All articles by julian turner
julian turner
Littoral benefits – a North Sea cross-border grid
As renewable energy begins to assume pride of place in the power generation capacity of northern and western areas of Europe, wind power is being considered the lynchpin of a planned North Sea cross-border grid. Greg Noone talks to Jonathan Gaventa, chairman of environmental think tank E3G; and Anders Stouge, deputy director-general of the Danish Energy Association, about how such a network could lower the price of electricity
in the region and enhance the ability of EU member states to attain their emissions goals.
A gale-force boon – the economic advantages of wind energy
At the end of 2015, the UK’s wind power generation had risen by 26%. Due to higher wind speeds and increased capacity, the output of offshore wind rose even faster, jumping by a third to 17.4TWh. World Wind Technology speaks to Simon Brett, head of projects, Humber, at Associated British Ports, about the economic advantages of wind energy.
Explore the expo – WindEnergy Hamburg 2016
WindEnergy Hamburg, the leading international wind energy expo, will attract more than 1,200 exhibitors, making it the largest international business platform – onshore and offshore. This is the second time that the expo will be held, and it will run 27–30 September 2016 at the Hamburg Fair site.
Evolution of the workers – training offshore personnel
As the offshore wind sector grows, the industry will need to recruit more skilled workers than ever before. Training is an important piece of the puzzle, particularly when it comes to eliminating the hazards of working at great heights. Chris Streatfeild, director of health and safety at RenewableUK, explains how the industry body ensures training for this task is up to scratch across the sector.
A second wind – life extension projects in Europe
Europe is leading growth in repower and refurbishment projects, with over 86GW of capacity due to be decommissioned by 2030. Sarah Williams speaks to Michael Wilkinson, service line leader for renewables asset operations and management services at DNV GL, to find out how approaches to life extension are developing, and how operators can capitalise on available resources.
US wind power goes mainstream – AWEA CEP Tom Kiernan
With falling costs, a record number of jobs, major brands becoming new customers and enough infrastructure installed to supply 20 million US homes with electricity, it is official: US wind power is now a ubiquitous source of energy. Tom Kiernan, CEO of American Wind Energy Association, writes about the country’s use of alternative energy.
Subsidies caught in crosswinds – the commitment to COP21
COP21 committed the world to major reductions in carbon emissions, setting ambitious targets amid a fanfare of triumphant rhetoric. However, cuts to wind energy subsidies across Europe, and a dramatically changing energy landscape, raise questions about policymakers’ commitment to the deal and what these cutbacks mean for the industry. Oliver Hotham speaks to Giles Dickson, CEO of EWEA, and Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace, about the state of European wind energy.
Carbon compulsion – low-weight, high-performance blades
Bigger wind turbine blades mean an increased area swept by rotors. These larger and longer blades capture more energy from the wind to generate electricity. Building low-weight, high-performance blades while keeping the rest of the turbine’s components lightweight is a challenge that the industry is solving with carbon. World Wind Technology speaks to Christian Vogl, project manager for rotor blades at Nordex, about the versatility of this strong and long-lasting material.
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) becomes WindEurope
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has rebranded to become WindEurope.
Latest news from EWEA 2015
Giles Dickson, chief executive officer of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), has issued an update ahead of this year’s EWEA conference in Paris.