IN FOCUS

Turbine Maintenance  O&M Operations

IMPROVING THE SERVICE

LIFE OF
ROTATING
EQUIPMENT
PROFILE
Brüel & Kjær Vibro

FEBRUARY  2020
windsystemsmag.com
[email protected]

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CONTENTS

12
]]PROFILE
IN FOCUS
Brüel & Kjær Vibro is a machine condition
monitoring company that provides
IMPROVING THE SERVICE LIFE solutions to the industry to maximize

OF ROTATING
machine uptime while minimizing
the life-cycle costs with reduced

EQUIPMENT
maintenance. 20

Technicians can prolong rotating

equipment life in wind-turbine operations
through proper bearings selection and
installation, appropriate maintenance
practices, condition monitoring, and
predictive maintenance.

BUILDING AN AMERICAN
]]CONVERSATION
CTV SUPPLY CHAIN
Chris Hardy, director of Sales  with
In order to properly maintain the operations Cv International, discusses how his
of offshore turbines in the U.S., a full modern fleet company’s products make sense for the
of crew transfer vessels will be paramount.  16 wind sector. 24
2  FEBRUARY 2020 THE COVER  Stuttershock / Designed by Michele Hall
 Elevate.

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for years. In 2020, we’re throwing the doors open, creating an even bigger
opportunity for companies in wind, solar, storage and other clean energy
technologies to learn and do business across the utility- scale power sector.
These industries will converge at CLEANPOWER 2020, bringing together all the
major developers, utilities, OEMs, suppliers and buyers under one roof.

LEARN MORE AT CLEANPOWEREXPO.ORG

SECTIONS February 2020   VOLUME 12  NUMBER 2

]]THE FUTURE OF WIND

TAILWINDS

THE BUSINESS OF WIND

DIRECTION 8 ]]INNOVATION
Vestas to become carbon-neutral by 2030  Allete secures tax Greenbyte Energy
Cloud supports Skyline
equity funding for its two newest wind sites  NOIA announces
Renewables 26
new staff changes
]]CONSTRUCTION
Acciona puts its ninth U.S. wind
farm into service in Texas 29

36
]]MAINTENANCE
CROSSWINDS Study: Fall protection equipment
market size worth $2.9 billion by
2026 30
A RENEWABLE FUTURE IS NOW IN REACH
]]MANUFACTURING
As the energy industry evolves, companies and technicians need Semco, Bladt ink substation
to be mobile, innovative, technology-focused, and work to ensure contract with Mayflower
knowledge is shared and a competitive advantage is gained. Wind 31

Wind Systems (ISSN 2327-2422) is published monthly by Media Solutions, Inc., 266D Yeager Parkway Pelham, AL 35124. Phone (205) 380-1573 Fax (205) 380-1580
International subscription rates: $72.00 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pelham, AL and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. POSTMASTER: Send address
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West Beaver Creek Richmond Hill, ON L4B4R6. Copyright 2006 by Media Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

4  FEBRUARY 2020
 GET CONNECTED
WIndSystemsmag.com is your
online authority for information
about the wind energy industry.

You’ll find topical articles, company

profiles and interviews with
industry insiders, and
timely wind energy news.

Giving Wind Direction

SYSTEMS

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FROM THE EDITOR
David C. Cooper

The PTC lives on for another year Publisher

T
EDITORIAL
he end of 2019 was meant to be the end of the production tax credit
Kenneth Carter
(PTC). Editor
The tax credit was an amazing benefit for renewables, allowing a
Jennifer Jacobson
per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax credit for electricity generated using qualified Associate Editor
energy resources.
Joe Crowe
And although the PTC has been around in some capacity since 1992, it was Contributing Editor
scheduled to be phased out by December 31.
But, in a somewhat pleasant surprise, renewables got a bit of an unexpect- SALES
ed Christmas gift when President Trump signed into David Gomez
law an extension of the PTC through 2020. The law National Sales Manager
also raises the value of the PTC to 1.5 cents/kilowatt Tom McNulty
hour. Regional Sales Manager
Wind developers now have until the end of the year
to receive at least 40 percent of the original tax credit. CIRCUL ATION
That’s great news for wind, because, according to Teresa Cooper
AWEA, the PTC has done some amazing things for the Manager
wind industry, including: Jamie Willett
] The PTC has been a catalyst for investment and Assistant
the establishment of a U.S. manufacturing base that has helped drive U.S.
wind power costs down by 69 percent over the last decade. DESIGN
] Investing in U.S. wind farms has spurred more than $143 billion in Rick Frennea
private investment in the economy over the last 10 years. Creative Director
] About 70 percent of all wind projects are in low-income counties where Michele Hall
land lease payments, tax payments, and jobs boost local economic prospects. Graphic Designer
] Joint Committee on Taxation (JTC) projections through 2025 show that
when wind-energy incentives phase out, wind energy will only account for
about 6 percent of the total, cumulative federal energy incentives.
AWEA President Tom Kiernan had this to say about the extension: No part of this publication may be reproduced or
“This bipartisan bill is a major win for American consumers. It means transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or
more business for over 500 U.S. factories building wind-turbine components, any information storage-and-retrieval system
and it means more opportunities for job creation and economic development without permission in writing from the publisher.
The views expressed by those not on the staff
in the rural communities hosting wind farms. We appreciate that Congress of Wind Systems magazine, or who are not
has recognized wind and other renewables’ role in building a strong economy specifically employed by Media Solutions, Inc., are
purely their own. All “News” material has either
while also reducing carbon emissions.” been submitted by the subject company or pulled
directly from their corporate web site, which is
Wind Systems wholeheartedly agrees with Kiernan’s position on the ex- assumed to be cleared for release. Comments and
tension. It enables the wind industry to continue with its U.S. momentum, submissions are welcome, and can be submitted to
[email protected].
especially as wind makes its inevitable move to making more offshore proj- Vertical Logo Horizontal Logo
ects a reality.
Enjoy our February issue, and, as always, thanks for reading!

Coop wants to use this one for the website

Published by Media Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 1987 • Pelham, AL 35124
(800) 366-2185 • (205) 380-1580 fax
Kenneth Carter, editor [email protected]
[email protected] David C. Cooper
(800) 366-2185, ext. 204 President
Chad Morrison
Vice President
Teresa Cooper
Operations Director
6  FEBRUARY 2020
FYI IRONCLAD

Migratory birds and

wind: Looking at reality
From AWEA
Recently, several House lawmakers introduced a bill
that would reform the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(MBTA). The ensuing debate sure to arise provides
an excellent opportunity to lay some facts on the
table about wind energy’s impact on birds.
The truth is wind is the most wildlife friendly
· First and Best Bolt
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footprint undisturbed. · Standard Duty Bolt Caps
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Most importantly, wind is a leading climate Sizes
change solution. For example, the book, Drawdown, 800.359.0372
is an examination of 100 different solutions to cli- · Extreme Duty Bolt Caps [email protected]
mate change with input from more than 100 of the – One Size Fits All NTCWIND.COM
world’s foremost climate researchers. It finds that
onshore wind power is the second most effective way Call to inquire about our special limited time pricing!
to reduce emissions, and offshore wind ranks 22nd.
Despite some public narratives suggesting other-
wise, in reality, wind is responsible for less than 0.01
percent of all human-related bird deaths — one out
of every 10,000 birds deaths caused by human activi-
ties occurs at a wind project. And that does not even
include the largest threats to birds — feral cats and
habitat degradation (caused by residential and com-
mercial development and agricultural conversion).
No one can dispute the importance of birds for
our ecosystem and the health of our planet. When
it comes to wind energy, there are some basic facts:
] Wind energy provides benefits to birds through
reduced greenhouse gases and air pollution, water
conservation, and habitat preservation.
] All human activities result in impacts to mi-
gratory birds. In terms of overall impacts, wind en-
ergy’s impacts are vanishingly small.
] The U.S. wind industry has been a committed
conservation partner, putting its money where its Take Your Skills Higher With Our
mouth is in supporting entities and programs com-
mitted to finding ways to further reduce impacts. Two Intensive, Hands-On
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information, go to www.awea.org

windsystemsmag.com   7
DIRECTION
THE FUTURE OF WIND

To become carbon-neutral, Vestas

will reduce its global carbon
footprint through a 55 percent
CO2 reduction by 2025, reaching
100 percent by 2030. (Courtesy:
Vestas)

8  FEBRUARY 2020
Vestas to become carbon-neutral by 2030
Vestas is excited to announce it will be
a carbon-neutral company by no later
from its supply chain by 45 percent per
MWh generated by 2030. The measure-
Allete secures tax
than 2030 — the first of many initia- ment has been chosen because it in- equity funding for its
tives to increase our sustainability
performance.
centivizes sustainability partnerships
with suppliers that both reduce CO2
two newest wind sites
For Vestas, the reality of the climate emissions and allows for the contin- Allete Clean Energy recently sold
crisis is at the center of our business. ued growth of the global renewable Class A passive membership interests
In more than 40 years of pioneering energy sector. Vestas will therefore ac- in Great American West Wind LLC to
and leading the wind energy industry, tively seek sustainability partnerships JPM Capital Corporation in support of
Vestas has worked with customers to with its suppliers. the Glen Ullin Energy Center wind site
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by “At Vestas, we are proud of our in North Dakota.
driving the transition to replace car- shared purpose and passion to make The Great American West Wind
bon-based energy generation with re- the planet a better place and to make LLC tax equity transaction also will
newable energy. our work as sustainable as possible,” generate future funding for Allete
To become carbon-neutral Vestas said Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen. “To Clean Energy’s South Peak wind site
will reduce its global carbon footprint remain at the forefront of the energy in Montana.
through a 55 percent CO2 reduction transition, we must do even more “This tax equity deal highlights the
by 2025, reaching 100 percent by 2030. than today to meet the growing sus- appeal of our wind-energy growth
As Vestas is committed to leading the tainability expectations of our cus- strategy among investors. The com-
transition to a world entirely powered tomers, partners, investors, and em- bination of high-quality projects like
by sustainable energy, it will not use ployees. Our commitment to become Glen Ullin and South Peak, respected
carbon offsets but only deliver CO2 re- carbon-neutral is the right thing to counterparties, the latest technolo-
ductions through its own actions. Tak- do for all of us. Together, we will not gy, high-quality wind resources, and
ing the first steps this year, the com- just make products that build a more our development experience and
pany will be transitioning to electric sustainable planet, but we will do so relationships have led to success in
vehicles for its company cars, will start in the most sustainable way possible.” the tax equity market. We plan to
replacing its global service vehicle “Becoming carbon-neutral in our carry this winning formula forward
fleet with renewable fueled vehicles, own operations and reducing CO2 on future projects,” said Allete Clean
and will be exploring further steps to emissions in our supply chain is the Energy President Allan S. Rudeck Jr.
reduce heating- and transport-related next phase of our journey to ensure “Transactions such as Great American
CO2 emissions from its operations. a more sustainable planet for future West Wind help build the low-carbon
The factories and offices have been generations — which is our purpose economy of the future. The clean-en-
powered by 100 percent renewable as a company and as individuals,” said ergy projects they support also bring
electricity since 2013. Lisa Malmquist Ekstrand, Vestas’ head immediate and substantial economic
After installing more than 108 of Sustainability. “Going beyond our benefits to the areas where they oper-
GW of clean energy — enough wind promise to continue developing en- ate and the customers they serve.”
energy to displace 167 million metric ergy solutions that reduce CO2 emis- Glen Ullin Energy Center is a 106-
tons of CO2 every year, equivalent to sions, we are now making sustainabil- MW wind facility about 40 miles west
burning 70 million metric tons of coal ity part of everything we do.” of Bismarck in Morton and Mercer
every year — Vestas’ 25,000 employees These commitments are shaped counties that delivers power to Xcel
are committed to developing compet- based on recommendations from the Energy customers in the Upper Mid-
itive sustainable energy solutions to Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), west through a 20-year power sales
meet the world’s growing electricity an initiative led by the Carbon Disclo- agreement. It will employ about 10
demand. However, Vestas’ aspiration sure Project, the United Nations Global people during operation and provide
to be the global leader in sustainable Compact, the World Resources Insti- property tax and other business ben-
energy solutions means going beyond tute, and the WWF. It advises and as- efits to area communities and lease
delivering sustainable solutions — it sists companies in defining a pathway payments to landowners.
means making sustainability part of to future-proof growth and driving the Allete Clean Energy’s 80-MW
everything we do and taking full re- transition to a carbon-free future. Ves- South Peak wind site in Montana will
sponsibility for the company’s environ- tas joins at least 730 other leading com- sell power to NorthWestern Energy
mental footprint. panies who have already committed to through a 15-year power sales agree-
Therefore, Vestas does not believe reduce their greenhouse gas emissions ment. JPM Capital Corporation will
reducing CO2 emissions in its oper- under the umbrella of the SBTi. purchase additional Class A passive
ations is enough. Vestas is also com- membership interests when South
mitting to reduce the CO2 emissions MORE INFO  www.vestas.com Peak begins commercial operations.

