Wind power News for November 2011

Wind power News Archive

Global wind power set for steady growth to 2020 Global wind power set for steady growth to 2020

The global wind energy market, which saw capacity grow 22.3% from 2009 to 2010, is set to see continued steady growth to 2020, according to GlobalData's report Wind Power - Global Market Size, Turbine Market Share, Installation Prices, Regulations and Investment Analysis to 2020.

SolarFuel builds pilot e-gas facility for Audi

SolarFuel GmbH will build a pilot e-gas facility for car maker Audi by 2013 – converting electricity surpluses from wind and solar installations into renewable methane.

Siemens launches 6 MW direct drive offshore wind turbine Siemens launches 6 MW direct drive offshore wind turbine

Siemens Energy has launched its 6 MW direct drive offshore wind turbine, the SWT-6.0, at the European Offshore Wind Energy Conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Wind power helps EU reach emission cut target

European wind power production could meet 31% of the EU's 20% emissions reduction target and even enable an increase in EU's climate goals, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

ZF buys Hansen Transmissions International

ZF Friedrichshafen AG has completed the compulsory acquisition of all remaining shares of gear and torque specialist Hansen Transmissions International, and all outstanding rights under the Hansen warrant plans.

Gamesa sells 38 MW Chestnut Flats wind farm to enXco

Gamesa has sold its 38 MW Chestnut Flats wind farm in Pennsylvania, USA, to EDF Energies Nouvelles' subsidiary enXco.

Global brands sign up for WindMade label

Major global companies including Motorola Mobility, Deutsche Bank, Bloomberg, Method and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.) will procure at least 25% of their operations’ power consumption from wind energy as they commit to become certified under the WindMade consumer label.

Trimaran crew transfer vessel increases offshore wind farm access window Trimaran crew transfer vessel increases offshore wind farm access window

Mobimar Ltd is building a trimaran crew transfer vessel for Meriaura Ltd, which could extend the access window to offshore wind farms by three months every year.

All AREVA 5 MW wind turbines to be tested in Bremerhaven

AREVA will test its M5000 5 MW offshore wind turbines in the new full load test bench in Bremerhaven, Germany, to check the functionality under nominal load conditions of all assembled nacelles prior to commissioning.

wpd builds 36.8 MW wind farm in Croatia

wpd has signed a contract to build the 36.8 MW Ponikve wind farm 45 km north west of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

AWEA welcomes Governors’ endorsement of wind incentive

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has welcomed a bipartisan Governors' Wind Energy Coalition endorsement of legislation for a four year extension to the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy.

Grid capacity secured for 2nd GW of Hornsea offshore wind farm

The SMart Wind consortium, led by Mainstream Renewable Power and the Project and Structured Finance unit of Siemens Financial Services, has secured grid capacity for the second GW of its 4 GW Hornsea offshore wind farm, UK.

Isle of Wight aims for net energy exports by 2020 in EcoIsland sustainability project

The Isle of Wight – a peaceful, modest-sized island off the English south coast – plans to become a net energy exporter of energy by 2020, while halving residents’ energy bills, eliminating waste going to landfill, and creating a significant number of green technology jobs. The EcoIsland initiative is the largest single sustainability project in the UK.

South Korea invests WON10.2trn in offshore wind

South Korea is investing WON10.2 trillion (US$9 billion) in offshore wind, aiming to build 2.5 GW by 2019.

First Wind orders 77 Vestas wind turbines for US projects

First Wind has ordered 77 of Vestas' V100 1.8 MW wind turbines, totalling 139 MW, for two wind projects in the USA.

Onshore wind to reach grid parity in 2016

Onshore wind energy could reach parity with fossil fuel generated electricity by 2016, according to analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Gamesa meets FY sales forecast in first three quarters

Gamesa has met its sales forecast for the full year of 2011 by the end of the third quarter, with 2805 MW – 94% of which has been outside Spain.

Wind energy market is consolidating - F&S

The wind energy market is poised for greater consolidation which will see the emergence of fewer, but stronger, participants, according to analysts Frost & Sullivan.

Conference against wind in Scotland

Communities Against Turbines Scotland is organising a conference against Scotland's plans for large wind farm build-out.

REpower supplies turbines for 150 MW wind farm in Canada

REpower Systems SE will supply 75 of its MM82 and MM92 wind turbines to EDF EN Canada Inc for the 150 MW Massif du Sud wind farm on the south shore of Québec City, Canada.

Gamesa's 4.5 MW wind turbine prototype reaches milestone

The prototype of Gamesa's G128 4.5 MW wind turbine erected at an R&D wind farm in Jaulín, Zaragoza, Spain, reached 97.34 MWh operating at 100% availability on 6 November.

Siemens sees US$900m in wind turbine orders for America

Siemens has secured orders for 6 wind turbine projects in North America since July, totalling US$900 million and over 670 MW.

ACCIONA builds €90m wind farm in Costa Rica

ACCIONA Energía will build a 49.5 MW wind farm in Costa Rica, which will produce electricity for the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).

Wind, solar and diesel power package for offshore wind measurement Wind, solar and diesel power package for offshore wind measurement

UK small wind turbine manufacturer Ampair has designed a wind, solar photovoltaic (PV) and diesel powered range, the containerPod™, for providing platform power for the offshore wind measurement sector.

AWEA celebrates wind industry achievements

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced the 2011 AWEA Awards, honouring wind industry supporters, leaders, innovators and advocates for their outstanding efforts on behalf of wind energy at AWEA’s Wind Energy Fall Symposium in Carlsbad, CA, USA.

China: 1 TW of wind by 2050

China could have 1 TW of wind power by 2050 with wind supplying 17% of electricity production, compared to today's 1%, according to the National Development and Reform Commission’s Energy Research Institute (NDRC ERI) with support from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Nordex supplies 35 MW of wind turbines to Wales

Nordex will supply 14 of its 2.5 MW wind turbines, the N90-2500 series, for the Pant-y-Wal and Fforch Nest wind farms in Wales.

Siemens opens US wind power distribution centre

Siemens Energy has opened a new wind power distribution facility in Wichita, Kansas, USA, to serve the Americas.

US wind turbine prices fallen by a third since 2008

Wind turbine prices in the US have fallen by nearly a third on average since 2008, according Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (Berkeley Lab) report 'Understanding Trends in Wind Turbine Prices Over the Past Decade'.

AMSC pulls out of The Switch acquisition

AMSC has terminated the acquisition of The Switch Engineering Oy due to “adverse market conditions”.

Dedicated line for wind energy in EU budget

The European Parliament has voted to create a dedicated budget line for wind energy research and development with €1 million for 2012.

China Ming Yang secures US$5bn funding for wind

China Ming Yang has been granted potential financing of up to US$5 billion from the China Development Bank Corp for further developments of wind power in China and around the world.