REW 20120301 Mar 2012

MARCHAPRIL 2012 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2
SECURING BIOGAS SUCCESS

Robust analysis can help your plant
pass the funding review
TURNING BROWNFIELDS GREEN
Defunct mine sites can be ideal for solar,
wind and more
Global market sets new records
WIND POWERS
AHEAD
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THE WORLDS NEWSSTAND
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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MARCHAPRIL 2012 1
CONTENTS
MARCHAPRIL 2012 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2
REGULARS
From the Editor ............................................................. 2
News/analysis ............................................................... 5
A roundup of news from around the world
Company Results ..................................................... 50
Diary ................................................................................ 59
Advertisers Index ..................................................... 52
THE BIG QUESTION
What will happen with the UKs FiTs? .......... 14
Will the UK governments attempt to amend its solar FiT have a
damaging effect on investor confdence, and thus on the future
of the nations solar industry? How can governments address this
issue, using the UK as an example in other words, how should
a government come up with a rational mechanism that can refect
whats actually happening in the industry in a timely manner? We
asked our readers for their opinions about the UKs FiT scheme,
predictions for how it will play out, and the wider implications for
other governments. This is what you had to say.
FEATURES
Renewable game changers ........................ 20
First comes invention then comes prosperity. Thats the theory of
innovation economics, a relatively new doctrine that underlies
todays worldwide race to discover energys next game changer.
In this edition REW looks at some of the intriguing tinkering under
way in renewable energy. Will one of these new technologies lead
us out of our economic malaise?
By Elisa Wood
Securing biogas success ........................... 25
Successful development of a biogas project stands or falls by
its ability to deliver a robust analysis capable of withstanding the
review of a funding fnancial institution. With such institutions
considering everything from the business plan, substrate
supply and disposal and safety-related systems, a comprehensive
analysis is critical.
By Johannes Steiglechner, Matthias Herold and Dr Rolf M. Zllner
Chiles uncertain future .............................. 28
For renewable energy, and for solar power in particular, the sky
is the limit for Chile in the long term. But in the short term there is
fevered debate about the best ways for the country to overcome
its considerable energy challenges.
By Robin Yapp
Rural Africa seeks power off the grid ........ 33
Economic growth, a plunge in PV prices and an improving
business context could help release off-grid renewables
considerable potential for closing sub-Saharan Africas gaping
electricity shortfall.
By Piers Evans
Turning brownfelds into green .................. 37
Could defunct mine sites prove to be ideal locations for the
generation of a variety of renewable energy sources? Recent
imaginative projects give grounds for confdence that many former
mine sites can be used for wind, PV, geothermal, hydropower and
energy crops.
By Peter Whitbread-Abrutat and Nick Coppin
Project profle: mini-hydro in Fiji .................. 41
Small hydropower is noticeably transforming Fijis energy
environment. While the island nations 850,000 residents have
traditionally relied on high-cost, imported diesel for power
generation, recent commitments by the Fiji Electricity Authority
(FEA) have supported new policies and projects that promote
sustainable, renewable energy sources. Here we examine the
challenges of one such project.
By Greg Brown
Dedicated to offshore wind ........................ 46
Jean Huby became CEO of offshore turbine specialists Areva
Wind last May. Huby frst joined Areva in 2008 as VP for strategy
and was involved in the acquisition of what was then Multibrid.
REW talked with him about the companys new turbine, the future
of offshore wind, the primacy of reliability and planning for growth.
By James Lawson
MARCHAPRIL 2012 VOLUME 15NUMBER 2
SECURING BIOGAS SUCCESS
Robust analysis can help your plant
pass the funding review
TURNING BROWNFIELDS GREEN
Defunct mine sites can be ideal for solar,
wind and more
Global market sets new records
WIND POWERS
AHEAD
RENEWABLE
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2 RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD MARCHAPRIL 2012
Group Publisher Ralph Boon
Chief Editor David Appleyard
Associate Editor Tildy Bayar
Consulting Editor Jackie Jones
Production Editor Piers Evans
Design/Production Shyam Gosai
Production Manager Kimberlee Smith
Production Controller Rebecca Crews
Sales Managers Peter Andersen, Alasdair Evans,
Dan Harper, Kate Hart, Rick Peredina, Sandra
Spencer
Digital Sales Manager Leo Wolfert
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2012 PennWell International Publications Ltd
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Renewable Energy World, ISSN 1462-6381, is
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A deal to amend Germanys solar PV feed-in tariffs (FiTs) with a signifcant cut across
its various bands has been revealed, if not fnalised, and has inevitably been met with
some degree of consternation by the sector, which perceives the move as a threat to
its future.
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has, for example, expressed
its concerns in an open letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying that
the decision sends the wrong message about renewables at a critical time for the
industry and for efforts by Germany and the greater EU to achieve our future
energy goals.
In what may be argued is a rather resigned response, perhaps almost an
acknowledgment that such a move was inevitable and even desirable, the letter also
adds: No one believes that PV support schemes should last forever not even for
much longer and everyone knows that these need to be smart, sustainable and
properly adapted to changing market conditions. The main thrust of the concern
is evidently the rate of reduction, with the letter adding that gradual and measured
reductions of support schemes have helped shrink signifcantly the competitiveness
gap between PV and conventional electricity sources.
The logic is that cutting the tariffs subsidies if you will to a level more acceptable
to both public and politicians will see them become more sustainable in the long
term, thereby securing the industrys future, while at the same time engendering a
competitive driver that will see costs fall steadily to the point of out-competing the
conventional energy resources which dominate the landscape to this day.
The challenge is to pace these reductions at the right level to sustain progress
in technology, effciency and economic advances without endangering the
development of emerging technologies which initially need fnancial support to
be adopted.
Curiously, the developments in Germany for more on this story see our detailed
analysis beginning on page 5 came in the same week that a campaigning President
Barack Obama declared that the oil and gas industry in the US receives some
$4 billion in direct subsidies every year. I am asking Congress eliminate this oil
industry giveaway right away. I want them to vote on this in the next few weeks.
Lets put every single member of Congress on record: You can stand with the oil
companies, or you can stand up for the American people. You can keep subsidising
a fossil fuel thats been getting taxpayer dollars for a century, or you can place your
bets on a clean-energy future, said Obama in an early March address in Nashua,
New Hampshire.
This remarkable statement begs the question: how soon is too soon to phase
out subsidies for the energy sector? And, if the renewables sector is happy to
acknowledge that subsidies should indeed be reduced to zero over the coming
years, why cant other long-established energy sectors, too?
David
Appleyard
Chief Editor
FROM THE EDITOR
Member, BPA Worldwide
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NEWS ANALYSIS
GERMANYS NEW SOLAR
CONTAINMENT POLICY
POLICY & MARKETS
F
or two decades, Germany
has been a global leader
in renewable energy, frst
creating feed-in tariff (FiT) laws
in 1991, then in 2000 via the
Renewable Energy Sources Act
(EEG) establishing different FiTs for
different renewables.
Since 2007 the nation has
accounted for 30%50% of the
planets annual solar PV capacity.
Cumulative installed solar
capacity is roughly 25 GW and the
government is targeting 66 GW
by 2030.
To avoid overheating as seen in
other European nations (Spain in
2008 and 2009, and Italy in 2010
and 2011), Germany has reigned
in its FiT plans by nearly 40%. The
EEG, which costs about 7 billion
per year, is structured to degress as
installations climb, thus maintaining
steady internal rates of return (IRR)
for projects, and generally keeping
pace with plunging PV costs.
In the frst few weeks of
2012, though, German offcials
realised they had a big problem:
preliminary estimates indicated
new solar PV installations
in 2011 leaped to a record
7.5 GW, far outpacing the countrys
2.53.5 GW plans with a
whopping 3 GW in December 2011
alone, thanks to mild weather and
the desire to get installations done
before the next scheduled FiT
reductions in January.
Continued half-year adjustment
of the subsidies, now scheduled
for a 15% degression to about
24 cents/kWh given the 2011
surge, would no longer be enough.
New policies were immediately
proposed: more frequent step-down
degressions in the existing FiT were
preferred by environmental minister
Norbert Rttgen, and some kind of
hard cap on annual installations, as
low as 1 GW annually or even lower,
was proposed by federal minister of
economics Philipp Rsler. Industry
watchers speculated on what
would come out of negotiations,
guessing on monthly or quarterly
FiT reductions or a less restrictive
hard cap.
On 23 February, Rttgen and
Rsler announced their framework
of a compromise and it was more
severe, and takes effect much
sooner, than anyone anticipated.
REACTIONS TO THE NEWS
The newly proposed subsidies
cut the FiT levels by up to 30%,
limit the payback on electricity
produced, and eliminate a
self-consumption bonus. They
also take effect in January 2013
but apply to everything installed
by 9 March, not 1 April as many
had thought. (The previous FiT
structure would have cut the levels
by another 15% in July.)
Starting in May, the FiTs
will be reduced monthly by
0.15 cents/kWh for all new
systems;
New small systems will be
remunerated for 85% of the
electricity produced; medium
and large-sized systems will get
back 90%;
A bonus for self-consumption will
be eliminated;
Yearly installations from
20142017 will see a 400 MW
annual reduction in the current
corridor of 2.5 GW3.5 GW; the
new corridor from 2017 on will be
900 MW-1.9 GW.
Not surprisingly, the German
solar market is up in arms about the
changes, which are the most severe
since the governments support
began in 2004.
This decision sends exactly the
wrong message about renewables
at a critical time for the industry
and for EU efforts to achieve
its energy goals, said Ingmar
Wilhelm, president of the European
Photovoltaic Industry Association
(EPIA). No one believes that PV
support schemes should last still
for long, and everyone knows that
they need to be smart, sustainable
and properly adapted to changing
market conditions.
The breathing cap worked, and
would have further slowed down
the market after the lack of growth
between 2010 and 2011, agreed
Markus Lohr, chief analyst of EuPD
Research. Market instruments
require time in order to come into
effect; there was no real need to
intervene in the market again.
The strategy of accelerating
reductions in Germanys solar
support schemes have greatly
narrowed the gap between PV
and conventional electricity
sources, Wilhelm argues, but the
new rules create an increasingly
unpredictable regulatory climate
containing impossible conditions
which put the entire PV industry at
risk. Narrowing the governments
options to support solar, and more
broadly its Energiewende energy
transformation effort, will only
provide one result: ever higher
costs for the entire energy system.
THE INDUSTRY RESPONDS
Hours before the new FiT
proposals were announced, the
Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft
(BSW), Germanys solar industry
association, organised a protest
attended by roughly 50 domestic
solar companies and thousands
of workers against what were
The German solar industry is up in arms about the newly announced FiT changes. BSW-SOLAR
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NEWS ANALYSIS
assumed to be tightened
restrictions. SAG Solarstrom AG, a
solar PV plant designer and builder
taking part in the protests, accused
the government of completely
choking the German market and
jeopardising jobs in Germany.
It is completely
incomprehensible to us how the
federal government can argue
these drastic reductions, said
SAG CEO Karl Kuhlmann. These
short-term drastic reductions are
slowing down the very positive
development of photovoltaics
that we have had up to now.
German electricity suppliers are
hiking prices by more than 3%, he
said, far out of balance with any
increases related to the EEG:
Photovoltaics is being made
a scapegoat by the energy
corporations in order to expand
their own proft margin without
any risks.
Industry watchers both
inside and outside Germany are
concerned about what the harsher
and sooner FiT adjustments will
do to solar project economics and
end demand.
Overall we believe it is still
bad news for the German solar
industry, likely reducing IRRs from
high single-digits to low single digit
at best (and in most cases non-
existent), which will reduce demand
dramatically, wrote Citi analyst
Tim Arcuri. Given that Germany
was greater than 30% of global
demand last year with 7.5 GW
installed, a dramatic slowdown in
Germany, and at such short notice
will, we believe, be negative for
pricing across the solar value chain
in an industry already suffering
from overcapacity.
Maxim Group analyst Aaron
Chew agrees: Its hard to get
projects going when the economics
change every 30 days. The
whole model is based on cash
fow, and any delays under a
monthly-adjusted FiT system
changes the whole equation
for everyone from fnancers to
suppliers to EPC frms.
Vishal Shah from Deutsche Bank
echoes that the new FiT structure
increases the risk of signifcantly
reducing the installation run-rate in
Germany [...] Our checks indicate
that German distributors could start
cancelling orders immediately, in
order to work down inventory.
As REW goes to press the new
FiT plan still has to be offcially
ratifed, frst and probably quickly by
the Bundestag (lower house), and
then it goes to the Bundesrat (upper
house) where some individual
states are likely to push back for
changes. Both IHS iSuppli analyst
Henning Wicht and Deutsche
Banks Shah acknowledge that
once the upper house, where
states interests are more prevalent,
takes a crack at it, the fnal law that
gets passed and enacted could be
somewhat less harsh than what is
currently proposed. Unfortunately,
that would add even more delays
to the process and cause more
uncertainty among suppliers,
project developers, and end users,
and that might even be worse: Its
better to know whats happening
even if its bad, Wicht says.
MOVING FORWARD
Its important to remember that
the bigger picture for solar energy,
and for all renewables, is the end-
goal of grid parity, a level playing
feld with conventional oil and gas
energy sources. In that context,
the true big picture in Germanys
current solar subsidy scuffe is
that it represents the future of a
post-incentive solar PV market.
We really need to take a step
back from FiTs and get into the
electricity market, Wicht notes.
The end market is where PV has to
compete. Chew agrees: Germany
needs to transform to a pure
grid-parity model, and rely
on low solar system costs to
generate returns.
And that starts by getting as
many costs as possible out of solar
systems to begin with. System
prices for large installations are
around 15001600, but they have
to drop further, at least 10% if
not more, Wicht says. PV module
prices have plunged over the past
couple of years, but costs can be
squeezed from other areas of the
supply chain, particularly on the
balance-of-systems (BoS) side.
There is a lot of potential to
reduce BoS costs, from mounting
systems to inverters, Wicht
points out. He cited one power
park in Germany that redesigned
its mounting systems under
construction (which typically
use stainless steel or aluminium)
and trimmed mounting costs by
50%. Such efforts will take time,
though, and given the rapidity of
the new FiT changes, sourcing
lower-cost modules will probably
be the preferred method among the
solar supply chain.
Another problem to be overcome
is that renewable energy sources
dont ft neatly into the best interests
of utilities. If Germany continues
to build up PV capacities at the
current speed, these capacities will
seriously confict with conventional
power plants regarding grid
capacity, explained Solarbuzz
analyst Susanne von Aichberger.
Wicht has a different angle on
utilities motives: Solar cuts into
the proft margins of electricity
utility suppliers, meaning noon
and peak times, and decentralised
production and consumption of
electricity doesnt rely on a grid fee,
he said. That really disturbs the
business case of utilities.
On the other hand, he vocally
supports continued robust
expansion of domestic solar
power as essential to Germanys
energy system, and points out
that solar enjoys broad support
from the population at large. Solar
contributes 4% of its total electric
power and is expected to rise to
7% within fve years and 10% by
2020. Critics lament the imbalance
between the subsidies and solars
contribution to the grid, but PVs
power production generally lines
up with the heaviest periods
of electricity demand; it is the
dominant electricity source in some
regions at sunny noontimes.
A study by the Institute for Future
Energy Systems, commissioned
by the BSW, shows that solar
power reduces average trading
prices on the European Power
Exchange (EPEX) by an average
of 10% per day, and by as much
as 40% at midday. That added up
to savings of 520-840 million in
2011, corresponding to lowering
prices by 4-6/MWh. The BSW also
cites data from Prognos showing
that expanding solar capacity by
70% through 2016, to 7% of total
electricity mix, would only add
2% to electricity prices.
Germanys consumers clearly
still want renewable energy options.
The BSW cites studies indicating
a vast majority of Germans (91%)
think solar power is important,
with 40% believing that support
was strengthened as a result of the
nuclear disaster in Fukushima last
spring. The fgures from pollster
frm TNS Emnid also indicate
69% of respondents think the solar
energy policy is not expanding too
quickly, and 60% also feel current
policies do too little.
Wicht believes Germany
will eventually get to a 100%
renewable-sourced electricity
supply, faster than anyone
expects not 2030 years, but
maybe just 10, he says. Wind power
is still a big business, and where
wind adoption faces challenges
(longer permitting phases, not
viable for cities or villages, and
grid connection/maintenance for
offshore installations), solar PV is
better positioned. Meeting that
rapid adoption pace will also require
improved and enough energy
storage to help offset renewables
Achilles heel of intermittency.
First things frst, though. Once
Germany adopts the new solar
FiT changes and its solar industry
participants end their handwringing,
well see another wave of PV
market dynamics, promises Wicht.
And from there its on to bigger aims
of substituting entire energy parks,
and keeping Germany as a greener,
cleaner global energy leader.
By James Montgomery
Industry watchers both inside and outside Germany are
concerned about what the harsher and sooner FiT adjustments
will do to solar project economics and end demand
GERMANYS NEW FIT PLAN
System size FiT reduction Degression
Up to 10 kW 19.5 cents/kWh 20%
10 kW to 1 MW 16.5 cents/kWh 2529%
1 to 10 MW 13.5 cents/kWh 26%
Above 10 MW No subsidies
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NEWS ANALYSIS
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN
WIND TURBINE BLADES
TECHNOLOGY
A
t the forefront of every
design decision being made
in the wind industry today
is the technology versus cost
equation, a new report by MAKE
Consulting reminds us. In past
years, leading vendors deploying
wind turbines with the highest
levels of performance were able to
cultivate a price premium for their
products. In todays market, global
competition has narrowed those
price premiums and challenged
proftability for all industry
participants.
Increasing energy capture
through the use of larger rotors
has the single largest impact
on wind turbine cost of energy.
Turbine OEMs are pushing the
envelope of design, moving toward
aero-elastic tailored blades
that enable heightened turbine
performance while minimising
fatigue loads. Carbon fbre and
automated production processes
are being harnessed in support of
these new advanced airfoil designs.
Other turbine OEMs are focused on
traditional materials and improving
blade aerodynamics to achieve
similar results, while others still
are focused on blade trailing edge
enhancements that minimise noise.
It is clear that technology will
play a critical role in determining
the success of wind energy market
participants throughout the value
chain. Advanced technology
development will shape the future
of the global wind industry and
prevent it from moving toward
a commoditised space. As a
consequence, industry leaders
will distinguish themselves from
the competition by successfully
navigating an increasingly
demanding market environment
with a structured design approach
that strikes the proper balance
between price and performance.
BLADES
Blades are the turbines primary
energy conversion components
and continue to be a critical focus
area of wind turbine technology. In
2010, the continuing evolution of
blade lengths to address a need
for more effcient low wind speed
turbines was the dominant trend
in this segment of the technology
space. This market dynamic
has not abated, and as the frst
wave of low wind speed turbines
reaches commercialisation, a host
of alternative offerings are being
announced to further supplement
product portfolios.
The industry as a whole
continues to focus its onshore
efforts in the 1.6 MW3.5 MW
segment, while the offshore
segment has moved away from
5 MW systems and is graduating
to 6 MW7 MW offerings to cope
with larger offshore farms at greater
water depths and greater distances
from shore. The interplay between
onshore and offshore wind turbine
portfolios has left a noticeable gap
in the 3.5 MW5 MW segment. The
enhanced production of smaller
MW and multi-MW systems cannot
be replicated with larger multi-MW
offerings due in part to:
Transport issues that demand
blade segmentation and on-site
blade assembly;
Untenable material costs that
outweigh incremental energy
capture;
Supply chain limitations in areas
such as hub production.
Despite the issues associated
with blade design for larger
multi-MW turbines, blade length
evolution has not reached its
peak, and lessons learned from
R&D endeavours will facilitate yet
another push by turbine vendors to
accomplish the following:
Drive their latest IEC III turbines
into IEC II wind classes (with
conditions on turbulence intensity,
wind shear, and other wind farm
climate characteristics);
Interpolate between existing
blade offerings to enhance
existing IEC II wind turbines while
new low wind speed turbines are
proven out;
Sharing of blade designs among
MW-class and multi-MW-class
turbine platforms.
It must be noted that the
proliferation of various blade lengths
cannot be pursued ad infnitum, as
the economics associated with
blade mould production/utilisation
as well as third-party certifcations
will reduce the cost effciency
of these new products. A new
blade mould can cost upward of
US$5 million, while certifcation
can take more than a year.
As such, turbine OEMs must
examine their regional deployment
objectives carefully to ensure that
industrialisation goals can be met
while ensuring enough fexibility
to meet the demands of a global
client base.
By Dan Shreve
Blade designs continue to evolve. SCHEURLE
GLOBAL BLADE
MATERIALS
MARKET
A report from industry
consultants AMI
Consulting, published
in January, calculates
that the global demand
for materials in the
production of wind turbine
blades grew by over 20%
per annum in the last fve
years. The market for
wind turbine blades has
been one of the fastest
growing of any composite
application with strong
growth in Europe, North
America and more
recently Asia.
The value of the global
composite blade market
is estimated at 4 billion
in 2011, of which around
1.5 billion was raw
materials.
Increasing effort is
being invested in designing
blades for maximum
power generation and this
requires careful attention
to material composition,
material processing and of
course overall design. The
link between generating
capacity, blade size and
materials usage is also
crucial.
To maximise return on
investment, the average
blade size is getting longer
and heavier requiring
greater quantities of raw
materials. As blade length
and weight increase
beyond current norms
increased sophistication
in blade design, materials
and manufacture are
required.
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NEWS ANALYSIS
CONTROVERSIAL REPORT
ON RENEWABLES REJECTED
POLICY & MARKETS
A
report entitled Powerful
Targets: Exploring the
relative cost of meeting
decarbonisation and renewables
targets in the British power sector
has ignited a war of words in
the UKs policy and renewables
circles. Consultancy KPMG had
commissioned the report in 2011
from sub-contractor AF Consult, but
in early March KPMG announced
that it would not be released due
to its controversial conclusions
stemming from an economic model
that many call questionable.
KPMG added that the report was
ripe for misinterpretation.
Trade body RenewableUK, which
represents the countrys wind,
wave and tidal sectors, as well
as several major utilities and the
Department of Energy and Climate
Change (DECC) have all questioned
the studys methodology
and conclusions.
AF Consult subsequently
released the report independently
of KPMG. It presents three
scenarios for achieving the UKs
climate change targets and meeting
electricity demand at the lowest
cost by 2050.
The frst, a no targets
scenario, puts the unit cost of
generation at 5.8 p/kWh and total
generation costs at 780 billion
(934 billion). The second, an
emissions reduction targets
scenario, puts the unit cost
of generation at 7.2 p/kWh
and total generation costs at
960 billion (1150 billion). And
the third scenario, with renewables
and emissions reduction
targets, projects the unit cost of
generation at 8.4 p/KWh and total
generation costs at 1100 billion
(1318 billion).
The report concludes that the
least costly way for the UK to
meet its 2050 CO
2
emissions
reduction targets is to do so without
renewable electricity specifcally,
without the UKs planned signifcant
expansion in wind farm projects.
It also argues that nuclear and
gas-fred generation will be the
cheapest way to meet these targets
with the least cost.
In November 2011 KPMG
released preliminary fndings
from the report, at which time
it was harshly criticised by the
renewables sector, especially
the wind industry. The fndings
suggested that building nuclear and
gas-fred power stations instead
of wind could save the nation
34 billion (41 billion) while meeting
its 2020 carbon reduction targets.
In the fnal version of the report
released this month, AF Consult
estimates the savings at 45 billion
(54 billion).
However, RenewableUK said
the KPMG report focuses solely
on the up-front costs of building
new power plants, ignoring
other lifecycle costs such as
fuel and decommissioning. In
comparing the costs of the various
technologies, RenewableUK said,
the report appears to deliberately
fail to take into account the low
operating costs of wind, which
counterbalance the high capital and
construction cost. The trade body
argued that in Germany, Denmark
and Spain the low operational
cost of wind means that it is the
frst choice of power source used
to meet demand, displacing more
expensive options, and thereby
reducing electricity prices.
RenewableUK questioned AF
Consults model because, among
other issues, it constrains onshore
wind to only 15 GW of deployment
on planning grounds, while nuclear
power, which has its own set of
planning and supply chain issues, is
not constrained. RenewableUK also
said that the reports renewables
scenario includes an extensive
build-up of new open-cycle gas
turbine plants, which are not the
only solution for balancing variable
renewable output.
The preliminary fndings gave
rise to a series of media attacks
on renewables, after home
energy prices increased and
were projected to rise further.
In a response to the preliminary
fndings, RenewableUKs
communications director, Charles
Anglin, said: The recent rises in
electricity bills have been caused
by the global increase in the price
of gas, not by renewables. DECCs
own Annual Report on Fuel Poverty
clearly states that between 2004
and 2009, domestic electricity
prices increased by over 75%,
while gas prices increased by over
122%, while the cost of generating
electricity from wind, according
to market regulator Ofgem, is
less than 10 (12) per year per
household, or less than 1% of the
average household fuel bill.
Anglin also criticised the reports
assumption that a new feet of
nuclear plants can be deployed
by the end of the decade. He said
current estimates show two new
nuclear plans will come online by
2020, which would not be enough
to meet UK energy demand without
either a signifcant increase in
renewable energy capacity or an
increase in fossil fuel imports.
While the report stated that wind
farms only generate electricity
for about one-third of the time,
RenewableUK pointed out that
wind turbines actually generate
electricity for 80%85% of the time;
and they generate the maximum
possible amount at full speed for
about one-third of the time. KPMG
appear to have confused these two
concepts, leading to a basic error
which does not inspire confdence
in the rest of their research,
RenewableUK said.
Mark Powell, the author of the
report, went on record to defend
it after Novembers criticism,
saying that it was based on a pure
economics case, not on policy
considerations. We are presenting
the pure economics, he said. It is
increasingly clear that in the current
fnancial situation, cost is an issue
whatever we decide to do. Hitting
our carbon target and renewables
target delivering these two things
should be done at the lowest
cost possible.
Dr Gordon Edge, RenewableUKs
policy director, said, Bringing this
willfully narrow report back from
the dead fails to bring anything
worthwhile to the current energy
debate. KPMG has been wise to
distance itself from the study and its
fndings as the extremely simplistic
approach it uses bears little
relation to reality, simply translating
a set of assumptions into a
particular conclusion.
The real debate should be
around how the UK protects
consumers from the fuctuating
price of fossil fuels, decreases its
reliance on imported energy and
maximises the economic benefts
from developing new forms of
energy including wind.
By Tildy Bayar
The UK plans signifcant wind project expansion. WINDJOBS
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NEWS ANALYSIS
WIND POWERS AHEAD
POLICY & MARKETS
T
wo recent analyses reveal
that the global wind turbine
market not only added
signifcant new capacity in 2011,
but also set new records. Market
reports from the World Wind
Energy Association (WWEA) and
the Global Wind Energy Council
(GWEC) essentially agree on the
details: WWEA says there were
42 GW of new capacity installed in
2011 (up from 37.6 GW in 2010),
while GWEC puts the new capacity
fgure at 41 GW (a 21% increase
over the previous year). This brings
global installed capacity to more
than 238 GW (GWEC) or close to
239 GW (WWEA). In essence, the
two reports confrm each others
fndings that, despite worldwide
economic woes, the wind energy
market is still experiencing
strong growth.
For both groups the focus is
now on emerging markets, with the
reports showing market stagnation
in key industrialised countries.
CHINA
Despite a diffcult year for the
country, WWEA and GWEC agree
that China consolidated its position
as the global market leader in 2011.
The nation installed around 18 GW
of new wind turbines during the
year, reaching a total capacity of
62 GW (GWEC) or 63 GW (WWEA),
more than one quarter of total
global wind capacity.
However, growth slowed
last year due to several issues,
including a trade dispute with the
US that led the government to take
the unprecedented decision to stop
subsidising wind companies with a
domestic content requirement; only
those using imported components
will receive subsidies.
Also, new regulations increased
government oversight of the wind
sector, making it more diffcult to
obtain approval for wind projects.
And another issue is the ongoing
price war among Chinese turbine
manufacturers. Of those affected
by this all-out battle, makers of
wind turbine parts have suffered
the most. Turbine prices have
declined steadily in recent years
due to growing pressure to cut
manufacturing costs.
THE US
The second largest market for new
wind turbines was, again, the US,
which installed 6.8 GW, bringing the
countrys total installed capacity to
46.9 GW (GWEC).
US wind energys long-term
fundamentals are strong, said
American Wind Energy Association
(AWEA) CEO Denise Bode. But
WWEA rates the countrys near
term prospects as not very bright.
