German industry giant Siemens has secured a wind turbine delivery order from Apex Clean Energy for the Grant Wind project in Oklahoma, US.

Located in Grant County, the renewable project will feature 66 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines.
Each of the turbines to be installed at the facility will have a power rating of 2.3MW, and feature 53m blades, Siemens has said.

Once operational, the firm will be able to meet the energy requirements of around 50,000 average US households.
The firm will also offer remote monitoring and diagnostic services for the turbines in order to boost their performance throughout their operational life, as well as for the project.

Under the terms of the contract, Siemens will also supply a main step up transformer for the project and offer long term service and maintenance for the turbines.

Turbine installation for the facility has been scheduled to start in October this year, while commissioning of the power plant is expected in the spring of 2016.

The order follows another contract awarded to the German company earlier in the year to deliver turbines, service and financing for Apex Clean Energy’s Kay wind project in Kay County, Oklahoma.

Siemens wind power and renewables division onshore CEO Thomas Richterich said: “With this second order in one year, Apex Clean Energy continues our successful collaboration.

“We are proud to meet the customers demand with our full spectrum of resources, including equipment, service and financing.”
Once operational, the 299MW Kay wind project is expected to meet the electricity demands of 100,000 average US homes annually.

Danish power equipment manufacturer Vestas has won two orders for the delivery of wind turbines, with one in the US for 75 turbines, and other in Finland for 27.

The firm will be delivering 75 of its 2MW turbines under a firm and unconditional order for a US company, whose name has not been disclosed.

Under the scope of the contract, Vestas will be responsible for the supply and commissioning of the wind turbines.
The firm has also signed a five-year customised active output management service agreement for the US project.
Vestas is expected to deliver the ordered equipment in the third quarter of 2016, and for the turbines to be operational by the end of the year.

This order raises the firm’s total announced order intake this year to 5,899MW.
The firm has also won a 93MW order from Finland-based TuuliWatti, to deliver 27 V126-3.45MW turbines for the Simo III project in the province of Lapland.

Besides delivery, Vestas will be responsible for installation of the turbines, and ten years active output management at the facility, which is claimed to be the largest wind power generation plant in Finland.

The Danish giant is likely to start delivery of the turbines in 2016, with commissioning scheduled for 2016 and 2017.

V126-3.45MW turbines model from Vestas have been specially designed for low-wind sites. More than 500MW worth of the turbine variant has been ordered in Finland alone, the company has said.

Vestas Northern Europe president Klaus Steen Mortensen said: “With this project, we build on our strong collaboration with TuuliWatti Oy from previous record projects, like the 73MW Kalajoki wind farm, which was Finland’s very first large-scale wind power plant at the time of order.”

European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, attended the first ever G20 Energy Ministerial meeting in Istanbul, Turkey on 2 October. It took place back to back with the G20 Conference on Energy Access in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Group of 20 (G20) Energy Ministerial meeting centred on access to sustainable energy for all, energy efficiency, investments in energy and renewable energy. Ministers adopted a ‘toolkit’ of options for a long-term and sustainable approach for a faster roll-out of renewable energy.

“The EU has built global leadership in renewable energy. Today, renewables generate around 23.5% of the EU’s power, and this is expected to rise to 50% by 2030. Yet, we should all aim higher and do all we can to encourage a boost in investments in renewables. Oil prices are low while the cost of renewables is falling dramatically so now is the moment to invest in renewables as a major tool in the fight against climate change,” Arias Cañete said.

G20 countries – which include 20 of the world’s major economies – account for 80% of current renewable electricity capacity in the world, and hold 75% of the total global potential for renewables, making them key players in mitigating climate change. Ministers at the meeting said they strongly support the work of the United Nations on climate change, and said they will work together to contribute to a successful outcome of the UN climate summit in Paris later this year.

Ministers also discussed the implementation of the energy efficiency action plan which was agreed at the G20 summit in November 2014. Under the action plan, G20 countries share knowledge on energy efficiency in a number of areas including vehicles, products and buildings. “The benefits of international collaboration in energy efficiency are immense. By sharing our experiences we can speed-up progress towards greater energy efficiency. The EU has an energy efficiency target of at least 27% by 2030 – a target which will be reviewed in 2020 with a 30% target in mind. Today, our policies will only reduce energy consumption by 21% in 2030, we are therefore taking action to bridge this gap,” Arias Cañete said.

