Archive | Renewable Energy

Kepler Energy and Oxford University in the UK develop advanced tidal power technology

Kepler Energy and Oxford University in the UK develop advanced tidal power technology

In association with Oxford University’s Department of Engineering Science, UK-based Kepler Energy has developed Transverse Horizontal Axis Water Turbine (THAWT) technology, which can generate tidal energy in shallow water.

The horizontal axis turbine can be economically installed underwater at depths of up to 30m.

Once operational, it can eliminate expensive set-ups of large dams and barrages, and reduce unpredictability of the results, reports Reuters.

Testing of the second-generation tidal turbine has indicated that it has a higher potential than existing axial flow designs.

THAWT is equipped with carbon composite hydrofoil blades, and has been designed for use in shallower, lower velocity tidal waters, unlike convention propeller-type turbines, which have large blades that limit their deployment to waters of at least 30m-deep.

The design is claimed to be a modified version of the vertical Darrieus wind turbine.

Oxford University civil engineering professor Guy Houlsby was quoted by the news agency as saying: “The original Darrieus turbine has blades that are parallel to the axis of rotation, and that means that the loads in the blades are carried entirely by bending of the blades.

“That results in very high stresses.

“The re-design that we’ve done changes the blades so that they form this triangulated structure, and that’s a very stiff and very strong structural form. And that means that the loads in the blades are principally carried by axial forces and that means that the stresses are much lower.”

According to Kepler Energy, the turbine design has minimal moving parts in the water, with the majority of its parts being installed in dry columns, such as the generator and other electrical equipment.

Generating units of THAWT include two sets of blades set on three columns, with a single generator between them.

Posted in Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wave Energy0 Comments

Kite Power Solutions seeks funding for offshore deployment of its windpower technology

Kite Power Solutions seeks funding for offshore deployment of its windpower technology

UK-based Kite Power Solutions (KPS) has started a £10m funding drive to support commercial development and deployment of its windpower technology in offshore waters.

KPS intends to deploy its patented 3MW power system in offshore waters for the first time by 2019.

The technology involves generation of windpower with the use of hi-tech flying kites. This KPS system involves two kites tethered with 500m to 750m long manmade fibres to a winch system that generates power as it spools out.

The kites are expected to reach speeds of up to 100mph in 20mph winds, which create tether tension and leads to spooling of the line from the drum that remains connected to an electricity generator.

KPS said that the technology is economical andoffers advantages of easier deployment and maintenance, free of government subsidies.

Kite Power Solutions founder and chief executive Bill Hampton said: “We will be able to compete with offshore wind and without subsidies by removing tonnes of steel from every MWh produced offshore.

“Quite simply, by removing the steel from clean energy you make it lighter per MW and thus cheaper, and with a lower carbon footprint.”

The firm intends to deploy the technology at around £50/MWh by 2020, which is much lower than the current prices of around £140/MWh charged for offshore wind installations.

Posted in Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy0 Comments

EU sets new record for offshore wind installations in first half of 2015

EU sets new record for offshore wind installations in first half of 2015

30 July 2015, source edie newsroom – European offshore wind has set a record for annual capacity installation just six months into 2015.

According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), offshore wind installations surpassed previous year-long records in the first half of the year, reaching more than 2,342MW.

This represents a tripling of grid-connected capacity compared with the same period last year, with total installed offshore wind capacity hitting 10,393MW across 11 countries.

The first half of 2015 has seen 584 wind turbines fully connected to the grid. The average machine size also rose from 3.5MW in 2014 to 4.2MW this year.

Long-term visibility
EWEA chief policy officer Kristian Ruby said: “It has taken the offshore wind industry just six months to set the best year the sector has ever seen in terms of installed capacity.”

She said: “To ensure healthy growth in the coming years, and to guarantee offshore wind energy plays its role in meeting the EU’s competitiveness, security and decarbonisation objectives, the industry needs long-term visibility.”

The first months of the year have seen the UK connect 140 new turbines, and 522 MW to the grid.

Germany connected 406 new turbines, adding more than 1,700 MW of new capacity.

Green infrastructure
Ruby said reforms were needed to the European electricity market, in addition to improving grid infrastructure to ensure the integration of wind energy.

