The offshore race – How do the US and European markets compare?
Offshore wind energy is increasingly growing in prominence around the world. Stronger, more consistent winds out at sea can generate high volumes of energy, which, in turn, could make wind energy production more efficient. At present, it seems that Europe is ahead of the USA in offshore wind. So, why is this the case, and what do the two regions have planned for the future?
No surprises – The relationship between planning, spare parts, and uptime
At first glance, it would appear vital to stock critical wind turbine components to cover potential breakdowns and minimize downtime. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, due to financial constraints or inadequate storage. But what if stockpiling components wasn’t as important as it appeared? Rather, careful maintenance planning and diagnostics may be the deciding factors for consistent uptime.
Another big step for offshore – Hornsea Wind Farm begins operation in the U.K.
Offshore wind energy is experiencing a boom – with investors and authorities realizing the potential of the stronger, more continuous wind out at sea. And the newly opened Hornsea Wind Farm, located off the English coast, is on course to become the largest in the world by 2020.
Connecting the community – Industry associations and social media in wind energy
In the modern era, social media is one of the most useful tools for businesses to share their message, build brand identity, and reach completely new target groups. Industry associations can complement this by representing the goals and concerns of a sector. This also applies to wind energy and could be a key driver of future expansion.
Brazil Windpower 2019 – Insights into the wind energy market in Brazil
Wind energy is often associated with Europe, the USA, and China. However, Brazil is less frequently mentioned – despite being a major economic power. As Latin America’s largest wind energy event approaches, we take a look at the market situation as well as challenges and opportunities for wind power in Brazil.
Cybersecure operation – The role of cybersecurity in wind energy
Big data, remote monitoring, and process automation are becoming more prominent in wind energy. As a result of many systems and machines being networked, the likelihood of cyberthreats increases. What can operators do to protect wind farms in the digital age?
Set up for success – Commonly used bearing arrangements in turbines
Wind turbine design has developed rapidly in the 21st century. Modern turbines are larger than ever before, experience greater forces, and can generate more power. As a result, their bearings are put under higher levels of strain. Selecting the right main shaft bearing arrangement can be a hard decision.
Universal power – Sector coupling to create an all-electric world?
Wind energy and other renewables are on the rise in the electricity sector. This isn’t the case for other areas, such as transport or heating, which still heavily rely on fossil fuels. Sector coupling may provide the catalyst for changing this – contributing heavily to making many industries greener.
Attention turns to 2019 – What will be this year’s hot topics in wind energy?
2019 promises to be a big year for wind energy. There are plenty of important events coming up, and new approaches to O&M will play a significant role in the sector. The Wind Farm Management Blog talks to Dr. Philipp Schmid from SKF for key insights into what we can expect in 2019.