Enel Green Power España (EGPE) has signed an agreement with Portuguese company First State Wind Energy Investments to sell all of its share capital of Finerge Gestão de Projectos Energéticos (Finerge) for €900m ($1bn).

Finerge is a wholly owned EGPE subsidiary operating across the Portuguese renewable sector, chiefly engaged in the development, construction and operation of wind farms in the country. EGPE is the Spanish subsidiary of Italian firm Enel Green Power (EGP).

Besides having 126MW of installed capacity as a part of its portfolio, Finerge also has minority stakes for 292MW.
The transaction, once completed, will mark EGP’s exit from the Portuguese renewable energy sector, which is a part of the firm’s strategy to streamline its assets and leverage those with greater development potential.

It is in line with EGP’s 2015-2019 business plan, which will see an investment of €9.6bn to increase its portfolio.

Finerge also owns a 35.96% interest in Eólicas de Portugal (Eneop), which has operating wind farms totalling 1,333MW under its portfolio.

The transaction will mean Finerge is the sole owner of four special purpose companies, operating 445MW worth of wind projects. Once completed, the entity will own wind farms in Portugal with a total installed capacity of 863MW.
EGP expects to gain around €30m from the divestment.

The sale is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of this year, and is subject to conclusion of the separation of Eneop’s assets.

RenewableUK and the Solar Trade Association have initiated a joint campaign urging the UK Government to rethink its decision to reduce financial support for small-scale renewables, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Titled ‘People Power’, the campaign has called for members of the public, as well as the thousands of renewable energy employees, to petition the UK Government to provide steady support to the maturing sectors.

The petition is a response to government consultation published in August, which proposed incentive cuts for solar photovoltaic, wind and hydropower through the feed-in tariff scheme from January 2016. It is expected to be organised through social media and by writing to local Members of Parliament.

Proposed plans may result in substantial job losses across the renewable energy sector, as it would deprive several local communities of the financial support they receive for clean power generation from suppliers.
This could cause multiple green energy projects to shutdown, thereby making domestic electricity inaccessible for ordinary households, farmers and small businesses.

“Don’t wreck an industry, which for the first time has given people the power to control their own energy supply.”
RenewableUK consents and intelligence policy director Gemma Grimes said: “This campaign is about sending a simple message to government: don’t wreck an industry, which for the first time has given people the power to control their own energy supply.

“Small-scale renewables is an extraordinary success in the UK, creating thousands of new green jobs and allowing local communities to generate their own clean energy.

“The feed-in tariff provides a lifeline to the rural economy, allowing farmers and small businesses to diversify their income and save on their electricity bills, especially during tough economic times. The government’s actions are in danger of consigning this great work to the past.”

Solar Trade Association External Affairs head Leonie Greene said: “Poll after poll shows the great majority of the public strongly supports local renewable energy.Yet government proposals for feed-in tariffs are extreme and they will stop families and communities from investing locally in clean energy all over the UK.”

Then added : “The Action for Renewables website makes it easy for people to contact their MP and urge them to fight these proposals and protect people power.”

In contrast to the UK proposal, Scotland has decided to retain Renewables Obligation (RO) guarantees for solar investments in the country.

France-based Alstom and German utility RheinEnergi have synchronised the 453MW Niehl 3 power plant in Cologne with the German electricity grid.

The facility, which generates both heat and power from natural gas, is based on Alstom’s KA26 combined-cycle plant design, which brings operational flexibility as well as high-efficiency and district heating capabilities.
The combined-cycle heat and power plant (CHP) plant has been designed to secure the base load power in the country, and is a part of its energy transformation framework.

With 453MW of power capacity and 265MW of thermal heating output, the facility can meet the electricity needs of up to one million households and provide around 30,000 households with district heating.
Commercial operation of the power plant, claimed to have around 85% fuel efficiency, is expected to start early next year.

“When the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine, the plant’s high operational flexibility ensures…the security of electricity supply.”

RheinEnergie board chairman Dr Dieter Steinkamp said: “With our new power plant, we are investing in the creation of a future-proof infrastructure, which will secure the heat supply of thousands of households locally and completely emission-free.

“Furthermore, Niehl 3 makes a significant contribution to the energy transition. When the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine, the plant’s high operational flexibility ensures we can contribute to the security of electricity supply.”