Budget cuts, political gridlock
and strong public reaction against
renewable energy subsidies,
plus an upcoming election which
could result in signifcant policy
changes, have combined to create
a climate of uncertainty among
investors. And, after much doubt
about its future, a deal to renew the
imminently expiring Production Tax
Credit (PTC) failed in mid-February.
Projects that will be fnished by end
2012 will still qualify for the credit,
resulting in a projected construction
boom during the year. But projects
slated for completion in 2013 or
later will miss out. Even if the tax
credit comes up for renewal after
Novembers election, wind projects
in the pipeline will still be delayed.
INDIA
WWEA reports that India, in third
place, added 2.7 GW in 2011,
raising the countrys total capacity
to just over 16 GW. GWEC quotes
D.V. Giri, chairman of the Indian
Wind Turbine Manufacturers
Association, as saying that India
reached another milestone with
adding over 3000 MW of wind
power installed in 2011. This is
likely to go up to 5000 MW per
year by 2015. Ongoing initiatives
of the Indian government to create
new policies will attract large
quantities of private investments to
the sector.
GERMANY
Germany, with 2 GW added in 2011
(WWEA), remains the EU Member
State with the largest installed
capacity (29.3 GW). However, there
are problems on the horizon. Major
utilities E.ON and RWE reported
in early March that several large
wind farm projects are facing major
delays because the facilities for grid
connection are not in place due to
construction delays by Dutch grid
operator TenneT, which is building
power lines off the German North
Sea and Baltic coasts. RWE said
there is now no chance that
Germany will fulfll its goal to have
10,000 offshore wind turbines in
place, generating 25 GW, by 2030.
CANADA
Canada produced a strong
showing, with 1.3 GW (WWEA) of
new installed capacity bringing
the countrys total to over 5 GW
(GWEC). Much of this activity is
due to Ontarios Green Energy Act,
which features FiTs and a local
manufacturing requirement and
has stimulated development in the
province.
EUROPE
Despite the economic crisis
gripping Europe, the wind industry
is still installing solid levels of
new capacity, said Justin Wilkes,
policy director of the European
Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
Spain, France and Italy each added
around 1 GW in 2011.
However, several European
markets showed stagnation or even
decrease. EWEA says that in 2000
the annual wind power installations
of Denmark, Germany and Spain
represented 85% of all EU wind
capacity additions; in 2011, this
share decreased to 34%.
WWEA Secretary General Stefan
Gsnger said: Although we can
observe a recovery of the overall
market, the slow-down in some
of the industrialised countries,
in conjunction with uncertainties
about future policies, is a matter of
major concern. Spain has recently
decided to stop subsidising
renewable energy projects as
part of its strategy to address its
debt crisis; while wind project
developers in Germany and the UK
fear that their industry will be the
next to suffer the drastic level of
cuts that both nations have recently
made to their solar FiTs.
EWEA says growth in onshore
installations in Germany and
Sweden, and offshore in the UK
together with continuing strong
performance from some emerging
onshore markets in Eastern Europe
have more than offset the fall in
installations in mature markets.
EMERGING MARKETS
In emerging markets, GWEC
observes a strong increase in
wind power utilisation not only in
China and India, but also in smaller
markets such as Brazil and Mexico.
GWEC quantifes Latin Americas
good year at new installed capacity
of 1.2 GW, led by Brazil. Adding
587 MW, the nations installations
were up by 50% over 2010, bringing
it to a total of just over 1.5 GW.
Brazil has a pipeline of more
than 7 GW to be completed
before the end of 2016, said
Pedro Perrelli, executive director
of the Brazilian Wind Energy
Association (ABEEOLICA). The
Brazilian wind sector has attracted
signifcant investment, facilitated
by the policies of the Brazilian
National Sustainable Development
Bank (BNDES).
By Tildy Bayar
China remained number one in 2011. BOB SACHA/CORBIS
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DESTINATION360
PHOTON ENERGY
T
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The UKs FiT rate announcement
will bring an air of relief to the
industry. The news will help to
relieve the anger at the recently
announced rate reductions and
the previously suggested energy
effciency requirements.
The governments response
is less negative than many
feared. Recent reductions
in module prices still have
some way to go before being
fully refected through to
consumer prices.
More regular reviews of
the rate, far from introducing
more market uncertainty, could
actually create a more stable
and sustainable marketplace in
the UK, and match models being
introduced in many European
countries for the same reasons.
The reduced rate for multiple
installation owners will clearly
have an impact on that market,
and businesses involved in that
sector may be disappointed.
Other businesses involved in
selling direct to homeowners
and small community groups
may be more welcoming.
The UK market was
damaged by the cuts announced
last October, but even before
the appeal court ruling, it was
showing signs of recovery. The
publication of this consultation
response should help to cement
that recovery.
It is clear that this is a
serious attempt to put in place
a more sustainable scheme
for the future, so lets hope
the government has achieved
that objective with these
latest changes.
ANDY PEGG, CEO, SEGEN
THE BIG QUESTION
What will happen with
the UK's FiTs?
SEGEN
Will the UK government's attempt to amend its solar FiT have a
damaging effect on investor confdence, and thus on the future of
the nation's solar industry?
How can governments address this issue, using the UK as an
example in other words, how should a government come up with
a rational mechanism that can refect whats actually happening in
the industry in a timely manner?
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The Americas: (Intl +1) 713-354-6100 / EMEA: (Intl +33) 2-35-25-5225
Asia-Pacic: (Intl +60) 3-2093-6633 / info@dresser-rand.com
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THE BIG QUESTION
There is no question that the
UKs decision on FiTs (as well as
similar actions in other countries)
sends exactly the wrong
message about renewables at
a critical time for the industry
and for EU efforts to achieve its
energy goals. No one believes
these support schemes should
last forever, and everyone
knows that they need to be
smart, sustainable and properly
adapted to changing market
conditions. But that doesnt
mean they should be smothered
so drastically.
The UK decision and others
like it create an increasingly
unpredictable regulatory climate
that makes continued growth
diffcult in the crucial near term.
Those who want PV need the
assurance that they can commit
to a clean, sustainable and
secure energy source without
being taken on a regulatory
roller-coaster ride. By the way,
those who say that renewables
beneft too much from FiTs
should remember that fossil
fuels and nuclear power have
received billions of euros in
direct and indirect subsidies in
the past decades.
But support schemes are
just one way that policymakers
can help foster PV development.
They can also cut the
bureaucratic red tape that
makes PV installation diffcult
in many countries. In Spain it
takes an incredible 89 weeks to
develop a commercial rooftop
system. Complying with these
regulations and grid connection
processes represents almost
half a projects development
cost. Removing these kinds of
barriers is free, and would lead
to an even earlier FiT phase-out.
Policymakers should not
discourage people from getting
the renewable energy they want,
by mistake or on purpose.
REINHOLD BUTTGEREIT, SECRETARY
GENERAL, EPIA
HANWHA SOLARONEE
While there has been
much confusion in recent
months surrounding the UK
governments review of its solar
PV FiT rates, it is pleasing to
see that the industry now has a
positive and defnitive platform
to progress with going forward.
The revised tariffs will now
be fxed for installations with
an eligibility date on or after
3 March. Such a short time
frame means that we are unlikely
to see any sizeable boom/bust
scenario, ensuring a sustainable,
continuous workfow for
the industry as a whole
going forward.
The reduced rates
payable to owners of multiple
installations from 1 April
provides a realistic tariff level
for housing associations
planning thousands of domestic
installations, although its impact
on ft for free providers could
be problematic. The defned
minimum number of installations
(25) above which the reduced
rate applies is to be welcomed.
We have long accepted
that tariff rates would need
to be reduced in line with the
decreasing cost of technology,
and as such we welcome Phase
2 of the consultation, which
aims to establish a longer-
term plan for cost control
measures for PV, as well as a
broader consideration of other
technologies. It remains to be
seen whether the proposed
rates will be suffcient to allow
the industry to continue on its
current growth trajectory.
The government has also
introduced a new requirement
for ftted buildings, both
domestic and non-domestic,
to hold a level D Energy
Performance Certifcate (EPC) in
order to receive the full FiT. We
were concerned that the initial
proposal, requiring a higher
level C EPC, would present too
high a barrier to clients, many of
whom would have been forced
to abandon PV installations
altogether. It is pleasing to see
the government has taken a
more realistic view in this new
requirement.
Overall, we believe the new
tariffs present a more practical
and considered way forward for
the PV industry, which will help
ensure a stable future for a fast-
growing industry.
JONATHAN BATES, DIRECTOR, PHOTON ENERGY
PHOTON ENERGY
Britains hope that the
government would now take
positive steps to deliver the
industrys future expansion was
quickly dashed with its Phase 2
Consultation on the solar FiT.
Behind proclamations for a
stable and predictable future
for solar power are proposals
for six-monthly reviews of
subsidies, the removal of
RPI-linked payments and a tariff
reduction from 25 to 20 years.
The recent victory following the
governments humiliating defeat
at the Court of Appeal has,
sadly, been short-lived.
Ministers have pledged
that the UK will generate
22,000 solar MW by 2020; yet
generating capacity in 2011
was just 750 MW. Attempts at
retrospective changes to tariff
rates and thinly veiled hints at
further months of disruption have
created a hostile environment
for the burgeoning industry and
for potential investors.
There has always been
widespread acceptance that the
tariff would need to be reduced
as installation costs fell; indeed,
in recent years, such schemes
have been uniformly cut across
the EU. Yet its the drastic speed
and scale of the cuts that is
damaging the UK industry,
which also spells trouble for our
renewable energy obligations.
The European Commission
has since pledged to take
legal action against the UK if
subsidy cuts threaten progress
towards the 2020 target, and
whilst the government has
taken some positive steps with
a more ambitious target for solar
production, it remains unclear
whether the industry will be able
to cope with increased cuts.
Continued uncertainty is
placing UK jobs and future
investment in grave danger. The
UK government must stop the
solar fasco and work to put the
industry on a stable footing.
JEAN LAMBERT, MEP LONDON
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September 1013, 2012
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
www.solarpowerinternational.com
Presented by:
Mark Your Calendars!
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this year. Save the dates of September 1013 and plan
to be at the Orange County Convention Center where
you will plug in to the new technologies, personal
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grow your energy business. It all begins at SPI 12!
______________________________________
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THE BIG QUESTION
Worldwide solar costs have fallen
much faster than policy can be
changed, to the embarrassment
of every government which has
tried it. The UK government is
only the latest to face slightly
self-righteous outrage from
parts of the solar industry after
panicky and botched attempts
to control consumer costs.
The government had
accidentally written homeowners
and installers a blank cheque for
high profts, payable by electricity
consumers, and responded by
pushing through cuts without
due process. The lawsuit
brought by installers in response
was technically valid, but lacks
pragmatism. I suspected at the
time that the programme would
end altogether, as the UK does
not need it to meet its binding
EU targets.
Spain, South Korea, the
Czech Republic, France, Ontario
and even Germany have already
staged almost exactly the same
story. The Spanish and Czech
governments did worse, with
changes in tariffs applying to
solar projects that had already
been built, and almost no
on-going solar support after the
boom. The newest proposals
are probably the best the UK
solar industry could hope for:
sharp cuts which will squeeze
margins and enforce competitive
practices, but a much more
ambitious long-term plan, for
22 GW by 2020.
I am sceptical that a
residential tariff rate of 21p/kWh
(25 cents/kWh) from April, or
13.5p/kWh (16 cents/kWh)
from July, will kill the industry.
It still compares quite well with
the German residential rate of
24 cents/kWh when some
of it can also be used to avoid
buying residential electricity (at
about 12p).
The Germans are expected
to keep installing in 2012,
even in the north, which is no
sunnier than parts of the UK.
Module price falls continue to
flter slowly through to lower
consumer prices, and the solar
industry in other countries has
usually managed to cut costs
in line with tariff reductions and
continue growing, albeit at a
more sustainable rate. In the
long run, an incentive regime
which is affordable at large
volumes is good news.
JENNY CHASE, HEAD OF SOLAR ANALYSIS, BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE
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BIG QUESTION
The UK governments appeal against the High Court ruling, which
stated that its early FiT cuts were illegal, has been thrown out. The
Court of Appeal ruled that the governments controversial plans to
effectively back-date deep cuts to solar FiTs were unlawful. The latest
ruling confrms that, once the eligibility date for a solar installation
has passed, the FiT rate is locked in for the 25-year period, subject
only to adjustments for Retail Price Index (RPI).
However, the ruling may have come too late for many, as the
impact of the governments fawed consultation
has already had far-reaching implications for the
energy, construction and investment markets.
The saga has put at risk investor confdence
in the UK renewables sector at a time when vast
amounts of private sector cash is needed to
decarbonise our power sector. The government
needs to be instilling certainty in the market,
not fostering high degrees of political risk. It
set the FiTs levels too high in the frst place,
and has clumsily tampered with the rules ever
since to close loopholes and reset levels as the
market has reacted, quite legitimately, to the
opportunities presented.
No one has really argued with a straight
face that solar PV tariff levels havent needed to
come down. The controversy has been around
the terms and content of the governments most recent consultation
on tariff reductions, specifcally around principles of fairness and
retrospectivity. What has angered many is that without explanation the
government ignored its own guidance on the length of consultation
periods the period here was only eight weeks, compared with the
normal period of 12 weeks and, with the date of applicability
of reduced tariffs preceding the end of the consultation period, the
outcome was effectively a foregone conclusion.
ANDREW WHITEHEAD, SENIOR PARTNER, SGH MARTINEAU
HOWARD JOHNS, CHAIRMAN,
SOLAR TRADE ASSOCIATION
The short-term picture for many UK solar
PV companies remains challenging. After
the uncertainty caused by the previous three
reviews of the FiT scheme and the ongoing
legal battle, this next set of cuts will be very
destructive for many. Whilst claiming to set the
industry on a more sustainable footing, it will
infict real damage to people and businesses if
these plans are carried out as proposed. Some
29,000 people are employed in the sector and
many of these jobs are once more at risk. The
speed and rate of these cuts will challenge all
businesses in the sector and may cause the
whole market to stagnate.
We welcome the extra budget and increased
ambition, but if many solar workers lose their
jobs this year because of these changes, how
can we hope to deliver on these aspirations?
We call on government to soften the blow to an
industry that has delivered amazing things in the
last two years, cost reduction, job creation and
mass engagement. We too want a sustainable
industry moving forwards but this proposal,
without adjustment, will not get us there.
Temposonics
Absolute, Non-Contact Position Sensors

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POLICY & MARKETS: INNOVATION ECONOMICS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
GAME CHANGERS
First comes invention then comes prosperity. Thats
the theory of innovation economics, a relatively new
doctrine that underlies todays worldwide race to
discover energys next game changer. Elisa Wood
looks at some of the intriguing tinkering under way in
renewable energy. Will one of these new technologies
lead us out of our economic malaise?
INVENTING ECONOMIC
TRANSFORMATION
Innovative fnancial models such as virtual net
metering can maximise solar potential.
UNIVERSITY PARK SOLAR
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H
urry up with your work. That was the message delivered to
energy innovators by Arun Majumdar, director of the US
governments Advanced Research Projects AgencyEnergy
(ARPA-E) at a Washington, DC gathering in November. Let there be
no illusion that speed is of the essence right now, Majumdar said
at the energy innovation conference sponsored by the Information
Technology and Innovation Foundation, a public policy think tank.
Why the haste? The last 100 years brought us electricity, air
travel, nuclear technology, fbre optics, wireless communication
and more. Now the world needs the equivalent breadth and depth
of innovation from the energy sector, but this time we dont have
a century to make the transformation. Dependent on a single fuel
for transportation, the US is vulnerable from both a security and an
economic perspective, particularly since it imports half of its oil as
does China. India also is an importer, as are Germany and Japan.
This is a global problem and people are looking for technological
leadership in trying to solve it, Majumdar said.
At the same time, prosperity is arriving for large swathes of the
undeveloped world, which creates new pressures and opportunities
for energy innovators. Rural outposts have no transmission or
distribution infrastructure, but they want electric lighting now, and
they want it to be clean and affordable. Energy innovators are being
called upon for quick solutions, and the victory will go to the swift,
according to Majumdar.
Clean energy represents the biggest business opportunity of
the twenty-frst century, Majumdar said, one that Bloomberg New
Energy Finance expects to amount to a US$7 trillion investment by
2030. The question is: Are we going to stand on the sidelines and
buy all that stuff? Or are we going to innovate and make it and sell it
to the rest of the world? That is the battle. Thats the fght.
So how is it going on the battlefeld? Are the energy innovators
advancing? And will they prove that innovation economics is correct?
Can we innovate our way out of todays economic slowdown?
TOWARD THE HEAVENS
Some are casting their gaze upward for the answer, very high
upward about 6700 metres where potential exists for space-based
solar power or satellite solar. Not so long ago it seemed far-fetched
that orbiting satellites could collect solar energy and beam it to earth.
But now, the chase is on to master the technology by researchers in
the US, UK, Japan, India and China. If they succeed, solar satellites
could become one of the most disruptive energy technologies yet.
In theory they could collect solar energy 24 hours per day, with no
interruption from weather or darkness, and provide the world with
much of the baseload electricity it needs. Because there is nothing to
block the suns rays in space, satellite solar panels could collect up
to 25 times more power than those on earth, according to UK-based
developer Orbital Power. Equipped with solar panels, the satellites
would collect the suns energy, convert it to radio waves and then
beam the energy to a collector on the earths surface where it would
be converted to electricity and shipped to homes and businesses
over existing transmission and distribution lines.
The concept has been around since the 1960s, but until recently
has largely been dismissed because of technology hurdles and
expense, estimated to be about fve times that of conventional solar.
Roger Rosendahl, a partner at international business law frm
DLA Piper, was among the early doubters. Several years ago a client
asked me to assist in trying to procure an agreement with Pacifc
Gas & Electric (PG&E) for a 510 MW power purchase agreement
for an innovative satellite solar power project. I admit to being fairly
skeptical. I dubbed the project Death Star, which didnt help on
the marketing side. It didnt go forward, he said. Rosendahl, who
has represented several wind, biofuel and other energy projects,
was particularly concerned that microwaves beamed to earth would
evoke protests from California residents, despite assurances that the
technology is safe. (California is notorious for its anti-development
sentiment and has been a centre of protest against smart meters by
those who believe radio waves cause health problems.)
Many people began looking at the technology more seriously
after PG&E signed a contract in 2009 to buy 200 MW of satellite
solar starting in 2016 from California-based Solaren. More recently,
the International Academy of Astronautics boosted the credibility
of satellite solar in the frst international study on the technology.
Published in August, the report says well have the technology to
build large-scale satellite solar in 1020 years.
But cost remains a stumbling block. It is doubtful that private
capital will materialise without signifcant government backing,
the report said. The projects need low cost earth-to-satellite
transportation, which is not currently available. The report envisions
the technology becoming commercially viable in a step-by-step
fashion, rather than all at once, frst capturing funding to make space
transportation economical before mastering a cost-effective way to
operate a solar power plant in space.
When technology focuses, it tends to fnd a
solution. If satellite solar does become
successful, look out oil, gas and coal.
Space solar also faces political and legal challenges, Rosendahl
said. Enemy nations could potentially cripple any high-tech
economy that is heavily dependent on satellite solar by shooting
down satellites. Governments also need to consider what to do with
the space junk once the solar satellites became too old to operate.
Given the obstacles, Rosendahl is sceptical that PG&E will be
using satellite solar as quickly as it expects, by 2016. He believes
it will be closer to 2030 years before the technology is affordable.
But he admits hes become a believer: I have to say, as science
fction and Star Wars as all these things sound, it is probably going
to happen. When technology focuses, it tends to fnd solution,
he said. If it does become commercially successful, look out oil,
gas and coal.
BACK ON EARTH
Solar satellites may become a reality, but not soon enough to have
a near-term effect on economic development. Closer to home, the
microgrid gets the vote as biggest near-term game changer by Al
Malouf, a scientist and project manager at NineSigma, a company
which helps industry innovate. NineSigma uses an open innovation
approach, meaning it taps into a network of about two million
solvers worldwide that might help a company in its technology
pursuit. African utility Eskom is one of its clients. NineSigma is
also assisting LAUNCH: Energy Challenge, an effort by NASA,
USAID, the US Department of State, and NIKE to fnd and develop
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10 sustainable energy game changers. NineSigma works with
distributed generation and microgrids, self-contained mini-versions
of the larger electric grid that produce small amounts of electricity to
serve nearby consumers.
Why does Malouf like microgrid? The big grid is expensive and
slow. If we look at the microgrid, it is a little more affordable, faster,
and a little less risky for homeowners, offce complex owners or
neighbourhoods to install.
Microgrid operations also avoid the problem of building large
transmission lines to carry electricity vast distances, which is not
only costly, but also evokes protests from landowners who believe
the lines are unsightly and devalue property.
While microgrids are often powered with solar or combined heat
and power (CHP), Malouf is looking at some new, small scale forms
of generation. AS REW goes to press, LAUNCH has yet to announce
its winners. But Malouf provided a sneak peak. One winner is a small
aluminium device that paddles in water and generates electricity
for low-demand targeted purposes. The device is well-suited for
irrigation canals and sewer plants; in fact, Malouf calls it a kind of
windmill for a sewer line. It is scalable, may be up to 2 metres long
and generates enough power to supply pumps for a sewer plant.
Another is a fuel cell-like generator that is especially well-suited
for rural Africa, where people typically are not connected to an
electric grid. About 80% of Africans now own cell phones. Charging
the phones is diffcult and sometimes requires day-long walks to an
electrifed village. The fuel-cell device, which looks like little more
than a small box, takes advantage of the biomass ovens that many
African households use to heat and cook. The box is placed in the
oven, where the heat causes it to produce power, enough to charge
a cell phone or lights.
The industrial countries of the US and Europe do not need such
products, but the developing worlds vast population does. These
inventions, if successful, could become a new proft centre for the
developed world, which would act as creator, manufacturer and
supplier for the vast unmet electricity needs of the developing world,
gaining much-needed jobs in the process.
IN THE GARDEN
But getting the technology right represents only half the equation
when it comes to creating game changers. Innovation in fnancing
can be equally important. In fact, it was creation of the solar lease
or solar power purchase agreement (SPPA) that spurred rapid US
growth in commercial solar during the last decade.
Such contracts do not address a larger problem in solar
expansion. Not everyone owns good roof space or land for solar.
Moreover, those who own property with strong solar potential dont
necessarily have an incentive to develop it fully. As a result, a lot of
solar potential goes to waste. Building owners can only use so much
energy on their property. Why invest in more panels than they need?
This isnt a technology problem. Its a fnancial problem,
and underling that is a policy issue, said Lee Barken, a certifed
public accountant and practice leader for energy and clean tech at
California accounting and consulting frm Haskell & White.
Virtual net metering or solar gardens, now underway in about a
dozen US states, aims to correct the problem. Net metering allows
utility customers to capture bill credits when their solar panels
produce more power than the home or business uses. The utility, in
essence, pays the customer for any excess energy their solar panels
pump into the grid. The newer incarnation, virtual net metering,
lets utility customers share those credits with others who may
not have solar panels.
Typically solar gardens work by allowing people to pool
their resources to install solar, much the way they might plant a
community garden. The garden, or in this case solar panels, may
not be in your own back yard, but it is communal. While members
may not be physically connected to the panels, they beneft from
them by receiving credits that lower their electricity bills.
Solar garden programmes vary depending on state rules.
Massachusetts, which is trying to increase its solar installations
from the current 67 MW to 250 MW, allows solar gardens only
between customers who are served by the same utility. In Colorado,
members must be within the same county. Other states limit the
kinds of customers that can participate. Connecticut, for example,
only lets government entities take advantage of virtual net metering.
Why might solar gardens be a game changer? They give property
owners a fnancial incentive to install solar panels that exceed the
capacity of their buildings needs, encouraging maximum use of
roofs or land with good sun exposure.
Proponents see store chains, municipalities, school districts
and others that own multiple buildings as early adopters of virtual
net metering, since they can use a solar installation on one building
to help offset electric bills for their other facilities. In California, the
frst adopters have been apartment buildings, where tenants can all
jointly share the benefts of solar.
The concept could also open up urban infll to solar development,
says Barken. These are parcels of land already disturbed in cities,
but not usable for signifcant development.
But the vision for solar gardens is much larger. If states
experience success with the small solar gardens now underway,
they may allow more types of consumers to participate and expand
the gardens geographic footprint. If rules eventually allow, building
owners in solar-rich states might transfer or sell solar garden credits
to those in less favourable locations.
Another approach may be to treat solar gardens like a
subscription service; you might live in California and subscribe to a
garden. Then when you move to another state, you could sell your
subscription, and buy another in your new location, Barken adds.
Space-based solar is now widely considered a realistic prospect
for the coming decades. NASA/DOE
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Answers for infrastructure.
All indicators point to continued growth for onshore and
offshore wind power for economic reasons and also
because wind power is an important contribution to CO2
emissions reduction in power generation. It pays off to
speed up new wind projects.
ENEAS (Efficient Network and Energy Automation Systems)
generic solutions for wind power are specially designed to
provide an off-the-shelf solution for wind power purposes.
Based on Siemens vast experience in automation of pow-
er-collection grids for wind farms of all sizes, they ensure
optimal processes throughout the entire project life cycle
of a wind power plant.
The preconfigured and pretested, universally applicable
solutions for switchgear on all required voltage levels suit
wind power plants from a single turbine to large-scale
wind farms.
www.siemens.com/eneas-wind
ENEAS generic solutions for wind power considerably
reduce the effort usually required for the clarification of
details and engineering. Comprehensively tested applica-
tions and templates increase the overall project quality
and transparency, and they accelerate the entire project
planning and implementation process.
Out-of-the-box solutions ensure faster
ROI and quick project implementation
Siemens ENEAS generic solutions for wind power
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While many solar advocates champion the garden idea, they
also point out hurdles. Barken calls this Prius effect: people drive
highly effcient cars or install solar panels in part to show the world
they are green, but if you are part of a solar garden, your roof has
no panels to display. I think a lot of people will buy solar gardens
because they can save money. But a segment wants to wave the
fag. Were going to have to think of a creative mechanism for them,
he says.
Even so, such hurdles are surmountable, and the solar gardens
potential is enormous. The solar garden can do in the US what the
feed-in tariff (FiT) did for Germany. It could unleash a massive amount
of entrepreneurial effort that opens solar for everyone, creates jobs
and just explodes renewable energy opportunities, he concludes.
INNOVATION EVERYWHERE
Innovators are exploring a wide range of other renewable resources,
many with promise. Biofuel developers are increasingly refning
farming and harvesting methods to reduce water use and bring
down the cost of non-petroleum transport fuels. Many are exploring
algae as a feedstock because it is a petroleum that is being
made fresh instead of fossilised, said Riggs Eckelberry, president
and CEO of California-based OriginOil. The company helps algae
growers extract oil in a single step that both
de-waters and breaks down the algae for its
useful products.
Others are trying to increase solar
panels effciency. For example, US company
Magnolia Solar is doing so with thin flm and
nanostructures. Solar cells now absorb less
than half of potential energy and the rest goes to
waste, according to Ashok Sood, president and
CEO. Magnolia Solars technology attempts to
improve this by absorbing more wavelengths of
solar radiation.
Meanwhile, high-tech companies
are working on analytics to improve our
understanding of how, when and where
renewable energy performs best. For example,
IBM is analysing the environmental impact of
wave technology in Galway Bay in partnership
with the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland.
New Jersey-based Petra Solar is a technology
company focusing on ways to make distributed
solar more reliable through smart grid, demand
response and energy storage.
Others are looking at dye-sensitised
solar cells; bacteria to produce biofuels with
electricity and carbon dioxide; batteries that
use high-energy fuids to store wind and solar
power; and, increasingly, technologies that
replace rare earth materials from China used
in the permanent magnets found in electric
vehicles and wind turbines.
The energy innovators are busier than ever.
Will they spur a new round of international
economic growth? The answer will probably
come in hindsight, as it did with computers,
the internet, cell phones and other technologies
that we can now say were game changers.
Elisa Wood is US correspondent for
Renewable Energy World magazine.
This article is available on line. To comment
on it or forward it to a colleague, visit: www.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com
READY FOR YOUR CHALLENGES
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BIOENERGY: DUE DILIGENCE
Successful development of a biogas project stands or falls by its ability to deliver a
robust analysis capable of withstanding the review of a funding fnancial institution. With
such institutions considering everything from the business plan, substrate supply and
disposal and safety-related systems, Johannes Steiglechner, Matthias Herold
and Dr Rolf M. Zllner explore the key themes.