windsystemsmag.com   9
DIRECTION THE FUTURE OF WIND

nication’s team in 2015 as the direc-

tor of Digital & Public Affairs. Prior to
NOIA, Williams worked for the trade
consulting firm, International Devel-
opment Systems, and the multination-
al engineering and construction firm,
Fluor Corporation. Williams earned
his B.A. from the University of South
Carolina and his Masters of Public Pol-
icy (MPP) from American University.

MORE INFO   www.noia.org

ICUEE names new

2021 chairman,
vice chairwoman
Allete Clean Energy’s wind developments. Glen Ullin Energy Center is about 40 miles west of ICUEE – The Demo Expo recently an-
Bismarck, Montana. (Courtesy: Allete Clean Energy) nounced Dave Hughes, vice president
of global sales for McElroy Manufac-
Allete Clean Energy acquires, de- the NOIA team and congratulate Jus- turing, Inc., has been named 2021
velops, and operates clean and renew- tin on his expanded role,” said NOIA show chairman. He will be leading
able energy projects. Allete Clean President Erik Milito. “Their experienc- the ICUEE management committee, a
Energy currently owns and operates, es will enable them to hit the ground volunteer group of utility construction
in five states, approximately 661 MW running in their respective roles. I am industry executives for overall show
of nameplate capacity wind-energy excited for them to strengthen our planning.
generation contracted under PSAs of voice and brand and help NOIA reach ICUEE, or the International Con-
various durations. Allete Clean Ener- our strategic objectives.” struction and Utility Equipment Expo-
gy also engages in the development England spent nearly seven years as sition, is the largest of its kind, known
of wind-energy facilities to operate a staffer for U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (Tex- for the invaluable and numerous inter-
under long-term PSAs or for sale to as-22), most recently as Olson’s Dep- active product demonstrations that
others upon completion, with nearly uty Chief of Staff. Among his broad take place over the three-day show.
400 MW of projects scheduled to come responsibilities, England oversaw Ol- The biennial show last took place in
online in 2020. son’s policy team for the House Energy 2019 and is set to reopen September
& Commerce Committee and helped 28-30, 2021.
MORE INFO  www.allete.com strengthen the energy and environ-
ment portfolio. Before joining Olson’s
staff, England was an Energy Policy
NOIA announces Analyst for Washington Analysis, LLC.
new staff England is a graduate of the George
Washington University.
changes Parkins brings strong event and
meetings experience to NOIA. Past
The National Ocean Industries Asso- stops include the District of Columbia
ciation (NOIA) recently hired Richard Bar and, most recently, the American
England and Ashley Parkins. England Petroleum Institute (API). Parkins’ ex-
is the new NOIA vice president of perience includes planning and exe-
Government Affairs, while Parkins is cuting dozens of meetings and events
joining NOIA as the director of Meet- every year, ranging from intimate
ings and Events. In addition, Justin events to large-scale, multi-day con-
Williams has been promoted to vice ferences and receptions. Parkins is a
president of Communications. graduate of the Georgia State Universi-
“I am very pleased to welcome Rich ty J. Mack Robinson College of Business.
and Ashley as the newest members of Williams joined the NOIA commu- Dave Hughes

10  FEBRUARY 2020
 “AEM is more than pleased to have ] L aura Ness Owens, VP Marketing, ]K evin Smith, president, Ham-
Dave on board as the new chair for Doosan Bobcat. merhead.
ICUEE 2021,” said ICUEE Show Director ]B ob Pettit, CEO, HAWE Hydrau- ]G rant Williams, marketing cam-
John Rozum. “His expertise and partic- lics. paign manager, Altec Industries Inc.
ipation will be incredibly valuable to ]M ike Popovich, VP Sales & Mar- ICUEE is the leading event for util-
our team as we continue to work to- keting – Excavators, Vacall/Gradall ity professionals and construction
ward our goals for 2021. We know that Industries Inc. contractors seeking comprehensive
Dave and the rest of our management ] J im Rauckman, managing mem- insights into the latest industry tech-
committee all have a great vision of ber, Rauckman Utility Products. nologies, innovations, and trends. 
what ICUEE can and will be, and we ]M ark Regan, director of Sales,
look forward to announcing some ex- NA, Versalift. MORE INFO  www.icuee.com
citing changes in the coming year.”
“I am extremely pleased to ac-
cept this position for the 2021 show,”
Hughes said. “I know that everyone
on the committee is dedicated to best
serving industry professionals by pro-
viding an interactive and valuable ex-
perience at ICUEE.” 3 Gauge Control Box • 4500 psig Nitrogen Bottle • 10’ Service Hose
Hughes lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 30’ High Pressure Hose • Nylon Hanging System
and has served in many capacities at
McElroy since joining in 2001. He is
also the president and COO of South-
ern Specialties (SSC) based in Tulsa.
Hughes is returning to the ICUEE
management committee as he served
as the 2019 vice chairman.
He is also active in Young Presi-
dent’s Organization (YPO) and has
served his Tulsa Chapter in all of its
major offices, including chairman.
Serving as vice chairwoman of the
ICUEE 2021 Management Committee
is Julie Fuller, vice president of engi-
neering, marketing, and purchasing
for Tadano Mantis Corporation.
The full roster of the ICUEE 2020
Management Committee includes:
]C hris Brahler, president and CEO,
TT Technologies Inc.
] J oe Caywood, director of Mar-
keting & Product Management, Terex Safe. Quick. Easy.
Corporation.
] A ndrew Christopher, director, The CvI WindKit efficiently
Corporate Business Division, John interfaces with, supplies and controls
Deere Construction & Forestry. high-pressure nitrogen gas to today’s Wind
]M ark Core, executive vice presi- Turbine Generators. Save time, money and increase the
dent & CMO, Vermeer Corporation. safety of your workforce with CvI’s WindKit. Check out the entire
]B ruce Farrar, director - Industrial CvI WindFarm Nitrogen Suite online where we offer products to
OEM Sales & Support, Cummins. generate, boost, fill, store and deliver nitrogen. cvintl.com
] A lessandro Ferrari, VP Sales,
Prinoth.
] J im Glazer, president, Elliott
Equipment Company.
20680 Carmen Loop Suite #101 Bend, OR 97702
]B rian Metcalf, CEO, Ring-O-Matic. Tel: (310) 328-8550 Fax: (541) 550-2284 Toll Free: (866) 330-4382 www.cvintl.com
] S am Miceli, VP and GM, Vactor.

windsystemsmag.com   11
Windkit_half_pg_island_ad_fnl.indd 1 1/15/20 1:49 PM
IN FOCUS
TURBINE MAINTENANCE  O&M OPERATIONS

IMPROVING THE SERVICE

LIFE OF
ROTATING
EQUIPMENT

Vibration, high mechanical loads,

contamination and moisture are
all threats to bearing and gear
service life in wind turbines.
(Courtesy: SKF USA)

12  FEBRUARY 2020
Technicians can prolong
rotating equipment life in
wind-turbine operations
through proper bearings
selection and installation,
appropriate maintenance
practices, condition
monitoring, and predictive
maintenance.

W
By KUSH SODHA

ind turbines are typically designed to

support a 20-year life cycle. Components
are often subjected to extreme operating
and climate conditions that can affect
reliability, productivity, and, ultimate-
ly, service life. However, when properly
maintained, they can continue to operate well beyond their
expected lifespan.
Operators are continually looking for new ways to help
extend the service life of bearings in wind turbines. This
article explores how technicians can prolong rotating
equipment life in wind-turbine operations through prop-
er bearings selection and installation, appropriate main-
tenance practices, condition monitoring, and predictive
maintenance.

SPECIFICATION TO IMPROVE
BEARINGS SERVICE LIFE
One of the best ways to extend the life cycle of a wind tur-
bine is by ensuring the correct bearings are specified and
installed for every application. Each bearing has a unique
set of design features and characteristics that often can-
not be detected simply by looking or even handling the
bearings.
The conditions in wind turbines require special bearing
features and specifications that generate different and spe-
cial part numbers. Many bearings are designed specifically
for the wind industry.
Components in turbines undergo thorough testing be-
fore being placed in operation, but parts have historically
been evaluated individually instead of evaluated according
to how they work with other components in a system. This
approach is changing with more comprehensive testing
involving all interacting components, and with the use
of advanced simulation of conditions to mirror real-world
applications. This should go a long way in extending the
lifespan of wind turbines.
Over time, the final product designation is often

windsystemsmag.com   13
IN FOCUS TURBINE MAINTENANCE

changed through several design and testing iterations. Re-

ferring to the product designation marked on each side of
the bearing is a good start. Technicians are best suited to
consult a bearings engineer to confirm an accurate product
selection.