Infrastructure developments are thought to be crucial for the UK’s green energy development, but integrating distributed power generation systems such as wind and solar power with large-scale generation plants has presented challenges.

Last year, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found 80% of businesses felt a reliance on outmoded fossil fuel infrastructure raised concerns about the UK’s future energy security, affecting investment decisions.

Ruby added it was important EU member states met renewable energy commitments towards the end of the decade and called on them to “set out a clear game plan to meet Europe’s 2030 targets.”

Subsidy cuts
Recent cuts to the Climate Change Levy in the UK, which subsidised renewable energy generation, have put renewable energy investments at increased risk, according to analysts GlobalData. However, the renewable energy analysts estimate the changes will not overly damage the offshore wind sector, which is forcast to reach more than 23GW by 2025.

The UK and France are thought to be struggling to meet their 2020 renewable energy targets, according to recent progress reports. Binding targets require the EU to source 20% of their energy from renewable sources.

The UK currently generates 7% of its energy from renewable energy, however 2015 has seen the UK generate around 22% of its electricity from renewable sources, with a steady growth in biomass production and solar installations.

Posted in Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind, Wind Energy0 Comments

ScottishPower Renewables starts developing 239MW Kilgallioch wind farm

ScottishPower Renewables starts developing 239MW Kilgallioch wind farm

ScottishPower Renewables has started construction of the 239MW Kilgallioch wind farm in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

Estimated to require an investment of around £300m, the wind farm is expected to meet the energy requirements of around 130,000 households annually.

Construction is underway for development of 55km of tracks at the site, while 14km of existing forest track will be upgraded to connect the turbines at the farm.

Kilgallioch wind farm will be equipped with 96 Gamesa-manufactured turbines, and is expected to be fully operational within the initial half of 2017.

“Tens of millions of pounds will go towards supporting community projects in the vicinity of the wind farm.”

ScottishPower Renewables construction director Stuart Mason said: “Kilgallioch is a major renewable energy development and a significant construction project.

“As well as making an important contribution to Scotland’s carbon reduction targets, tens of millions of pounds will go towards supporting community projects in the vicinity of the wind farm.

“This will be ScottishPower Renewables’ second largest windfarm, and the third largest overall in the UK.

The firm currently maintains more than 1.5GW of installed onshore wind capacity in the UK, and aims to raise this to 2GW.

Kilgallioch project is located between the boundaries of South Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway Council, covering an area of 32km².

Gamesa expects to start turbine deliveries in February 2016, with first power production scheduled from November 2016.

Posted in Alternative Energy, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy0 Comments

Enel Green Power commissions biomass power plant in Italy

Enel Green Power commissions biomass power plant in Italy

Enel Green Power has commissioned a biomass power plantEnel Green Power has commissioned a biomass power plant at the Cornia 2 geothermal power plant in Tuscany, Italy.

Said to be the first-of-its-kind, the 5MW facility will be fuelled by locally sourced forest biomass to heat the geothermal steam.

This will increase the energy-efficiency and output of the geothermal cycle by more than 30GWh a year, while eliminating 13,000t of carbon dioxide.

Steam entering the power plant is heated to temperatures of up to 380°C, which will increase the net electricity generation capacity.

“The plant has almost zero impact on the environment, and maintains total renewability of the resource and the cycle.”

Enel Green Power CEO Francesco Venturini said: “The integration of different technologies is a major step forward for the future of renewable energy.”

The company has invested more than €15m in the biomass project, which will support the region with up to 40 direct and indirect jobs.

Enel said the plant has almost zero impact on the environment, and maintains total renewability of the resource and the cycle.

The company operates a stillwater facility in the US that integrates the generation capacity of binary cycle geothermal technology with solar thermodynamic, and the Fontes solar facility in Brazil, which combines solar photovoltaic with wind, and uses a standalone solar photovoltaic plant.

Enel Green Power develops projects based on renewable energy sources, with operations in Europe, the Americas and Africa.

Posted in Biomass Energy, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy0 Comments

Siemens to deliver wind turbines for three onshore wind projects in Ireland and Scotland

Siemens to deliver wind turbines for three onshore wind projects in Ireland and Scotland

German power equipment manufacturer Siemens has won separate orders for construction, installation and commissioning of turbines at three onshore wind projects in Ireland and Scotland.