DUE DILIGENCE GUIDELINES
W
here biogas projects are concerned, a comprehensive analysis
is often critical for lending strategies, as the investment risks
involved must be made transparent before the project can be
fnanced. This applies equally to the construction of new biogas
plants and to the expansion or modifcation and modernisation of
existing ones. A technical due diligence review offers a suitable tool
for presenting data on proftability, systems and installations and
energy and material fows. This information is of interest not only
to potential investors. Owners and operators of biogas plants also
beneft from a detailed assessment of investment risks, realistic
calculations of yield and revenue and the examination of issues
related to systems, installations and safety.
IDENTIFYING RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Any such review reduces investment risks and identifes opportunities
for optimisation of the plant by enabling operators frstly to assess
the effciency and competitiveness of their project as precisely as
possible. Secondly, at an early stage in the projects development
it also provides operators with analysis to offer potential investors.
Technical due diligence specifcally provides answers to a host
of questions including: What is the technical design of the plant?
What is the state of repair of existing components? Do processes
run smoothly and effciently? Is there any potential to save on costs?
Have aspects of safety, health and environmental protection been
taken into account?
Such reviews extend further to include the business plan and
the calculated proft and loss accounts, the statement of assets, the
fnancial model, the structural and system-related design and the
suitability and wiring of safety devices from a technical point of view.
In the case of a biogas installation, a due diligence review looks at
all plant systems from the reception pit and fermenter, gas lines and
gas storage tanks to combined heating and power (CHP), gas fare
and fnal digestate storage.
MANAGING RAW MATERIALS AND RESIDUES
A stable raw material supply ensures permanent production of
biogas, and analysis must focus in particular on the availability, price
level and composition of the required raw material mix. Of course,
delivery contracts and the terms and conditions should raw materials
have to be purchased, the scope and quality of infrastructure, and
foreseeable quantity and price trends should also be considered.
However, a secure supply of raw materials is only one variable in
the overall equation. Disposal of the digestate is equally important.
Focal aspects in this area concern the amount of digestate produced,
the necessity of suitable storage, the terms of existing purchasing
agreements and the possibilities for use as an organic fertiliser.
Owners and operators of biogas plants can beneft from a detailed assessment of investment risks, realistic
calculations of yield and revenue and the examination of issues related to systems, installations and safety.
PIXELIO
SECURING
BIOGAS SUCCESS
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BIOENERGY: DUE DILIGENCE
ANALYSING BUSINESS FACTORS
For the fnancial model, technical parameters and assumptions such
as the costs calculated for raw materials, energy and spare parts;
the assumed availability of the systems and the calculated income
from the sale of energy or fertiliser must also be thoroughly analysed.
Within the scope of valuation, the state of repair and residual service
life of the relevant system components and their current fair value
should also be assessed. By considering the fnancial model,
technical due diligence also identifes gaps in the completeness,
appropriateness, traceability and plausibility of data.
ASSESSING TECHNICAL SYSTEMS AND INSTALLATIONS
For the construction of a new plant or extension of an existing one,
technical due diligence frst looks at the available planning and
design documents. These generally include approvals and permits,
the design documents, and evidence proving the chemical and
technical safety of the digestion process and the intended use of the
biogas. In this context, biogas injection into the gas grid as well as a
wide range of other possibilities for energy generation are explored.
In the case of existing plants, due diligence also starts with
a review of the available documentation. In this case, an assets
overview plays a major role, in addition to the standard design
documentation. This should include information about the type and
exact designation of a system or installation, its acquisition costs,
age, location and current asset value. Records of the plants damage
history, maintenance, repair and downtimes also supply important
information. Due diligence further takes into account operating
hours, capacity utilisation, the results of recurring inspections,
servicing activities and work, maintenance and system plans.
Based on documentation, an initial assessment and classifcation
may then be carried out. At existing plants, an on-site inspection
may also be required for a qualitative assessment of the plants
state of repair. The mode of operation and the maintenance regime
are of particular importance in this context. The results of initial
assessment and on-site inspections may then be aggregated to
provide a clear picture of the state of repair and the value in use of
the plants technical systems and machinery. The results may also
trigger owners to examine their safety regime in more detail.
CLARIFYING SAFETY ISSUES
In practice, stakeholders tend to underestimate the complexity
of existing plants and the extent of the safety measures required.
Ensuring safety frstly requires consideration of the gas, electrical
and pressure systems. Secondly, issues related to fre, lightning
and explosion protection are also signifcant, as are organisational
questions including escape routes and emergency plans.
In this context, operators have a high level of responsibility,
including conducting the necessary inspections, ensuring suffcient
explosion protection and expert training of employees. Operators in
breach of these duties risk operating illegally, which may result in a
shutdown and in restriction or even loss of insurance cover.
BIOGAS PLANT STRUCTURE AND RISKS
Generally, agricultural biogas plants comprise a reception pit for
collecting and preparing the slurry, a fermenter, a biogas storage
tank, a fnal digestate storage tank and a combined heat and power
(CHP) unit in which the biogas is converted into electricity.
The biogas produced in the fermenter includes aggressive
substances such as ammonium and hydrogen sulphide which are
in contact with the tank walls, pipes and valves. Given this, the
materials used for these components need to be highly corrosion
resistant over long periods. Leaking gases and liquids pose serious
hazards, containing substances which may cause asphyxiation, fres
or explosions. Furthermore, leakage of fermentation substrates into
water may cause severe environmental pollution.
SAFETY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Comprehensive hazard assessment also frequently offers the
opportunity to uncover hidden potentials for savings in operations.
The objective is to realise the best possible plant design within the
framework defned by ordinances, standards and technical rules.
In this approach the focus of attention is increasingly turning to
organisational measures in addition to aspects of technical safety.
After all, it must not be forgotten that carefully designed emergency
preparedness and response plans may save lives.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS
First and foremost, it is important that basic rules on how to behave
in the case of a fre are established and communicated (for example,
via a publicly displayed notice). Secondly, they must establish
concrete instructions for all employees on site.
To ensure an effective alarm system, sensors of automatic gas
and fre detectors must be correctly positioned, calibrated, wired
and serviced. Practical tests of the alarm systems and emergency
drills are imperative in this context, as is ensuring that the alarm
signals will actually reach all people on the premises.
When planning escape and rescue routes, special attention
must be paid to transition areas between rooms and buildings,
ensuring that doors can be opened from the inside even if locked.
In addition, steps must be taken to ensure that emergency lighting
is independent from the mains power supply and explosion-proof
(in line with the relevant ATEX zone), and that emergency routes
are signposted throughout. During plant operation it is imperative
that the escape routes are kept free of blockages. Discussing and
coordinating the rescue and escape plans with the local fre service
is also highly advisable.
Decisive for cost-effective planning and fnancing of biogas
facilities is a 360 screening which supplies reliable information
on investment risks and provides the basis of realistic proft/yield
calculation. Safe operation is based above all on an integrated
solution which always also includes organisational measures. The
task on hand is to fnd the ideal plant solution in terms of safety and
cost-effectiveness, while ensuring compliance with ordinances, laws
and regulations.
Matthias Herold is head of risk & reliability, Dr Rolf M Zollner is
senior consultant in risk management and due diligence, and
Johannes Steiglechner is head of combustion systems and
heat engineering at TV SD Industrie Service, Munich.
e-mail: matthias.herold@tuev-sued.de
This article is available on line. To comment on it or forward it to
a colleague, visit: www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com
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CHILES UNCERTAIN
ENERGY FUTURE
REGIONAL PROFILE: CHILE
For renewable energy, and for solar power in particular, the sky is the limit for Chile in the long term. But in the
short term there is fevered debate about the best ways for the country to overcome its considerable energy
challenges. Robin Yapp looks into the issues involved.
RESOLVING THE RENEWABLES DILEMMA
Given that Chile wants to raise its installed generating capacity from 15,000 MW
at the end of last year to at least 25,000 MW over the same period to sustain rapid
economic growth, the 20/20 goal would require almost 5000 MW of installed
capacity from renewables over the coming decade. JAMIE FERGUSSON, IFC
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RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD JANUARYFEBRUARY 2012 29
I
n May 2011 Carlos Slim, the Mexican business magnate,
predicted that Chile will be the frst Latin American nation to
attain the status of a developed country. Chiles GDP per capita
of US$15,400 in 2010 puts it far ahead of most of its neighbours
and with economic growth for 2011 slated at 6.5%, the country
would appear to be well on course to achieve Slims forecast.
However, if one area could prove a stumbling block in the
countrys drive to become a fully-fedged developed nation, some
fear it could be in meeting its energy needs.
In September 2011 around 10 million Chileans of a
population of less than 17 million found themselves in darkness
due to a blackout, which paralysed the countrys copper mines
and brought the capital Santiago grinding to a halt.
Power was restored within hours but politicians have
struggled to mask the fact that the power cut was a worrying
sign of the questions looming large about Chiles energy future.
Overdependence on hydroelectric sources, which account
for 40% of Chiles electricity, with almost all the rest coming from
imported fossil fuels, has led to drought-related power shortages,
a situation exacerbated by Argentina cutting gas exports.
Furthermore, according to Business Monitor Internationals
(BMI) latest analysis, demand looks set to increase from
58.8 TWh in 2011 to 70.5 TWh by 2015 and 87.8 TWh by 2020.
Central to the governments current plans to meet the increase
is HidroAysen, a project approved by President Sebastin Piera
in May 2011, which would see fve hydroelectric plants built on
two pristine rivers in Patagonia at a cost of around $3.2 billion.
With an installed capacity of 2750 MW, the dams would generate
more than 18 TWh a year around a third of current consumption.
But the plans have caused a public outcry across the
country as they would see approximately 5900 ha of wilderness
fooded and could threaten the Huemul, an endangered Andean
deer which features on Chiles national coat of arms. One poll
found 74% were against HidroAysen on environmental grounds.
Whether or not it goes ahead will have a substantial effect on the
energy Chile needs to fnd from other sources.
After taking offce in March 2010, President Piera went on
record as saying that by 2020 he wanted 20% of the countrys
energy needs to come from non-conventional renewable energy
(NCRE) not including large-scale hydropower up from just 4%
at present.
Given that the country wants to raise its installed generating
capacity from 15 GW at the end of last year to at least 25 GW
over the same period to sustain rapid economic growth, the
so-called 20/20 goal would require almost 5 GW of installed
capacity from NCRE over the coming decade.
In November, a report by the Electricity Development Advisory
Committee (CADE) appointed to advise the government on how
Chile can best increase its electricity generation concluded that
that the pace of development of NCRE projects is too slow and
that changes are needed to give such projects better access to
the market. They also came out in favour of HidroAysen, saying
large-scale hydropower potential in the south of Chile is a
potential energy source highly relevant to the future matrix.
Nonetheless, speaking at the New Energy Forum in Madrid
in October, energy minister Alvarez, perhaps mindful of the
recent blackout, admitted Chile needed to strengthen supply
security and spoke of the countrys fabulous alternatives for
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renewable energy. He declared his country ready for a mass roll-out
of renewables, as he emphasised that there was huge room for
investment to help develop the market.
But the fact remains that at present Chile generates around 75%
of its energy from imported fossil fuels and the government does not
as yet appear fully convinced by the potential of NCRE generation.
Every country that wants to be well-prepared for the next
decade needs to have an important part of their energy needs
coming from renewable resources, said Jose Ignacio Escobar,
executive vice-president of the Chilean Association of Renewable
Energy (ACERA). Unfortunately, here we see a lack of political vision
from the authorities. We are still not sure why they are continuing to
support the conventional energies and the status quo.
BMI predicts that from 2011 until 2015 Chile will see annual
electricity gains of 26% from gas-fred supply, 7% from renewables,
6% from coal and 5% from hydropower. This will see Chiles power
supply shortfall gradually diminish and by 2020 that could even be
scope for very modest net exports.
While this may be heralded as good news by politicians, there is
concern that Piera has already seemingly downgraded the 20/20
goal from a frm pledge to an ambition. Some experts believe the
government has already realised that it is unlikely to materialise.
Hugh Rudnick, professor of electrical engineering at the Catholic
University of Chile, and a member of CADE, said: The President
said that 20/20 was a key thing to achieve but later on he said,
through his ministers, that it was a wish rather than a commitment.
They started to realise [meeting the goal] would mean using what
is already in the pipeline and that does not necessarily mean
effcient renewable energy. I would be sceptical as it is too much to
achieve in only eight or nine years. 15% by 2020 or 2025 could be
more achievable.
At present the legal obligations for electric utilities to invest in
and supply renewable energy sources are lower still, at 8% by 2020
and 10% by 2024. But rather than using the current dilemmas as an
excuse to forget the 20/20 target, Escobar wants to see it written
into law. If you compare our targets with many other countries in
similar situations to Chile in terms of growth and commodity exports,
it is totally feasible, he insisted. There are countries that in very few
years with the right regulatory conditions have managed to get to a
high level of renewables but it is very diffcult in Chile with the current
conditions, he says.
One of the conditions making the transformation diffcult is a
lack of transmission capacity between remote areas which are most
suitable for many renewable projects and densely populated cities.
Another common complaint is that hydropower projects of more
than 40 MW do not qualify as NCRE.
In October 2011 the $450 million Chacayes run-of-river plant
was inaugurated, the frst of several such projects planned by the
Australian frm Pacifc Hydro which will add more than 600 MW of
installed capacity to Chiles national grid.
But the plant has an installed capacity of 111 MW, meaning
the owners have to buy power from smaller renewable projects to
comply with the law.
Escobar believes that with the right changes, renewables can
solve the energy problems which he says have caused energy
prices in Chile to rise at almost six times the level of infation and
drive up the price of other services. Chile is a very rich country in
renewable resources but very poor in fossil resources, he said. We
dont have oil, gas or coal. Chile is suffering from this lack of fuels
and lack of energy independence for the last 15 years.
Energy in Chile is very costly, its very unsafe because it relies
on faraway countries and has to be brought here via roads and
ports and we are not sure of the long-term reliability of these fuels.
Renewables are going to be a reliable, clean and cheap solution
that can be introduced quickly to solve the big problems Chile has
over the next fve years. He concludes: The short-term solution to
bring a breath of fresh air into the system and reduce use of fossil
fuels is renewables.
Indeed, he is not even convinced that HidroAysen is crucial to
Chiles needs. In general terms, there is no project that is absolutely
without question necessary for the survival of the country, said
Escobar, adding: I think we have enough projects to cover the
demand of the country with the right incentives and framework. We
have the resources so its a question of fnding the political will.
Professor Rudnick, however, believes HidroAysen must go
ahead if Chile is to avoid what supporters of renewables least want
to see new investment in dirty power generation.
The government is very keen that they must have large hydro
without greenhouse gas emissions but it remains to be seen if
they will achieve this with the very strong opposition from non-
government institutions, he said.
Im very positive that this [HidroAysen] is the kind of thing we
need. If we dont do it, we will have to go towards building new coal
plants instead. Or eventually if Patagonia is not used then we will
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even have to look at nuclear but Chile is an earthquake zone and
with the tsunami in Fukushima there has been growing concern.
If Chile is to avoid that path, then wind and solar power must
play a rapidly growing role in the years ahead.
US-based Pattern Energy Group is expected to start developing
the 115 MW El Arrayan coastal wind farm, 400 km north of Santiago,
in early 2012 with commercial operation to begin in the second half
of 2013. It will be the countrys largest wind energy project and will
be equipped with 2.3 MW Siemens turbines, the company said.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Chile
has good wind resources from the northern deserts to the extreme
south, including the south-central zone which is home to around
80% of the countrys population and two thirds of its industry. It
estimates Chiles wind energy potential at around 40 GW and yet
to the end of 2010 the country had only 172 MW installed.
GWEC cites a lack of government policy support, poor grid
infrastructure and a need for more electrical engineers as barriers to
wind energy development.
Mauricio Trujillo, GWECs project manager for Latin America,
said progress towards fulflling the countrys wind potential was
likely to be slow. At the moment it is too remote to develop wind
power in the south of the country because the lack of infrastructure
makes it prohibitive, he said. The only thing that could change the
scenario would be the construction of HidroAysen and even then it
will be complicated to add wind because of the characteristics of
the possible transmission infrastructure. He said it was diffcult to
predict the pace of development in the coming years but a medium-
range scenario if we see new transmission infrastructure would be
around 15002000 MW in 10 years.
Escobar is a little more optimistic: Our estimates are that with
the right regulatory systems we can have 2.5 GW to 4 GW of wind
by 2020 and 5 GW by 2030.
He is also excited by the potential for solar power in Chile, where
the Atacama desert enjoys the highest levels of solar radiation. I
think there are a lot of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects in
development, he said. We will be seeing a big change in the next
few years as the costs of solar go down. If the cost keeps dropping
after 2015, solar can defnitely compete with coal in the north of
the country.
In 2011 MPX Energia also announced plans to develop a
200 MW solar facility in Chile at a cost of $400 million. The company
is searching for a suitable location in the Atacama and construction
is unlikely to begin until 2016.
In construction since December 2010 is a major PV project by
Spanish frm Solar Pack, near Calama in the middle of the Atacama.
It will provide electricity to the nearby Chuquicamata copper mine,
the worlds largest. The project has been described as the frst
industrial solar electric power plant in South America and the frst
solar power plant globally to be constructed without subsidies or
specifc tax benefts. It will have 1 MW of installed capacity across
an area of 15 acres, will generate 2.69 GWh per year. According to
Solarpack, the plant will have a life cycle of 35 years and will be the
most productive in the world with a 31% capacity factor.
Professor Rudnick said recent surveys suggest many people
expect solar to solve the countrys conundrum as it should be
abundant and free but they do not appreciate the costs of the
technology involved. There are a lot of political positions being
taken on energy in Chile, he added. The challenge is not that we
dont have alternatives, but that we as a society need to agree on
what to do.
Robin Yapp is a freelance journalist focusing on the energy
sector.
CADE argues that large-scale hydropower in the south of Chile is
a potential energy source for the future. PACIFIC HYDRO
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REGIONAL PROFILE: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
RURAL AFRICAS
PUSH TO POWER
I
n picking South Africa for last years meet-up, the COP-17 climate
change talks prompted some inevitable grumbles. Why was the
global climate change industry holding its jamboree in a country that,
despite its commitment to renewables, pumps out so much CO
2
?
In fact, South Africas coal-heavy energy mix held out some
powerful attractions for COP-17 delegates. Attendees could risk
substantial lifestyle compromises by picking anywhere else in
sub-Saharan Africa, where the IEA found that electricity consumption
of 791 million people totalled 40 TWh in 2010 the same as New
York States 19.5 million inhabitants. Even in South Africa, about
30% of the population still relies on biomass and paraffn for their
energy needs. Across the entire region, though, the IEA estimates
that only 30.5% of the population has access to electricity with the
excluded 585 million overwhelmingly based in rural areas.
SKIPPING THE GRID
Yet sub-Saharan Africa is also seen as a promising context for
renewables. An analogy with the regions adoption of mobile
phones suggests sub-Saharan Africa could dispense with polluting,
grid-connected power plants just as it skipped landline telephones
and move straight into distributed generation from renewables.
Not all analysts are convinced. For Alistair Campbell, who heads
Power Finance in Standard Bank Groups Corporate and Investment
Banking department, only a relatively small percentage of
sub-Saharan Africas power needs will be met by off-grid power.
Larger conventional plants would be a more sustainable solution for
the short to medium term, he says.
Other commentators are sceptical about the ability of renewables
to make headway in Africa, given their limited impact in jurisdictions
that extend generous offcial support. For sub-Saharan Africa, a
study by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program
(ESMAP) in 2007 found that renewables only undercut conventional
generation for off-grid applications of less than 5 kW.
Yet arguments for off-grid renewables clearly gain force in
sparsely populated regions where the alternatives are so costly in
terms of cash, the environment and even time with women walking
510 km a day with loads of up to 30 kg of frewood in some parts
of Tanzania, according to UNIDO.
Extending grids to tackle these issues often looks wildly
unfeasible. Construction costs can surge, in sparsely populated
regions such as Mali, up to US$19,070/km, according to World Bank
fgures. Diffcult terrain often presents a further obstacle to reaching
remote populations which, in any case, may lack the demand to
justify the investment.
Camco, a global developer of clean energy projects, sees its
recent contract to develop solar home systems in Tanzania as a sign
of the sectors imminent takeoff. We are at a step-change in Africa
Economic growth, plunging PV prices and an improving
business context could help off-grid renewables close
sub-Saharan Africas gaping electricity shortfall. Piers
Evans talks with some of the key players.
Sub-Saharan Africa could dispense with polluting, grid-connected
power plants just as it skipped landline telephones and move
straight into distributed generation from renewables. ENERGWORX
OFF-GRID RENEWABLES OPPORTUNITY
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in terms of the renewables sector, says president Yariv Cohen. The
main issues that were limiting development of renewable generation
there have been greatly removed. Its an easier environment to do
business in. Demand is soaring. The ecosystem is growing. The
government is favourable to it.
RENEWABLES VS DIESEL
Even without this transformation in funding and regulation,
renewable energy can already undercut its traditional rivals such as
diesel and kerosene, Cohen claims. It doesnt cost more: it costs
less if you look at the World Bank numbers or other numbers, they
are outdated.
First of all, on-site its not the prices everybody is talking about.
You can get much cheaper prices, and we know as we are buying
them. The second thing is that you have to bring the solar panel or
wind turbine onto site only once. But diesel you have to bring every
two weeks, so the cost of supply suddenly doubles.
In other fnancial aspects, though, renewables offer clear
advantages over diesel or kerosene. You put them in a spot. And
it works. So the payback period is not seven years, as we have in
Europe. We can talk about three and even less, depending where.
Risk of theft can be another factor in renewables favour. Diesel
is like a currency, says Cohen. Diesel is cash. You fnd a diesel
truck, its like a truck full of dollars.
This account of plunging costs is echoed by Ceri Howes of
SolarAid, a UK-registered charity active in installing solar on schools,
community centres and clinics in rural east and southern Africa.
Yes, costs are coming down at an astonishing rate, partly due
to the availability of lower-cost panels from China, and also due to
an increased demand for such products. Additionally, the cost of
LED bulbs has decreased signifcantly in the last 34 years, which
has a knock-on effect for the microsolar lighting market.
Renewable energy will play a major role in meeting
sub-Saharan Africas power shortfall, said Rohit Khanna,
programme manager of ESMAP, which helps low- and middle-
income countries develop sustainable energy. Because off-grid
and mini-grid renewables are cost-effective in remote areas, they
could provide access to electricity for substantial numbers of people
in Africa currently without power. In particular, stand-alone off-grid
renewables which do not require transmission and distribution
networks can power essential services such as lights, cell phones,
vaccine refrigerators and low-lift water pumps in low-density
rural areas.
In one key respect, a simple comparison of costs between
renewables and diesel is muddied by the poverty of the rural
communities that off-grid power projects must target. Solar power
may be cheaper than kerosene in the longer term, but initial
investment costs rule it out for many in Africa, says Howes. The
main barrier is fnancial, she says. People can buy kerosene as
and when they need it in tiny amounts. A solar lamp is a very big
upfront cost.
PLAYERS AND RESOURCES
The sub-Saharan region offers several promising sources of
renewable energy. In addition to solar power, massive hydro potential
is available in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, for
example. Geothermal power could be harnessed by countries such
as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. Wind is
abundant across West Africa.
In terms of off-grid applications, Dr Subhes Bhattacharyya of
the University of Dundee in the UK picks solar power, micro-hydro
and biomass as the most promising technologies for the region.
Hybrid off-grid technologies tend to bring the best results in terms
of economic integration in rural areas, he adds.
For developers, renewable technologies impose distinct models.
Biomass, for instance, clearly presents more challenges than solar or
wind in gathering a feedstock although Camco sees the need for
co-operation as an opportunity to involve communities in projects.
But technologies are likely to fourish according to their appeal
to offcials as much as their economic attractions, suspects Dr
Bhattacharyya. The entire region has very high potential in terms
of renewable energies, but the areas where off-grid may fourish are
those where the institutional arrangements are in place, he says.
Sub-Saharan Africa extends an uneven welcome for renewables
investment. Kenya has an outstanding and long-established
reputation for independent power projects. With the World Banks
assistance, Tanzania is now increasingly open to power initiatives.
But the entire region could still be categorised as challenging, even
if few jurisdictions now qualify as absolutely impossible.
SOLAR POWER
SCALES UP
The potential for off-grid installations to pioneer the wider
adoption of renewables in sub-Saharan Africa has recently
been highlighted by French solar power company Tenesol. At
the COP-17 climate conference in Durban, Tenesol announced
a goal of developing an on-grid market in the region alongside
its established off-grid business.
Off-grid solar markets dominate in Africa but that is
beginning to change, said managing director Benoit Rolland.
Sub-Saharan Africas grid-connected generation is largely
restricted to South Africa, which overshadows its neighbours
both in installed capacity and grid connections. South Africa
also sets the pace in renewables policy, with an ambitious
programme to trim a 90% reliance on coal fred generation by
raising renewables in the energy mix from less than 1% now
up to 8% by 2030.
The Energy Department is holding fve tenders to allocate
3725 MW valued at about US$12 billion over the next two
years. In December, the department picked 28 preferred
bidders for projects totalling 1416 MW: 632 MW for solar PV,
150 MW for concentrated solar power (CSP), and 634 MW
for wind.
South Africas Department of Energy also gives credibility
to Tenesols on-grid plans with an Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP) that suggests the country should install about 300 MW of
large-scale PV plants each year although storage currently
places a sizeable hurdle in solars path to establishing a market
measured in megawatts rather than photo opportunities.
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Due to their relatively small scale, off-grid projects can fail to
draw the attention of banks, which are active alongside governments
and NGOs in other renewables initiatives in the region. Donor
agencies steady efforts to plug this gap earn a poor grade from Dr
Bhattacharyya. Except a handful of successful cases, the outcome
of donor agencies pilot projects and experimental programmes has
not been greatly positive and has not been sustained. This suggests
that perhaps donor-supported programmes per se cannot solve the
problem. Also, most of the programmes are focusing on inappropriate
technologies which are either inadequate or less acceptable to the
local population and the supply chain is not well established, making
the replication and sustainability of the experiments diffcult.
An increase in private sector involvement is widely seen as
essential to unlocking Africas potential in off-grid renewables.
Bhattacharyya sees a place for both governments and NGOs, but
unhesitatingly hands the lead role to commercial organisations.
Im not saying that the private sector is the only option but the
sector that knows how to initiate projects and drive them effciently
is the private sector, Bhattacharyya says. You want to have the
government involved but not leading it. The government tends to be a
bit slower, less effcient in making those things happen, regardless of
where the government is. Its not easy to build those projects there
are supply issues, there are regulation issues, there are workforce
issues, there are specifc issues with climate and the place. Now
dealing with complexities, again, the private sector is much better, in
overcoming them, in building them, in seeing it through.
Even SolarAid, despite its charity status, shares this enthusiasm
for a private sector approach. Although we are registered as a charity,
SolarAid has always functioned using a business-based approach,
said Howes. We see our role largely in terms of catalysing the solar
market in Africa. We believe that the development of infrastructure
will occur naturally as the market grows, and will largely be fuelled
by the private sector.
THE CHANGING CONTEXT
In its recent global forecast the IMF predicts that sub-Saharan
Africas economy will experience growth of 5.2% in 2011 and
5.8% in 2012. Economic expansion in the least developed nations
will also outpace that in South Africa, with its established large-scale
power infrastructure.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance fgures reveal a
384% rise in investment in African renewables over 2010 up to
US$3.6 billion from $0.7 billion in 2009. But the change of pace is
clearest to all those operating in the market, Cohen claims.
The key components are now in place to unleash a torrent of
off-grid renewables projects, he says. Weve been operating for
20 years but in the last year weve seen a change in capital and
receptiveness. Key factors for power projects such as expertise,
suppliers, offcial backing and capital infows all show an accelerating
improvement, he maintains.
The commercial opportunity from projects such as Camcos
recently announced $1 million solar PV cluster in Tanzania is also
impressive, he adds. At the moment there are 1000 installations in
this particular project. The next round, expansion of the project is
going to take it to 15,000. This kind of 15-fold increase in market
size you can only achieve in Africa or Southeast Asia. If you have
something small and it works it can grow in an explosive manner.
VERONA, ITALY MAY 7-8, 2012
4
th
edition
italianpvsummit.com
GLOBAL OUTLOOK
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Regional burden sharing, streamlining the permitting and
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Efcient production scale, downstream integration,
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ESMAP shares this perception of developing prospects.
There is increasing recognition of renewable energy technologys
substantial role in expanding access to electricity in Sub-Saharan
Africa, said Rohit Khanna. Kenya, Mali and Ethiopia have recently
developed proposals and obtained funding through SREP (Scaling
up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries, under the Climate
Investment Funds) to scale up renewable generation.
Yet a note of caution enters any forecast for any region that so
consistently outwits the sharpest analysts. Bhattacharyya tallies up
several points for optimism but, while sharing Cohens enthusiasm,
expresses doubt about the scale of development.