GETTING THE RIGHT ASSEMBLY

Once the bearing is selected, correct installation in each ap-
plication is also important — particularly bearings installed
in the gearbox to achieve the right preload. To save on ini-
tial costs, OEMs may guide operators to buy single bearings
and then machine the spacer themselves. This can pose a
challenge since bearings are made with a certain tolerance
range that can affect the desired preload.
One important consideration for bearings in the gearbox
is to ensure they have optimum clearance since preloading
generates additional heat and friction. Ideally, bearing re-
placements should be made in the workshop so technicians
can measure and dial-in each component and gauge. Servic-
ing wind turbines makes up-tower repair a necessity where
space is at a premium. Bearings experts can help define The reliability of equipment is an ongoing concern for wind farm
acceptable tolerances and identify steps to be completed in operators — and the dependability of bearings at all points in a wind
a workshop so technicians can carry less equipment and turbine is a critical part of the mix. (Courtesy: SKF USA)
save time for up-tower repair — while still achieving the
desired outcome.
ADVANCING STANDARD LUBRICATION
REDUCING PREMATURE BEARINGS FAILURES PRACTICES
The reliability of equipment is an ongoing concern for wind- Like any mechanical system, wind turbines need proper
farm operators — and the dependability of bearings at all lubrication to function optimally. Studies have shown
points in a wind turbine is a critical part of the mix. Fatigue that 36 percent of premature bearing damage is due to
of bearings may be caused by higher-than-expected stresses improper lubrication. Used grease can harden up in the
driven by a variety of factors, including heavy moment loads, bearing. Fresh grease pumped in is competing for space
friction, and heat. It may also be caused by diminished ma- with this hardened grease. The new grease might find an
terial strength due to environmental factors, including wa- easier way out of the bearing instead. There are several
ter contamination and corrosion, as well as stray electrical methods to remove this used grease and replenish with
currents. There are several ways to help mitigate the risk fresh grease. A properly designed and executed lubrica-
of early bearing failure. tion program helps prevent lubrication-related damage
To prevent the early onset of cracks due to potential and supports optimum bearings performance and service
chemical attack on steel bearings, SKF recommends using life. Vibration, high mechanical loads, contamination, and
special surface treatments like black oxide. When applied moisture are all threats to lubricant life in bearings and
to bearings rings and rollers, black oxide coating has also gears. High temperatures and speeds inside the generator
been shown to reduce other damage mechanisms, such as require specially formulated lubricants and an efficient
corrosion, smearing, and adhesive wear. automatic lubrication system.
Proper lubrication management and regular mainte- There are some common misconceptions when it comes
nance can help prevent surface distress, like micropitting to proper lubrication practices — particularly as it relates to
and smearing damages. Correct sealing design to maintain both quantity and frequency. Over-greasing or under-greas-
appropriate levels of available lubricant help to mitigate lu- ing, sporadic or ill-timed lubrication intervals, as well as
brication starvation. the risk of introducing contaminants, makes manual lu-
Another example is electrical damage in wind-turbine brication less desirable. Up-tower lubrication points may be
generators, which is the cause of 70 to 80 percent of bearings difficult to reach or inaccessible — further contributing to
failure. Depending on the conditions, there are a variety of manual lubrication being more challenging and dangerous.
insulation methods to reinforce the bearing’s performance. Automatic lubrication systems can provide a quick re-
These include specialized protective surface treatments and turn on investment by increasing turbine system availabil-
coatings such as aluminum oxide INSOCOAT® coated bear- ity, extending maintenance intervals, and service life of ma-
ings and hybrid bearings integrating extremely hard and jor components. Additional savings can be achieved through
durable ceramic rolling elements. proper lubricant handling and consumption.

14  FEBRUARY 2020
One of the important considerations for bearings in the gearbox is to ensure they have enough clearance since preloading generates additional
heat and friction. (Courtesy: SKF USA)

A SAFER, SMARTER SOLUTION FOR INSPECTIONS establish baselines. Operators can also collectively monitor
Technicians often ask how to predict the remaining life of a all the turbines on a wind farm and establish trend analyses
bearing during routine manual inspections, as well as what to make future predictive maintenance decisions.
wear characteristics to look for in components surrounding Having the ability to cross-functionally compare factors
the bearing. There is a range of issues to look for in bearings, such as vibration, temperature, and oil analysis allows op-
including pitting, denting, false brinelling, and thermal erators to get an overall snapshot of machine health. These
cracking. However, these characteristics are not always vis- analytics can deliver actionable information for quick and
ible without specialized equipment. Due to the equipment strategic decision-making. Connecting, collecting, and cor-
required and lack of access, regularly scheduled manual relating data provides a new way for people to interface with
inspections do not always provide an accurate assessment machines to increase efficiency and productivity.
of bearing health.
Having the ability to collect vibration reports and tem- THE VALUE OF PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE
perature readings through condition monitoring helps Optimizing machine uptime is key to increasing energy out-
identify the onset of bearing damage. Enabling operators put while reducing life-cycle costs. Predictive maintenance
to monitor and track deteriorating component conditions in (PdM) is a strategic approach to monitoring machine health
real time allows maintenance decisions to be made based on by using connected devices to collect data on a variety of
actual machine conditions, rather than arbitrary inspection assets. Data is then aggregated and analyzed to deliver valu-
schedules. This may also permit maintenance intervals to be able, actionable insights.
extended while consolidating risky, costly, manual activities. Implementing a PdM program with condition monitor-
ing enables the detection of faults before they progress to
MONITORING ASSETS TO PREVENT FAILURES failure. The result is optimized bearing service life over the
As much as possible, bearing replacements are done up-tow- long term, more turbine uptime, and reduced man-pow-
er. Large bearing replacements cannot be done up-tower and er costs — all combining to help make wind farms more
require a workshop. Workshop repairs for wind turbines profitable. Optimizing the existing bearings selection and
can be as much as $250,000. Maximizing productivity in- installation, maintenance practices, and condition monitor-
volves more than just conducting routine maintenance — it ing can help unlock the value of predictive maintenance to
requires using condition monitoring tools, such as smart a wind farm. 
sensors connected to the cloud, to help service technicians
predict equipment issues promptly before they require ABOUT THE AUTHOR
up-tower or workshop repair. Kush Sodha is the wind energy sales engineer for SKF USA, Inc.
Advancements in condition monitoring allow companies in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. For more information, go to www.
to track bearing vibrations, temperature, and other data to SKFUSA.com.

windsystemsmag.com   15
IN FOCUS O&M OPERATIONS

BUILDING AN
AMERICAN CTV
SUPPLY CHAIN

CTV (Seacat Reliance)

pushes on to a turbine.
(Courtesy: Seacat Services)

16  FEBRUARY 2020
In order to properly maintain the operations of offshore
turbines in the U.S., a full modern fleet of crew transfer
vessels will be paramount.
By ANDY PAGE

I
t’s no secret that, to build an offshore wind industry, you of technical performance, which is essential to keep vessels
first need to build boats. U.S. offshore wind is still nascent, on the water and projects on track, the Chartwell 24 design
but, with considerable state-driven ambitions and a na- benefits from a tank-tested hull form that is proven to han-
tional strategy in place, the Department of Energy found dle challenging sea states and built-in redundancy in its
that the U.S. could install a total of 22,000 MW of offshore propulsion systems to minimize any potential downtime.
wind projects by 2030. Similar attributes are shared by the other CTV designs
Bringing about this huge increase in capacity will not that are expected to see widespread adoption in U.S. waters.
just depend on the availability of specialist jack-ups, SOVs, These will largely follow the principle that the vessels that
and large installation vessels, it will also require a full mod- have proven most effective in European operation — i.e. the
ern fleet of crew transfer vessels (CTVs), which are essential 22- and 24-meter catamaran — will also most effectively
for transporting technicians and equipment safely to the meet U.S. needs, with the exception of some market-specific
turbines. adaptations.
In turn, ensuring a steady supply of specialist Jones Act These adaptations include hull forms that have been
compliant CTVs — while capitalizing on the proven attri- modified to meet the requirements of legislation protect-
butes that characterize the most successful vessel designs ing the migration route of the right whale off the U.S. East
in the global offshore wind market — requires ongoing in- Coast and propulsion configurations optimized to meet EPA
vestment in a robust domestic supply chain and significant Tier 4 emissions standards. Chartwell recently announced
international cooperation.

 The growing trend of proven vessel

U.S. shipyards and vessel operators have an opportunity
to gain a first-mover advantage by identifying the vessel de-
signs that will both meet the standards expected by interna-
tional offshore wind farms and fulfill the unique demands
designs that are tailored for the U.S.
of operation off the East Coast. market highlights the benefits to be
Thus far, this has manifested itself in a number of
cross-Atlantic consultancy agreements between vessel op- gained from building knowledge transfer
erators in the U.S. and Europe, alongside more substantial
arrangements that will see European operators — for the between global OESV markets into best
time being — effectively manage the operations of CTV
fleets built and owned by American firms. practice going forward. 
It has also, excitingly, led to the first vessel orders being
placed with U.S. shipyards. Blount Boats claimed the mile- a new deal with U.S. companies, Atlantic Wind Transfers
stone of building the first U.S.-flagged CTV back in 2015 with and Blount Boats, for a pair of vessels meeting these spec-
Atlantic Pioneer, but now the expected demand for vessels ifications, a Chartwell 24 variant modified specifically to
has become increasingly clear, the building of the first full perform optimally in rough Atlantic conditions while com-
batch of American offshore wind workboats is starting at plying with local regulations.
shipyards on the East Coast.
MAINTAINING VESSEL SUPPLY
NEXT-GENERATION VESSEL DESIGNS The “formula” for East Coast CTV support is, by now, be-
Significantly, these boats will be a new breed of “next-gen- coming increasingly established — as demonstrated by this
eration” CTVs that capitalize on a decade of experience in agreement. The growing trend of proven vessel designs that
offshore wind construction and operation. In terms of de- are tailored for the U.S. market highlights the benefits to be
sign, this means that they will be optimized to allow ves- gained from building knowledge transfer between global
sel operators to meet the core metrics of safety, technical OESV markets into best practice going forward.
performance, and availability that are critical to offshore However, vessel design is just one part of the equation;
wind support. maintaining vessel supply in order to meet expected de-
The Chartwell 24, for instance, has been designed to mand is another. Global experience — and, indeed, U.S.
maximize technician safety and comfort with features such experience in the onshore sector — dictates that offshore
as a completely step-free foredeck. The role of the modern wind follows “boom and bust” construction cycles. Periods
CTV encompasses “crew transfer” and logistical support in of heightened construction are often followed by natural
equal measure, so the foredeck is also as large as possible to lulls in activity, and a long-term outlook is required to find
accommodate essential supplies and equipment. In terms a balance between putting sufficient numbers of boats into

windsystemsmag.com   17
IN FOCUS O&M OPERATIONS

build to meet demand during the high points, while en-

suring that existing fleets are kept busy in quieter periods.
In Europe, for example, following a temporary slowdown
in new builds a couple of years ago, the most capable 22- and
24-meter CTVs are currently in very high demand, which
in some cases has created constraints for project owners.
This is naturally a scenario that American vessel opera-
tors and the wider supply chain will look to avoid. A slow-
down in offshore wind vessel orders and competition from
other thriving maritime sectors could encourage U.S. ship-
yards to look for opportunities elsewhere, so it is important
that the industry builds momentum now in order to ensure
it is well-placed to meet future demand.