Under the terms of the agreements, Siemens is responsible for delivering 52 units of its D3 direct drive wind turbines in total for the projects.

Two of the schemes in Ireland include the Raheenleagh project in County Wicklow, at 70km south of Dublin, and phase one of Galway Wind Park, which is near the city of Galway.

The third project, Aikengall 2, is located south-east of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Once operational, the renewable projects will have the capacity to power almost 100,000 households.

“Once operational, the renewable projects will have the capacity to power almost 100,000 households.”

Siemens has also signed long-term service contracts for the projects, where it will be responsible for five years of service at Galway phase one, ten years for Raheenleagh, and 20 for Aikengall 2.

Raheenleagh wind farm will have 11 installations of Siemens SWT-3.2-108 wind turbines. Coillte and ESB are the developers for the 35MW project, which is expected to operational from late 2016.

Siemens has scheduled the turbine installation to start next May.

For the Community Windpower’s Aikengall 2 wind farm project, the company is expected to deliver and install 19 of its SWT-3.2-113 turbines in early 2016.

The firm will install 22 of its SWT-3.0-101 direct drive wind turbines at SSE’s 64MW Galway Wind Park phase one, which has been scheduled for commissioning in early 2017.

Posted in Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind, Wind Energy0 Comments

Abengoa Yield to buy four renewable energy assets from Abengoa

Abengoa Yield to buy four renewable energy assets from Abengoa

Spanish company Abengoa has signed a €614m deal to sell 450MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) assets to its renewable yieldco vehicle company Abengoa Yield.

Board of directors of both the firms have approved the acquisition which represents the third asset package deal between Abengoa and Abengoa Yield.

However, closing of the deal is subject to customary approvals.

Abengoa will be entitled to a 51% capital increase that Abengoa Yield has priced to finance this acquisition.

“Abengoa will be entitled to a 51% capital increase that Abengoa Yield has priced to finance this acquisition.”

The assets comprise of the Helios 1 and 2 solar complex, totalling 100MW of generation capacity and Solnova 1, 3 and 4 solar firms having a combined generation capacity of 150MW.

Another 70% stake has also been acquired in Helioenergy 1 & 2 solar complex (100 MW), in which Abengoa Yield already owns a 30 % stake.

The Helios, Solnova and Helioenergy complexes are in Spain.

The fourth asset includes a 51% share for the 100MW Kaxu solar plant, which is located in the Kalahari desert in South Africa.

Provision for a call option agreement to purchase up to $100m in concessional assets at a 12% yield will be included in the transaction. The deal in this regard was signed between the two firms in December 2014.

Abengoa Yield expects the new acquisition to generate incremental run rate cash, which will be available for yearly distribution of around $63m before debt service associated with acquisition financing.

Abengoa Yield had formed an exclusive partnership with Abengoa according to which the former gets right of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition in the latter’s contracted renewable energy, conventional power, electric transmission or water assets.

The firms mainly deal with renewable assets in the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia and the European Union.

Spain-based Abengoa is a developer for sustainable and innovative technology solutions for the energy and environment sectors.

As well as promoting power generation from renewable resources, the firm is also involved in converting biomass to biofuels and producing potable water from sea water.

Power-Technology

Posted in Alternative Energy, Green Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy0 Comments

RWE inaugurates 295MW offshore wind project in German North Sea

RWE inaugurates 295MW offshore wind project in German North Sea

RWE Innogy has officially started operations at the 295MW Nordsee Ost wind farm in North Sea Germany.

The offshore power plant is located nearly 35km north to Heligoland. It covers an area of 24km2 and has been built at water depths of up to 25m.

The wind farm is equipped with 48 wind turbines that can generate enough electricity to power 320,000 households per year.

German Minister of Economics Sigmar Gabriel said: “Offshore wind energy is a strategically important element of Germany’s energy and climate policy and is key to the success of the energy transition.

“The wind farm is equipped with 48 wind turbines that can generate enough electricity to power 320,000 households per year.”

“Thanks to its continuous input into the grid and its high-electricity yields, offshore power generation makes a crucial contribution towards a diversified and reliable energy supply system.”