The market-driven approach has started to fourish in areas
such as Kenya, he says. He also sees grounds for optimism in how
global attention on the lack of access to clean energies by agencies
such as the UN, IEA and World Bank has also raised local recognition
and awareness of the issue.
In an optimistic case he forecasts that sub-Saharan Africa
could add a few gigawatts through off-grid technologies, bringing
electricity to millions of its people.
There is surely huge potential for off-grid options but it is diffcult
to tell how much is really likely to materialise, he says.
Piers Evans is Production Editor of Renewable Energy World
magazine.
Arguments for off-grid renewables clearly gain force in sparsely
populated regions where the alternatives are so costly. SOLAR AID
____________
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TURNING
BROWNFIELDS
INTO GREEN
RENEWABLES: SITE DEVELOPMENT
Defunct mine sites could prove to be ideal locations
for the generation of a variety of renewable energy
sources. Peter Whitbread-Abrutat and Nick Coppin
look at existing conversions and explore possibilities
for future development.
WHY FORMER MINE SITES CAN BE
IDEAL FOR RENEWABLES
H
ow can the potential negative legacy of a mine site be converted
into a positive inheritance for the wider environment and local
communities? Recent imaginative renewable energy projects give
good grounds for confdence that many former mine sites can be
ideal locations for developing alternative energy generation facilities,
simply by looking in a new light at some of the qualities that made
them problematic in the frst place.
Possibilities range from wind, solar photovoltaics (PV),
geothermal, hydropower and energy crops to test-beds for a variety
of more experimental power generation technologies.
As with any development, mine site conversion to renewable
energy generation must of course take due account of impacts
on the local environment and communities. But when done well,
these can provide ongoing and long term value in the form of an
alternative income stream well after mining operations have ceased.
Specifc benefts can include the mitigation of cleanup costs,
reusing infrastructure to reduce decommissioning cost, enabling
re-employment of a skilled mining workforce and/or new local
employment opportunities, and a clean and usually quiet after-use
for a mine site that can also create a potential source of carbon
credits with tradable value.
So why might mine sites prove to be ideal locations for the
generation of renewable energy?
First, and maybe most obviously, mine sites often cover
extensive areas of up to thousands of hectares or more where wind
and solar power structures will have less environmental impact
and are therefore less likely to meet with opposition. Mine sites
often already have the necessary electricity transmission lines and
transport infrastructure in place, avoiding extra capital costs. Land
transaction costs are generally lower and the process can be simpler
because brownfeld areas tend to be owned by fewer landowners
than a similar area of greenfeld. Brownfeld redevelopment for green
Mine sites can be converted for wind, solar PV, geothermal,
hydropower and energy crops. ANDREW STARWARZ
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energy can also reduce development pressure on greenfeld sites,
maintaining their carbon sink benefts. Furthermore, other forms
of redevelopment may not be an option due to the remoteness of
the site, or the environmental conditions may rule out residential or
commercial use without signifcant extra development cost.
WIND POWER
Large-scale wind energy projects are an increasingly common
alternative energy use on former mine sites, particularly in Europe
and the US. Just one example is the largest wind farm planned
in Virginia. With 166 turbines sited on over 4000 hectares of land
disturbed by coal and hard rock mining activities, 99% of the land
remains usable for other activities including farming. In Scotland,
Black Law Wind Farm near Forth covers 1850 hectares of
abandoned coal mine land, grazing land and commercial forestry,
with 42 wind turbines generating 97 MW, and plans for expansion
potentially increasing the total generating capacity to 193 MW.
The visual impact of wind turbines may be less controversial in
areas already affected by mining landscapes. Mineral waste dumps
often give increased elevation and exposure to enable increased
output, while underlying land can also still be used for other
purposes. However, there may be technical challenges to overcome
due to the nature and stability of the dump material and constructing
adequate foundations for turbines.
At the Hazlehead Wind Farm site in West Yorkshire, wind power
is now being generated on the site of a former clay quarry spoil tip
and landfll site, with three turbines and a proposed installed capacity
of 6 MW. A community benefts fund will run alongside the wind farm
when it is fully operational, providing support for local community
groups, environmental and voluntary projects to help ensure a
long-term positive impact on the area. Engineering and environmental
consultancy Wardell Armstrong carried out an initial feasibility study,
detailed site investigation, geotechnical testing and slope stability
work. The results were used to determine the practicality of siting the
turbine foundations within the tipped material mudstone material, as
well as creating a suitable landform.
In 2009 a study of former coal mining land across the UK was
undertaken to examine its potential for wind power generation.
This was based on identifying suitable sites of suffcient area, far
enough from existing habitation, with an annual average wind speed
>6.5m/sec, reasonable access, free of other constraints and
the potential to link to the grid. 106 sites were identifed, with
the potential for nearly 4 GW of generating capacity, some
10 TWh/year. If developed, this would displace the output of a
typical coal-fred power station. However, there would be signifcant
UK permitting hurdles to overcome. Also, the ground conditions on
most of the sites, being man-made ground, means that engineering
costs for foundations would be higher than for greenfeld sites,
which would affect the economics.
SOLAR POWER
Former mine sites can be ideal locations for solar energy
generation, thanks to their often expansive and exposed positions,
especially in areas with an aspect facing the sun. Germany is
utilising its old mine sites in this way. The Geosol solar plant at
Espenhain, Leipzig, constructed on a former lignite mine ash site,
generates 5 MW and saves around 3700 tonnes of CO
2
every
year. The site of the former Gttelborn coal mine in Saarland,
southwest Germany, has been converted into a solar energy
park the largest of its type when opened. It generates 8 MW from
50,000 photovoltaic panels covering 165,000 m
2
.
Other countries are following suit, with the UKs frst large-scale
solar PV farm developed by Lightsource Renewable Energy now
live on the south-facing site of the former Wheal Jane tin mine near
Truro in Cornwall. The solar farm houses 5680 panels with a peak
generating capacity of 1437 MWh. To bring this project to fruition, a
detailed landscape management plan was created. There was also
pre-consultation; screening and scoping; feasibility studies including
specifc studies on glint, glare and ecology; a full environmental
impact assessment; planning submission and post-submission
consultation. There are now plans for further development to create
the UKs frst earth science park using energy from solar, wind,
hydro, and shallow and deep geothermal sources, as well as an
18,288 m
2
business park.
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
Since the ambient temperature of the Earth increases with depth,
underground mine workings provide a convenient collection point
for groundwater. This resource may be suffciently warm to raise
the starting temperature of the water used for heating and hot
water in buildings and horticulture, often involving ground-source
or water-source heat pumps. Mine and quarry sites can also offer
opportunities for access to deep geothermal resources, involving
hotter water or even superheated steam power generation
via a turbine.
Rosemannowes Quarry in Cornwall, UK, was an ideal location
for the hot dry rocks deep geothermal energy research project
undertaken by the UK government during the 1980s. Its exploration
of the possibility of exploiting the high heat gradients in the local
granite to produce superheated steam to generate electricity
was, at the time, an enticing but unproven theory. Today, after
decades of research and recent advances in technology, its set to
become reality with the go-ahead given for Britains frst geothermal
power station.
Geothermal Engineering Ltd is creating a 10 MW geothermal
power plant at United Downs near Redruth. By drilling down into
large welds or faults running across granite 5 km underground
the deepest onshore welds in Britain it will generate sustainable
electricity which can be fed into the national grid. As a by-product,
it will also produce 55 MW of heat which can be used for the
local community.
The worlds frst mine water power station opened at Heerlen
in the Netherlands in 2008. It uses water at 32C extracted from
underground coal mine workings through boreholes in what was
once the Netherlands coal mining heartland. It heats 350 homes
and businesses and is estimated to reduce CO
2
emissions by 55%
compared to conventional water heating systems.
Geothermal heat is also expected to come on-stream in the very
near future from the heat stored in the water at the fooded former
underground coal mine workings at the Cape Breton site that once
supplied half of Canadas coal. With average water temperatures
of 12C, investigations are under way into how best to capture the
heat stored in the mine water using a loop system, and use it in the
former coal mining communities.
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HYDROPOWER
Pumped storage for power generation in the underground workings
of closed or abandoned mines or surface open pits are an emerging
option for the generation of hydroelectricity. This technology is not
yet operational, but projects are being planned or in development.
They generally involve high capital expense, but avoid the
potential environmental impacts of storing water at the surface.
Two underground pumped water storage projects that have been
proposed in recent years include an underground limestone mine in
Ohio, and the underground workings of an abandoned iron mine in
New Jersey, both in the US.
At the former Wheal Jane site, food control is now being
combined with a potential new renewable energy initiative. Under
the management of the UK Environment Agency, water is pumped
to keep it below a level where it might leak, treated at the surface to
precipitate any metals, and then discharged as clean water to run
downhill into a nearby river with the possibility of recovering some
of the energy in the form of hydropower.
Another option still at an early experimental stage, on sites where
there are former mine workings running under the sea with shafts
exposed at sea level, is that of wave shaft technology. This involves
the use of oscillating water column devices and air compressed by
wave action expelled under pressure to generate electricity through
a turbine system.
ENERGY STORAGE
A criticism often levelled at renewable energy programmes is, of
course, that the energy they generate from wind and solar for
example is variable, reducing their ability to reliably match demand.
But former mining sites can again lend themselves to providing an
answer to this challenge, in the form of energy storage.
Built around the old slate quarries in Snowdonia, Wales, Dinorwig
Power Station was regarded as one of the worlds most imaginative
engineering and environmental projects when it was commissioned
in 1984. Its still the largest scheme of its kind operating in Europe,
with six generating units that stand in Europes largest man-made
cavern. Drawing on water high up in a mountain lake through 16
km of underground tunnels, Dinorwigs reversible pump/turbines are
capable of reaching maximum generation in less than 16 seconds.
Compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems use cheaper
off-peak energy to inject air underground to be stored under
pressure as potential energy. When electricity is required at peak
periods the air is withdrawn under pressure and used in conjunction
with fuel to operate turbines. The worlds frst CAES plant was
commissioned in 1978 at Huntorf, Germany, where compressed air
is stored in underground salt caverns created by the solution-mining
of salt. A broadly similar system exists at McIntosh in Alabama, US,
commissioned in 1991. At Norton, Ohio, a proposed CAES plant will
use a worked-out limestone cavern (which produced limestone for
the glass-making industry) to store the compressed air. Ultimately
the system will generate 2700 MW through gas-operated turbines,
with emissions equivalent to a conventional gas turbine power plant
of 600 MW capacity, its backers claim.
ENERGY CROPS
Post-mining land, such as from large scale strip mining, can offer
a more sustainable model for growing energy crops than using
existing agricultural land or clearing natural vegetation cover.
Biomass crops typically include fast-growing trees planted at
high densities and perennial tall grasses, while biofuel crops are
subsequently processed to derive fuels. Jatropha, for example,
produces an inedible oil that can be used to produce biodiesel and
is the subject of much interest for growing on mined lands in China,
the Philippines, Australia, Germany, Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
There are also potential additional or combination benefts with less
intensive energy crops, such as for biodiversity and/or providing a
carbon sink or offset as forest biomass or soil improvement with
biochar, which could qualify for carbon credits.
INSPIRING EXAMPLES
The US Environmental Protection Agencys programme
Re-powering Americas Land: Renewable Energy on Contaminated
Lands and Mining Sites aims to meet a signifcant proportion of the
nations 31% growth in renewable energy demand over the next
25 years by encouraging this kind of development. The EPA has
identifed 480,000 such sites covering 6 million hectares across
the country, of which 345,000 hectares have been cleaned up or
protected long-term and are available for development. The EPA and
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have produced
a series of on-line maps showing the renewable energy potential of
nationwide contaminated and mined lands.
Although interest is increasing, the re-use of mine sites for
alternative energy generation remains at a small scale. Stringent
planning or permitting conditions can affect many developments,
especially in relation to visual impact. A more sensitive land and
development planning and permitting regime, particularly relating to
the reuse of brownfeld sites, could be given a higher priority.
As national governments address their climate change
obligations by moving more toward renewable energy, this kind
of support will be critical in encouraging the development and
implementation of renewable energy generation programmes from
low-carbon sources in the early years.
Many new technologies, although developing fast, are still in
the early stages of commercial viability, often relying on assistance
from government incentives or green energy subsidy schemes.
But as they become more economical and commercially viable,
and as fnancial institutions grow more amenable to providing debt
and equity fnance, the long term future of mine sites could be very
different and far more promising than the reality of today.
Peter Whitbread-Abrutat is principal environmental scientist
and Nick Coppin is managing director at Wardell Armstrong
International.
a colleague, visit www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com
The US EPA has identifed 345,000
hectares of brownfeld land and mine
sites that are cleaned up and available
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Conference & Exhibition
12 14 June 2012
Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
REGISTER TODAY
REGISTER BEFORE 25 MAY 2012 AND
SAVE 10% WITH OUR EARLY BIRD RATES
Renewable Energy World Europe Conference and Exhibition ofers unrivalled
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power industry. The busy exhibition foor populated by major players in the
renewable sector, is accompanied by a high-level conference featuring strategic
and technical presentations by leading experts in the renewable energy feld.
To view the Conference Programme and to register at the Early Bird
rates please visit:
INTEGRATING THE
RENEWABLES SECTOR
For further information on exhibition and sponsorship
opportunities please contact:
International:
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T: +44 (0) 1992 656 645
E: exhibitree@pennwell.com
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T: +44 (0) 1992 656 663
Latin America, Spain and Portugal:
Juan Gimenez
T: +54 11 4787 3817
www.renewableenergyworld-europe.com
Owned and Produced by: Colocarecwirh:
Supported by: Presented by:
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SMALL HYDRO
SUCCESS STORY
HYDROPOWER: PROJECT PROFILE
Small hydropower is noticeably transforming Fijis energy environment. While the Pacifc island nations
850,000 residents have traditionally relied on high-cost, imported diesel for power generation, recent
commitments by the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) have supported new policies and projects that promote
sustainable energy sources. Greg Brown takes REW through the challenges of one such project.
FIJIS 42 MW NADARIVATU PROJECT
The downstream face of Nadarivatus 30-metre-high
concrete gravity dam includes three radial gates and
two sluice gates. MWH
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F
ijis tropical environment, alongside new government
commitment, opens the door to renewable energy sources
like small hydropower, which can be supplemented with wind
energy and biomass from sugar cane waste. The countrys largest
hydropower project the 83 MW Monasavu Hydro Scheme was
commissioned in 1983 and provides half of the nations power.
Today, another small hydropower project is underway to help
Fiji further drive toward energy independence. Once commissioned,
the Nadarivatu Renewable Energy Project, located on the remote
headwaters of the Sigatoka River on the main island of Vitu Levu,
will generate an additional 42 MW of power, enough to meet another
20% of the islands electricity needs by using the countrys rivers.
The Nadarivatu project, initiated in 2009 and expected to be
completed as REW goes to press, has faced various design and
construction challenges. However, the Fiji Electrical Authority (FEA),
along with engineering frm MWH Global, have collaborated to help
ensure the projects completion.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In 2002, the Fiji Electricity Authority retained MWH Global to
provide initial feasibility studies and geotechnical investigations
for the Nadarivatu project. The company was offcially hired on as
the projects owner-engineer in 2009, with Sinohydro Corporation
of China in charge of executing the construction of the project
under an Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) contract. Together, the
project team embarked on a 36-month construction schedule, with
an anticipated completion date of the end of 2011. The estimated
US$150 million project has employed 465 workers, 150 of whom
are Fijian.
The Nadarivatu project consists of a 42 MW power station with
two vertical Pelton turbines, providing an estimated 103 GWh of
electricity annually. The project also includes:
A 30 metre-high concrete gravity dam, including three radial gates
and two sluice gates;
Two km of tunnels, including intake structures and screens;
A buried steel penstock pipeline that is 1.5 km long and 2.2 metres
in diameter; and
A 132 kV, 5 km transmission line connecting to the existing Fiji
transmission system through a switching station.
Throughout the duration of the project, the project team has needed
to develop solutions to overcome the challenges associated with
project location, fnancing and delivery.
SITE ACCESS
Access and transportation have been the most challenging
problems to overcome, mainly because of the sites remote location
in the central highlands of Viti Levu an area known for its steep
and rugged terrain. Prior to the start of construction, signifcant
transportation upgrades were required to reach the project site.
The route to Nadarivatu involves a 70 km trek on a single lane road
from the main international airport and port city prior to reaching
the closest town of Tavua, followed by a 40 km winding and narrow
gravel road to the construction site. The road from Tavua, which also
sees an elevation gain of 900 metres, was one of the biggest access
upgrades, which included both widening and improving the road.
An additional 15 km of new roads was built within the project site.
This included a zig-zag road formation, requiring some equipment
deliveries to be reversed down mid-way by transport operators over
a length of 500 metres. Regular maintenance to the gravel roads
has also been required due to heavy rainfall and tropical conditions.
The remote nature of many power projects, including Nadarivatu,
includes complex terrain and long travel times between power
stations. There are also numerous times each year when sites
cannot be accessed because of tropical weather conditions, which
also increase the risk of plant outages. With a low system capacity
and a complex electricity system, operating between the various
schemes and energy sources is inherently challenging.
With these limitations, losing communication or control of any
individual project would be a signifcant blow to the energy grid. As a
result, the Nadarivatu project was designed to be remotely controlled
from the National Control Centre near Lautoka City, located about
120 km (by road) from the plant. This is to prevent a loss of power
should an issue occur and affect the entire islands power capacity,
potentially causing blackouts at major tourist areas. Remote access
also allows the plant to be more effciently managed, and it enabled
the project to become a reality despite its remote location.
PROJECT FINANCING
Finding ways to fnance Nadarivatu has been another major
challenge. Since the development of the Monavasu Hydro Scheme
in the 1980s, the FEA has utilised Independent Power Producers
(IPPs) to provide the capital investment to augment its renewable
energy programme. IPPs involve a partnership between private
companies and the FEA to provide up-front capital for projects.
Connecting penstock segments in the underground tunnel
MWH
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121 AFF L 2012, FFAGAT MA DAN, NEW DELH , ND A
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loorshowcasin_rheverylaresrprocucrsancequipmenrservin_rhe
convenrional,renewaLleanchycropowersecrorsallunceronerool.
Major Attractions
120 eminenr inrernarional chairs anc speakers lrom arounc
rhe_loLe
28 hor incusrry ropics spannin_ over 8 conlerence sessions
ver 200 exhiLirors represenrin_ nearly 20 counrries
Froven rrack recorc arrracrin_ over 7,000 arrencees
Ample nerworkin_ opporruniries wirh rhe incusrry's mosr
inluenrialplayers
Chance ro lnc our aLour rhe laresr rechnolo_ies anc
procucrcevelopmenrs
Frime plarlorm ro explore hu_e invesrmenr opporruniries wirhin
rhere_ion
Event Highlights:
nau_urarion Ceremony wirh keynore speakers inclucin_:
Mr. F mashankar, Secrerary, Minisrry ol Fower
Mr. Alok Ferri, Secrerary, Minisrry ol Coal
Mr.GirishBFrachan,Secrerary,MinisrryolNew&
FenewaLleEner_y
FepresenrariveslromAlsrom,NarionalHycroelecrricFower
Corporarion,NarionalThermalFowerCorporarionanc
BhararHeavyElecrricalsLimirec
Hi_h Level Fanel Discussion: How Can India Balance Supply
and Demand?
Conlerence Sessions: Minimizing Conventional Power
Emissions, Plant Refurbishment & Modernization, Hydro Power
Technologies and Integrating Indias Renewables
Be part of the regions leading power event and exchange ideas,
knowledge and experiences.
Register before 23 March 2012 and save up to 10% with the Early
Bird Discount.
ExhiLirionEnquiries
Kelvin Marlow
Exhibit Sales Manager
T44(0)12o5oo10
F 44 (0) 12 o5o 700
E kelvinm@pennwell.com
ConlerenceEnquiries
Samantha Malcolm
Conference Manager
T44(0)12o5oo1
F 44 (0) 12 o5o 700
E samanrham@pennwell.com
POWER-GEN India & Central Asia Renewable Energy World India and HydroVision India
ConlerenceEnquiries
Amy Nash
Conference Manager
T44(0)12o5oo21
F 44 (0) 12 o5o 700
E amyn@pennwell.com
ExhiLirionEnquiries
Virginia Willis
Exhibit Sales manager
T44(0)12o5ooo3
F 44 (0) 12 o5o 700
E vir_iniaw@pennwell.com
Amanda Kevan
T44(0)12o5oo45
F 44 (0) 12 o5o 700
E amancak@pennwell.com
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Once the projects are completed, power is sold back to the FEA
over a fxed-term contract at an agreed-upon price.
While the Nadarivatu project originated as an IPP, the FEA also
sought funding via the World Bank. In anticipation of World Bank
funding, the project was structured according to a requirement of
the Bank, the EPC project delivery mechanism, which is a delivery
method similar to the Design-Build delivery system often used in the
US. Unfortunately, the World Bank was unable to back the Nadarivatu
project due to its funding regulations, and the project ended up
being funded through a balance of FEA capital, commercial loans
and an additional loan from the Chinese Development Bank, which
was arranged by Sinohydro.
PROJECT DELIVERY STANDARDS
While fnancing didnt materialise from the World Bank, the project
still proceeded under an EPC contract. However, EPC proved to be
a diffcult model to successfully implement for this project, primarily
because it required that the design delivery be executed by the
contractor, Sinohydro, which typically only performs procurement
and construction.
The international team also struggled to develop designs based
on western standards. However, this was overcome by MWH taking
on the role of owners engineer, representing the FEA and providing
technical due diligence across the project, including design.
There were six full-time engineers on site, in addition to 20 FEA
engineers and technicians. MWH was responsible for managing
the budget and schedule, upsizing the team and supervisory
responsibilities to ensure that quality assurance, health, safety and
project standards were met. The on-site team was also supported
by a design review team of engineers in New Zealand, who offered
extensive design review and guidance.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
While there were challenges, the scope and location of the
Nadarivatu project is naturally conducive to limited environmental
and community impacts. Although Vitu Levu is home to most of
the island nations residents, communities are sparsely populated.
In fact, the closest population centre to the Nadarivatu project is
located 18 km downstream, which means it will experience little
impact from changes in river levels. Areas of vegetation are expected
to experience high re-growth thanks to the tropical environment.
With the small impoundment area, the sites footprint is also
relatively small.
In addition, small hydropower developments like Nadarivatu are
also responsible for bringing power to communities for the frst time.
For Nadarivatu this includes the Buya Buya, a village near the site
that had no power or road access prior to project construction.
A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment conducted during
the early stages of the project led to an Environmental Approval
plan that outlined all environmental risks and mitigation measures.
As a result, the team worked to address and resolve all potential
health and safety issues, including managing the workers camp for
proper water supply, health and hygiene, and extensive monitoring,
reporting, evaluation and review.
HYDROPOWERS FUTURE IN FIJI
As the FEA strives to become energy independent through the
development of sustainable resources, hydropower is at the
forefront of this potential. In addition to the Nadarivatu project, there
are several other hydro projects in the pipeline including an upstream
augmentation to Nadarivatu that would provide an additional 30 MW
of power and an additional 8 MW to the Monasavu scheme. Existing
hydropower projects in Fiji also include the 6 MW Wainakisou Power
Station, which is scheduled for an upgrade that would increase
both the head and storage capacity, and the 3 MW Nagado Power
Station. Planned projects will add more than 25% additional energy
generation from hydropower to the countrys energy grid.
Greg Brown is construction manager at MWH Global.
e-mail: Greg.Brown@mwhglobal.com
Construction of the 1.5 km-long, 2.2 metre-diameter penstock approaching the powerhouse MWH
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6 - 8 November 2012
Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
www.renewableenergyworldafrica.com
THE NEW FRONTIER FOR
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Owned and Produced by: Presented by:
About Renewable Energy World Africa
Renewable Energy World Africa will be launched alongside POWER-GEN
Africa 2012 on 6 8 November 2012, at the Sandton Convention Centre,
Johannesburg, South Africa, with a dedicated conference stream featuring
three days of presentations and debate about the strategic challenges and
technical solutions for expanding renewable energy power generation across
sub-Saharan Africa.
Exhibitors will have a dedicated Renewable Energy World Africa pavilion on the
showfoor which will be a focus of expertise and global technological excellence
in the green energy sector.
For details about exhibiting opportunities at Renewable Energy World Africa,
please contact:
Amanda Kevan
T: +44 (0) 1992 656 645
F: +44 (0) 1992 656 700
E: amandak@pennwell.com
Why Africa?
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa today face a collective power defcit with the
prospect of fast growing future demand. Renewable power generation offers
huge potential to help close this gap in a continent with abundant renewable
resources and space. With technology advancing quickly and manufacturing
costs lowering, renewable power generation will play a big role in a new energy
infrastructure in Africa offering solutions in both rural distributed applications and
large-scale projects such as hydropower, CSP, wind and biomass.
Africa is participating in the fast emerging renewable energy market, with
investment in alternative energy source, growing from$750 million in 2004 to $3.6
billion in 2011.
South Africa has recently announced its rules about renewable energy and plans
to install 8400 MW of solar photovoltaic over the next 20 years, which together
with another 1000 MW of concentrated solar power technology, theoretically will
provide in excess of 60,000 jobs. South Africa is holding fve tenders to allocate
3725 MW valued around $12 billion over the next two years. By 2030, the country
aims to lift renewable sources to 8%of the energy mix, up fromless than 1%now.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.RENEWABLEENERGYWORLDAFRICA.COM
Co-located with:
_____________________________________
__________
_______________________________________
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WIND: TECHNOLOGY & MARKETS THE INTERVIEW
Jean Huby became chief executive of offshore turbine specialists Areva Wind
last May. James Lawson talked with him about the companys new turbine, the
future of offshore wind, the primacy of reliability and planning for growth.
We had a very strong programme to de-risk
[the M5000s] development. We have taken
advantage of the experience and all the
data we have gathered from Alpha Ventus.
AREVA WIND / JAN OELKER
DEDICATED TO
OFFSHORE WIND
JEAN HUBY, CEO, AREVA WIND
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_____________________
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THE INTERVIEW
J
ean Huby became chief executive offcer of offshore turbine
specialists Areva Wind in May 2011, having frst joined the Areva
Group in 2008 as vice president for Strategy. Huby was involved
in the fnal acquisition of wind turbine manufacturers Multibrid and
the subsequent development of the 5 MW M5000 turbine. This
dedicated offshore machine is manufactured at Areva Winds main
production facility in Bremerhaven in North Germany. With the frst
prototype installed in late 2004, six machines are currently operating
on two types of foundation at the Alpha Ventus site, some 45 km off
the coast of Borkum, Germany.
Q: What are the most important directions for turbine design?
JH: What I hear from utilities and investors is that reliability is really
top in their minds. Innovation is, of course, always welcome when
it improves performance, but it shouldnt come at the risk of low
reliability. Our medium-speed drivetrain gives a lot of margin for
improvement. It has a very low head mass of 310 tonnes with the
rotor. The Vestas 7 MW machine also seems to be going in the
direction of a medium-speed drivetrain. We see competitors moving
away from the Danish system which has been successful, but is
showing its limits in terms of reliability and also head mass.
Around 20182019, we will see a new generation of machines
and if we want to bring the cost of energy drastically down, then we
will need much larger machines. I dont believe we will jump straight
to 15 MW or 20 MW, it will take time before the new technology
necessary to achieve this is suffciently proven to gain the confdence
of developers and investors. We are gathering a lot of data and a lot
of experience on the installed base which we can then feed back
into the next generation of turbines to decrease the cost of energy.
We want to limit the mean time of intervention to once a year and to
handle more things remotely.
Q: How has the slide bearing issue [a temperature rise detected
and resolved in 2010 with replacement nacelles] affected
todays M5000 design?
JH: There was a long period of analysis involving external experts,
and also a teardown of the original prototype to see how the machine
was faring after almost seven years of operation. We stopped
production and didnt restart until we were completely confdent
there wasnt a problem. The machines we are producing now have
exactly the same design of slide bearing that we had on the original
prototype back in 2004.
The lesson from Alpha Ventus was that it was a supplier quality
control issue, not a design issue. We have taken steps to strengthen
our supplier and overall quality control. Frankly this is something
we should have done earlier, perhaps a missed opportunity in the
early years of integrating Multibrid with Areva. A third of my supplier
quality control team comes from the nuclear area, bringing the best
practice of the group into this activity.
Q: The wind market is hard to plan for. How can you avoid
running into trouble?
JH: Youre right, its a tough market. We see it as a strategic
challenge for everybody. Offshore is different to onshore, with much
On to the next
HUSUM WindEnergy!
