New shades of green – How wind energy is redefining Ireland
The Emerald Isle has long been recognized for its lush green landscapes and picturesque scenery, but the nickname is starting to acquire a new layer of meaning. Nowadays, when we say Ireland is green, we don’t just mean its countryside. We are talking about its forward-thinking, renewable energy initiatives.
Wind turbine generators – Mechanics, malfunctions, and failure prevention
Kinetic energy conversion lies at the heart of wind energy production, with the generator playing the pivotal role. This article ventures into the world of wind turbine generators, exploring how they work, analyzing potential malfunctions and their causes, and offering preventive solutions.
Gone with the wind – The phaseout of SF6
In April, the European Council made its first overture to phase out SF6 and other F-gas-based technology in current wind farm installations. The greenhouse gas accounts for a staggering portion of our current climate emergency, outshining even carbon dioxide. Though SF6’s hitherto entrenched role in big wind may present challenges in navigating the rollback, the change will ultimately be worth it for a more sustainable future.
Recovery on the horizon – Reversing the semiconductor shortage
Semiconductors are integral to microchip technology, powering everything from Apple products to wind turbines. The pandemic caused a massive spike in demand, and with major disruptions in the supply chains, the semiconductor industry has experienced an ongoing shortage. Situation normal is slowly returning, but what can be done about future disruptions?
EU electricity market reform – Another push towards renewable energy
Earlier this year, the European Commission introduced legislative initiatives aimed at improving European electricity market design and enhancing protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market, accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources. The reforms are particularly important for the wind industry since they create a more favorable and supportive environment for the growth and integration of wind power.
Port of call – Navigating the future of offshore wind farming
The role of ports in offshore wind farming cannot be underestimated. As we transition from the use of hydrocarbons to renewable energy, the wind industry seeks to maximize optimization of portside facilities. It will achieve this by continuing to identify favorable portside locations and lobbying for change at TENT-T.
Power to liquid – Fueling up with renewable energy
What exactly are e-fuels? What role will they play in the greening of the economy? In this article, we’ll get a glimpse of how and where e-fuels are produced, wind farming’s role in their production, and how they can be deployed to make Europe — and the world — more sustainable.
Battling against the elements – How to effectively protect turbine blades
Protecting turbine blades is an ongoing challenge for the wind industry, and preventative measures are necessary to minimize downtime and lost energy production. This article details the common types of damage blades are vulnerable to as well as proper solutions to help prolong their lifespan.
Low carbon through recycled steel – How to achieve zero carbon emissions along the entire supply chain
Wind turbines consist of many materials including steel. The steel industry is one of the sectors that emit the most CO2 and is anything but environmentally friendly. The time has come to change that.