RWE has invested more than €1bn for the construction of the project, while a €50m contribution came from the European Union.

RWE will be responsible for operations and servicing of the facility for the next 20 years.

RWE CEO Peter Terium said: “The expansion of renewable energy is one of our main growth areas and offshore wind energy will play a vital role. RWE will become the third largest player in the European offshore market this year.

“And we are growing further: in only one month’s time, we will be commissioning another wind farm, Gwynt y Môr, located off the coast of Wales.”

Power-Technology

Posted in Green Energy, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind, Wind Energy0 Comments

Wind Prospect integrates 1GW utility-scale renewable energy assets in Europe

Wind Prospect integrates 1GW utility-scale renewable energy assets in Europe

Australian Wind Prospect Group has created a new asset management platform, Wind Prospect Operations (WPO) with a portfolio of more than 1GW of independent, utility-scale renewable energy projects in Europe.

The portfolio, comprising operating wind and solar energy assets, generates more than €400m as annual production revenues for clients.

WPO integrates the energy firm’s businesses in UK/Ireland and France/Germany through the platform to introduce scale and resilience and reach out to its clients in Europe and beyond.

Wind Prospect Group CEO Euan Cameron said: “Combining the businesses, the management and the teams in this way creates an immensely strong wind and solar asset management platform with a global reach.

“The unified portfolio is expected to enhance the firm’s resources and expertise so it can offer competitive and streamlined services to its clients.”

“It brings great advantages to our clients with portfolios spread in several countries by integrating systems and procedures for greater simplicity and efficiency.”

The unified portfolio is expected to enhance the firm’s resources and expertise so it can offer competitive and streamlined services to its clients.

Besides offering full asset management services to its clients for long terms, the new entity will also extend consultancy offerings, including contract negotiation, performance audits, technical field inspections and insurance brokerage.

WPO CEO Barthélémy Rouer said: “Our consolidated platform provides both WPO and its clients with the scale they need in this competitive market.

“Our aim is to deliver high quality, flexible and cost-effective services, which meet the needs of asset owners, investors, lenders and insurers in all of their jurisdictions and across all renewable energy technologies.”

WPO director Duncan Levie said: “Our platform gathers a unique set of expertise in the industry that is totally focused on delivering appropriate, market leading expert services on operating wind and solar assets.”

Power-Technology

Posted in Alternative Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind, Wind Energy0 Comments

UK to lose offshore wind top spot to Germany

UK to lose offshore wind top spot to Germany

Germany will install more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in 2015, taking the UK’s crown as the global installation leader.

The figures come from Globaldata, an international research and consulting firm.

The 2,000 MW mark is an almost fourfold increase over 2014 for Germany, while the UK will remain relatively stagnant, projecting to add 801 MW in 2015, a 1.5% drop from 2014.

The UK will even slip down further to third place in the rankings, as China surges into second position with 817 MW in 2015.

GlobalData analyst Ankit Mathur said: “Germany’s huge increase in offshore installations is attributable to several offshore wind projects scheduled to come online in 2015. China is also planning an array of offshore wind projects this year, which will see it overtake the UK for annual installations.

“Additionally, the next few years will see China maintain its annual offshore wind installations around the 1 Gigawatt mark, while the UK will observe relatively lower installations until 2018, when the country’s next offshore growth spurt is expected.”

Industry boom

The GlobalData figures also look back at 2014, highlighting the rapid growth of the entire industry. Order intake for offshore wind turbines rose at a blockbuster rate of 367%, from 288 MW in 2013 to 1,346 MW in 2014.

Despite the expected installation slow-down, the UK is still far and away the biggest market in the world for offshore wind with 55% of all European capacity. Even with expected surge, cumulative German capacity will be around 3,100 MW compared to 5,300 in the UK.

And operators certainly view the UK as a fertile market, with French turbine manufacturer Vergnet announcing on Wednesday, the opening of a UK subsidiary.

A Vergnet spokesperson said: “The last five years have seen major growth for medium wind projects here [in the UK] with capacity rising 60% year-on-year. This has been supported by the government’s Feed-In Tariff (FiT) which remains attractive and offers strong returns.”

Edie

Posted in Alternative Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind, Wind Energy0 Comments

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