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING

It has been said numerous times before, but, with the sig-
nificant ambitions of U.S. East Coast states turning into
concrete plans, the U.S. offshore wind sector has a clear
opportunity to start on the front foot in critical areas such
as CTV support.
By establishing a robust CTV supply chain and ensuring The Chartwell 24 (currently in build for Seacat Services in the U.K.
continued investment in proven, high-quality vessels, the (Courtesy: Chartwell Marine)
U.S. market will not only put in place one of the essential
building blocks for successful offshore wind development
and operation, but also provide a significant boost to ship- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
yards and maritime businesses off the East Coast.  Andy Page is managing director of Chartwell Marine.

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18  FEBRUARY 2020
wind syste msm
ag.co m
Contact Power Generation Manager Bob Schnuck
414-840-6406 or [email protected]
www.snapon.com/industrial
PROFILE
BRÜEL & KJÆR VIBRO

KEEPING
THE TURBINES
TURNING

BRÜEL & KJÆR VIBRO

FOUNDED
2000
HEADQUARTERS
Darmstadt, Germany
WEBSITE
www.bkvibro.com

BKV is a machine condition

monitoring company that
provides solutions to the industry
to maximize machine uptime
while minimizing the life-cycle
costs with reduced maintenance.
(Courtesy: BKV)

24  FEBRUARY 2020
Brüel & Kjær Vibro is taking a lead role in wind-turbine
condition monitoring.
By KENNETH CARTER      Wind Systems editor

W
ith more than 550 GW of wind power installed CONDITION MONITORING SOLUTIONS
world-wide, this renewable energy source is ARE NOT EQUAL
finding its way into all segments of society. Not BKV, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, with the wind
just to our homes but also to industry, hospitals, division based in Denmark, has been providing condition
nursing homes, fire stations, and schools. monitoring solutions to the wind industry for 20 years.
What happens if wind turbines stand still because of During that time, there have been more than 25,000 BKV
mechanical problems? Simple, no energy is produced. This DDAU data acquisition systems sold world-wide, with up
not only affects the profitability of the owners and operators to 12,000 of these being remotely monitored as a service,
of these assets, but this shortage of energy may have to be according to Klostermeier.
imported from a polluting thermal power plant to compen- “In addition to successfully providing value to so many
sate, or worse yet, someone will be left without power. owners and operators, this vast customer base also provid-
This is where Brüel & Kjær Vibro (BKV) steps in. ed experience that enabled us to fine-tune our condition
“Simply put, our dedicated mission in life is to keep the monitoring solution to what we’re offering to our customers
wind turbines turning,” said Christian Klostermeier, head today,” he said. “Very few in the industry dispute the merits
of the BKV Windpower Business Unit. “Not only these ma- of machine condition monitoring and the important role
chines, but also steam turbines, gas turbines, hydro tur- it plays in the predictive maintenance strategy, but what
bines, compressors, pumps, motors, generators, and many many fail to understand is that there is a big difference
other critical and balance-of-plant machines in every walk in what system suppliers offer. The big value difference is
of life. This is our only business.” largely based on experience.”
BKV’s condition monitoring experience goes back more
HEALTHY INSIGHTS than 70 years ago, but enormous strides have been made
BKV is a machine condition monitoring company that within the last two decades while monitoring in the wind
provides solutions to the industry to maximize machine power industry, according to Klostermeier.
uptime while minimizing the life-cycle costs with reduced “Early and reliable detection of potential failure modes
maintenance. One of the areas of its strategic focus is on is one of the most important hallmarks of an effective con-
the renewable energy market with a special emphasis on dition monitoring solution, and this is an area where we
wind power. did a lot of research on, combined with our experience,” he
“We help our customers reduce operational and main- said. “An example of this is a series of early fault detection
tenance costs by providing early insight into the health of descriptors we have developed over the years based on sta-
individual wind turbine components,” Klostermeier said. tistical analysis of time waveforms. As a result of this, for
“This enables them to replace only a single bearing or gear, some rolling element bearing faults, we can detect the onset
for example, instead of replacing the entire gearbox that of a fault two years before it has to be replaced.”
failed catastrophically because it was not properly moni- Another area where BKV puts a lot of resources is its
tored. Unplanned maintenance is every owner and opera- web-based monitoring platform, VibroSuite, according to
tor’s worst fear, but this can be avoided by implementing Klostermeier. It enables advanced diagnostics to be done on
cost-effective, planned maintenance through an effective the time waveform data for the individual wind turbine and
condition monitoring solution.” drive-train components, as well as used for turbine perfor-
Renewable energy profitability is closely tied to how ef- mance comparison through fleet monitoring.
fectively asset health is managed. For wind turbines, there “We also give a lot of attention to the user’s needs with re-
are no additional operational costs like those found in ther- spect to flexibility and control from the customer’s side,” he
mal power stations, such as for feedstock purchase or water said. “We accommodate their expertise and combine it with
and air pollution treatment. ours to provide the optimal solution for the application.”
Health management is so important to the wind indus-
try, that basically every offshore wind turbine today is de- SERVICE MINDED TO THE CUSTOMER
livered with a condition monitoring system because of the AND THE INDUSTRY
high maintenance costs associated with their remoteness, BKV has four surveillance and diagnostics service centers
according to Klostermeier. Land-based wind turbines are in Houston, Texas; Nærum, Denmark; and Beijing and
now following that lead, especially as their production ca- Shanghai in China. Thousands of wind turbines the world
pacity increases. Health insight obviously plays a critical over have been monitored by these service centers for many
role for these assets, both offshore and onshore, but how years. BKV’s renowned monitoring and diagnostic reports
dependent is it on the type of condition monitoring solution don’t just provide data, but they also include a call-for-main-
offered? tenance action with a specified timeline, according to Klos-

windsystemsmag.com   25
PROFILE BRÜEL & KJÆR VIBRO

termeier. The diagnosticians and analysts who do the mon- run in order to establish that baseline.
itoring and diagnostics, most of whom are Category III or “The beauty of BKV’s services is that it often detects prob-
Category IV certified for vibration analysis, are recognized lems that are overlooked by visual inspections,” he said.
for their expertise. Sometimes sensor data will indicate specific faults and
Service is not just limited to diagnostics. When a cus- when the company investigates with a borescope, it discov-
tomer approaches BKV, Klostermeier said the first steps in ers that a small chip is missing on the ball of a bearing or
working together are developing a customized monitoring a tooth may have a slight crack, according to Klostermeier.
strategy for their specific needs. “I think these are very proud moments,” he said. “Espe-
“It usually starts out with a standard model, but then we cially for our diagnostic guys to be able to say, ‘Hey, we were
spot on again,’ and proves that we have
the right tools in place.”
Service is not limited to the cus-
tomer either. The experts at BKV also
have been active in writing and devel-
oping ISO and IEC standards for con-
dition monitoring of wind turbines,
according to Klostermeier, as part of
their contribution to the entire indus-
try. They are also active in presenting
papers at conferences, writing case
studies, and organizing webinars.
“We have a collaboration with the
Mobius Institute, which certifies
training for diagnostic engineers,” he
said. “And we cooperate a lot with var-
ious international institutions and
A BKV diagnostic data acquisition unit. (Courtesy: BKV) universities. We feel it is important
to share our expertise to help make
for a better world, not only for our cus-
tomers, but also for their customers
and stakeholders.”

EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY
Over the years, BKV has accumulated
a vast database of monitoring data
that includes fault data on almost ev-
ery imaginable potential failure mode.
This database fits very well into arti-
ficial intelligence (AI) and machine
learning (ML) development, according
VibroSuite enables advanced diagnostics to be done on the time waveform data for the to Klostermeier.
individual wind turbine and drive-train components, as well as used for turbine performance “We have this huge treasure trove
comparison through fleet monitoring. (Courtesy: BKV) of data, and what we are working on
at the moment is automating our di-
would develop a customized strategy on how we monitor agnostic systems, so that the algorithms can automatically
these turbines,” he said. “That starts with us going onsite, detect faults without human intervention,” he said. “For us,
inspecting the turbines, and looking for the best place for the future will be the integration of ML and AI algorithms.
the sensors. We know from the setup how many sensors that We’re deep into development in this area, and we already
we need. And once we have placed the sensors and have com- have prototypes in place that are currently being tested
missioned all the sensors in the set up, we would run it for against live data we get from the turbines. It is something
two to four weeks to learn the system. The system needs to I’m really pumped about in relation to what the team is
learn what is the baseline condition of the turbine or what currently developing.”
is considered a healthy stage of the turbine.” Looking toward the future and looking back at what has
Often, as soon as the system is switched on, it immedi- already been accomplished, Klostermeier says he is confi-
ately detects faults, according to Klostermeier, so a customer dent that BKV is best positioned in the industry to ensure
is advised to repair any faults picked up during that initial the turbines keep turning. 

26  FEBRUARY 2020
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CONVERSATION

Chris Hardy
Director of Sales    Cv International

“Our products just make sense for this

sector. One of the reasons why we know
it makes sense is because of how many
customers continue to come to us
for their high-pressure nitrogen needs.”
] What is your role with Cv International? bon-fiber cylinder out of the Safety Fill Station and carry it
I’m the director of Sales. My position involves interacting up into the nacelle of the wind turbine where you can use
directly with customers, working with our team here at Cv it for servicing accumulators and other high-pressure nitro-
International on advancing the technology of our current gen needs. The Wind Kit is lightweight and ergonomically
products, and working with our engineering department designed with the maintenance provider in mind. Use of the
on new innovative products. I work with great companies Wind Kit greatly cuts down on injuries and maintenance
such as Avangrid, Vestas, EDPR, and E.On to name a few. servicing time.