18 22 September 2012
in Husum of course.
www.husumwindenergy.com
A co-operation between
MESSE HUSUM & CONGRESS
Book now
for HUSUM
2014:
23 26 September
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THE INTERVIEW

WAsP Engineering 3
Prediction of wind conditions
for turbine safety
Main features:
Extreme wind speeds
Turbulence statistics
Wind profiles
Wind shear
Flow inclination angle
Fast linear flow model
Spatial and transect views
Turbulence simulation
Visual Basic scripting
IEC 61400-1
site assessment with
Windfarm Assessment
Tool (requires WAsP 10)
DTU Wind Energy (formerly Ris DTU) Roskilde Denmark Tel +45 46 77 59 43 wasp@risoe.dtu.dk
New in version 3: Revised extreme-wind model Spatial views in Google Earth Revised obstacle
model New WAT launcher Flow model set up directly from grid maps Work with larger model domain
Further information about WAsP Engineering 3, related products and training courses at www.wasp.dk
bigger projects; you have huge campaigns for which you have to
ramp up quickly. You have to make diffcult predictions as to what
will happen.
At Areva we have prepared ourselves for this very big installation
wave that we see coming. We dont believe in a hub serving the
whole of Europe. Having a local industry footprint is important as
is working in fexible partnerships. A balanced presence across
markets is a way of de-risking our growth.
We see a completely new scale of industry emerging. Its
challenging but its also very appealing if you look at the growth
potential and the strong commitment of certain EU governments.
Q: You are tendering for 3 GW in France and recently announced
plans to build a factory in Le Havre. Any developments?
JH: This is a business where you need proximity between the
industrial facility and the wind park. Clearly we are hoping we will
get suffcient volume in France to build this factory. If we have this
volume in Normandy and Brittany then clearly it makes sense to
build long-lasting partnerships with industries in territories near these
sites. As well as the factories, there are maintenance services and
partnerships with universities to help improve our technology.
Q: Which global markets look most attractive to you?
JH: In the short term, North Sea, the Channel and Baltic Sea are our
main three markets. Areva as a group has a strong presence and
strong partnerships in the USA and China. We are defnitely looking
at these markets closely. Today we see China as a market which it is
just starting. It will be big. There are many [domestic] manufacturers
in China and strong competition. Its not a market thats always
easy to penetrate for foreign companies. In the US, there is great
potential, but today it is still just potential.
James Lawson is a freelance journalist.
This article is available on-line. To comment on it or forward it to
The lesson from Alpha Ventus was that it was a supplier quality
control issue, not a design issue. We have taken steps to
strengthen our supplier and overall quality control.
AREVA WIND / JAN OELKER
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Wind market turbulent
W
ith much of the renerwable energy sectors focus on solar,
the wind industry is also experiencing diffculties as market
uncertainty prompts manufacturers to cut guidance and reveal
disappointing results.
Chinas Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd., has
revealed its preliminary results for the year ending 31 December
2011. Revenue from operations declined 26.85%, while profts from
operations and total proft fell by 74.06% and 69.12%, respectively.
In its 2011 third quarterly report, Goldwind had reported that
it expected a decrease in net profts of some 50%100% due to
slower growth in the wind industry and a decrease in the average
selling price for wind turbines. The company noted that growth of the
domestic wind industry slowed in 2011 as the Chinese government
enforced new regulations.
Nonetheless, Goldwind says it achieved signifcant success in
overseas expansion, creating a global footprint across six continents
with the Shady Oaks project in Illinois, US; the Adama project in
Ethiopia; the Mortons Lane project in Australia; the Villonaco project
in Ecuador; and a project in Pakistan, all beginning construction.
Goldwinds two Chilean projects, established in cooperation with
Mainstream Renewable Power, are also progressing, it says.
Recently reporting its earnings for the quarter ended 31
December 2011 and showing a 12% growth year on year, Suzlon
nonetheless reduced its full year guidance fgures, a move which it
says refects a tough market.
Tulsi Tanti, Chairman of Suzlon Group, said: Our performance
over the past 12 months [calendar year 2011] has shown consistent
improvement on all parameters. Our revenues of Rs. 216.6 billion
(US$4.3 million) are a year-on-year growth of over 30%; we
booked orders of over $5.6 billion (Rs. 300 billion) and achieved
an EBIT margin of 7%, despite what continues to be a challenging
economic environment.
He added: However, it is unfortunate that in spite of having
our best-ever order book, we have had lower volumes in Q3 FY12,
leading to a downward revision of our full year guidance. These
lower volumes were primarily due to an extended monsoon in India,
grid infrastructure delays in China, and a procedural delay in closing
our new working capital facilities.
Q3 revenues of Rs. 49.85 billion ($1 billion) and a gross margin
of 33%, Suzlon reports a record order book of some Rs. 372
billion ($7.5 billion) and a quarter order intake of 1.5 GW. Even so,
FY201112 guidance has been revised to Rs. 210220 billion
($4.164.36 million) with an EBIT margin of 5%6% due to lower
Q3 volumes. This compares with previous FY12 guidance fgures
showing revenues of Rs. 240260 billion ($5.35.8 million) and an
EBIT margin of 7%8%.
Tanti concluded: We expect to deliver nearly 40% growth in
revenues in the next fscal year.
Turning to Europe, Nordex has issued its provisional consolidated
fnancial statements for FY2011 showing results in line with its
forecast, which had been revised downwards in November 2011.
Reporting lower sales and an operating loss of 10.3 million at the
EBIT for the year as a whole, the company says the 5% decline
in sales to 921 million is chiefy due to project postponements
in Southern Europe and the relatively weak starting point early on
in 2011. In addition, order intake in China dropped by 80% in the
course of the year, leading to a 57% drop in sales in Asia. On the
other hand, US sales doubled, although this was not suffcient to fully
make up for the declines recorded in other regions. At the beginning
of 2011, the order book amounted to 411 million.
Nordex says it was able to partially cushion the effect of the
general pressure on prices in the wind power industry by establishing
a comprehensive cost-cutting programme, with which it wants to
trim its product costs by up to 15% by the end of 2012. As a result,
the gross margin remained above 25%. At the same time, structural
costs rose by 16.9% to 264.2 million compared with the previous
years fgure of 219.6 million. Together with the lower sales, this
trend exerted pressure on operating earnings, resulting in a loss
compared with the previous years proft of 40.1 million.
The company says it responded to this at the end of 2011 by
implementing a further cost-cutting programme to reduce structural
costs by 50 million, cutting 253 full-time jobs, resulting in a one-off
expense of 13.1 million. Nordex adds that it is currently engaged
in talks with potential partners with a view to integrating its offshore
business in a joint venture. However, the negotiations have not yet
reached a stage indicating the imminent execution of these plans.
Total loss at the EBIT level after one-offs thus stands at 29.7 million,
Nordex says.
With a 32% increase in order intake to 1.1 billion, the value
of frm orders in hand also rose by 70% to 698 million, compared
with the previous years 411 million. On this basis, the company
assumes that sales will grow to 1.01.1 billion this year. Depending
on sales volumes and future trends in turbine prices, an EBIT margin
of 1%3% is expected and a net cash infow from operating activities
should be generated as of the end of 2012 thanks to improved
working capital management.
Nordex says it installed a total of 428 new systems around the
world in 2011, an increase of a 13% over the 2010 fgure of 378
turbines. All told, the new capacity installed by Nordex in 2011 came
to around 970 MW compared with the 2010 fgure of 889 MW.
Meanwhile, Gamesa has reported its 2011 consolidated fgures
showing a 10% increase in sales. Meeting its full year expectations,
Gamesa says it maintained proftable growth, supported by its
globalisation strategy and a rigorous effciency programme, which
led to double-digit growth.
In 2011, revenues of 3033 million were driven by the recovery
in manufacturing while EBIT amounted to 131 million and net proft
was up 2% to 51 million. The companys wind turbine division
increased MW sales by 16.5% to 2802 MW, 92% of which was
outside Spain. Sales increased by a factor of 2.6 in India, accounting
for 19% of the total, and by 3.8 in Latin America+Southern Cone,
accounting for 15%. Spain excluded, Europe accounted for 20%
with Eastern Europe (Poland and Romania, in particular) representing
14%. China accounted for 23% and the US for 14%.
By David Appleyard
Company Results
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www.nordex-online.com/N117
The N117/2400 is setting new standards: Especially
designed for inland use, it has larger and lighter rotor
blade dimensions. Now certied and connected to the
grid, the turbine offers best-in-class efciency.
OUR STRONGEST ARGUMENT FOR MORE
EFFICIENCY. NOW CONNECTED TO THE GRID.
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Send details of your event to: Renewable Energy World rew@pennwell.com
DIARY
European Offshore Wind 2012
Conference and Exhibition, EWEA
2012
Copenhagen, Denmark
16-19 April 2012
EWEA, Rue dArlon 80
1040 Bruxelles, Belgium
T: +32 2 213 18 60
E: events@ewea.org
W: http://events.ewea.org/
annual2012/
Renewable Energy World India
New Delhi, India
19-21 April 2012
PennWell International. Helen Lomas
The Water Tower
Gun Powder Mill
Powdermill Lane
Waltham Abbey
Essex, EN9 1BN, UK
T: +44 (0) 1992 656 654
F: +44 (0) 1992 656 700
E: helenl@pennwell.com
W: http://www.
renewableenergyworldindia.com
Hydrovision India
New Delhi, India
19-21 April 2012
PennWell International, Amanda
Kevan
The Water Tower
Gun Powder Mill
Powdermill Lane
Waltham Abbey
Essex, EN9 1BN, UK
T: +44 (0) 1992 656 645
F: +44 (0)1992 656 700
E: amandak@pennwell.com
W: http://www.hydropowerindia.com
Hannover Messe
Hannover, Germany
23-27 April 2012
HANNOVER MESSE Team
Deutsche Messe
Messegelnde
30521 Hannover
T: +49 0511 89-0
F: +49 0511 89-32626
W: www.hannovermesse.de/en/
homepage
6TH SNEC PV POWER EXPO
Shanghai, China
16-18 May 2012
Shanghai New Energy Industry
Association (SNEIA)
Rm.902, Building 1, #2020
Zhongshan Rd.(W)
Shanghai, China, 2020 1,902
T: +86 21 64276991
W: www.snec.org.cn
World Bioenergy 2012
Jnkping, Sweden
29-31 May 2012
Svebio, Torsgatan 12 plan 3,
111 23 Stockholm, Sweden
T: +46 (0)8-441 70 80,
F: +46 (0)8-441 70 89
E: worldbioenergy@svebio.se
W: www.worldbioenergy.com
Windpower 2012
Atlanta, Georgia, US
3-6 June 2012
American Wind Energy Association
1501 M Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005 USA
T: 202.383.2500
F: 202.383.2505
E: windmail@awea.org
W: http://www.windpowerexpo.org/
Renewable Energy World Europe
Conference and Expo 2012
Cologne, Germany
12-14 June 2012
PennWell International. Helen Lomas
The Water Tower
Gun Powder Mill
Powdermill Lane
Waltham Abbey
Essex, EN9 1BN UK
T: +44 1992 656 654
F: +44 1992 656 700
E: helenl@pennwell.com
W: http://www.
renewableenergyworld-europe.com
Intersolar Europe
Munich, Germany
13-15 June 2012
Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und
Messe GmbH & Co KG
Solar Promotion GmbH
P.O. Box 100 170
75101 Pforzheim, Germany
T.: +49 7231 58598-0
F: +49 7231 58598-28
E: info@intersolar.de
W: http://www.intersolar.de/en
Renewable Energy World Asia
Bangkok, Thailand
03-04 October 2012
PennWell International
The Water Tower
Gun Powder Mill
Powdermill Lane
Waltham Abbey
Essex, EN9 1BN UK
T: +44 1992 656 654
F: +44 1992 656 700
E: neilw@pennwell.com
W: http://www.powergenasia.
comrenewableenergyworld-europe.
com
Intersolar India
Mumbia, India
06-08 December 2012
Solar Promotion International GmbH
W: http://www.intersolar.in/
Advertisers index
ABB OY 11
BEIJING SUNDA SOLAR ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LTD. 30
DRESSER-RAND 15
ELMIA AB - WORLD BIOENERGY
2012 18
EWEA - EWEA 2012 ANNUAL
EVENT IBC
HANWHA SOLARONE IFC
HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES
CO., LTD. 7, 9
INGETEAM ENERGY S.A. 24
MESSE HUSUM - HUSIM
WINDENERGY 2012 48
MOOG 47
MTS SENSOR TECHNOLOGIE
GMBH & CO., KG 19
NEXANS 3
NORDEX SE 51
POWERGEN INDIA & CENTRAL ASIA
/ RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD
INDIA / HYDROVISION INDIA 2012
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 43
PVSYST S.A. 31
RENEWABLE ENERGY EUROPE
2012 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 40
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD
AFRICA 2012 CONFERENCE &
EXHIBITION 45
RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD ASIA
2012 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 27
RISO NATIONAL LABORATORY 49
SHANGHAI NEW ENERGY INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION - SNEC PV POWER
EXPO 2012 32
SIEMENS AG 13, 23
SOLAR ENERGY TRADE SHOWS,
LLC - SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL
2012 17
SOLAR PROMOTION GMBH -
INTERSOLAR EUROPE 2012 36
SOLAREXPO & GREENBUILDING -
ITALIAN PV SUMMIT 35
SPUTNIK ENGINEERING 4
TROOSTWIJK VEILINGEN BV 29
VESTAS BC
Renewable
Energy World
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ORGANISED BY:
www.ewea.org/annual2012
More information at
SUPPORTED BY:
EWEA 2012 - Innovating today, shaping tomorrow
Taking place in the birthplace of wind energy, Denmark, EWEA 2012 will focus
on new developments and innovative thinking in all aspects of wind energy.
Dont miss the industrys annual gathering. Beneft from the highest quality
conference, international exhibition and incomparable networking opportunities.
EWEA has 20 years of experience in organising industry for industry events.
By investing in them, you ensure that the right regulatory framework is in place
to enable the wind industry to grow further.
Monday 16 - Thursday 19 Apri l 2012 - Bel l a Center, Copenhagen, Denmar k
Plan your trip
to Copenhagen
Experience
the power of
the industrys
annual gathering
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Learn more at vestas.com/1.8
Wind energy has a
new performance
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Lost Production
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Availability is important, but it can only
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Innovating today,
shaping tomorrow
ORGANISED BY: SUPPORTED BY:
Monday 16 - Thursday 19 Apri l 2012
Bel l a Center, Copenhagen, Denmar k
Conference
Exhibition
Networking
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Time Monday, 16 April 2012
08:00 Welcome coffee & registration
09:00 Event launch & keynotes (open to all participants)
10:00 Exhibition: welcome & networking tour
11:00 Setting the scene: Asking ourselves some tough questions
12:30 Lunch & exhibition visiting time
14:00
Post 2020:
Which
technologies
will deliver?
What is too big,
and can small
be beautiful?
Wind resource
variations
Wind turbine response:
Modelling and
measurements
15:30 Coffee break & exhibition visiting time
16:00
Implementation until
2020: Are the EU-27
on the NREAP-track
Tailored turbines Resources offshore
Wind Turbine Arrays
and Grid Issues
17:30 Exhibition visiting time
19:00 Opening reception
Time Tuesday, 17 April 2012
09:00
International markets:
What is happening
right now and
where to go
The intelligent
turbine
Concept and manage-
ment of electricity sys-
tems of the future with
large amounts of wind
power
Wind turbine
up-scaling research
11:00
Increasing the value
of wind power
Hardware
'Quickre':
Technologies
for the future
Short term forecasting:
Can we do better
than guess?
De-risking offshore
wind turbine design
14:00 Poster session & exhibition visiting time
16:00
Suppliers: The innovative
backbone of the Euro-
pean wind industry
Technology of
drive trains
Advances in measuring
techniques for resource
assessment
Wind power driving the
modernisation of the
European network infra-
structure
17:30 Exhibition reception
t
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Time Wednesday, 18 April 2012
09:00
Outlook for
project nance
- the next
three years
Storage for wind power -
do we need it?
Resources in
challenging areas
Offshore wind energy
resource and wakes
11:00
Tools to make
investors happy:
Managing cashow
certainty and where to
nd the silver bullet
Logistics and infrastruc-
ture, the challenges
of installing 30 MW
per working day!
Advanced technical
solutions and grid code
requirements enabling
cost-effective grid sup-
port by wind power
Innovative wind turbine
drive train research
14:00
High-level roundtable:
The European Energy Supply 2012 - 2030
Innovative wind turbine
control
16:00
Is the bucket empty?
3 ways to fund your
development pipeline
Resource assessment,
siting and spacial
planning
Adequate electricity
market design
concepts for wind
power integration
The reliable wind
turbine: What can
intelligent health
monitoring achieve?
17:30 Exhibition visiting time
19:30 Conference Dinner
Time Thursday, 19 April 2012
09:00 Delegate discussion space
Workshop: Planners
meet physicists
Recommendations and
best practice in assess-
ing options for large
scale wind integration
11:00
What we have learned & how to (re)act -
responding to the challenges
12:30 Lunch and last chance to visit the exhibition
Scan this QR code or visit
to register online
p
sca
on
Science
&
research
Policies, m
arkets &
program
m
es
Resource
assessm
ent
Integration
in
electricity
system
s
and
m
arkets
Hardware
technology
Financing
Plenary &
special sessions
o
c es, m
a
ke
s &
program
m
es
system
s
and
m
a
ke
s
Hardware
techno
ogy
ntegrat on
n
e
ec
c
y
Financ ng
enary &
spec a
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Key players under one roof
This is the leading annual event for the wind
energy industry. It provides an international
platform for sharing cross-sector knowledge and
experience with the leading companies, the key
players and the decision makers from across the
wind energy industry.
Unrivalled Networking opportunities
Nothing can move business and careers faster
than the chance to meet new contacts and
reconnect with old ones, in a relaxed and
friendly environment. From lunch areas open
to all participants and corporate events at the
exhibition oor, to themed social events, EWEA
2012 offers unlimited networking opportunities.
The exhibitors include these leading companies:
__________________________________________
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SOLAR
STRATEGIES
UNITED STATES UTILITIES EXPLAINED
P6
PROJECT
PROFILE:
THAILANDS 84 MW LOPBURI
BEAT THE THIEVES
SOLAR SYSTEM SECURITY
BRAZILS
SOLAR
WORLD CUP
MARCH 2012
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how we can help you make solar power simple, visit www.abb.com/solar
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MARCH 2012 LARGE SCALE SOLAR 1
March 2012 CONTENTS
Regulars
From the editor 3
News 5
Advertisers Index 20
Features
Regional eye by Richard Baillie 6
The US solar markets centre of gravity is moving away from its heartland in the southwest and
increasingly towards the east coast and Florida in particular. And, in another major change,
while traditional markets have relied on distributed PV for most new capacity, these days it is
the centralised projects that are gaining traction. What kinds of strategies are being pursued by
US utilities at a time of structural changes in the industry?
Project profle by Jeremy Wilcox 9
The next decade could see solar energy in Thailand challenge wind power as the kingdoms
second most important renewable resource. The country is a magnet for solar developers and
it is unlikely that the markets development will slow down. In this issue we explore the regions
fast-developing solar sector and the policies that encourage it.
Installation insight by James Lawson 14
Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting the valuable PV panels, cabling and other hardware in
solar installations, and how best to frustrate their ambitions is becoming a major challenge for
the industry. What can companies do to stop the theft of solar system components?
Solar strategy by Robin Yapp 17
Bold plans to make the 2014 football World Cup the most sustainable yet staged are amongst
the proposals which Brazil hopes will help transform the countrys global image, and solar
power will have a key role to play in turning this target into a reality.
14 17
9
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121 AFF L 2012, FFAGAT MA DAN, NEW DELH , ND A
SWTCHNGNINDIAS POWER FTFE
Flags|ipMeciaSponsors Supporring
rganisarion
Evenrrganisers
JOIN INDIAS WORLD-CLASS POWER EVENT

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r|arlearuresaworlcclassconlerenceprogramme,wir|ciscussions
aLour ropical issues, recenr cevelopmenrs anc cynamic ex|iLirion
loors|owcasingr|everylaresrprocucrsancequipmenrservingr|e
convenrional,renewaLleanc|ycropowersecrorsallunceronerool.
Major Attractions
120 eminenr inrernarional c|airs anc speakers lrom arounc
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28 |or incusrry ropics spanning over 8 conlerence sessions
ver 200 ex|iLirors represenring nearly 20 counrries
Froven rrack recorc arrracring over 7,000 arrencees
Ample nerworking opporruniries wir| r|e incusrry's mosr
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Event Highlights:
naugurarion Ceremony wir| keynore speakers inclucing:
Mr. F mas|ankar, Secrerary, Minisrry ol Fower
Mr. Alok Ferri, Secrerary, Minisrry ol Coal
Mr.Giris|BFrac|an,Secrerary,MinisrryolNew&
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Corporarion,NarionalT|ermalFowerCorporarionanc
B|ararHeavyElecrricalsLimirec
Hig| Level Fanel Discussion: How Can India Balance Supply
and Demand?
Conlerence Sessions: Minimizing Conventional Power
Emissions, Plant Refurbishment & Modernization, Hydro Power
Technologies and Integrating Indias Renewables
Be part of the regions leading power event and exchange ideas,
knowledge and experiences.
Register before 23 March 2012 and save up to 10% with the Early
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Ex|iLirionEnquiries
Kelvin Marlow
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ConlerenceEnquiries
Samantha Malcolm
Conference Manager
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POWER-GEN India & Central Asia Renewable Energy World India and HydroVision India
ConlerenceEnquiries
Amy Nash
Conference Manager
T44(0)12o5oo21
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Ex|iLirionEnquiries
Virginia Willis
Exhibit Sales manager
T44(0)12o5ooo3
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T44(0)12o5oo45
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David Appleyard, Chief Editor, Renewable Energy World
FROM THE EDITOR
GE Energy Financial Services the fnancial
investment arm of the worlds largest
energy company has revealed it has
more than doubled its global solar power
commitments in the last year, reaching some
US$1.4 billion.
Indeed, 2011 was a record year for the
company after it agreed to invest in a
50 MW portfolio of solar PV farms in Canada, a
10 MW project in Australia, a 550 MW US
project, and a 20 MW installation in Italy.
Its latest $100 million investment in this
case in LS Powers $550 million, 127 MW
Arlington Valley Solar Energy II project
brings the companys solar energy portfolio
to 1 GW and some $5 billion in projects
spanning in six countries.
Alex Urquhart, president and CEO of GE
Energy Financial Services, explained the
company strategy saying: We started
last year with the goal of increasing our
investments in solar power given improving
solar technologies and decreasing costs,
and have exceeded our own expectations by
doubling our portfolio, investing in attractive
projects across the globe.
Furthermore, in addition to GE Energy
Financial Services equity investment,
Prudential Capital Group an investment
business of Prudential Financial, Inc. Banco
Santander S.A., and other commercial banks
and institutional investors provided debt
fnancing for the Arlington Valley project.
The fact that a company as entrenched in the
energy matrix as GE is not only making such
massive commitments to large-scale solar
power development but rapidly increasing
its level of investment suggests that a major
transition is underway. This transition appears
even more striking when considered in the
context of the on-going fnancial turmoil
and policy uncertainty which has dogged
the US and elsewhere. Fundamentally, this
type of industry engagement eloquently
demonstrates an alliance of fnancial interests
with those of utility supply companies and,
ultimately, policymakers.
Indeed, output from the Arlington facility
is to be purchased by California utility San
Diego Gas & Electric, a unit of Sempra
Energy, when it becomes operational, due at
the end of 2013.
And, in the days following the GEFS
announcement, the group had reported
that 20.8% of the energy delivered to its
retail customers in 2011 was provided by
renewable energy sources. 2011 was also a
year in which the company signed 17 new
power contracts with mostly solar and wind
energy sources representing 1482 MW.
SDG&E also recently announced a 25-year
power purchase agreement for 200 MW
of capacity from the Mount Signal Solar
project in Imperial Valley, California, with a
subsidiary of 8minutenergy Renewables
which is working with AES Solar to develop
and build the plant. The frst 100 MW of
this PV installation is expected to be on-line
by mid-2013 with completion of the plant
slated for late 2013.
Evidently, this type of engagement in solar
suggests that large scale, utility-backed
development is becoming a rapidly growing
sector and in this edition of Large Scale Solar
we explore some of these themes with, for
instance, a look at US utility strategies for
developing a solar power portfolio. We
also consider options for securing such
signifcant investments with an in-depth
article on systems security after all, such
projects are often in remote locations and
represent a considerable temptation to the
unscrupulous. In addition, we take a look at
a major PV project in Thailand as well as a
strategy that will see solar supporting sports
stadia in South America.
GROUP PUBLISHER Ralph Boon
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Tom Fowler
CHIEF EDITOR David Appleyard
CONSULTING EDITOR Jackie Jones
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tildy Bayar
PRODUCTION EDITOR Piers Evans
DESIGN Ross Tucker
PRODUCTION MANAGER Kimberlee Smith
SALES MANAGERS Alasdair Evans, Sandra Spencer,
Peter Andersen, Dan Harper, Kate Hart, Rick Perednia
PUBLISHED BY PennWell International Publications
Ltd, The Water Tower, Gunpowder Mills, Powdermill
Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1BN, UK
TEL +44 1992 65 6600
FAX +44 1992 65 6700
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A detailed supplier listing and other information can
be found at www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com
ADVERTISING For information on advertising in
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+44 1992 656 636 (direct), or
SANDRA SPENCER on
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+1 603 924 4405 ext 211
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While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy
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errors or omissions.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Renewable Energy World is
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Renewable Energy World, ISSN 1462-6381 is
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PRINTED in the UK by Reaction Ltd.
Large scale,
utility-backed
development is
becoming a rapidly
growing sector
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RENEWABLE ENERGY AND DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
international exhibition and conference
13
th
edition
Verona Exhibition Centre, Italy
May 9 - 11, 2012
1,600 EXHIBITORS 150,000 SQ M EXHIBITION SPACE 75,000 VISITORS
solarexpo.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF
SOLAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
ABB has signed an agreement with FG
Emvelo to develop concentrating solar
power (CSP) plants at Karoshoek Solar Valley
in Northern Cape province, South Africa. FG
Emvelo recently acquired a 340 km
2
site for
the plants, which will use the ABB-Novatec
Solar technology, which the company claims
reduces the need for land by 40% and
water by 80%. Novatec Solar, in which ABB
recently acquired a 35% stake, uses a solar
boiler for direct steam generation based
on linear Fresnel technology. Elsewhere
in South Africa Soitec says it has secured
fnancing from Investec Bank Ltd to build a
50 MW Concentrating PV (CPV) power plant
in Touwsrivier, also in the Cape. Investec
has committed to fnance the project and
raise the equity for construction. Soitec has
already installed a pilot facility near Aquila
and a 500 kW CPV plant near Durban.
MODULE PRICE SLUMP
The average price of Chinese tier-2
crystalline PV modules fell to US$0.96/W
in January, according to a new report from
IMS Research. Annualised price declines
slowed to 22% in January, having exceeded
50% in December, as incentive levels were
reduced in a number of major PV markets
at the end of 2011. Highly competitive
pricing has continued into 2012 and the
average crystalline PV module price from
these suppliers declined twice as quickly as
the total market in January. Although many
lower spot prices were offered in recent
months, this is the frst time the global
average price had fallen below this industry
milestone. Prices as low as $0.80/W were
recorded for Chinese suppliers in January,
typically for large orders from German
distributors. The report also found signifcant
pricing variations throughout the supply
chain, with distributors seeing an even faster
fall in prices.
CSP TURBINE DEAL
Three orders to supply a total of four steam
turbine generator units for CSP plants in the
Indian state of Rajasthan have been placed
with Siemens. The SST-700 turbines are for
the Godawari, Abhijeet and Diwakar & KVK
parabolic trough plants, with a combined
capacity of 300 MW. The installations are
due to begin operations in spring 2013. The
Godawari and Abhijeet projects are each
rated at 50 MW. Siemens has been awarded
contracts for an SST-700 steam turbine
generator unit and auxiliary systems for each
of these units. The third customer, Lanco
Solar Energy, has ordered a steam turbine
and generator rated at 100 MW, complete
with auxiliary systems for each of the two
units of the Diwakar & KVK parabolic trough
power plant. Siemens says its type SST-
700 steam turbines for solar thermal power
plants have a rated output of up to 175 MW.
GROW GREEN GRANADA
A 4.3 MW PV installation has been
commissioned close to Granada, Spain. The
project was commissioned by Innotech Solar
(ITS), Jendra Power and the investor, Swiss
energy supplier Energie Wasser Bern (ewb).
