Energy infrastructure Features for July 2010

Energy infrastructure Features Archive

Vessel supply chain shapes up for offshore wind Vessel supply chain shapes up for offshore wind

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.

Blade pitch control systems offer new challenges to designers and manufacturers Blade pitch control systems offer new challenges to designers and manufacturers

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.

Avoiding stress fractures in towers through welding innovation Avoiding stress fractures in towers through welding innovation

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.

How the wind power industry works with the bird community How the wind power industry works with the bird community

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.

Innovations in PV installation technology Innovations in PV installation technology

Part 2: Utility scale installations can cover anything from municipal distributed solar centres to complete plants with acres of solar farms for harvesting the sun's energy. Building the best structures and systems that offer the technology to back them up is critical to this area. Joyce Laird turns her attention to specific installations at the distributed/commercial scale, as well as the utility side of solar PV.