] What is the Wind Farm Nitrogen Service Suite? ] Why is this important for wind?
The Wind Farm Nitrogen Service Suite is basically the entire The way techs used to perform this service was with big
high-pressure nitrogen servicing package — soup to nuts. steel cylinders that were roughly five feet tall and weighed
From high pressure nitrogen generation or nitrogen storage about 250 pounds — obviously heavier than one person
to our high-pressure nitrogen Wind Kit point-of-use servic- should typically lift.
ing equipment. They used to have to take those up into the nacelle and
The majority of land-based wind farms will order their maneuver them around to fill the accumulators in order
high-pressure nitrogen in bulk and have it delivered to to service the turbines, which is not a very safe thing to
their wind farm. Cv International will supply them with be doing.
a nitrogen booster, which will pull the nitrogen out of Our Wind Kits are lightweight and ergonomic — they’re
the cylinders, utilizing almost all of the nitrogen that’s in just a lot easier for these techs to handle.
those high-pressure storage cylinders. If they didn’t have Our products help with reducing injuries and also help
our booster hooked up, they would end up leaving a good with time spent on servicing the accumulators.
amount of nitrogen in the rented cylinders once the cylin-
ders equalized. That would unfortunately, over time, be- ] What else makes your products unique to wind?
come a substantial amount of wasted money. I think our product’s inherent safety features, ease-of-use,
The next piece is the Safety Fill Station. The Safety Fill and time saving abilities in helping to complete these spe-
Station is designed to help you safely fill our high-pressure cific tasks separates Cv International from the competition
nitrogen Wind Kits; you slide our lightweight carbon fi- and helps make these products unique in this industry.
ber cylinder in there; hook it up, close it, and turn on the These products are specifically built for this type of work,
booster. The booster pulls out the nitrogen from the storage and our equipment is designed to last for years. We stand
tanks and fills it to 4,500 psi. Having the Safety Fill Station behind our warranty.
definitely gives you peace of mind when dealing with such
high pressures. ] As the wind industry has evolved, how has Cv Interna-
At that point, you take the Wind Kits’ lightweight car- tional evolved with it?

28  FEBRUARY 2020
The Wind Kit is lightweight and ergonomically designed with the maintenance provider in mind. (Courtesy: Cv International)

It’s definitely becoming a bigger part of our program. We be a big part of high-pressure nitrogen generation and ser-
continue to see more and more interest all the time. vicing in this sector. You will have to ship or fly everything
Wind-farm-maintaining companies continue to come out to the offshore turbines. This will especially be an area
to us to supply them with our high-pressure nitrogen sys- where our products really make sense.
tems. We are the standard in this industry when it comes I especially see nitrogen generation as something that
to high-pressure nitrogen servicing equipment. We have a CvI will play a big part in. We have been supplying nitrogen
whole bank of engineers here to help with whatever chal- generation for the U.S. military for over 30 years. We’re on
lenges may come up. military bases all around the world with our stationary and
At CvI, our tagline is, “Global challenges, innovative mobile nitrogen generation. This is something that is going
solutions”; that’s who we are and what we do. We believe to be needed for this growing sector. CvI can help wind-farm
that as industries evolve, we can evolve with them. We have maintainers to save money by removing the logistical night-
that ability. We’ve done it before, and we will continue to mare of delivering high-pressure nitrogen to these offshore
do it. We see things on the horizon like the offshore wind sites while also trimming man hours and improving safety.
farms that have come to the coasts of America. We are al- For us, our products just make sense for this sector. One
ready having conversations here at CvI on what we can do of the reasons why we know it makes sense is because of how
differently to help mitigate the challenges associated with many customers continue to come to us for their high-pres-
offshore farms. We’re open and willing to work with people sure nitrogen needs.
in this industry to help them overcome their challenges. We recently supplied Avangrid with our serving equip-
ment at nearly every one of their sites. By doing a group buy
] How do you work with a customer when they come to such as that, we were able to provide them with a discount
you with a challenge? on the equipment, which saved them thousands of dollars.
When a customer comes to us, we download whatever infor- The group buy is a direction where we see a lot of our cus-
mation they have, and we take it to our team to see how we tomers heading.
can best help with whatever challenge they may be facing. Whether it is calls from Vestas, Siemens, EDPR, Avan-
grid, or companies operating in Canada, we stand at the
] Where do you see the growth of wind in the next ready to help them get exactly what they need in this area
decade, and how do you see your place in that future? of high-pressure nitrogen servicing. 
Whether it is land-based wind farms or offshore wind com-
ing to the coasts of America, our Wind Kits will continue to MORE INFO  www.cvintl.com

windsystemsmag.com   29
TAILWINDS NEWS ABOUT INNOVATION, MAINTENANCE,
CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING

Skyline Renewables is bringing together significant expertise in renewables project acquisition, development, and operation. (Courtesy:
Greenbyte)

gets 3 GW of wind and solar assets Greenbyte’s innovative asset man-

] ]INNOVATION across North America. agement software will enable Skyline
The North American renewable to ensure productivity across this
Greenbyte Energy energy market offers attractive invest- growing portfolio, adding value for
Cloud supports ment opportunities for Independent
Power Producers (IPPs) that are able
its investors. Greenbyte Energy Cloud’s
user-friendly dashboards will give Sky-
Skyline Renewables to take a sophisticated approach to line full visibility of asset performance,
improving asset management of large enabling swift identification of emerg-
U.S. independent renewable energy wind and solar portfolios. ing issues and boosting transparency
company Skyline Renewables has se- Skyline Renewables, backed by and trust with third-party operations
lected Greenbyte’s Energy Cloud to Ardian Infrastructure Partners and and maintenance (O&M) teams.
monitor and maximize the perfor- Transatlantic Power Holdings, is With Skyline’s current portfolio
mance of its growing portfolio. bringing together significant exper- containing technologies from three
With its ability to pull data from tise in renewables project acquisition, different wind-turbine manufactur-
technologically and geographically development, and operation. Since its ers, the company is seeking to further
diverse sources, the cloud-based asset inception in 2018, Skyline has rapidly diversify its asset base by expanding
management and monitoring plat- expanded its portfolio of assets under into the solar market. Greenbyte Ener-
form will effectively support Skyline’s management from zero to more than gy Cloud’s ability to gather data from
growth ambitions as the business tar- 800 MW. multiple technology sources will of-

30  FEBRUARY 2020
 fer Skyline flexibility when acquiring, ] ]INNOVATION wind generators, and heat exchang-
developing, and optimizing future ers are exposed to pollution-related
renewable energy assets. VpCI technology corrosion and extreme environmen-
Furthermore, the platform will
continue to evolve over time to incor-
helps sustain tal conditions. Additionally, systems
in coastal environments are exposed
porate the latest asset management wind farms to high salt levels, which can lead to
and monitoring technology, keeping component corrosion and failure.
Skyline ahead of the curve and giving Wind and solar power are fast becom- Corrosion of bolts that hold
the company the freedom to maintain ing the renewable energies of choice wind-turbine towers to their concrete
best practices as they continue to ex- in countries across the globe. Offshore bases is a common problem at wind
pand. and onshore wind energy is emerging farms, especially those in marine en-
“Greenbyte’s Energy Cloud not only in and around the seas of the world. vironments. This was the case at a new
enables Skyline to work more openly Now engineers are battling the ques- wind farm in Brazil, where the base
and effectively with the third-party tion of how to make renewable infra- bolts were corroding due to constant
asset operators currently looking af- structure last. Corrosion is a general exposure to the extremely corrosive
ter the portfolio, but also to continue problem for these infrastructures, and environment of strong wind and blow-
building its own understanding of op- corrosion protection systems are cru- ing sand near the ocean. Clamps inside
erational performance trends across cial to maintaining structural integ- individual transformer boxes next to
its asset base,” said Patrick Strom, se- rity. Stopping corrosion on solar and the tower bases were also experienc-
nior sales manager at Greenbyte. “Af- wind farms has become a major goal ing corrosion.
ter opening our Chicago office earlier for energy providers. To protect against future corro-
this year, Greenbyte is well-equipped Newly engineered systems are de- sion, the base bolts were cleaned with
to support Skyline and other sophisti- signed for up to 30 years of service, Cortec’s VpCI®-418 and coated with
cated IPPs as they continue to develop but exposure to environmental corro- VpCI®- 368 prior to capping them off
their renewable energy portfolios in sion, UV rays, extreme temperatures, with a rubber gasket. Any severe rust
North America, while delivering con- and salt corrosion are challenging to on the base bolts or base flange faces
sistent returns to their stakeholders component durability and quickly re- was passivated with CorrVerter® Rust
and enabling continuous growth.” sult in corrosion at vulnerable points. Converter Primer.
“Greenbyte’s Energy Cloud is the Excessive component failures can lead The f lange faces will also be
platform that best aligns with our to high maintenance costs and under- top-coated with VpCI®-396 and VpCI®-
need to centrally view, analyze, and performance of overall energy output. 384 as the customer works through its
report on data from a variety of re- Fittings, solar cell support structures, corrosion maintenance plan one wind
newable assets with a user-friendly
interface that is both intuitive and
powerful,” said Brad Kallenberger,
vice president at Skyline Renewables.
“We’ve been able to quickly familiarize
ourselves with many of the capabili-
ties and immediately identify oppor-
tunities to optimize the performance
of our fleet.”
Greenbyte Energy Cloud is used as
a renewable energy datahub by asset
owners and IPPs in North America and
worldwide, covering more than 20 GW
of wind, solar, and hydro assets glob-
ally. As owner-operators continue to
expand their portfolios and become
more data-driven, by 2022, Greenbyte
expects to have more than 100 GW of
assets monitored in Greenbyte Energy
Cloud. Due to an extremely corrosive environment, a wind farm in Brazil was having significant
corrosion issues which were successfully overcomed by applying VpCI® Technology. (Courtesy:
MORE INFO  www.greenbyte.com Cortec)