It uses 39 Kaco Powador TL3 inverters.
Constructed on several greenhouses
where trees are being cultivated for a local
forestation project in an area measuring
62,000 m the plant is expected to
produce 6 GWh per year. Construction
work on the power plant in the Andalusian
municipalities of Atarfe and Moclin began in
May 2011. Planning, project management
and construction were the responsibility of
Jendra, a former subsidiary of Norwegian
module producer Innotech.
KYOTOS SOLAR PLANS
A 4.2 MW solar power plant is to be built
by Kyocera and the SoftBank Group
subsidiary in charge of its renewable energy
business, SB Energy Corp., in Kyoto City,
Japan. The two are to build and operate
the facility with Kyocera Group companies
supplying the modules and responsible for
construction while SB Energy will be the
operator. As envisaged, the plans will see
the system operating in time for the start
of a new FiT which will be put in place on
1 July 2012. Approximately 17,000 Kyocera
modules will be installed at two facilities
of 2.1 MW each in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City,
generating roughly 4.2 GWh annually, its
developers say.
NEW GERMAN PV PLANT
Previously known only for producing linseed
oil, the German town of Hoyerswerda
has had an added attraction since
January 2012: the Elsterheide solar park.
The plant, with an overall output of
20 MW, extends over 450,000 m
2
and uses
86,960 modules from the Sunowe company.
Distributed over 18 power stations are
54 330TS-SV SolarMax inverters, each rated
at 330 kW. The extremely short execution
time was a challenge: there were 10 days
between contract signing and project start.
The company expects an annual yield
of 19,464 MWh.
ABB will develop CSP plants in South Africa
ABB Solar
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6 LARGE SCALE SOLAR MARCH 2012
REGIONAL EYE
US UTILITIES
SOLAR STRATEGIES
Florida leads the charge towards
utility-owned solar power
The US solar markets centre of gravity is moving away from its heartland in the southwest and
increasingly towards the east coast and Florida in particular. And, in another major change, while
traditional markets have relied on distributed PV for most new capacity, these days it is the centralised
projects that are gaining traction. Which strategies are being pursued by US utilities at a time of
structural changes in the industry? By Richard Baillie.
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REGIONAL EYE
A
recent survey by the Solar Electric
Power Association (SEPA) showed
that in 2011 around 63% of new solar
capacity in the US came from utilities outside
California, the largest percentage on record.
Moreover, a total of seven of the years top
10 utilities were from outside California, and
four of the top-ranking utilities were located
in the east.
Not only is the geography changing, but
so is the very structure of the industry, with
Florida again leading the way. And while
traditional solar markets have relied on
distributed PV for most new capacity, these
days it is the centralised large-scale projects
that are gaining traction. In 2010 alone,
eight centralised projects greater than
10 MW each were installed.
Florida is now focusing closely on
utility-owned or purchased solar power, as
opposed to the smaller customer-owned,
net-metered systems that have characterised
the west coast market.
UTILITY-OWNED DEVELOPMENT
Already operational is the DeSoto Next
Generation Solar Energy Center in DeSoto
County, which opened in late 2009 and has
a nameplate capacity of 25 MW. The plant
consists of over 90,000 solar panels across
235 acres (95 ha).
Following that development, Florida
Power and Light (FPL) installed 87 MW in
2010, largely based on two projects a
10 MW photovoltaic (PV) project at the
Kennedy Space Center and a 75 MW hybrid
concentrating solar power (CSP) plant at a
combined-cycle natural gas plant across
500 acres (202 ha) north of West Palm Beach.
The US$476 million (367 million) project,
known as the Martin Next Generation Solar
Energy Center is essentially an experiment
to determine whether conventional power
generation can be married with signifcant
solar power resources. What makes the
plant noteworthy is that this is one of the
few currently operating examples of a
conventional plant being retroftted with the
latest solar technology on such a large scale.
The plant also serves as a real-life test bed
as developers attempt to reduce the cost
of solar power, which remains much more
expensive than most other forms of electrical
generation. FPL Group, the parent company
of Florida Power and Light, expects to cut
costs by about 20% compared with a typical
stand-alone concentrating solar power
facility, since it does not have to build a new
steam turbine, new high-power transmission
lines or other common infrastructure shared
with the neighbouring gas-fred installation.
Wed love to tell you that solar power is
as economic as fossil fuels, but the reality is
that it is not, Lewis Hay III, FP&Ls chairman
and chief executive, explained on a recent
tour of the plant. We have got to fgure out
ways to get costs down. As we saw with wind
power, a lot has to do with scale, he added.
As always with solar, the importance of
scale has to be put in context. Despite
the size of the Martin Center its 75 MW
impressive for a solar facility is nevertheless
barely a drop in the ocean when compared
with the adjacent gas plant, which can
produce about 3800 MW.
Other larger-scale solar projects coming
to fruition include Florida-based National
Solar Powers plan to build a 200 MW solar
farm in Hardee County at a cost of around
$700 million. Construction of this installation,
which is due to begin in the second quarter
of 2012, is expected to take six months for
each of the 20 MW modular plants.
This is the second project that National
Power has announced in Florida. The
company is planning an even bigger one
in Gadsden County, a $1.5 billion, 400 MW
project that will also consist of 20 smaller
plants, each on a 200 acre (81 ha) site.
Similarly, and also in Florida, BlueChip
Energy has broken ground on the 120 MW
Sorrento Solar Farm in Lake County with
Taiwan-based Neo Solar Power providing its
high-effciency solar modules in exchange
for equity participation. Earlier this year,
BlueChip also built a 1.2 MW phase of the
Rinehart Solar Farm in Seminole County, the
largest rooftop PV installation in the state of
Florida to date.
LEGISLATIVE ROADBLOCKS
Smaller scale solar facilities have also been
making inroads in Florida, but again these
have been thwarted in many cases by
legislative roadblocks. As things stand, a
despite its wealth of solar resources, Florida
lags behind virtually every other major state
in its support of renewable energy.
Many states leverage federal clean
energy tax credits and grants to help
stimulate demand in their states through
incentive programmes, but Floridas rebate
programme expired in June 2010 and there
is no talk of reinstating it.
Part of the reason for Floridas tardiness
in implementing legislation that would
beneft solar power development by utility
groups is because a lot of debate in Florida
has focused on attempts by FP&L to push
legislation through the state senate, notably
Senate Bill 2078. This would have provided
Floridas major power companies with more
incentives to increase their solar portfolios
by allowing them to pass the costs of
constructing renewable energy plants on to
their consumers.
But 2078 is also seen as a double-edged
sword by the solar community, as it does not
provide for any kind of feed-in tariff (FiT) by
which power companies would buy power
produced by smaller renewable companies.
Susan Glickman, a lobbyist for the
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, says that
more should be done to level the playing
feld. She said that in the twentieth century
there was a drive for universal service, but
that thinking is increasingly outdated.
We are in a different world; we have many
different ways to provide energy. Theres
so much energy effciency opportunity
out there that we dont take advantage
of because utilities are incentivised to
build power plants, because they put that
into their rate base and thats how they
make money.
Glickman argues that the state should be
at the forefront of developing renewables,
but expresses concern that if Florida writes
policies favouring giant utilities, it would
drive away companies that innovate.
RAPID GROWTH
Despite the legislative hurdles, SEPA
confrms that distributed solar is growing
fast in Florida, albeit from a smaller base.
Partly this is because, in 2007, in an
attempt to promote customer-owned
renewable generation, the Florida Public
Service Commission (PSC) established rules
making it easier to interconnect a customers
system with the utilitys grid.
Other potential sources of funding for
distributed solar in Florida include the
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
programme, which was approved by the
2010 legislature and allows residential
and commercial property owners to
seek fnancing for solar energy projects
through a special assessment by their local
government. The property owner pays back
the loan over a period of years through their
property tax bills.
Then there are the Qualifed Energy
Conservation Bonds, which are available
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REGIONAL EYE
to state and local governments to fnance
qualifed energy conservation projects,
including those that involve the production of
electricity from renewable energy resources.
Effectively, the US Treasury Department
subsidises the bond issuers borrowing costs.
That said, it is the net-metering rules that
appear to be having the biggest impact
at the moment. In 2010, nearly 3000 solar
energy systems with a capacity of more
than 20 MW were interconnected across
the state, with customers often selling the
energy back to the grid.
This is a signifcant jump from 2009, when
only 1625 customer-owned renewable
systems representing some 13 MW
of electrical generation capacity were
connected to the utility grid.
DISTRIBUTED SOLAR IN THE WEST
On the face of it the situation in California
couldnt be more different. Solar in the
Golden State has long benefted from
a system of distributed generation. But
California utilities are obliged to obtain
33% of their energy supply from renewables
by 2020 (up from 20% in 2010) and that is
also helping to fuel the development of
larger-scale utility-backed solar projects.
These include out-of-state projects
such as the massive Copper Mountain
project in Boulder City, Nevada, which was
offcially opened by Sempra Generation
in March 2011 and produces 48 MW from
750,000 solar panels spread out over
380 acres (154 ha).
The project began as a 10 MW pilot
installation in 2008. Since then, Sempra has
sold the energy to one of Californias major
utilities, Pacifc Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Sempra hired First Solar as the contractor
for the large-scale project, and as Sempra
had already leased the necessary land, and
because Boulder City had a solar zone in
place, permitting went relatively quickly.
Boulder City was also keen to have the
plant built there. The town is exceptionally
great at communicating; there are no
surprises, and theyre genuinely interested
and enthusiastic and want us there, and that
makes a huge difference, says Engelbrecht.
Sempra was also able to attain some tax
abatements through the state of Nevada,
as well as a federal tax credit and an
investment tax credit on the construction.
The company now has a 20-year contract
with PG&E for the facility and the 10 MW
power plant, but Sempra also announced
recently approved plans to expand the plant
by 200 MW.
Were about to start construction on a
150 MW project in Arizona, and that power
is also going to Pacifc Gas and Electric, says
Engelbrecht. This is just the start. Sempra
Generation says it is ready to embrace solar
on a large scale.
We have well over 1000 MW in our solar
pipeline of projects were developing, says
Engelbrecht. Our Mesquite project the
150 MW project in Arizona is simply phase
one. The site is actually large enough to
accommodate 600 MW700 MW of solar.
What is so surprising about Copper
Mountain is that it makes quite a departure
for PG&E, given that, in 2010, the companys
solar portfolio was about two-thirds
distributed customer PV projects, with
more than 10,000 projects totaling more
than 104 MW. But the Copper Mountain
project provides ample evidence that large
centralised projects and ownership are on
the rise, even in the western US.
We expect the growth in utility solar
power to continue, said Julia Hamm, SEPA
president and CEO commenting on a recent
analysis. Our fndings show that utilities
are continuing to fnd new, viable business
models, Hamm added.
Thats not to say that distributed solar
generation doesnt have a role to play in the
west. For instance the California Public Utilities
Commission (PUC) has approved Southern
California Edisons plan to install scores of
12 MW grid-connected systems scattered
across the rooftops of commercial buildings
throughout its southern California service
area eventually totalling some 500 MW.
SCE says it will now add another 50 MW
each year in what will create a boom for local
solar businesses.
Economies of scale will never reach those
achieved at the likes of Copper Mountain,
but solar on large commercial roofs is
relatively cheap, costing about half the price
of individual home installations and doesnt
usually require the building of additional
transmission infrastructure. Moreover, with
the economic crisis hitting the state hard,
distributed solar could be a positive way to
make use of derelict buildings.
CALIFORNIAS ISSUES
Distributed solar could also help to fll the
gaps caused by the frequent delays that
California currently faces in realising its many
signed contracts for mega solar projects.
In many cases these stem from
environmental disputes. For example,
in 2009 California state Senator Dianne
Feinstein introduced legislation to protect a
million acres (0.4 million ha) of the Mojave
Desert, effectively causing the abandonment
of some 13 big solar projects in the area.
Feinstein also heads the Senate
subcommittee that oversees the Interior
Departments budget, giving her a large say
in the siting of solar projects. The decision to
protect the Mojave from development puts
pressure on California to come up with other
means of achieving its goal of obtaining a
third of its power from renewables by 2020.
Steven L. Kline, chief sustainability offcer
for PG&E, noted that the loss of the planned
solar projects would hurt his companys
efforts to comply with state renewable
energy mandates. The utility was planning a
solar farm in the Monument area.
In the near term, it would have a very
substantial impact, he said, emphasising
that in principle PG&E supports Feinsteins
efforts to preserve sensitive desert lands.
Over time those projects will be built
somewhere else and well have benefts of
the power.
But until that happens, it seems that
distributed generation and the virtual solar
plant can supply at least some of the answers.
Distributed solar is faster on permitting, on
environmental issues and interconnection to
the grid, said Arno Harris, Recurrents chief
executive. It offers a safety valve for utilities
who dont want to put all their eggs in one
basket.
Richard Baillie is a freelance journalist
focusing on the energy sector.
This article is available on-line. To comment
on it or forward it to a colleague, visit:
These days it is
large-scale projects
that are gaining
traction
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PROJECT PROFILE
E
conomic renewable energy
development typically requires
that countries exploit their natural
renewable resources with subsidies reducing
in line with technology costs and market
maturity. Thailand has adopted such an
approach to renewable development and
while its biomass has the greatest renewable
generation potential, the rapid growth of
solar development could conceivably see
solar challenge wind power as the kingdoms
second most important renewable resource
by the next decade.
As a country, Thailand benefts from
strong year-round solar radiation with the
largely rural northeast Isaan region of the
country beneftting most. It is not surprising
then that Solar Power Company (SPC), a
Thai developer, has plans for 34 solar plants
in Isaan totalling 204 MW by the end of
2012. But while SPC will likely be the major
player in Thailands fast-developing solar
sector, the honour of developing the largest
solar plant to date will go to Natural Energy
Development (NED), a cooperation of local
and foreign fnancial institutions together
with manufacturer Sharp Corporation.
NED is constructing a 73 MW (DC) solar
plant in Lopburi province, about two hours
north of Bangkok, and earlier this year the
company announced it would expand
the gross capacity of the plant to 84 MW
(DC). The frst phase of the plant is due to
commence operations as REW goes to
press, with an installed capacity of 8 MW and
additional capacity expected to come on
line in monthly phases until the full capacity
is reached in 2013.
The project has been supported by local
and foreign fnancial institutions; the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) has provided a
loan up to US$70 million (approximately
THB 2 billion), with Kasikorn Bank PCL,
Bangkok Bank PCL and Siam Commercial Bank
PCL providing a total of THB 3 billion (about
$98 million). Kasikorn Bank PCL and
Bualuang Securities PCL also acted as
the fnancial advisors. And, all the banks
involved have agreed to expand the loan
facility to support another THB 1.2 billion
(around $39 million) for the 11 MW second
phase expansion.
Commenting on the project, NED
chairman Vinit Tangnoi said: The Lopburi
solar project is the frst project that responds
to the Thailand 15 Year Renewable Energy
Development Plan of the Ministry of Energy.
After committing to invest THB 8 billion in
the Lopburi 73 MW solar farm, the company
is moving forward and plans to invest
another THB 1.2 billion for an additional
11 MW in the same area.
Booming
Thailand
offers solar
opportunity
The next decade could see solar
energy in Thailand become a hugely
important renewable resource. With
the Lopburi Province installation
the country has demonstrated its
credentials and emerged as a magnet
for large-scale solar developers.
Despite some policy uncertainly, that
market is unlikely to see a slow down
in the near future. By Jeremy Wilcox
THAI SOLAR MOVES INTO
THE FAST LANE
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PROJECT PROFILE
Vinit explained that NED signed the
construction and supply contract to
purchase over 540,000 thin-flm solar panels
from Sharp back in 2010. He added: The
company has also signed agreement for
construction with Italian Thai Development
PCL and Italthai Engineering Co. Ltd.
Furthermore, he concluded, the project
plans to develop a renewable innovation
centre on the site, to showcase renewable
energy technologies, especially solar
technology to the general public. Together
with Pa Sak Dam and Sunfower Field, this
will become the third tourism landmark in
Lopburi province.
NED has signed a fve-year non-frm power
purchase agreement (PPA) with the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)
for purchasing 55 MW from the commercial
operation date. Although this was originally
scheduled for 1 November the date slipped
a month to December 2011. NED said
the tariff rate stated in the regulation of
non-frm power purchase agreements for a
small power producer (SPP) will be applied,
that is, the time of use wholesale electricity
price plus the adder [a supplement added to
peak electricity rates] rate.
NED managing director Woramol
Khamkanist believes Lopburi province
is the most suitable place for the solar
project because it is well connected
with transmission line[s] and has good
solar intensity, adding that the plant,
when fully operational, is expected to cut
approximately 1.3 million tonnes of CO
2
over its project cycle and reduce fossil fuel
imports by more than 35,000 tonnes per
year, which will support the Thai government
target announced in Copenhagen in 2009 to
combat climate change.
While the NED solar project will be
Thailands largest, it will be dwarfed by the
combined installed capacity of the solar
projects planned by SPC. And like NED
there has been no shortage of funding for its
solar revolution, with Thailand fast becoming
a magnet for solar investment.
In November 2010, International
Finance Company (IFC), a member of the
World Bank Group and the largest global
development institution focused on the
private sector in developing countries,
invested $1.1 million for a 9% equity stake in
two of SPCs planned solar plants following
a $1.7 million investment in SPCs frst
6.1 MW solar plant in Nakhorn Rachasriuma
(Korat) in June 2010, known as Solar Power
(Korat 1) Company Limited (KR1).
KR1 is located at Don Chomphu Sub-
district, Non Sung District, in Nakhorn
Ratchasima Province. Development of the
project commenced in 2008, with the project
receiving long-term loans from Kasikornbank
PCL. Construction commenced in December
2009 and it was completed in April 2010, with
commercial operation and exports to the
Provincial Electricity Authority commencing
on 21 April 2010.
Before the Lopburi plant, KR1 was the
largest commercial solar farm in Thailand
and indeed in Southeast Asia. The plant
uses polycrystalline solar panels from
Japans Kyocera Corporation and inverters
from Germanys SMA Solar Technology. The
major shareholders of KR1 are SPC, IFC, the
Environment for Energy Foundation and
Thai Fa Power Company Limited.
SPC plans to replicate the KR1 plant
model across the northeast of Thailand,
with another eight solar plants envisaged
in NakhornRachasrima, 10 in Khon Kaen,
three each in Bureerum, Surin and Nakorn
Phanom, two each in Sakon Nakorn and
Udorn Thani, and one each in Nong Kai and
Loei districts.
According to IFC executive vice
president and chief executive Lars Thunell,
Developing countries need new sources
of energy that allow them to grow their
economies without adding to greenhouse
gas emissions and climate change SPC is
showing how companies can innovate and
make solar energy a long-term solution for
Thailands energy needs.
Another Thai energy company that has
identifed the opportunities provided by solar
power is oil company Bangchak Petroleum,
which secured a THB 4.2 billion loan from
the Asian Development Bank last year for
two solar power plants in Ayuttaya, north of
Bangkok. The loan is part of the ADBs Asia
Solar Energy Initiative that seeks to support
solar projects to assist Asia in capitalising on
its solar power potential. The initiative aims
to provide fnancial support of $2.25 billion
to meet 3 GW of solar power in the banks
developing member countries by mid-2013.
The ADB loan will run over a 15-year
repayment period, according to Bangchak
Petroleum president Anusom Sangnimuan,
who further explained the company is seeking
to raise the capacity of the solar project to
120 MW in fve years at a cost of
some THB 12 billion (about $39 million).
The frst solar plant, with a rated capacity
of 38 MW, started supplying electricity
to the national grid in August 2011, with
construction of the second 32 MW plant now
underway. The third plant, with a capacity
of 48 MW, is expecetd to commence
construction in 2012 and will be due to
commence operations in the following year.
DuPont Apollo also recently completed its
8.7 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Prachin
Buri province, 180 km north of Bangkok.
The plant was jointly developed with Thai
conglomerate Loxley and utilises DuPont
Apollos thin-flm photovoltaic modules.
Electricity from the plant will be supplied
via the Provincial Electricity Authority of
Thailand under the VSPP (very small power
purchase) tariff scheme.
In addition to solar projects already in
operation or construction there are a number
of companies eyeing Thailand as a solar
Province Sites Capacity (MW) Operating Under Construction
Nakhorn Rachasrima 9 54 1 8
Bureerum 3 18
Surin 3 18
Khon Kaen 10 60 1
Nakorn Phanom 3 18 1 2
Sakon Nakorn 2 12 1 1
Udorn Thani 2 12
Nong Kai 1 6
Loei 1 6
Total (capacity) 34 204 3 (18 MW) 12 (72 MW)
SPC Solar Projects, planned, operating and under construction
(source: SPC)
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PROJECT PROFILE
development hub. Among these are the
worlds largest solar module manufacturing
company, Suntech Power Holdings, and
North Americas largest solar services
provider, SunEdison.
Suntech is looking to invest $20 million
(THB 1.2 billion) in a solar cell assembly
plant in Thailand, but a fnal decision is not
expected until 2013 as it waits to see how
supportive the new Thai government is of
solar and any changes to the adder support
system. Any investment in the Thai solar
market may well be a partnership, with the
company apparently interested in joining
forces with Bangchat Petroleum.
Thailand was Suntechs second-largest
Asia-Pacifc market in 2010 after Australia,
with chairman and chief executive Shi
Zhengrong recently explaining: We are
looking at opportunities for getting closer
to the market, and we need to hear support
from the government before planning our
investment. Our plan could be feasible if the
Thai market grows to a big enough level.
Bangchat Petroleum president Anusorn
believes the Thai government will come
up with a clear renewable policy this
year. If he is right, and the policy proves
to be supportive of solar investment,
then SunEdison could become a major
player in Thailands emerging solar sector,
with plans to invest over $100 million
(THB 3 billion) in solar power plants through
a local partnership.
Pashupathy Gopalan, managing director
of SunEdison, explained: We hope to build
a meaningful capacity, pending upcoming
government approval of the 6.50 baht
adder There is great potential in Thailand
and many parts of Asia as rapid growth
results in higher demand for energy.
For all the positive talk on the potential
for Thailands solar market, like all renewable
energy resources the key to developing the
potential is the amount of subsidy provided
by the government, which has been
supporting solar development since 2002
when it introduced the adder.
Unfortunately for the embryonic solar
PV market the adder was not considered
suffcient. After a series of amendments in
response to investor unease the government
agreed on an adder rate of THB 8/kWh for a
period of 10 years and the revised subsidy
scheme proved a great success.
As of October 2010, applications for
397 PV projects totalling 1600 MW and an
additional 302 concentrating solar power
(CSP) projects totalling 1503 MW had
been submitted to the VSPP programme.
Additionally, eight solar projects totalling
477 MW had been submitted to the
SPP programme. Yet a year later only
55 PV projects totalling just 16 MW were
selling electricity to the Thai utilites, with
no CSP projects online and the remaining
3500 MW of proposed projects in various
stages of planning.
This volume of projects in the pipeline
caused concern to policymakers, as it was
signifcantly higher than the Thai solar
targets of 55 MW by 2011, 95 MW by 2016,
and 500 MW by 2022. But of more concern
was the potential impact of solar tariffs on
consumers of the 3 GW of pipeline projects,
which policy makers estimated could
add THB 31 billion (around $1 billion) to
consumer costs.
Policymakers were also concerned that
many pipeline projects could be speculative
if they had not progressed in 12 months and
as such could prevent legitimate projects
from advancing. And there was concern that
the potential volume of new solar projects
could undermine the security of EGATs
transmission system and consequently
undermine Thailands supply security.
These were all legitimate concerns and
Thailand is not the frst country to review
its solar subsidy levels in response to the
success of the scheme. Consequently,
a resolution reduced the adder to
THB 6.5/kWh for all projects that were not
approved as of 28 June 2010, and refused
to accept new project applications after
this date. Interestingly, the resolution
also agreed in principle to work towards
establishing a fxed FiT rather than an adder,
but with a new government taking offce
within two months of the resolution being
passed the development of such a tariff may
be delayed until the new government gets
round to revising any exisiting renewable
energy policies.
Unsurprisingly the revised subsidy
support has not deterred the main solar
investors, with SPC managing director
Wandee Khunchornyakong understanding
the decision to reduce the rate: I think they
want to slow down the new applications until
they can see how many of the projects with
PPAs have reached their goals.
But new potential developers have
questioned the fnancial viability of solar
investment at the current adder rate, and
fear that the door for new entrants has now
been frmly shut. Its a legitimate concern,
but almost 10 years after the government
started its solar support the market has
moved beyond its embryonic phase and
into fast track development. And those
companies investing in solar this decade are
likely to enjoy a rewarding future.
Jeremy Wilcox is a freelance journalist
based in Thailand.
This article is available on-line. To com-
ment on it or forward it to a colleague, visit
Solar installations continue to rise, despite cuts to the adder support scheme
Asian Development Bank
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offering what could be called the Ultimate User
Experience in the PV world. The detachable
control unit includes an informative graphical
display which makes it easy to control and
monitor PV electricity production. The control
unit can easily be removed from the housing
and mounted either with the optional wired
wall mounting kit or on the wireless table stand.
The straightforward user interface has a
dedicated help key, a start-up assistant for
customer language and country settings,
and an advanced power meter showing
instantaneous output as well as production
Flexible, effcient, safe and cost-effective: The PVS300 packs tremendous functionality
into one compact enclosure, making commissioning much easier for installers and system
integrators.
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ADVERTISEMENT ABB
history for up to 24 years. A lot of effort has
gone into the inverter software to ensure
the consumer doesnt ever really need to
read the user manual. For installers and
integrators, the graphical display allows fast
and easy setup, commissioning and access
to data. One model works in all countries,
simplifying stocking for system integrators,
with all country grid codes included and
selectable, together with the language on the
user interface at the commissioning phase.
SAFETY AND PROTECTION FOR
INSTALLER AND USER
Safety and protection are essential for both
installers and users, and the ABB string
inverter has numerous built in safety features
for installation and operation. These include
safe and easily replaceable fuses and surge
protection devices, with alarms to indicate
any possible faults. For additional safety all
the fuses and surge protection devices are
held in protective holders.
The main DC switch is integrated into the
enclosure cover, making it impossible to
open unless the DC power is safely cut off.
When the front cover is opened the installer
enters the intermediate installer interface
which has a rigid protective barrier further
isolating live electric wires and reducing the
possibility of electrical danger.
The DC switch also locks the bottom cover
plate of the cable inlet section, preventing
physical/mechanical stress on the connectors
under load conditions. Connectivity is simple
via four parallel inputs with locking-type quick
connectors in the lockable cable section.
The inverter, which is suitable for indoor or
outdoor use, therefore needs no additional
DC junction box. All of these integrated
features increase safety and eliminate
the need for space-consuming external
protection devices and larger enclosures,
thus reducing total installation cost.
ADVANCED ALARMS AND
COMMUNICATION SETUP
Alarms and communications have also
been given high priority in the ABB string
inverter. Alarm systems covering fuses,
surge protection, cooling fans, grounding
and general faults are all displayed locally
in the control unit, as well as being sent
via the relay output or monitoring system.
This ensures any problems are immediately
noted, allowing rapid correction.
Modern, easy data communications are
handled via the built-in RS 485 connection
with Modbus communication which can,
for example, be connected to a local PC or
building automation system. Inverter-to-
inverter links allow for up to three inverters
to be easily connected in a local network,
making the display of operating data on any
of the three units possible, as well as total
summary data from one single display. As an
added feature, the ABB string inverter also
has a programmable relay output that can
be set up, for example, to send alarms or to
control load based on user requirements.
ABB string inverters also offer an optional
remote monitoring adapter, SREA-50
providing optimal process monitoring on a
multi-inverter system and helping the owner
check the performance of the PV energy
string from any location.
The adapters internal web server ensures
smooth access from standard PCs for
monitoring the online and historical data
of the PV system. The remote monitoring
adapter, with its built-in browser, can serve as
a local data storage device with the possibility
to display individual inverter data as well as
total system data for up to 10 inverters going
back 24 years.
ALL THE ADVANTAGES
WITHOUT THE HASSLE
This combination of all the best functions and
features in the single package represents a
big jump forward in solar inverter technology.
The ABB string inverter is an effcient,
reliable, user-friendly solution which reduces
the hassle, space requirements and total cost
for all parties involved: system integrators,
installers and users.
These clear benefts help make the ABB
string inverter an optimal solution for the
rapidly growing small-to-medium size PV
sector, both for residential and commercial
installations. To learn more about how it
can help simplify your PV system offering
and design get in touch with your local ABB
offce or check out the PVS300 details at:
www.abb.com/solar.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and
automation technologies that enable utility
and industry customers to improve their
performance while lowering environmental
impact. The ABB Group of companies
operates in around 100 countries and
employs about 135,000 people.
