The Research and Engineering Involved in Confidently Achieving 70m Monitoring
As the height of wind turbines continues to soar, it has become increasingly necessary to achieve ‘bankable data’ from wind monitoring sensors at higher levels. Potential wind development sites are often remote, so monitoring masts need to be easily transported, lightweight and possible to construct with minimal effort. For masts in excess of 60m to survive extreme conditions, the tower sections must have greater strength without excessively compromising the mast weight. In this article, Geoff Watson of Western Windpower describes the development programme for the company’s new 70m HiMast.
By Dr Geoff Watson, Business Manager, Western Windpower Ltd, UK
A Future Market for Turbines from Repowering Projects
In Central Europe an increasing number of used wind turbines are becoming available at attractive prices following repowering projects. In Europe it is difficult to reinstall these turbines because they require a lot of space and this is the main bottleneck for further expansion of wind energy. A solution could be to export these wind turbines to developing countries so that the energy produced could substitute for diesel fuel. This would decrease the dependence of these countries on more and more expensive fuel imports. Lahmeyer International has undertaken a feasibility study for a wind–diesel system, and a summary is presented in this article.
By Bungo Ezawa, Head of Department Renewable Energies – Wind Energy, Lahmeyer International, Germany
Time and cost benefits can be achieved by the imaginative use of a broad range of services for geotechnical and geophysical data gathering for offshore wind farm sites. Today, there is a comprehensive range of services available to acquire engineering data for the planning, installation and post-construction monitoring of offshore wind farm structures. Applied systematically, each stage of investigation will add to the understanding of the ground model for the site and will help to fine-tune and target the requirements for any subsequent investigations.
By Tony Hodgson, Project Manager, Fugro Engineering Services and Ed Cookson, Heathrow Communications, UK
In order to achieve their design potential as credible alternative providers of energy, wind turbine systems have to employ highly efficient, reliable and robust components. Among the most important of these components are gearboxes; in particular, planetary gearboxes. One of the manufacturers of planetary gearboxes is Brevini. This article describes the company’s activities within this field.
By Luca Bortolani, Technical Communication and Web Marketing Manager, Brevini Riduttori, Italy
A Tool for Monitoring White-Fronted Goose Movements
The UK government now has ambitious targets for the overall contribution of renewable energy to the UK’s energy budget. These higher targets have resulted in an increase in applications for onshore and offshore renewable energy developments. In the UK, many of the renewable resources with the most potential are at their greatest in Scotland. This has of course created some conflict, in particular with respect to wind generation, because of Scotland’s remote habitats and the species of conservation concern, including key bird species, that use these areas. Therefore, developers and statutory bodies have been pressed to seek state of the art assessment methods for accurately gauging potential environmental impacts.
By Richard Walls and Mark Parnel, Bird Management Unit, Central Science Laboratory (CSL), UK
More Sustainable Financing of Wind Power Projects through Improved Annual Energy Production Estimates
This article is about increasing confidence levels in annual energy production calculations for proposed wind farms. To do this, Sinclair Knight Merz uses detailed statistical analysis of the measured site data and the measured meteorological station data, without assuming a certain correlation function between the two datasets before the analysis has taken place.
By Paul van Lieshout, Wind Power Group Manager, Sinclair Knight Merz (Europe) Ltd, UK
Dry-Type Transformers versus High Temperature Liquid-Filled Transformers
New turbines above 3MW are being developed at a rapid rate in order to maximise energy yields. Therefore turbine components also have to be upgraded. A transformer is required to step up the voltage from the generator (400 to 3000V) to a medium voltage level. Safety and fire behaviour of transformers is an important issue for our industry. Fire damage accounts for between 9 and 20% of wind power insurance claims. In this article, the authors compare the safety and fire behaviour of dry-type transformers with high temperature liquid-filled transformers.
By Jan Declercq and Raymond Van Schevensteen, Pauwels International NV, Belgium
#11 Enercon E70 installed in Bessakerfjellet, Norway (courtesy Liam Tench)
Every week on our website and in our email newsletter we want to show you that wind energy is more than just technology. We therefore invite you to send stunning pictures of wind turbines inspired by “light” (in the broadest sense of the word).
After 52 submissions we will announce the winner of the year’s best picture!
Email your photo to Include turbine model, location and name of photographer. (size of the published photo will be 336 px width x 280 px high).
Windtech International wants to make your visit to our website as pleasant as possible. That is why we place cookies on your computer that remember your preferences. With anonymous information about your site use you also help us to improve the website. Of course we will ask for your permission first. Click Accept to use all functions of the Windtech International website.