windsystemsmag.com   31
TAILWINDS THE BUSINESS OF WIND

tower at a time. The corroded clamps “We would like to thank Vestas for
inside the transformer box were un- their engineering and technical sup-
bolted and cleaned with VpCI®-415 and port,” said Mai Trong Thinh, chairman
dried. ElectriCorr® VpCI®-239 was ap- of Bac Phuong JSC. “We have been
plied before they were bolted back into working closely together to ensure the
place. VpCI®-386 was used to protect foundation design is suitable for the
external clamp surfaces. marine environment and allows for
The same system was used inside building the project using local labor
transformer boxes across the wind and equipment. With the FIT deadline
farm. VpCI®-396 and EcoShield® 386 in November 2021, it was critical for
will also provide protection to com- us to find a partner that would en-
ponents inside transformer boxes. sure a successful and timely project
The use of VpCI® products in severe completion. We believe that with the
environments will greatly extend the technical support and supervision
service life of the base bolts and flange from Vestas during installation of the
faces used to keep wind towers safely wind turbines, Dong Hai 1 will catch
The contract includes the supply and
standing. supervision of the installation of 13 V150-4.2
the finish line ahead of time.”
The maintenance of cooling sys- MW wind turbines. (Courtesy: Vestas) The project also includes a 10-year
tems in wind turbines is also chal- Active Output Management 5000 (AOM
lenging due to inaccessibility and tight conditions. The project includes a com- 5000) service agreement, designed to
spaces. Cleaning and filling of systems bination of V150-4.2 MW turbines in maximize energy production for the
and the recovery of aged coolants are different power ratings with site-spe- project. With a yield-based availabili-
difficult and demanding procedures. cific towers placed on reinforced ty guarantee, Vestas will provide the
Fortunately, VpCI®-649 BD additive is onshore foundations that are raised customer with long-term business
successfully used in small dosages to above sea level. case certainty. Turbine installation is
address these issues and enable long The contract includes the supply expected to be completed in the first
term corrosion protection. and supervision of the installation of quarter of 2021.
13 V150-4.2 MW wind turbines with
MORE INFO  www.cortecvci.com 10 turbines delivered in 3.8 MW, and MORE INFO  www.vestas.com
three turbines delivered in 4.0 MW
operating modes to boost energy pro-
] ]INNOVATION duction for the site’s specific wind con- ] ]INNOVATION
ditions. Each turbine will be equipped
Vestas develops wind with a full-scale converter, enhancing Vestas to produce
solution for 50-MW the wind park’s compliance with grid
requirements.
zero-waste wind
intertidal project “This project demonstrates Vestas’ turbines by 2040
ability to develop wind-energy solu-
Using onshore wind technologies to tions that unlock high wind sites in At Vestas, enabling a more sustainable
harvest wind resources from the sea, complex and challenging environ- future has always been at the core of
Vestas has developed a customized ments,” said Tommaso Rovatti Stu- what the company does. Now, Vestas
solution for a 50-MW intertidal proj- dihrad, sales director of Vestas Asia is expanding its sustainability focus
ect in Bac Liêu Province, Vietnam, for Pacific. “We are very proud to partner beyond the positive contribution of its
the local EPC construction company with Bac Phuong JSC, and we look products to also address waste generat-
Bac Phuong JSC. The intertidal project forward to taking part in the region’s ed in the value chain. Vestas is excited
site is covered in water at high tide and large potential for intertidal wind to announce its intention to produce
some of the turbines will be uncovered projects.” zero-waste wind turbines by 2040, fur-
at low tide. “Using locally produced towers and ther underlining our commitment to
Working closely with the customer local contractors, this project will cre- make sustainability part of everything
to overcome the complex operation of ate jobs and support the Vietnamese we do.
planning and executing an intertidal government’s ambition to promote Vestas is the first turbine manufac-
project, Vestas will supervise the in- renewable energy and a more sus- turer to commit to zero-waste wind
stallation of the turbines in shallow tainable energy mix, for the benefit turbines, meaning running a value
waters close to shore in the Mekong of the population,” said William Gail- chain that generates no waste materi-
Delta region to exploit the full po- lard, sales vice president of Vestas Asia als. This will be achieved by developing
tential of the region’s favorable wind Pacific. and implementing a new waste-man-

32  FEBRUARY 2020
agement strategy, introducing a circu- the turbine lifecycle, aimed at improv-
DON’T BE
lar economy approach in the different
phases of the value chain: design, pro-
ing the recyclability rate of blades and
nacelles. As a first step, Vestas will be LET DOWN
duction, service, and end-of-life. The
strategy will be presented within the
focusing on improving the recyclabil-
ity of all wind turbine blades. Incre- BY AN
ELEVATOR
next two years. mental targets will be introduced to
“Establishing such an ambitious increase the recyclability rate of blades
goal for waste reduction is paramount from 44 percent today to 50 percent by
to ensuring a better world for future 2025 and to 55 percent by 2030. Several
generations,” said Anders Vedel, exec- initiatives designed to address the han-
utive vice president of Vestas Power dling of existing blades after decom- Installation and
Solutions. “Leading the wind indus- missioning will be set in motion. These preventative maintenance
try is not enough to combat the glob- will cover new recycling technologies
by IUEC elevator
al challenges we face today. If we are optimal for composite waste, such as
to spearhead the energy transition, glass fiber recycling and plastic parts mechanics will keep your
we must be an example for doing so recovery. Vestas also will be imple- elevators moving SAFELY
in the most sustainable way, and this menting a new process around blade and more efficiently.
involves making sustainability part of decommissioning, providing support
everything we do.” to customers on how to decrease the 27,000 trained
“As the world’s largest supplier of amount of waste material being sent craftspersons using
wind energy, Vestas has a responsibil- to landfill. more than 119 training
ity to eliminate waste across its value
centers.
chain,” said Tommy Rahbek Nielsen, MORE INFO  www.vestas.com
Vestas interim Chief Operations Of-
ficer. “Wind energy will continue to
grow rapidly, therefore the time for a ] ]CONSTRUCTION
conservative approach is behind us. I
am proud to be part of an organiza- Acciona puts its ninth
tion that is making sustainability an
integral component in all business
U.S. wind farm
operations”. into service in Texas
Industrial waste is a growing
threat to environmental ecosystems Acciona recently put the Palmas Altas
and to global health. An estimated 11.2 Wind Farm into service. Its second Tex-
billion metric tons of solid waste is col- as project and ninth U.S. wind farm,
lected every year, posing a serious risk the project represents a total invest-
to resource depletion, air pollution, ment of about $200 million and in-
and water and soil contamination. Fur- creases Acciona’s generating capacity
thermore, solid waste is estimated to in ERCOT to 238 MW.
contribute to 5 percent of global green- The wind farm features 46 Nordex
house gas emissions. Waste generated technology wind turbines totaling 145
from turbine blades alone is estimated MW capacity.
to be around 43 million metric tons Palmas Altas is in Cameron County,
accumulated by 2050. about 20 miles north of the San Roman
With the global wind energy wind farm that Acciona started up in
market set to grow by an average of December 2016. The new facility will
3 percent per year in the coming de- produce about 524 GWh of clean en-
cade, Vestas is mitigating its environ- ergy per year, equivalent to the con-
mental impact as the market leader by sumption of 43,000 U.S. households. Contact Carisa Barrett at
committing to eliminate waste across It will offset the emission of 503,000 [email protected]
its value chain.Today, Vestas wind tur- metric tons of CO2 — the equivalent or 253-561-4902
bines are, on average, 85 percent recy- of taking more than 100,000 cars and
clable; however, wind turbine blades trucks off the road. We represent more than 450
are currently comprised of non-recy- The Palmas Altas project employed elevator companies ready to
clable composite materials. about 170 people at the peak of con- serve your Elevator Lift needs
Vestas will consider all aspects of struction. Now completed, a 10-person

windsystemsmag.com   33
TAILWINDS THE BUSINESS OF WIND

agreement with Austin Energy for

the majority of the facility’s energy
production. The remaining output
will be sold at merchant power prices.
Gulf Wind is strategically located on
the Gulf Coast in Kenedy County, Tex-
as, where favorable wind conditions
allow the facility to maximize energy
production during times of peak de-
mand and peak pricing.
For more than 25 years, Gulf Wind
is expected to contribute approximate-
ly $90 million to the local economy
through tax and landowner payments.
The Gulf Wind facility sits on 9,600
acres leased from the Kenedy Memori-
al Foundation. All money received by
Palmas Altas wind farm features 46 Nordex technology wind turbines totaling 145 MW the Foundation supports its charitable
capacity. (Courtesy: Acciona) causes to fight poverty, boost educa-
tion, and build stronger communities.
operations team will staff the wind tion began on December 3, 2019. Gulf Wind began operation in
farm over its 25-year lifespan. “Repowering Gulf Wind with 2009. In late August 2017, the facility
The wind turbines installed in Pal- brand new turbines made strong eco- withstood Hurricane Harvey, one of
mas Altas are Nordex’s AW125/3150 nomic sense due to its unique location the strongest hurricanes to hit the
model with a rotor diameter of 125 on the Gulf Coast, where the winds area in recent history. Following the
meters, mounted on an 87.5-meter blow strongest at the times of Texas’ storm, when the facility was deemed
steel tower (hub height). The energy peak energy demand and pricing,” undamaged and safe to resume opera-
produced by the wind farm will be said Mike Garland, president and CEO tions, Gulf Wind returned to supplying
sold in the ERCOT-South Texas whole- of Pattern Energy. “Gulf Wind was our much-needed energy to the Texas grid.
sale market. first wind-power facility, and technol-
Acciona has 1,047 MW of wind pow- ogy has improved rapidly since it first MORE INFO  www.patternenergy.com.
er capacity in the U.S. and Canada. began operating over a decade ago. By
installing the latest technology tur-
MORE INFO  www.acciona.com bines, we expect the repowered facil- ] ]MAINTENANCE
ity to have more efficient production,
lower operating costs, renewed pro- Study: Fall protection
] ]CONSTRUCTION duction tax credits (PTCs), and longer
life, which combine to increase the
equipment market size
Pattern Energy starts long-term value of our fleet.” worth $2.9 B by 2026
repowering project “Repowering provides an opportuni-
ty to increase the efficiency, reliability, The global fall protection equipment
on Gulf Wind facility and longevity of existing wind farms,” market size is expected to reach $2.9
said José Antonio Miranda, Siemens billion by 2026, according to a new
Pattern Energy Group Inc. recently an- Gamesa Renewable Energy, CEO On- study by Polaris Market Research.
nounced it has closed financing and shore Americas. “We have a long-stand- The report “Fall Protection Equip-
started construction on the repower- ing partnership with Pattern Energy ment Market Share, Size, Trends, In-
ing of its Gulf Wind facility in Kenedy and are excited to bring new life to the dustry Analysis Report By Product
County, Texas. Gulf Wind facility.” (Hard Goods, Soft Goods, Rescue Kits,
Repowering the Gulf Wind facility The repowering consists of replac- Full Body Harness and Body Belts); By
will consist of removing the current ing nacelles, towers, and blades for the Application (Oil & Gas, Construction,
wind turbines and replacing them 118 turbines at Gulf Wind with new Transportation, Mining, Telecom, En-
with 118 new Siemens Gamesa SWT- Siemens Gamesa 2.3 MW turbines, ergy & Utilities, General Industry);
2.3-108 turbines, which will generate each with 108-meter blades on 80-me- By Regions, Segment Forecast, 2019 –
271 MW of capacity, the equivalent to ter towers. 2026” gives a detailed insight into cur-
the annual energy usage of approxi- The Gulf Wind facility has entered rent market dynamics and provides
mately 80,000 Texas homes. Construc- into a new 20-year power purchase analysis on future market growth.