UK SYSTEM INTEGRATOR
GREENHEART ENERGY CUTS
INSTALLATION COSTS WITH NEW
ABB STRING INVERTER
Greenheart Energy Ltd is a UK and
International solar photovoltaic system
integrator, and a project partner of SCHOTT
Solar AG, operating in the utility, commercial
and domestic sectors. Greenheart has been
very pleased with the ABB string inverter
PVS300 since it began using the all-in-one
devices last year.
We chose the ABB string inverter as a
cost-effective device that offers far more
integrated components, such as isolator
and surge protection, than other competing
inverters, explains David Eyre, a director of
Greenheart Energy. This makes the string
inverters easier and quicker to install as there
are no separate, external components to wire
up. We estimate they can reduce installation
time by as much as 15% compared to a
similar sized solar power system. Also, using
ABB means that all the peripherals are in
one neat package, so we do not have to
deal with multiple suppliers.
Eyre continues: The ABB string inverters
offer excellent reliability and high effciency
as they have no need for a transformer. We
are committed to using market leading
components in our installations as ABB is a
strong brand and a long-standing supplier of
switchgear and drives. Partnering with ABB
fulflls all of our requirements.
One of the major advantages of the
ABB string inverter is its high 900 V input
compared to other inverters which are
limited to 600 V input. The high maximum
DC voltage allows more photovoltaic
modules to be connected in series, which
results in higher string power for the same
current. This helps to reduce cabling power
losses and also cabling size and cost.
The use of internal components for
protection and isolation makes the ABB
string inverter PVS300 a complete solution
for solar power installations.
For more information please contact:
ABB Oy Drives
Jyrki Leppnen
Tel: +358 (0)10 22 23022
jyrki.leppanen@f.abb.com
www.abb.com/solar
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INSTALLATION INSIGHT
S
olar power has many devotees:
manufacturers, investors, green
energy enthusiasts and thieves.
Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting
the valuable PV panels, cabling and other
hardware in solar installations, and how best
to frustrate their ambitions is becoming a
major challenge for the industry.
These panels are worth inordinate
amounts and are relatively easy to steal,
says Benoit Rolland, managing director of
Tenesol. Entire systems can disappear in a
few hours.
These well-organised crimes often take
place in the dead of night when a group
of thieves armed with tools and a truck can
quickly remove large quantities of solar
panels or in some cases every part of a
complete PV system. According to a recent
study by US specialist insurer SolarInsure,
the past few years has seen a signifcant
increase in solar panel robbery. Solar thefts
grew by 15% in 2009 compared with the
previous year and some believe that fgure
has risen by 15% each year since 2002.
There was 19% increase year over year
from 2009 to 2010, says Mike Smith, senior
vice president of sales at SolarInsure. The
top three locations for theft are solar arrays
located in rural areas, wineries and schools.
American schools are being hit particularly
hard. Smith gives a fgure of approximately
US$8.5 million for solar panel theft losses in
school districts over the last two years. And
the problem isnt just confned to the US. In
the UK, for example, 304 panels worth some
100,000 (121,124) were stolen from a solar
project in North Yorkshire in the November
of 2011.
Though manufacturers warranty solar
panels and can even guarantee their
electricity generation, increasingly some
form of physical protection that prevents
panel removal is needed. Indeed, some
insurers now demand that security measures
are in place before they will cover an
installation. With premiums rising by 20%-
50% following a claim and doubling or more
in the event of multiple claims, investing in
a security system looks like common sense.
Security measures we recommend
and sometimes require on all systems
include fencing, security fasteners, alarms
and system monitoring tools, movement
detection lights and on-site security guards,
says Smith.
Using tighten-and-break anti-theft screws
to fasten panels to mounting frames is a
popular solution. Simple to install, they are
a straightforward way to increase security.
When the applied tightening torque reaches
a critical value, the hexagonal head of the
nut breaks off completely, leaving a conical
head that no wrench can grip.
On easily accessible fat roofs or with
small ground-mounted systems, where
customers are worried about potential theft
we use snap-off headed bolts which must
be drilled out to remove the module frame
clamps, says Smith. This generally will
deter potential thieves. Installations using
standard fxing bolts could be at risk.
Some installations are secure simply
due to their location. For example, the
majority of UK solar installations are on the
roofs of houses and offces. Generally two
storeys high or more, a crook would need
scaffolding to access the panels and plenty
of time to remove them hard to achieve
in an urban environment. However, rural
systems are vulnerable, with CCTV or on-site
security guards seemingly the only ways to
prevent theft.
Remote systems, often powering
batteries, are stolen, no matter what
precautions are taken, says Smith. These
include river monitoring equipment and
road signs, and because they are in the
countryside, it gives thieves more time to
remove them without getting caught.
As well as anti-theft fasteners, SolarInsure
recommends using security lighting in
the form of foodlights linked to motion
sensors. Further options include building a
reinforced concrete wall around the panel
mountings, so preventing access to the
supporting structure and its bolts. The only
accessible part of the array is then the upper
glass side of the PV modules and access for
maintenance is via a door in the wall.
Mounting panels on high poles is another
common solution, giving more fexibility to
add or remove panels as required compared
to a fxed wall. Beyond these passive
physical deterrents, more sophisticated
alarm systems can be put in place to actively
alert the appropriate staff or authorities to
the presence of burglars.
ADDRESSING THE
PV THEFT THREAT
How to win the fght against solar crime
Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting solar installations, attempting to relieve owners of modules, copper cabling and
other high value hardware. Theft has become so widespread that addressing security is becoming a major challenge for the
industry. What are companies doing to stop the theft of solar system components? By James Lawson.
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Connecting wires to each panel in an array to form simple
electrical loops is one solution used in both remote and urban
installations. When the cables are cut during a robbery, the
current in the loops drops to zero. This change can be used to
trip an alarm or trigger a message via a mobile transmitter, so
giving the signal for security intervention by police or others.
Many vendors in different industries use this type of technology,
but GridLock Solar Security has developed its own solar-specifc
packaged solution. This can manage fve separate cable loops,
meaning that each unit can protect from 50 to 100 kW of solar
modules and a security lockout key allows only authorised
personnel to disable and access the alarm system while a tamper-
resistant access panel protects the control system.
Auxiliary control relays allow for the operation of external
devices such as cameras, video and additional lighting, and a
backup battery ensures that the system will operate even if grid
power is absent. Using a 12 V supply is an option, as is using a PV
power source; the vendor can supply a ftting kit that includes a
PV module, charge controller, battery enclosure and pole mount.
California-based Tigo Energy has built security functions
into its solar system management software that can send alerts
to solar system owners when a panel is disconnected. A chip
embedded in the panel communicates wirelessly with a central
monitoring unit. If this communication is interrupted, the panel is
automatically deactivated and the system sends out alerts. The
deactivated panel cannot be brought online in another location
without a special security code.
Another solution is to deploy an infra-red security barrier
around the installation. This again can trigger alarms, lights or
a mobile transmitter and has the advantage of tripping before
the thieves start to dismantle the modules. A disadvantage is
that stray animals or windblown debris can cause false alarms,
so some sort of physical barrier outside the infra-red detectors
is also required.
SECURITY OFF THE GRID
Off-grid installations in distant areas of undeveloped countries
bring their own security challenges.
Many industries make use of solar panels ruggedness and
dependability to power off-grid systems, while rural electrifcation
and solar water pumping in Africa and other less developed
regions depend on smaller PV systems to serve isolated villages.
Phaesuns work in remote parts of Eritrea is a good example
of this type of remote installation. Built to supply power
for community water pumping, theft is not generally a big
problem. Solar technology is not yet well known and used,
while communities in remote Eritrean villages hold fast to their
traditional culture which proscribes theft.
In these instances, it follows that involving the local community
is the best way to prevent theft and vandalism, according to a
recent study by the Alliance for Rural Electrifcation. Bringing
all the stakeholders together is fundamental to any sustainable,
successful and secure solar installation in a remote location where
they can crucially enforce the rules and prevent vandalism and
other damage.
According to Graldine Quelle, head of marketing at Phaesun,
the frst step to protecting a remote installation should simply be
a solid fence with a lockable gate, and a watchman if available.
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This stops easy penetration of the site by
people and animals, she says. The next step
is to secure the modules to their support
structures and, in turn, to the concrete
foundation using anti-theft fasteners.
Special anti-theft screws are being used
to protect our solar installations from theft
and vandalism, says Russom Semere, head
of Phaesuns technical department. Dozens
of such installations exist in Eritrea, and
no theft has been reported as yet, except
some breakage of modules due to children
throwing stones while playing around.
Installations in the two industrial markets
of telecoms and oil and gas tend to be
rather more vulnerable. Oil wells and
pipelines are in some of the most isolated
environments on the globe while telecoms
operators increasingly look to PV generation
rather than diesel power to supply the
electricity required by telecommunications
infrastructure in far-fung off-grid locations.
The solar system itself provides the fnal
key to security: electricity from the panels
powers surveillance equipment and remote
monitoring tools. Such devices ensure
system operators can keep an eye on
systems no matter where they are.
We can remotely monitor power output
and effciency via an online link, says
Rolland. Cameras take their power from the
solar panels and, via the internet, we can
view the video images at any location.
Telecoms giant Orange runs one
of the largest PV programmes for
telecommunications use across Africa, the
Middle East and Asia.
Tenesol recently launched S-TE Sun
Guard, a secure solar support structure
intended to deter theft in rural locations and
off-grid sites. It employs self-destructing
bolts, welded U-frames, stainless steel
links and concrete settings to ensure its
PV systems are among the most secure in
the world. The structure can be linked to
a remote monitoring system that warns
operators when a panel has been tampered
with. In addition, fencing and surveillance
equipment powered by the PV system can
be used as an added deterrent.
Protecting investment in solar power
means protecting solar systems, says
Rolland. We want our customers
investments to be as secure as possible
both in terms of the physical system and
its productivity. Tenesol guarantees the
performance of its modules and now we
have used our experience and innovation
to offer strong guarantees on the security of
our modules.
The S-TE Sun Guard system is designed
to remain intact for more than 25 years and
panels can only be removed by cutting them
out of the structure.
Up to six PV modules are welded into
stainless steel U-frames. Each module is
then individually secured using security
bolts. Modules are held together by steel
links, which also use self-destructing bolts,
and which are wrapped in concrete. The
entire structure is then fxed in place with
steel feet secured in concrete.
RE-USE, RECYCLE, RE-SELL?
One puzzling question is: where do all these
panels end up? In less developed countries,
light or non-existent regulation makes resale
simple while, in the UK at least, selling stolen
panels is more of a challenge for criminals.
The use of secondhand equipment is
outlawed by the feed-in tariff (FiT) process,
says Ray Noble, specialist PV consultant at
the UKs Solar Trade Association. You have
to show an invoice for the installation and so
theft may not become a major problem here.
Of course, with module prices continuing to
drop rapidly, the value to the thieves is also
reducing.
As well as using unique security chips
in modules as Tigo Energy proposes,
individually marking panels is another way
to discourage re-use. For example, Phaesun
gives its customers the option of etching
their own unique identifer on their panels,
typically by sand blasting an image.
In 2009, Napa Valley congressman Mike
Thompson added a provision to the Solar
Technology Roadmap Act that would create
a national registry for solar panel serial
numbers to deter theft. The bill passed in
the House of Representatives but never
became law.
Possibly as a result, in the US there is a
growing black market for solar panels with
California the centre of the illegal trade.
The state also has the highest number of
installed solar power systems in the country
to date.
Some of the panels end up on Craigslist,
ebay and other web sites where they are
resold, says Smith. Sometimes we are
able to track the panels via model and
serial numbers and notify local police
departments. If they are sold outside the
state or country, that would make them
more diffcult to track.
Most of the panels stolen in California are
also in remote areas, with vineyards a prime
target for example. Typically drug addicts
and marijuana growers have been blamed
for the crimes.
According to reports by the San Francisco
Business Times, police in the wine-growing
region of Californias Napa Valley think
that marijuana growers might be stealing
the panels for their own use, so the
electricity required to grow large quantities
of marijuana inside a home or building
wouldnt be detected. Elsewhere in the US,
police have conducted sting operations,
posing as buyers of secondhand panels and
then arresting the seller if the goods appear
to have been stolen.
As PV installations continue to proliferate,
the opportunities for theft can only rise.
By combining secure mounting systems
with sophisticated alarms and coming up
with ways to individually and permanently
identify modules or even disable stolen
ones, manufacturers are responding by
giving their customers the best possible
chance to win the fght against solar crime.
James Lawson is a freelance journalist
focusing on the energy sector.
This article is available on-line. To comment
on it or forward it to a colleague, visit
Remote telecoms base stations require
additional security measures.
Tenesol
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SOLAR STRATEGY
B
razil is to host the World Cup in
June and July 2014, when the most
successful international soccer team in
history will attempt to win the competition
for a record sixth time for the frst time on
home soil. The tournament will also present
Brazil with a huge opportunity to show
the world that it is fnally ready to achieve
its goals in a host of other important areas
and leave behind its long-term status as the
sleeping giant of the Americas.
Bold plans to make the month-long
tournament the most sustainable yet staged
are amongst the proposals, and solar power
will have a key role to play in turning this
ambition into a reality.
Brazils blueprint for staging a greener
World Cup comes at a time when solar
power companies, led by a host of Chinese
frms, are investing huge amounts of money
into sponsorship of sports and football clubs
around the world.
As well as helping to raise solar energys
profle with millions of sports fans, such
deals also seem sure to improve awareness
amongst sports fnancial backers of the
potential economic benefts of installing
panels that can double as both a building
material and a clean power generator.
Industry fgures predict that solar panels
embedded in roofng could become a
standard feature of stadia in the near future
as the new wave of building integrated
photovoltaics (BIPV) gains credibility in the
world of big money sports.
Much attention has been given to Qatars
plans for state-of-the-art solar stadia that
helped the Gulf state win the right to host
the 2022 World Cup. For more on this
development see the November-December
2010 edition of REW.
However, if Brazil realises all its own
plans then the 2014 World Cup may yet
be remembered as the frst green football
spectacular a full eight years before Qatar.
The Brazilian government announced
in September 2011 that all 12 tournament
stadia would be expected to achieve a
minimum sustainability standard. And, it
was decided that Brazils National Bank of
Economic and Social Development (BNDES)
will only open lines of fnance for stadia
committed to achieving the standard. Even
the arenas that didnt request resources
from BNDES opted to strive for certifcation
of sustainable construction, said Fabricio
Barreto, co-ordinator of the certifcation
project for the stadia.
By the start of 2012, 10 of the 12
host venues had applied to the Green
Building Council, the US-based non-proft
organisation, for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) status.
Of the 10 Belo Horizonte, Braslia,
Cuiab, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal,
Recife, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador the
jewel in the crown will be the refurbished
Man Garrincha stadium in the capital
Braslia, which organisers hope will become
the frst football stadium in the world to
achieve LEED Platinum status, the highest
level attainable.
With renovation works due for completion
in December 2012, among the key features
will be a roof of tensioned canvas featuring an
SPORT GOES
SOLAR
Plans for a greener World Cup
Bold plans to make the 2014 football World Cup the most sustainable yet staged are amongst the proposals which Brazil
hopes will help transform the countrys global image, and solar power will have a key role to play in turning this target into
a reality. The nation plans to revamp its stadia with solar panels and more. By Robin Yapp
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SOLAR STRATEGY
array of PV panels with capacity to generate
2.5 MWp. Suffcient to generate at least 50%
of the stadiums energy needs even in peak
periods during the tournament, at other
times, the energy produced is expected to
comfortably surpass the arenas needs with
the excess being fed into the grid.
According to some reports, the
construction costs could eventually surpass
R$900 million (US$486 million), up from the
R$688 million ($372 million) offcial estimate.
But a signifcant drop in operating and
maintenance costs will result in annual
savings of around R$7 million ($3.78 million)
after completion, according to the offce
in charge of the project, which says it will
provide a legacy for 50 years or more.
The revamped Maracan in Rio, which will
host the tournament fnal, will also have a
ring of solar panels within the stadium roof.
The German frm Schlaich Bergermann &
Partner has developed plans for the stadium
to generate enough solar power to avoid
2560 tonnes of CO
2
emissions, although
earlier plans for the stadium to offer
3.3 MWp of solar power will not be realised.
Nonetheless, solar will have an important
role to play at other venues, many of which
are still fnalising their plans.
The Estdio Governador Magalhes Pinto
in Belo Horizonte, better known as the
Mineiro, will have up to 1.5 MWp of solar
panels installed in its roof.
In the northeastern city of Recife, the
Pernambuco Arena will feature solar heating
to supply energy to the changing rooms,
toilets and kitchens.
Despite the ambitious plans now taking
shape, it was only last August that the frst
concrete plans to install solar panels at
a soccer stadium anywhere in Brazil or
indeed Latin America were disclosed.
The 403 kWp PV system at the Pituau
Stadium in Salvador, in the northeastern state
of Bahia, is being installed in a joint effort by
Gehrlicher Solar AG of Germany and Brazils
Ecoluz Participacoes S.A., under the name
Gehrlicher Ecoluz Solar do Brasil S.A. It is
scheduled for completion as REW goes to
press and is expected to provide 630 MWh
annually from two different photovoltaic
module technologies. The canopy covering
most of the 32,157 seats features 238 kWp
of US supplier Uni-Solars fexible thin-flm
modules, while the changing room and
car park roofs house 165 kWp of Yinglis
monocrystalline modules.
Pituau will not host any offcial World Cup
matches but will be used for some training
sessions. However, the rapid installation of
solar at the venue means it has been seen
as an important forerunner for hopes of
installing solar systems at match venues.
Claudio Langone, co-ordinator of
the Chamber of the Environment and
Sustainability for the 2014 World Cup, said
his team was working to set a new mark for
sustainability.
Germany in 2006 did some very good
work, and South Africa in 2010 also had some
interesting aspects, Langone said, referring
to the past two World Cup tournaments.
In Brazil in 2014 the sustainability of the
tournament will be the best so far achieved,
incorporating new approaches to this issue.
All the stadiums will meet a minimum
standard for sustainability in construction,
some that also use photovoltaic power will
reach a higher standard still.
With stadia in the cities of Cuiaba,
Fortaleza and Manaus also committed, at
least seven of the 12 venues are expected to
use solar power.
Other locations around the world with high
solar yields are also beginning to harness
their solar potential for sporting ends.
In 2009 Taiwan inaugurated the worlds frst
100% solar-powered stadium, featuring 8844
panels which generate 1.14 GWh annually.
Surplus energy from Dragon Stadium is
sold by the Taiwanese government.
More recently, and on a slightly more
modest scale, the Carrara football stadium
on Australias Gold Coast had 600 glass-
glass solar modules with a capacity of
220 kWp integrated into its roof.
According to Scheuten Solar, the Carrara
is the largest BIPV project so far in Australia.
The PV roof will generate 20% of the
stadiums annual energy consumption.
The publicity surrounding high-profle
football stadia featuring solar and the
matches they stage could act as a catalyst
for the technology to be more widely
adopted within sport, according to Mike
Clay, marketing manager of Wales-based
renewables company Dulas.
If the roofs are built with PV already
integrated, you reduce the costs of the
systems, he said, adding: I think with the
pressure for carbon reduction and the
improvements in technology, this should be
a de facto part of sports stadia. It should not
just be an aspiration. For landmark events
like the World Cup there is the PR kudos and
the visible commitment to offsetting carbon
emissions.
At least seven
of Brazils 2014
World Cup venues
are expected to
use solar power
Organisers hope that Man Garrincha stadium in Braslia will become the frst football stadium in the world
to achieve LEED Platinum status, the highest level attainable. Castro Mello Arq. Esportiva
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SOLAR STRATEGY
Having a global audience and showing the potential is vital.
You get lots of overhead shots of stadiums and if all those shots
are showing solar on the roofs that is a good message to be
sending to the millions watching.
So if the use of solar power in sports stadia seems a surefre
winner from environmental and public relations perspectives and
a safe long-term bet economically, are there any serious potential
pitfalls that may hold back its expansion?
Steven Munday, Renewable Power and Cleantech leader at
insurance brokerage Marsh, says: There is nothing that puts it
out there as a major insurance risk as such. In some territories,
and possibly in Brazil, there are issues of theft risk. Panels are hard
to protect. They go up very quickly and if they are removed they
are very hard to replace. See page 14 for more on this theme.
So the costs of security during construction may need to be
considered but, as Munday added, the general risks associated
with a large construction project... are probably going to
outweigh the risks with the panels.
The issue of performance degradation of panels and the
strength of guarantees offered by manufacturers could be
a bigger worry though. If there is a faster degradation than
expected, normally you would ask the manufacturer to come out
and fx the panels so there may be access issues can you get
there to do the replacements and how will that effect a schedule
of events? says Munday, who also noted: If there are defects will
the manufacturer be available for the next 25 to 30 years to make
good those panels?
But Munday also points to the existence of insurance policies
drawn up to cover manufacturer insolvencies.
One frm offering a 25-year guarantee for 80% or more of
nameplate power is Yingli, which has put itself at the centre of
the solar industrys drive to become recognised within sport.
The company was a sponsor of the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa, becoming both the frst Chinese company and frst green
energy frm to sponsor the worlds biggest football event.
During the tournament shares in Yingli rose by 46% and, not
surprisingly, in June 2011 it signed up as a sponsor of the 2014
World Cup.
Liansheng Miao, Yinglis chairman and chief executive offcer,
spoke of the tremendous increase in brand awareness and
inquiries the company benefted from after South Africa 2010.
But looking ahead to Brazil 2014 he also talked of the chance
to help build a greener FIFA World Cup and a more sustainable
future with affordable clean energy provided by the sun.
Yingli is currently involved in confdential talks about the
installation of solar energy at 2014 World Cup stadia and the
company said it can release no details at present.
The frm, which is also partnered with US Soccer, Bayern Munich
(Germanys top football club), and the New York Jets American
football team, is also in talks about powering the temporary FIFA
and local organising committee headquarters which will spring
up around Brazil in 2014.
But Yingli is far from alone amongst solar manufacturers in
venturing into the world of sports advertising.
In Germany no less than 15 solar companies fve of them
Chinese have signed sponsorship deals with clubs in the
countrys top football division, the Bundesliga, for a total
estimated value of 20 million in 2011.
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SOLAR STRATEGY
Philipp Kupfer, a senior key account manager at Sport+Markt,
a German consultancy on sports marketing and sponsorship,
said the infux of sponsors from one sector was a unique
phenomenon. He predicted that the number of solar sponsors
will diminish but that agreements for the provision of solar energy
at training grounds or stadia will become a more signifcant
element in deals of this kind.
The topic of corporate social responsibility is important to
clubs and solar energy companies alike, he said.
Two English clubs, Fulham and Bolton Wanderers, have also
signed similar sponsorship deals in a further sign of the global
growth of a symbiotic relationship between sport and solar.
Looking ahead to 2014, FIFA, footballs world governing body,
has voiced some doubts about Brazils ability to meet all the
infrastructure challenges it faces, but appears to have no qualms
about trumpeting the events potential environmental legacy.
Federico Addiechi, FIFAs head of corporate social responsibility,
believes Brazil to be a natural leader on sustainability and has
spoken of the tournament creating a model to be followed for a
greener approach to constructing and operating stadia.
Even Munday, the professional risk assessor, agrees that there
are great reasons for optimism in considering the partnership
potential for sport and solar beyond 2014. Insurers had a bad
year in 2011 with Fukushima, the New Zealand earthquake and
foods, and stadia location may be an issue [in terms of solar
panels in roofng] with the risk of storms and hail damage, but my
view based on experience over the past few years is that the cost
of solar PV is reducing dramatically and will soon be equivalent
to other types of power generation, he says, adding: I think
you can see it being a standard building material in these sort of
structures [sports stadia] going forward.
It is now in Brazils hands to ensure that their World Cup is
remembered as the landmark event in solar sports.
Robin Yapp is a freelance journalist.
This article is available on line. To comment on it or forward it
to a colleague, visit: www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com
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1
WIND TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT - MARCHAPRIL 2012
March-April 2012
CONTENTS
REGULARS
From the editor 2
Tech notes 20
Whats new in the world of wind technology
FEATURES
Supply chain shift to quality 5
BTMs annual assessment fnds a tough time for the industry, with restructuring
under way. A slower than expected US economic recovery, combined with the Eurozone
debt crisis, and most recently the Chinese governments effort to overhaul the local
wind industry have completely transformed the supply chain.
By David Appleyard
Building a better gearbox 9
New bearing solutions represent real possibilities for gearbox designers and address
many of the failure modes prevalent in the wind turbine gearbox industry today.
By Gerald Fox
New gearbox designs for offshore 12
After the success of the conventional gearbox design, new concepts such as the Multi
Duored gearbox and the HybridDrive are now especially designed and developed to
meet offshore requirements for compact design, high effciency and easy maintenance.
By Tobias Hang
Offshore goes medium speed 14
Since they were introduced in 2000, Medium Speed Permanent Magnet Generators (MS
PMGs) have offered the means to reduce the top head mass of offshore turbines without
compromising reliability. Their low O&M costs together with the highest effciency levels
in the market maximise annual production of kWh and Life Cycle Proft for the end user.
The new semi-integrated solution also enables easy servicing and serial production of
fully tested, low weight plug-in units.
By Timo Heinonen
Health & safety: Focus on zinc 16
Heavy metal contamination of zinc-rich paints in the form of high lead and cadmium
content is not a minor issue. Both of these heavy metals are toxic to humans and the
environment, and their presence in many products is restricted by legislation. Yet paints
with high levels of lead and cadmium are used to prevent wind turbine corrosion.
By Pascal Verbiest
New offshore measurement tools 17
Traditional approaches to wind resource assessment rely on the installation of met
masts to take physical readings. However, offshore resource assessment, particularly far
offshore and in deep water, can present signifcant challenges to this approach. Here we
explore some of the solutions in the works.
By Tildy Bayar
Cover image credit: Bosch Rexroth AG
GROUP PUBLISHER Ralph Boon
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Tom Fowler
CHIEF EDITOR David Appleyard
CONSULTING EDITOR Jackie Jones
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tildy Bayar
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PRODUCTION MANAGER Kimberlee Smith
SALES MANAGERS Peter Andersen, Alasdair Evans,
Dan Harper, Kate Hart, Rick Peredina,
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DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Leo Wolfert
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2
David Appleyard, Chief Editor, Renewable Energy World
FROM THE EDITOR
Driving for effciency, reliability and economy, turbine
designers are constantly wrestling with the apparently
conficting choices these three factors engender.
Perhaps inevitably, by making machines more robust and
therefore more reliable their weight would be expected to
increase. Any such increase in mass has a corresponding
impact on foundations and towers, the requirements for
heavy lifting gear and challenges in sourcing components
and potential subcontractors capable of manufacturing such
high precision parts. All of these factors have an infuence on
costs, and not just on the costs of installation, but also on
the operations and maintenance regimes, and ultimately on
the most vital consideration for investors in and developers of
energy infrastructure the lifetime cost of energy produced
from these machines.
It is no coincidence that these infuences become even more
signifcant as wind turbines become larger and more powerful
and move away from land and into deep waters where the
primacy of reliability, the challenges of installation, operations
and maintenance and the scale of the engineering involved
becomes all the more enhanced.
At the heart of any wind turbine is the drive train, and it is no
surprise that these components are the focus of a signifcant
proportion of the on-going research and development efforts
of the wind industry.
In this edition of Wind Technology we present three different
approaches to the challenge of maintaining reliability whilst
keeping top head mass to an absolute minimum, with views
from ABB, Timken and Winergy. Each of these major players
offers a different solution to this problem with a view to the
ultimate goal, delivering the best long term cost of energy.
Another challenge facing the industry is that of securing a
supply chain of components, an issue which, again, becomes
more pressing as components become larger and more
complex, limiting the number of manufacturers that can
deliver whilst ensuring that the demands of superb quality are
met. The new BTM Consult supply chain analysis explores
these themes in detail, and we report on it in depth in this
edition, starting on page 5.
Key themes emerging from this analysis include the
suggestion that the wind turbine component market is in fux,
shifting from a position of constraint just a few years ago to a
market currently characterised by oversupply as a result of the
economic turmoil we fnd ourselves in. The authors argue that
this, in turn, has resulted in a fight to quality as developers
aim to secure the most reliable systems at the best possible
price. While this situation again presents challenges for the
manufacturing sector, it nonetheless offers opportunities and
contributes to delivering on those lower costs of energy.
Again looking offshore, this edition also includes a report on
the issue of resource assessment, here in deep waters where
alternatives to met masts may yield signifcant advantages. As
always, it seems that it is the engineers and designers
who are leading this industry to grid parity.