Alstom Germany president Alf Henryk Wulf said: “Alstom’s KA26 combined-cycle power plant is a highly environmentally friendly power solution that provides RheinEnergie with unrivalled flexibility.
“With short start-up times and fast load changing capabilities, the plant is perfectly equipped to balance out fluctuations in the electricity grid, which arise from the volatile feed-in of renewable energy.”
Alstom and RheinEnergie signed the agreement to develop the facility in December 2012.

Wave energy developer Marine Power Systems is the first company to benefit from new Welsh government innovation funding of almost £225 000.

The money is part of a £115 million package announced last week to boost innovation in Wales, and create new products and jobs.

Marine Power Systems, which is based in Swansea, was formed to develop the WaveSub, a device that captures the energy potential of ocean waves.

The funding will go to develop the WaveSub technology and produce a prototype.

The prototype will be tested in Milford Haven and the results will inform the development of a full-scale version of the device.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “I’m pleased to announce Marine Power Systems as one of the first beneficiaries of our new innovation funding.

This support has allowed them to create a prototype, which is critical to mitigating risks and allowing the further development of the product, which ultimately allows the company to move on to commercial sales.
“Wave energy has a huge potential as a source of renewable energy and I’m encouraged that one of our first projects is supporting advancement in this field.”

Marine Power Systems managing director Gareth Stockman said: “The Welsh Government has played an integral role in supporting the development of Marine Power Systems’ WaveSub device and we are very grateful to be one of the first companies identified to receive this innovation funding.”

Electricity markets are changing. Across Europe they will have to adapt to deliver increasing amounts of electricity from renewable sources, new interconnections across Europe and beyond are needed, and they must ensure a secure, affordable and sustainable electricity supply for all of Europe’s electricity consumers.

Electricity markets of the future is the hot topic of a high-level conference taking place in Florence next week. On Thursday 8 October, decision-makers, businesses and associations alike will tackle questions including how energy markets can become even more flexible, and how they can be properly integrated across Europe.

Meanwhile, the European Commission is seeking your views on electricity market design. In a public consultation which remains open until 8 October, you can give your feedback.

Renewables outstripped coal as a source of electricity in the UK during a full quarter for the first time ever, government data published Thursday shows.

According to the report, a combination of higher wind speeds, more installed solar panels and a 19.5% increase in rainfall — which resulted in record output at hydroelectric power stations — all contributed to renewables accounting for over 25% of generation in the second quarter of 2015.

Gas-fired power stations provided the most electricity – 30% – with renewables second. Nuclear power was third with 21.5%, while coal fell back to fourth, with 20.5%.

According to industry body Renewable UK’s chief executive, Maria McCaffery, new technologies such as solar and wind power have now become Britain’s second largest source of electricity, generating more than a quarter of the nation’s needs.

“The new statistics show that Britain is relying increasingly on dependable renewable sources to keep the country powered up, with onshore and offshore wind playing the leading roles in our clean energy mix,” she noted in an e-mailed statement.

Howether, on a global scale, coal is expected to overtake oil consumption from 2017, according to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) released in 2012.

Blade Dynamics has shipped its modular D78 turbine blade for testing at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s (ORE) facility in Blyth, UK.

The D78 blade features several new technologies, including a lightweight and high-dimensional accuracy blade tip, with built-in leading edge protection.

The modular design is aimed to minimise variation in blade construction, and simplify the manufacture and transportation processes.

Blade Dynamics designed the D78 blade based on cooperative working with Siemens turbines. The company secured support from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Carbon Trust, The Dow Chemical Company, Nasa, and the UK’s Energy Technology Institute (ETI).

Blade Dynamics CEO Pepe Carnevale said: “The UK has a great tradition of innovation in many industries that intersect and are highly relevant to large, high-performance wind turbine blades, and this new blade type is a great opportunity for the UK.

“First and foremost, this can reduce the cost of energy very significantly, but there are also several other unique benefits. Because the blades are assembled from smaller components, we are not constrained by expensive new factories dependent for survival on a very limited local market, making big blades in one big factory.”

ETI has supported the development since 2012. Technology used by the 78m blade has the capacity to make rotors with diameters exceeding 200m, for reduced energy costs.

ETI CEO David Clarke said: “Once commercialised, this technology can create a pathway to improving performance, reliability and cost for offshore wind, as well as providing an exciting route for the future export of blade components from the UK.

“We look forward to the structural testing at ORE Catapult in the UK, and are investigating ways to demonstrate a rotor using this technology on the 7MW turbine that ORE Catapult is in the process of acquiring.”