34  FEBRUARY 2020
 The global demand for fall protec-
tion equipment is escalating, with
increasing focus on workers safety in
construction, mining, energy, and oil
and gas industries. They include the
use of controls that are preferably
designed to protect staff from death
and injury. Incident and occupational
risk, including falling off overhead
platforms or elevated workstations, is
expected to contribute to the protec-
tion of industry demand.
Market growth is driven by a grow-
ing awareness of industrial security
and stringent government safety reg- (Courtesy: Polaris Market Research)
ulations in various industries. One of
the main drivers is increasing demand seen to increase the demand for fall initiated in January 2020.
for fall protection equipment from protection equipment. This market Bladt Industries and Semco Mari-
the construction industry. However, growth can be mainly attributed to time have formed a joint venture for
increasing automation is expected to the rapid development of infrastruc- the design and construction of the
limit market growth in the end-use in- ture, high investment in new indus- 1,200-MW offshore substation. The
dustries. In addition to this, the lack tries, and the rise in construction in offshore substation will consist of a
of awareness is expected to hamper residential and commercial buildings topside of 4,700 tons and a 3,000-ton
the growth of this market over the in countries such as India, Indonesia, jacket foundation. The project scope
forecast period. Increasing stringent Thailand, and China. comprises engineering, procurement,
regulations pertaining to safety of Some of the key players in the mar- and construction works, including
employees is also expected to bring in ket include 3M, MSA Safety Company, steel structure and jacket foundation
new opportunities for the key players SKYLOTEC, Capital Safety, Honeywell by Bladt Industries, as well as design,
in this market. Miller, Eurosafe Solutions, ABS Safety, procurement, and installation of elec-
It is estimated that the body belts Gravitec System, French Creek Produc- trical equipment, auxiliary systems,
segment may surpass consumption of tion, FallTech, and DBI-SALA. The key and inter-array cables by Semco Mari-
53 million units by 2026 in the over- players in this market have adopted time. The offshore substation is sched-
all market. These are used primarily the strategy of mergers and acquisi- uled for delivery from Bladt Industries’
together with a full body harness for tions as a part of their strategy in or- site in Denmark in 2024.
injury protection. OSHA also recom- der to gain competitive share in the “We are proud that Mayflower Wind
mends the use of body belts from ele- global market. has selected Bladt and Semco for this
vated platforms. Construction market comprehensive offshore substation
segment is anticipated to hold major MORE INFO  www.polarismarketresearch.com project on the U.S. East Coast,” said
share in the global market till the end Nils Overgaard, chief sales officer
of forecast period. In addition to this, with Bladt Industries. “We consider it
the mining industry is also expected ] ]MANUFACTURING an important recognition of our joint
to witness significant growth in the competencies and our strong focus on
global market over the forecast period. Semco, Bladt ink HSE during the construction phase.
During the forecast period, North
America will be followed closely by
substation contract We are very much looking forward to
the close cooperation with the strong
Europe. The market is expected to with Mayflower Wind team behind Mayflower Wind, and we
grow enormously due to rapid indus- do hope this will be the first of several
trialization in both of these regions. Mayflower Wind Energy LLC has award- projects.”
The high demand for fall-protection ed a contract for the fabrication and de- “Semco and Bladt’s strong track re-
equipment in the ever-growing energy livery of the Mayflower Wind project’s cord of providing competitive turnkey
and utility industry of Latin America offshore substation approximately 40 offshore wind electrical infrastruc-
market is expected to register a signif- kilometers south of Nantucket, Massa- ture is a door opener in the market,”
icant CAGR during the forecast peri- chusetts, to a joint venture comprised said Carsten Nielsen, senior vice pres-
od. In Asia Pacific, due to anticipated of long-standing business partners ident, Renewables, Semco Maritime.
growth in the construction industry Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime. “The Mayflower Wind project provides
during the forecast period, will be The offshore substation project was a unique opportunity to firmly estab-

windsystemsmag.com   35
TAILWINDS THE BUSINESS OF WIND

The Mayflower Wind project has been chosen by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supply 804 MW of clean, renewable energy from
offshore wind with expected start-up in 2025. (Courtesy: Semco Maritime)

lish our companies as highly expe- launching a safe and reliable offshore ] ]MANUFACTURING
rienced pioneers in the nascent and wind project to help meet Massachu-
promising U.S. offshore wind indus- setts’s greenhouse gas reduction goals,” Vestas receives
try. We will build strong relationships
with Mayflower Wind’s parent compa-
said Michael Brown, chief financial
officer, Mayflower Wind Energy LLC.
multiple orders
nies — Shell and EDP Renewables — as “We look forward to working with from around the globe
well as other involved parties. We will Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime —
draw on the experience gained, as well companies with a proven track-record ] U.S.: Vestas has received a 162
as the resources and capabilities, that in the industry. Recent changes to U.S. MW order for a project in the U.S.
we have built up over the years to put tax law now allow projects that meet Demonstrating Vestas’ product flex-
further focus on our offerings to bring qualification standards in 2020 to se- ibility optimizing all site needs, and
offshore energy to shore.” cure Federal Investment Tax Credits at including previously purchased PTC
The Mayflower Wind project has the 18 percent level. This contract is a components, the full project consists of
been chosen by the Commonwealth key step for us to meet these standards a mix of V110-2.0 MW and V136-4.2 MW
of Massachusetts to supply 804 MW of and secure tax credits that would ul- wind turbines delivered in various op-
clean, renewable energy from offshore timately result in a lower rate for elec- erating modes. The order includes sup-
wind with expected start-up in 2025. tricity customers in Massachusetts.” ply and commissioning of the turbines
Once in operation, the project will Bladt Industries and Semco Mari- as well as a 10-year service agreement,
provide enough electricity to power time will act as equal partners in the designed to ensure optimized perfor-
approximately half a million homes new joint venture. mance for the lifetime of the project.
in the state and eliminate 1.7 metric Turbine delivery will begin in the sec-
tons of CO2 emissions annually. MORE INFO  www.bladt.dk ond quarter of 2020 with commission-
“Mayf lower Wind is focused on   www.semcomaritime.com ing scheduled for the third quarter of

36  FEBRUARY 2020
2020. The project and customer are joint investment fund created on a its first V136-4.2 MW order in South
undisclosed. parity basis by PJSC Fortum and JSC Korea for the Cheongsong Myeonbong
]U .S.: Vestas has received an order RUSNANO. Located in the Kalmykiya Mt Wind Power project with EPC con-
for 149 MW of turbines, consisting of and the Rostov region, the projects tractor Kumho Industrial Co., Ltd. The
12 V110-2.0 MW turbines and 57 V120- will comprise 60 V126-4.2 MW wind 42-MW order consists of 10 V136-4.2
2.2 MW turbines for a wind project turbines. With this fourth order from MW wind turbines at a hub height
in the U.S. The order includes supply its framework agreement with RUSNA- of 112 meters as well as a 20-year Ac-
and commissioning of the turbines as NO and Fortum to supply wind-energy tive Output Management 4000 (AOM
well as a multi-year service agreement, solutions in Russia, Vestas marks anoth- 4000) service agreement, designed to
designed to ensure optimized perfor- er key milestone in further strength- maximize uptime and ensure opti-
mance for the lifetime of the project. ening the country’s renewable energy mized performance of the project. To
Turbine delivery will begin in the first sector. The projects will increase Vestas’ optimize operation in the site’s specif-
quarter of 2020 with commissioning footprint in the country to a total ca- ic wind conditions, the turbines will
scheduled for the fourth quarter of pacity of almost 600 MW, underlining feature Vestas’ High Wind Operation
2020. The project and customer are the company’s leading position in the (HWO), an intelligent control option
undisclosed. market. The contract includes sup- that allows the turbines to continue
] China: Vestas has received a 55 ply, installation and commissioning operating beyond standard cut-out
MW order in China that includes of the wind turbines, as well as a 15- wind speeds. The result is improved
supply of 25 V120-2.2 MW as well as year Active Output Management (AOM output stability, energy production,
a 2-year Active Output Management 5000) service agreement. The projects and reliability, helping the project to
4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement. will feature a VestasOnline® Business deliver the maximum return on in-
Deliveries are expected to begin in the SCADA solution to lower turbine down- vestment for the customer. Each tur-
second quarter of 2020, while commis- time and optimize the energy output. bine will be equipped with a full-scale
sioning is planned for the third quarter Turbine delivery is scheduled for the converter, enhancing the wind park’s
in the same year. Customer and project third quarter of 2020, while energy compliance with grid requirements.
names are undisclosed at the custom- production is expected to start during The Cheongsong Myeonbong Mt Wind
er’s request. the fourth quarter of 2020. Power project is in Cheongsong county,
] I taly: PLT Engineering has placed ] Denmark: Vestas has secured a North Gyeongsang Province. Turbine
a 37 MW order for two projects in Italy 36 MW repowering order for the final installation is expected to be complet-
that showcase the versatility of Vestas’ phase of the 94 MW Overgaard 1 wind ed in the third quarter of 2021. 
2 MW and 4 MW platforms. Both proj- park in Randers Municipality in Den-
ects, located in Calabria and Basilicata, mark. The order is derived from the MORE INFO  www.vestas.com
will feature a mixed site configuration energy-neutral auction in November
of both V110–2.0 MW and V136–4.2 MW 2019 in Denmark, and it is placed by
wind turbines to optimize energy pro- SE Blue Renewables, a joint venture ] ]MANUFACTURING
duction. The order includes supply and between the Danish energy company
installation of the turbines as well as Norlys and Denmark’s largest pension Siemens Gamesa is
an Active Output Management 5000
(AOM 5000) service agreement for the
company, PFA Pension. The firm order
includes supply, installation, and com-
preferred supplier for
next 15 years. The energy produced by missioning of 10 V126-3.45 MW tur- large U.S. wind project
both wind parks will be commercial- bines delivered in 3.6 MW Power Opti-
ized through a PPA contract with PLT mized Mode as well as a 20-year Active Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Puregreen for the next 12 years. Since Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) was recently named as the preferred
installing its first turbine in Italy in service agreement. The order comes turbine supplier for the massive 2,640-
1991, Vestas has led the country’s wind six months after Vestas announced MW Dominion Energy Virginia Off-
industry with more than 4.3 GW capac- the first phase of the project. Once com- shore Wind project in the U.S. This is
ity installed, being the main contribu- pleted, the repowered wind park will the largest offshore wind power proj-
tor to the country’s expansion of wind almost quadruple the current site’s ect in the rapidly increasing U.S. mar-
energy with a 40 percent market share. energy production, underlining the ket to date. A long-term service and
Turbine delivery is planned for the sec- strong business case in replacing old- maintenance agreement is included
ond half of 2020, while commissioning er turbines with newer and more effi- for the site off the coast of Virginia.
is expected by the fourth quarter 2020. cient variants. Deliveries are expected The agreement furthermore foresees
] Russia: Vestas has been awarded to begin in the second quarter of 2021, using turbines from Siemens Gamesa’s
an order for 252 MW for three wind while commissioning is planned for Direct Drive offshore wind turbine
energy projects in Russia from WEDF the fourth quarter of 2021. platform.
(Wind Energy Development Fund), a ] South Korea: Vestas has secured The final number of units and tur-

