew Flanagan, vice president of development and asset management at Infigen Energy. “We will continue to look for development and acquisition opportunities that allow us to prudently grow our presence in the US markets.”

Cyrus Tashakkori, vice president and head of Pioneer’s solar development, said: “This agreement marks a big step in growing Pioneer’s solar development assets into operating projects that will produce clean, affordable energy for decades.”

Infigen, Pioneer form strategic alliance for solar projects in US

First Wind starts construction of Kawailoa Wind Farm

Once complete, Kawailoa Wind Farm will be the largest wind energy facility in Hawaii. The site’s thirty 2.3MW Siemens wind turbines will have the capacity to generate enough clean, renewable wind energy to power approximately 14,500 homes on the island, or as much as five percent of Oahu’s annual electrical demand.

First Wind starts construction of Kawailoa Wind Farm

DeWind completes 20MW Frisco Wind Farm in Texas

The Frisco Wind Farm features the latest deployment of DeWind’s 2MW D8.2 platform. TECO-Westinghouse, the manufacturing subcontractor to DeWind, assembled the 2MW DeWind D8.2 wind turbines in-state at their Round Rock, Texas facility.

DeWind completes 20MW Frisco Wind Farm in Texas

Puget connects Washington’s largest wind farm to electric grid

The 343MW Lower Snake River project is Puget’s third wind farm. The utility’s 157MW Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility, built in 2005, is in Columbia County. The 273MW Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, built in 2006 and expanded in 2009, is in Kittitas County. Together, the three sites generate enough electricity, on average, to meet the total power requirements of approximately 230,000 households.

Puget connects Washington’s largest wind farm to electric grid

David Brown to develop 7MW offshore wind turbine gearbox

David Brown Gear Systems has been confirmed as the first successful bidder to support manufacturers developing next generation offshore wind technology. David Brown’s technology will be used for Samsung Heavy Industries’ new turbine. The gearbox, through its low weight and compact design, is expected to lower the cost of energy for wind turbine operators.

It is the first company to be awarded funding under DECC and the Technology Strategy Board’s Offshore Wind Component Technologies Innovation scheme which is worth around £5 million. Launched last November, the scheme aims to help innovators with novel ideas to reduce the cost of offshore wind energy.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “The coalition is determined to drive ambitious green growth and this is putting our money where our mouth is. This cash shows we are really shifting gear when it comes to supporting innovation and offshore wind. Making wind turbines more efficient is common sense and will help bring down the costs making them more attractive to build and helping us increase the amount of electricity we get from clean, green sources.”

David Brown to develop 7MW offshore wind turbine gearbox

UK and Bangladesh collaborate on renewable energy

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “International collaboration on research is vital to make renewable energy viable for developing countries and help tackle climate change. Through the Memorandum of Understanding, not only can we offer our world-leading expertise in sustainable energy solutions but we can also learn valuable lessons from countries that are undergoing rapid change.”

Access to energy services is a pre-condition for development. Bangladesh despite its vulnerability to climate change, has been experiencing sustained economic growth for more than a decade. It now faces big choices on the kind of energy infrastructure that it should develop to meet its ever increasing energy needs.

For Bangladesh to make those choices, it needs high quality research and development into energy systems and their interactions with society.

UK and Bangladesh collaborate on renewable energy

KIRKBI to invest DKK3 billion in wind farm off the German coast

KIRKBI will own one third of the wind farm’s production of electric power, equivalent to the output of more than 25 wind turbines. The wind farm is expected to be online in 2015.

The 77-turbine wind farm will be built as a joint venture by three Danish companies: DONG Energy, the Oticon Foundation via William Demant Invest, and KIRKBI. It will be the biggest investment private Danish companies have ever made in a wind energy project.

The investment is a healthy long-term investment for KIRKBI which will also contribute with more renewable energy to the wider community. For the LEGO Group, the investment fits well with its high ambition of making a positive impact upon the environment.

KIRKBI to invest DKK3 billion in wind farm off the German coast

Mitsubishi eyes Mareña Renovables, largest wind farm in Latin America

The JPY80 billion (US$1 billion) Mareña Renovables project will be jointly developed by Mitsubishi and its partners, Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund and PGGM, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region located in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The development of Mareña Renovables will involve installing 132 units of wind mills across several tens of kilometers of the isthmus, and is expected to be completed in July 2013. The power generated by the wind farm will be provided to FEMSA and Heineken under 20-year power purchase agreements.

Mexico is putting forward an initiative to increase the total capacity of the power supply by 50 percent or up to 90GW by the year 2025. Out of the 90GW total capacity, 20GW is expected to be from renewable energy resources.

Mitsubishi eyes Mareña Renovables, largest wind farm in Latin America

Nant de Drance hydropower project enters crucial phase

The tunnel boring machine, which started excavating from Châtelard at the beginning of 2010, will break through the last few metres of the principal gallery leading to the machinery cavern in summer 2012. This colossal machine, which is 142 meters long with a diameter of 9.45 meters, has already tunneled 4 km of the total gallery length of 5.6 km. At present, it is located 180 meters beneath the bed of the Emosson reservoir and advancing at a rate of 10 to 20 meters per day.

Nant de Drance hydropower project enters crucial phase