Wind power Features for July 2010
The offshore wind turbines that will fulfil the UK’s Round 3 needs require a sophisticated supply chain of service and installation vessels, not to mention highly-developed port facilities. The industry has some way to go to reach Government targets but, as George Marsh explains, marine infrastructure will develop on the right track – as long as companies can keep up with demand.
29 July, 2010
The United Kingdom’s windswept coastline makes it the ideal location for exploiting the vast quantities of offshore wind energy available, and the UK Government sees this resource as vital to achieving its 2020 renewable energy targets. In addition, the UK has a unique opportunity to establish itself as a global centre of excellence for marine renewable technologies and infrastructure for wave and tidal power.
27 July, 2010
Dr Rob Banerjee, Vice President, Business Development at WebCore Technologies, discusses how a new core material can help manufacturers of large wind turbine blades optimise their designs.
20 July, 2010
Lightning safety is a key concern for maintenance crews at wind farms, as most farms are located in wide open, lightning-prone areas and include turbine structures hundreds of feet high. And while tall structures are especially prone to lightning because they provide a conductive channel to the ground, some experts suspect that wind turbines may even have a higher risk of a lightning strike than most tall structures.
14 July, 2010
Accurate measurements and assessments of wind farm sites are becoming increasing important. NRG Systems' Brendan Taylor and Steven Clark look at recent developments in wind resource assessment.
13 July, 2010
The explosive global growth of the wind turbine industry has created several unique challenges for suppliers of the hydraulic components and systems used to control blade pitch. These challenges include an often hostile operating environment, difficult access for maintenance, and combinations of force, vibration, and motion seldom, if ever, experienced in more traditional applications.
07 July, 2010
Performance standards for wind turbine components, particularly those operating offshore, confront manufacturers with tough challenges. In this case study we look at how one organisation - the Linde Group - is offering help to wind turbine tower manufacturers.
07 July, 2010
Wind power firms need a wide array of specialised knowledge to measure the environmental impact of their turbines. Richard Foote finds out how companies are working with ornithologists to plan wind farms around bird flight patterns and migratory routes.
07 July, 2010