windsystemsmag.com   37
TAILWINDS THE BUSINESS OF WIND

Once online, the Dominion Energy Virginia Offshore Wind project is expected to provide enough clean energy to power 650,000 homes at rated
wind speed, avoiding 3.7 million tons per year of carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel-based power generation. (Courtesy: Siemens Gamesa)

bine model remain to be determined. Offshore Business Unit. “Locally, we tion project currently underway with
All installations are expected to com- help our customers provide cost-effi- Dominion Energy is a gateway to
plete by 2026. The agreement is sub- cient clean energy as well as additional something bigger, and now Virginia is
ject to certain conditions including economic benefits.” poised to benefit from the wide-rang-
Dominion Energy’s final investment Once online, the project is ex- ing economic benefits the Dominion
decision, governmental permitting, pected to provide enough clean en- Energy Virginia Offshore Wind project
and other required approvals. ergy to power 650,000 homes at rat- will bring.”
“Signing this preferred supplier ed wind speed, avoiding 3.7 million Dominion Energy Virginia Off-
agreement with Dominion Energy tons per year of carbon emissions shore Wind expands on knowledge
attests to the enormously exciting compared to fossil fuel-based pow- gained though the current two-tur-
growth taking place in the U.S. off- er generation. bine, 12-MW Coastal Virginia Offshore
shore wind industry and across the This is another milestone agree- Wind (CVOW) project.
globe,” said Markus Tacke, Siemens ment for the United States as it aims It is the first offshore wind proj-
Gamesa CEO. “We’re thrilled to have to add 25 GW of renewable energy by ect to be built in U.S. federal wa-
been chosen to support them in their 2030, enough to provide clean, renew- ters and will use Siemens Gamesa’s
commitment to reduce greenhouse able energy to approximately 12 mil- 6-MW SW T-6.0-154 wind turbines.
gas emissions and to once again do our lion average homes, or 10 percent of CVOW is set to be online in 2020
part in combatting climate change on total U.S. households. within a research lease area adja-
a global level.” “We’re confident that offshore cent to site of the 2,640-MW project
The agreement comes on the heels wind power is already one of the fast- will be located.
of Siemens Gamesa’s recent commit- est-growing, most important contribu- The agreement for Dominion En-
ment to the “Business Ambition for tors on which Virginia state agencies ergy Virginia Offshore Wind also
1.5ºC – Our Only Future” pledge, con- can draw to reach their ambitious re- provides for certain early works to
tributing toward the fight for a ze- newable energy goals,” said Steve Day- support project development, includ-
ro-emissions future. ney, head of Offshore North America ing turbine layouts that will be used
“Internationally, every Siemens at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. in the Construction and Operations
Gamesa Direct Drive offshore wind “Receiving 30 percent of its electricity Plan (COP) submittal to the United
turbine we install increases the im- from renewable sources by 2030 is States Department of the Interior’s
pact made by the renewable energy fully feasible, and we are eager to lead Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
industry in avoiding CO2 emissions the way for the citizens of the Com- in late 2020.
from power generation,” said Andreas monwealth. We have always believed
Nauen, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa that the Coastal Virginia demonstra- MORE INFO  www.siemensgamesa.com

38  FEBRUARY 2020
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8
CROSSWINDS
THE FUTURE OF WIND

A RENEWABLE
FUTURE IS NOW
IN REACH

At the end of 2018, the installed wind

capacity across the world reached
597 GW, which was an increase of
18 percent compared with 2017.
(Courtesy: NES Global Talent)

40  FEBRUARY 2020
As the energy industry evolves,
companies and technicians
need to be mobile, innovative,
technology-focused, and
work to ensure knowledge
is shared and a competitive
advantage is gained.
By DUSTIN HOUSE

C
ompanies in the renewable energy industry have
historically faced cost challenges in creating a sus-
tainable business model, preventing renewable ener-
gy sources from challenging traditional oil and gas.
However, now the technologies behind harnessing wind
and solar energy for low-carbon electric power generation
are reducing in cost, boosting the global renewable energy
capacity. This means that for the first time in history, a re-
newable future is within our grasp, bringing with it both a
plethora of job opportunities for skilled professionals and
growing talent pools for companies seeking to staff their
worksites.

RENEWABLE ENERGY INVESTMENT

The sustainability of our energy sources is vitally import-
ant for our planet, and this is driving many major energy
companies to invest in alternative power sources. Several
major oil companies, such as Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMo-
bil, BP, and Chevron have all entered into the renewable
energy sector and invested in non-fossil fuel businesses.
Because of this, energy consumers are seeing utility-scale
solar and wind, combined with the battery storage needed

windsystemsmag.com   41
CROSSWINDS THE FUTURE OF WIND

Utility providers are not only seeing falling costs in the technology needed to harness renewable power, but also seeing the installation costs
follow suit. (Courtesy: NES Global Talent)

to implement these power sources, becoming increasingly RENEWABLES PLAYING A VITAL ROLE
more competitive and attainable. The renewables industry Renewable energy may be becoming more affordable, but
is experiencing remarkable advances in cost-competitive- it’s still not able to take on the full weight of providing
ness because technologies that were once immature and power to our homes and communities. According to the U.S.
hugely expensive are becoming a thing of the past. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2017, the av-
Between 2009 and 2017, prices dropped by 76 percent for erage annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential
solar panels and by 34 percent for wind turbines, making utility customer was 10,399 kilowatt-hours (kWh), with an
them, for the first time, more competitive alternatives to average of 867 kWh per month. Louisiana had the highest
fossil fuels and other low-carbon energy sources such as annual electricity consumption at 14,242 kWh per residen-
hydropower and nuclear. tial customer, and Hawaii had the lowest at 6,074 kWh per
Utility providers are not only seeing falling costs in the residential customer. The criticism has always been that
technology needed to harness renewable power, but also renewables can’t meet residents’ electricity demands as
seeing the installation costs follow suit, especially when the sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always
more established technologies of onshore wind and photo- blow. This is where fossil fuels, currently, have a significant
voltaic (PV) solar are concerned. Projects that initiated con- advantage.
struction at the start of 2019 cost $50 per megawatt-hour, However, there is a crucial role renewables can play
which is 10 percent lower than it was this time last year, thanks to battery storage. Battery storage can provide “dis-
and solar projects are, on average, 18 percent cheaper at patchable power,” meaning it can be delivered when it’s
$57 per MWh. needed, rather than only at the time it’s being generated.

42  FEBRUARY 2020
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windsystemsmag.com   43
CROSSWINDS THE FUTURE OF WIND

This missing link would enable the power that’s generated

to be saved and kept for future use, and the good news
 At the end of 2018, the installed wind
is that the prices of batteries are also decreasing. New re- capacity across the world reached 597
search from Bloomberg NEF (BNEF) shows that the cost
of lithium-ion batteries has fallen by 35 percent over the GW, which was an increase of 18 percent
past year to $187 per MWh, while the cost of offshore wind
is almost a quarter (24 percent) lower than this time 12 compared with 2017. Many countries
outside of the traditional energy markets
months ago.

TACKLING INTERMITTENT POWER of Europe and North America are driving

In the past, renewables have struggled to meet the peak
times of electricity use whereas fossil fuel companies the trend. 
thrived with the use of open-cycle gas turbines and gas
reciprocating engines. Now, batteries are shaking up the
energy industry with their ability to store up to four hours In April 2019, the U.S. renewable energy sector generated
of energy to meet peak time demands. Although, while the more electricity than the country’s coal power plants for the
current battery technology can handle peak hours, they are first time in history, according to analysis by the Institute
still unable to compete with the bulk power function served for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). This
by combined-cycle gas plants. is a trend that’s predicted to continue as time goes on. Not
However, when battery storage works in conjunction only is the renewables sector providing price parity, it is also
with clean-energy sources such as solar power and wind providing grid performance parity. Grid performance parity
power, renewables can compete with gas and coal power, is made possible because PV solar and wind-power providers
even without subsidies. Making this even more of a reali- have scaled their operations driven by the improvements in
ty is the plummeting costs of battery storage and offshore technology, thus expanding their capacity for power gener-
wind farms. ation and driving down installation costs.
Offshore wind farms, constructed in bodies of water Additionally, the market announced late last year the
where higher wind speeds are available, are larger and world’s largest wind-turbine blade specifically for offshore
taller than their onshore counterparts with no physical wind projects. Astonishingly, the wind turbine blade is
restrictions such as hills or buildings that could block the more than 300 feet long. With larger blades and a larger
wind flow, allowing for more energy collection. Also, off- machine, we will see bigger yields, larger outputs, and
shore wind farms have a relatively low impact on the envi- better economies of scale for the same type of technology,
ronment. They are not built in shipping lanes, fishing areas, therefore a lower cost per MWh. Thanks to these tech-
or in a delicate environment. It is clear that wind power is nological advances and innovation, the costs associated
increasing in popularity around the world as the technolo- with the renewables industry have fallen much quicker
gy becomes more financially sustainable and global policies than predicted.
and targets on climate change are created.
At the end of 2018, the installed wind capacity across the BUILDING A RENEWABLES TALENT POOL
world reached 597 GW, which was an increase of 18 percent The energy industry is evolving, and the new generation of
compared with 2017. Once more, many countries outside renewable energy engineers needs to be mobile, innovative,
of the traditional energy markets of Europe and North technology-focused, and work across the organization to
America are driving the trend. At the end of 2018, China ensure knowledge is shared and competitive advantage is
accounted for roughly 34 percent of global installed wind gained. According to data from the International Energy
power capacity, roughly the same as the whole of Europe. Agency (IEA), over the next 20 years, renewable energy will
be the fastest-growing energy source in the world, meaning
THE RISE OF RENEWABLES there will be many job opportunities for skilled energy pro-
Renewable energy now accounts for a third of our global fessionals. NES Global Talent, an award-winning workforce
power capacity, according to new data released by the In- solutions specialist, is helping renewable companies build
ternational Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and almost the talent pools they need for the future. Using their in-
two-thirds of this generation capacity was led by emerging depth understanding of the current and future challenges
and developing economies. facing the renewables industry, NES works in partnership
They report that Asia accounted for 61 percent of total with its clients, offering a global network of talent and local
new renewable energy installations and grew installed re- market knowledge that can deliver complete renewables
newables capacity by 11.4 percent, with Africa following workforce solutions. 
closely behind with a rise of 8.4 percent. But despite this,
growth was fastest in Oceania as they observed a 17.7 per- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
cent rise in 2018. Dustin House is director — Power at NES Global Talent.

44  FEBRUARY 2020
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