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12 14 June 2012
Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
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Owned and Produced by: Colocarecwir|:
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5
WIND TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT - MARCH APRIL 2012
COMPONENT SUPPLY
By David Appleyard
SUPPLY CHAIN
QUALITY PLAY
Over the past fve years the whole of the wind technology supply chain has been in fux. The industry has seen a dramatic
turnaround, with a negative supply situation for some key components and materials transformed into the current position,
with a signifcant supply surplus. We present the key fndings of the latest BTM Consult Supply Chain Assessment report.
INDUSTRY SWITCHES TO OVERSUPPLY
Slower than expected economic recovery in the US, combined with
the eurozone sovereign debt crisis and most recently the Chinese
governments effort to overhaul the local wind industry, have
completely transformed the wind industry supply chain. So concludes
the latest in the biennial supply chain report from BTM Consult ApS,
now a part of Chicago-based consultancy frm Navigant, Inc.
This comprehensive analysis reveals that over the past fve
years the industry has seen a dramatic turnaround, with a negative
supply situation (2005-2008) for some key components and
materials transformed into the current position with a signifcant
surplus. Furthermore, with overcapacity now the case for most key
components and materials, turbine prices have dropped to a level
where both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sub-
suppliers are failing to see proftability, suggesting a tough time for
the industry and a likely restructuring.
Indeed, in response to a slump in demand and ferce competition
based on both quality and price, some suppliers have already reduced
or suspended production with even some Chinese companies
shuttering their businesses. But BTM believes it is not necessarily a
bad thing for wind to be forced to provide products with low cost and
high quality. They argue that clear underlying trends of a fight to
quality and consolidation have actually brought more opportunities to
qualifed suppliers with strength in both technology and fnance. This
is becoming vital, in particular to cater for the offshore wind market,
where turbine OEMs already face a sourcing challenge for large
components and equipment (for turbine manufacture and installation)
and an even greater challenge in achieving rapid industrialisation.
A supply chain in fux
According to BTM, there have been signifcant changes in the supply
chain for the wind power manufacturing industry over the past fve
years, most recently triggered by the worldwide economic downturn.
The tight supply chain situation has been eased since the severe global
fnancial crisis weakened the growth rate of wind power deployment
two years ago. A balance of supply and demand was fnally reached
for all key components and materials in 2011 due to a slower than
expected economic recovery in most industrialised countries. In fact,
there is an overcapacity for many components and materials using
standard processes.
In a buyers market, ferce competition for both quality and price
has already pushed many suppliers, mainly from China, to the edge
of collapse. Although established European suppliers are better
positioned compared to newcomers in terms of perceptions of
quality, reducing the product cost without sacrifcing margins is still a
challenge. Clearly, more consolidation will be seen in the supply chain
in the next few years.
Apart from the key strategic parts, components and materials are
being increasingly outsourced by large European turbine suppliers
to Asia, particularly China which is the worlds largest wind power
equipment manufacturing base. Although some European turbine
OEMs are still hesitant to move away from their established suppliers,
Scheurle
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6
due to concerns over quality, economic pressure derived primarily
from the decline in turbine prices is challenging turbine vendors,
especially those who want to compete in the Chinese market, to
accept higher risks to stay in the business.
Following the dramatic growth in installations, leading European
turbine and key components suppliers had already shifted part of
their manufacturing capacities to China and the US the worlds two
largest markets in terms of wind power installed capacity. However,
manufacturers face important strategic decisions in diversifying their
markets due to the uncertainty of developments in the US and the
challenge of overcapacity in China. Suppliers are currently moving
into new strategic markets such India, the UK and Brazil. Recently
launched local content requirements in Brazil, Canada and India are
also encouraging such a trend.
Overall, under current market conditions, many manufacturing
facilities which had been geared to the fast growing wind market
are running at part-load. There will therefore be enough capacity
in the supply chain to cater for growth, assuming that the market
follows BTMs demand forecast for the next fve years. The recent
introduction of multi-MW offshore turbines (mostly 5-6 MW) by turbine
manufacturers in both Europe and China, however, means that there
may be a tight supply chain situation for some strategic components,
partly because it takes time for the supply chain to prepare for mass
production of such large parts.
Key components
During the wind energy boom period, investors were increasingly
favouring a vertically integrated approach to turbine manufacture.
More recently, however, the attitude towards investment has
clearly changed from one of urgent enthusiasm to one of caution. With
a buyers market, the pressure on the supply chain to meet market
growth has gone, resulting in ferce competition for both product
price and quality. In addition, the economic turmoil has signifcantly
slowed down the availability of cash. Against this background, turbine
manufacturers are much more willing to outsource components.
At the same time, with the average capacity of wind turbines
steadily increasing, especially for the next generation of multi-MW
offshore machines, the requirements from turbine manufacturers for
both new technology and high quality components have limited the
number of independent suppliers which can keep up with the pace of
development. BTM indicates that these two factors have combined to
create the current mainstream wind supply chain strategy.
Enercon is the only supplier in the Top 15 with full vertical
integration in the manufacture of turbine components. Although
the rest of the suppliers all have in-house capacity for producing
vital components such as blades, gearboxes, generators and control
systems, they still source a part of their supply from independent
sub-suppliers. It is clear that blades and control systems are key
components that most turbine OEMs prefer to produce in-house.
With the secure supply of gearboxes becoming threatened, several
large turbine vendors have adopted a strategy of buying out gearbox
suppliers, but this situation has changed as supply chain bottlenecks
have eased up with the recession.
Summary of supply status
This assessment indicates that although today the technical capacity
for key materials exists on a global basis, there are a number of
underlying issues which are a cause for concern.
The supply of castings and forgings, when considered on a
global basis, suggests overcapacity. Both are, however, characterised
by a strong regional imbalance in supply, with forgings in the US
being in short supply and fears of tightness in Europe by 2014,
despite a signifcant over capacity in China and South Korea. Severe
overcapacity is complemented by ferce competition in both price
and quality during a time where both higher raw material prices and
labour costs plague European and North American suppliers. Partner
selection still remains a key challenge in meeting the strict quality
specifcations, an issue of growing concern as quality requirements
increase with the trend towards increasing turbine size, a key concern
for gearbox and bearing suppliers.
For the key materials used in the production of blades it is clear
that there is no challenge in meeting demand with evidence for
the necessary investment to ensure capacity is suffcient. Similarly,
there are no concerns over the woven and stitched fabrics as close
coordination between the suppliers and the market ensures that the
necessary investment has been put in place to meet demand. The
only concern remains in the pre-preg market where only a small subset
of companies are providing pre-pregs. Despite recent investments,
demand for pre-pregs is expected to be tight for the next few years
T: (44) 1476-576-280 E: sales@bgbinnovation.com
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COMPONENT SUPPLY
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until new suppliers enter this part of the value chain. Glass fbre is
still expected to maintain its position as the material of choice for
the general blade industry, although demand for an increase in
the stiffness-to-weight ratio in blades catering to the offshore wind
segment could mean that carbon fbre will increasingly come into
favour. In terms of resins, there is a short-term tightness in the epoxy
market due to the market supply of bisphenol A but there are no
major long-term constraints expected for either epoxy or unsaturated
polyester based solutions. It is still expected that epoxy resins will
maintain the lions share of the market in all regions.
China is home to 97% of the worlds rare earth elements, a critical
material in permanent magnet generators. With China gradually
implementing export quotas, it has caused panic in the wind industry.
Despite tightness expected for the next two or three years, there are
positive movements from both the supply and demand side. Longer
term, it is expected that a combination of new reserves, adaptive
strategies from OEMs and governments as well as greater resource
transparency will ensure that the industry has access to the resource.
There are no reports of any serious constraints in the supply chain
for key components and materials at present, despite an increasing
concern over the potential supply of rare earth materials. Based
on the current supply chain situation that a lot of capacity will be
available if European suppliers newly established facilities come into
full operation, and a signifcant surplus of supply has been identifed
in China, there will be enough capacity in the supply chain to meet
the modest annual growth rate of 15.5% up to 2015, the reports
authors state. Nonetheless, the recent trend for introducing multi-
MW turbines (mostly 5-6 MW) by leading vendors indicates a sourcing
challenge for large components and a challenge to get these
industrialised quickly enough. This challenge can be eased, however,
once the supply chain gains the confdence required to invest heavily.
More immediately, the report concludes, the wind energy boom
has come to an end because of the ongoing global fnancial and
economic crisis, with the previous tight situation in the supply chain
easing in 2010. Due to the global economic recovery being slower
than expected, and a slump in demand from the second quarter of
2011 onwards, not only has a balance been reached between supply
and demand and but in most cases a signifcant surplus has been
identifed, prompting a fight to quality in a buyers market.
Author Details
David Appleyard is Chief Editor of Renewable Energy World
magazine.
This article is available on-line. To comment on it or forward it to a
colleague, visit: www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com
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GloLalarrenrionisLeingpaicroAlricaspowerrequiremenrs
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cevelopmenr, criving r|e neec lor more wicespreac anc
reliaLleelecrriciry.
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wir| r|ose ceveloping power inlrasrrucrure in r|is cynamic
regionolr|eworlc,r|isisanewevenryoucannorallorcro
miss.
Invitation to Exhibit
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incusrries in Alrica, r|en FWEFGEN Alrica is
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Ar|reecayevenr,FWEFGENAlricaservesr|eincusrrys
inlormarion anc nerworking neecs wir| a cecicarec rrace
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DRIVE TRAINS
By Gerald Fox
BUILDING A
BETTER GEARBOX
For the gearbox industry to compete in wind, it will need to embrace new technology that will restore reliability while
achieving reductions in top head mass. New solutions represent real possibilities for gearbox designers and address many
of the failure modes prevalent in the industry today.
IMPROVING RELIABILITY
As wind turbines continue to grow in capacity, designers must
determine a way to improve reliability while decreasing mass
and cost using lean principles and advanced technology. Hybrid
wind turbine architecture is receiving prime consideration today
among design houses, especially for larger capacity machines. This
common-sense design combines a simplifed medium-speed gearbox
with a mid-speed permanent magnet generator. The result is usually a
compact power train with a relatively low mass.
It is common for a hybrid design to contain a one- or two-stage
planetary gearing system intended to simplify the power train and
improve performance and reliability. The theory is that reliability is
improved by reducing the number of parts and eliminating the high
speed stages which are prone to bearing damage induced by some
of the dynamic operating conditions. In the planetary stages of these
medium-speed gear boxes, it is customary to support the planetary
gears on cylindrical roller bearings in a closed planetary carrier the
pin supporting the planetary bearing is supported on each end by
one of the two carrier walls that are connected with webs between
two adjacent planetary gears.
Some planetary drive trains are gradually being upgraded to
incorporate preloaded tapered roller bearings under the planet gears
to add reliability by eliminating smearing and micropitting, which can
develop when sliding occurs in bearings operating under no-load with
clearance. Such condition often occur in a turbine that is rotating but
not producing power. With proper design, the preload that can be
incorporated through use of the tapered roller bearing will maintain
load and traction forces in each of the roller contacts in this no-load
state, thus maintaining pure rolling instead of skidding.
Flexpin technology
Another option for hybrid wind turbines incorporates fexpin
technology in the planetary gearing system. There are several new
building blocks related to fexpin technology that have been developed
in recent years that make adaptation of fexpin technology a straight
forward solution for achieving higher reliability. This technology can
make the hybrid design more competitive with a direct drive design
claiming higher reliability by eliminating the gearbox altogether.
Originally introduced around 1965 by Raymond Hicks, a British
inventor, the typical confguration includes multiple spur gear
fexpins arranged around a single walled planetary carrier. Pins are
cantilevered from the single walled carrier which eliminates the
unwanted gear face misalignment that is created by torsional wind-
up in a two-walled, straddle-mounted planetary carrier system. This
eliminates the need for lead correction on the face of the gears.
Flexpins are built on the principle of a twin cantilever beam which
bends under load in a circumferential direction along the pitch line
of the planet gears, all the while maintaining nearly perfect gear
alignment. The bending at each pin also has the effect of equalising
the loads among multiple adjacent planets. It is common for a fexpin
system to contain as many as seven planetary idlers, and with careful
engineering nearly equal load distribution can be achieved. Therefore,
a fexpin system can allow distribution of input torque more evenly
over a higher number of planets and eliminate most of the gear face
misalignment from torsional wind-up, reducing gear stress.
Design of the Flexpin bearing
Flexpins can be constructed in a number of ways, but the Integrated
Flexpin Bearing (IFB) has a unique but simple construction comprising
very few parts: the pin, sleeve, roller sets, gear, and bolt-on rib
ring. Its compact design offers good power density because it is
possible to integrate the bearing races with their mounting surfaces,
combining the cross-sections to achieve suffcient beam strength and
bearing dynamic load rating in a lower-profle cross-section. Likewise,
adaptation of a narrow bolt-on rib ring to clamp and establish
bearing clearance offers a means of reducing overall width. Reducing
radial and axial size while maintaining the dynamic load rating is
advantageous when downsizing gearbox designs.
Flexpins are also used in conjunction with spur gearing. Spur
gears are desirable because they create an optimum force pattern
for the fexpin which is meant to bend without misalignment only in a
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circumferential direction along the pitch line of the
planet gears. The two tangential forces acting
on the planetary gear are additive and create
fairly equal, side-by-side and symmetrical
load zones in the two bearing rows. These
separate forces effectively cancel each
other out.
New fexpin bearing
Another new advancement is the Helical Gear
Integrated Flexpin Bearing, which makes it
possible to increase the beam strength of the
tooth, achieve higher gear contact ratios more
easily, and reduce noise and vibration. This
development represents a true breakthough
since, until now, only spur gearing, usually high
contact ratio spur gearing, could be considered.
Helical gears add a disruptive element to the force
pattern. The helix angles at both meshes on the planet gear generate
two equal and opposite thrust forces that cancel; but they create an
overturning moment which skews the load zones in the two rows, and
adds new misalignment. The solution is to build a fexpin with normal
defection characteristics in the desired plane of bending, and much
stiffer defection characteristics in the radial plane to help minimise
the effect of the turning moment. Through careful engineering, this
can be accomplished by unifying the sleeve to the pin only in the
radial plane to increase their combined spring rate and reduce the
undesirable bending to an acceptable level.
Helical Gear Integrated Flexpin Bearings can now be applied
to single-walled (open) carrier planetary gearing systems. However,
these systems often contain a high number of planets, perhaps seven
or eight, to reduce the bending stress on the cantilevered pin to an
acceptable level. Such designs employ a larger diameter sun gear,
and smaller diameter planet, thereby reducing the step-up ratio. For
some designs a lower step-up ratio is acceptable, but when higher
output speed is desired, for example to provide input to a medium-
speed permanent magnet generator, a higher step-up ratio would be
advantageous in order to decrease generator size.
To address this need, engineers have developed the Flex-drive,
which places suffcient planets (either spur or helical) to transfer the
torque with acceptable pin stresses on two opposing arrays on a
two-walled, conventional-looking carrier. By reducing the number
of planets in the arrays, planet gear spacing permits larger diameter
planets to be used. This construction allows for a fexpin system with
a higher number of fexpins for carrying the torque and achieving a
higher step-up ratio. Depending on the variability of the duty cycle, a
Flex-drive can offer signifcant increases in power density compared
to conventional straddle-mounted planetary gearing systems. This is
possible because misalignment from torsional wind-up is eliminated,
and better load distribution is achieved among the planetary gears.
The choice of which solution is best for an application depends
greatly on the required outputs (torque and speed), surrounding
structure and constraints imposed by other elements. But with careful
engineering and support, a proper solution can usually be achieved.
Focus on serviceability
Looking forward, designers of geared wind turbines
continue to advance their products, reducing mass
and improving reliability. To complement this effort,
there is more focus on the serviceability aspect of
wind turbines.
One possible solution is a drive-train
confguration that utilises two independent
modules comprised of an upwind main
shaft bearing module on the left, and a
downwind gearbox-generator module
on the right.
This drive train architecture creates two
benefts: frstly, the access and serviceability
characteristics of each module are improved,
and secondly, if the correct main-shaft bearings
are selected for the upwind main-shaft module,
then the main-shaft loading is prevented from
entering the downwind gearbox-generator module altogether. This
represents a signifcant step towards improving gearbox reliability
because gear meshes are not adversely affected by main-shaft
defection, which is often the case in current wind turbine drive-trains.
Preferred bearing options for the main-shaft module include a
2-TS widespread combination, a large diameter double row bearing
called a TDO, or a combination of a fxed TDI taper used with a
foating NU cylindrical roller bearing. Each confguration has its
merits, and should be evaluated in terms of the unique requirements
of each wind turbine design.
One design for the downwind gearbox-generator module applies
a high ratio split compound planetary gear case that is supported
entirely on the upwind side of the pedestal. Suspended entirely
from the downwind side of the pedestal is a permanent magnet
generator which is connected to the gear case output via a torque
limiting coupling that serves as a mechanical fuse to crop off spikes
in the driveline torque created from either end of the turbine; that is,
from the rotor during turbulence, from grid faults or other transient
dynamic events. This mechanical fuse controls the maximum load,
effectively protects the gears and bearings from overloading, and
allows the gearbox designer to scale down the gear mass to arrive at
a very lean design.
These solutions represent real possibilities for gearbox designers
to address many of the failure modes prevalent in the wind turbine
gearbox industry today. For the gearbox industry to compete
in the wind sector, it will need to embrace new technology that
will restore reliability while achieving targets on top head mass
reduction technology.
Author Details
Gerald Fox is chief technologist at The Timken Company.
This article is available on line. To comment on it or forward it to a
Timken
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FFDCEDBY: FFESENTEDBY:
WWW.RENEWABLEENERGYWORLD-ASIA.COM
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
IMPACT EXHIBITION & CONVENTION CENTRE,
BANGKOK, THAILAND
3 5 OCTOBER 2012
TOWARDS A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
INVITATION TO EXHIBIT
FenewaLleEnergyWorlcAsia|asesraLlis|ecirsellasr|epremierconlerenceancex|iLirioncecicarecrorenewaLleanc
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Colocarec wir| FWEFGEN Asia, celeLraring irs 20r| Anniversary in 2012, r|e evenr arrracrs 7,000 celegares anc
arrenceeslromovero0counrrieslromacrossSour|EasrAsiaancarouncr|eworlc,irisr|eleacingincusrryevenrromeer
ancnerworkwir|seniorexecuriveancincusrryleacers.
T|ailancsGDFisprecicrecroseea5.o%growr|,leacingroao%growr|inpeakpowercemancLerween2012201oro
35,o00MWanc44,200MWLy2021.Wir|currenrcapaciryolarounc28,500MW,ma|orinlrasrrucrurereLuilcinglollowing
r|erecenrloocsanccespirecurrenrenergyimporrslromneig|Louringcounrries,T|ailancwillseeas|orrlallincapaciry
inr|enexrlewyears.
Togainaccessror|eopporrunirieswir|inr|epowerincusrryolT|ailancancwicerregion,yous|oulcensureyourpresence
arFenewaLleEnergyWorlcAsia2012.
We invite you to join us at Renewable Energy World Asia in Bangkok, Thailand from 3-5 October 2012.
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12
DRIVE TRAINS
By Tobias Hang
NOVEL DRIVE
TRAIN DESIGNS
After the success of the conventional gearbox design, new concepts such as the Multi Duored gearbox and the HybridDrive
are now being especially designed and developed to meet the requirements for compact design, high effciency and easy
maintenance. Here we explore the characteristics of two new systems for wind applications.
A CHOICE OF COMPACT SYSTEMS
It is perhaps obvious that renewable resources must have a higher
share of the energy mix, but it is indisputable that increasing this
share should not come at any price. The factors that infuence the
cost of wind energy are mainly the life-cycle costs, which include
the overall wind turbine construction, operation and maintenance
as well as the return on investment through the energy generated.
Therefore reliability, serviceability and effciency as well as a
compact wind turbine design are the key factors to make a wind
turbine competitive.
The drive train, which can be considered the heart of a wind
turbine, has a signifcant infuence on these parameters. This is why
all aspects have to be considered specifcally in the design of new and
innovative drive trains.
With more than 30 years of feld operations, the conventional
drive train, including a gearbox, coupling and generator, is a very
reliable concept which has been continuously optimised over the
decades. Today, with more than 150 GW of installed wind turbines
driven through gearboxes, it provides a lot of advantages, particularly
with respect to in-depth know-how, a huge amount of experience and
competitive production costs.
After the success of the conventional design, new concepts are now
being especially designed and developed to meet the requirements
for compact design, high effciency and easy maintenance. Every
concept has its own advantages, so it is not possible to talk about the
perfect drive train design. But every drive train also meets specifc
requirements of a single customers demands so that there is effective
consumer choice.
New concepts for offshore applications: Multi Duored
One of these new designs is the Winergy Multi Duored gearbox and
the power rating of 6.5 MW makes it the most powerful gearbox in
the world. The company developed its frst 5 MW offshore gearbox
with two planetary stages and a third helical stage back in 2003.
The Multi Duored has more of a cuboid shape in contrast to the
tube-like appearance of planetary gearboxes and this shape is a
result of the technology inside. Instead of planetary stages, the Multi
Duored gearbox consists of helical stages. For decades the duored
technology has already distinguished itself in other industry sectors
such as crusher drives and the sugar and cement industries have
relied on it, for example, because of advantages such as high reliability,
low weight and very high power density (Nm/kg). These same factors
infuence the cost of energy, so the concept was interesting for the
wind industry right from the start. With its very high power density,
the Multi Duored technology is convincing as a result of its compact
design and the reduced costs per kW. Furthermore, the length of the
drive train can be reduced signifcantly.
Another aspect that catches the eye right from the start is the fact
that the Multi Duored is equipped with two parallel output shafts as it
is coupled to two generators instead of one, as is generally the case
for conventional designs.
Primary rotary motion is transferred from the input shaft through
an eight-fold torque distribution. In three more stages the output
speed with a gear ratio of 140:1 is generated for the two generator
output shafts.
Using two generators has advantages. The use of smaller units
in the generator area allows the total length of the drive train to
A compact gearbox design is suitable for all nacelle confgurations Winergy
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be slashed by 35% when compared with a
conventional 5 MW drive train. Furthermore,
both generators have lower power
outputs. Therefore, generators of existing
power ranges can be utilised instead of
developing a multi-megawatt generator,
which frst needs to be prototyped and
therefore represents a higher risk.
The general setup of the Multi Duored
does not include a planetary stage and
almost all of the smaller components,
such as bearings, gearing and castings
are identical due to the eight-fold power
split. The smaller size and weight of these
components means that the capacity limits of the nacelle cranes are
not exceeded, so no external equipment is needed to service single
components. The small size of the gearing and bearings also means
that these parts can be manufactured worldwide. And, when stocking
spare and replacement parts the complexity is reduced to a minimum.
The compact design of the individual parts also increases the stiffness
of the gearbox as a whole.
One characteristic the design is that the gearbox can be rotated
360 around the longitudinal axis to allow all of the modules in the
nacelle to be accessed for service and the gearbox can be completely
overhauled locally.
It is also possible to achieve a higher effciency for one of the two
generators, while the other is operated with a low power. This allows
the optimum effciency of the wind turbine to be achieved.
A 6.5 MW version of the Multi Duored was created as a result of
the challenge to install a drive train with higher power rating in an
existing nacelle and a 12 MW version could be designed to address
future market demands. Indeed, the advantages of the design are not
diminished by increasing the power rating but are rather increased as
a result of the higher savings relating to weight and size in comparison
with conventional gearboxes.
The frst company to utilise this new kind of drive train in its wind
turbine was BARD, which has installed two prototypes with the 6.5
MW Multi Duored gearboxes. In those prototypes the nacelles are
identical to those of the 5 MW conventional design, but they have
now been equipped with the 30% more powerful drive train.
HybridDrive: A compact onshore drive train
Even though offshore applications are becoming increasingly relevant
in Europe, the US and Asia, onshore installations still have the major
share of global installations. In response, Winergy developed another
concept to target onshore applications the HybridDrive.
Taking a quick glance at the HybridDrive (HD)
gives the impression that the HD is similar to a regular
3 MW gearbox. But this impression is wrong. A more detailed
examination reveals large power cables, indicating that there is
more inside than just a gearbox. It is a gearbox and a generator in a
single unit.
The main focus of the HybridDrive is its compact design. The
two-stage gearbox is directly connected to the permanent-magnet
generator, allowing the overall length of the drive
train to be reduced by about 35% compared with
typical systems.
Its compact dimensions offer various
advantages. For instance, it is possible to
utilise the space saved for the converter and
transformer, instead of locating these in the
tower. This reduces the low-voltage cable
losses. Furthermore, any confguration is
possible it does not matter if the drive
train has one main bearing or two, or if
the transformer and converter are placed
within the nacelle or not. Depending on
the concept, the tower costs can also be
reduced as a result of the reduced top head mass and transportation
is easier with smaller nacelle dimensions.
Maintenance was taken into account in the early design phase
and the HybridDrive has a modular design, enabling individual parts
to be disassembled or replaced. The service crane of the nacelle
can lift the individual modules, so that even when a major service is
necessary, there is no need for an external crane.
The HybridDrive concept also uses only 20% of the quantity of rare
earth materials that are required for a direct drive. As a consequence,
dependency on one particular raw material is considerably lower,
and costs can be more easily calculated over the long term. Since
the sourcing and production of rare earth materials are currently still
under discussion, it is also possible to design the HybridDrive without
any permanent magnets at all.
The frst prototype of the HybridDrive has an output of 3 MW and
is intended for use in an onshore turbine. The concept can, however,
also be easily implemented for the 67 MW power range.
Introduced in 2011, the HybridDrive will be employed for the frst
time in the Fuhrlnder FL 3000 wind turbine system, the result of
a long-term partnership between Winergy AG, Fuhrlnder AG and
Wind to Energy GmbH (W2E). It is to be completed this year.
Life time cost of energy concepts
The Multi Duored drive train concept and the HybridDrive
are examples of innovative development in the wind power
industry with the aim of making wind power more effcient,
reliable and competitive. Wind turbine OEMs have to decide
which factors are most important: effciency, maintenance or
low initial costs. In the end, such concepts help to reduce overall
life-cycle costs, no matter which factor is most important.
Author Details
Tobias Hang is responsible for market intelligence and strategic
developments in the Business Development group at Winergy.
A 3 MW HybridDrive drive train is as long as a typical 3 MW
gearbox alone Winergy
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DRIVE TRAINS
By Timo Heinonen
OFFSHORE GOES
MEDIUM SPEED
Since they were introduced in 2000, Medium Speed Permanent Magnet Generators (MS PMGs) have offered the means
to reduce the top head mass of offshore turbines without compromising reliability. Their low O&M costs together with
high effciency levels maximise annual production. A new semi-integrated solution also enables easy servicing and serial
production of fully tested, low weight plug-in units.
OPTIMISING MULTI-MW OFFSHORE TURBINES
The big players are interested in offshore because strong and
steady winds offer higher turbine load factors and higher electricity
production. But project costs are still challenging due to diffcult
installation circumstances. Serviceability is also an important issue
because severe weather conditions reduce access time. This is why
proven low maintenance solutions are needed.
On the high seas everything can be bigger. Today 7 MW turbines
are already being realised by many leading manufacturers. At frst
glance the gearless Direct Drive (DD) concept might seem to offer
the simplest, foolproof solution, but is this the whole picture for the
end user, especially when Life Cycle Proft is taken into account?
Drivetrain selection considerations
With regard to electrical drivetrains, the choices that need to be made
are between the doubly-fed and full converter concepts, and Low,
Medium and High speeds. From the point of view of the mechanical
drivetrain, the choice is between gearless DD, or single, two-stage
or so-called standard three-stage geared. It is important to consider
the big picture in terms of wind conditions and end user, but there
is no single right answer OEMs need to fnd the right answer for
themselves. The solution will hopefully be a perfect compromise.
To confgure a winning system, the most obvious technical criteria
are the highest system effciency to maximise production, combined
with small size and low weight to achieve low foundation costs and
easy logistics. Reliability means availability, and it is realised by using
proven solutions. Grid code compliance is not an option today it is a
must. When we try to see the big picture we also notice the importance
of the supply chain: logistics, local production and transportability.
Quite often the engineering work and time needed to make a new
system are underestimated. And we should never forget the end
user, who has to live with the decisions made at the beginning of the
project decisions that infuence serviceability, exchangeability and
O&M costs through the lifetime of the turbine.
The gear and generator solutions go hand in hand and must be
decided together to achieve an optimal speed that gives the best
system. The same goes for the generator-converter package. Neither
of these can be selected alone and intelligent compromises will have
to be made.
The technology is not a goal in itself the goal is reliable
continuous maximum production of kWh with the lowest O&M
cost and a long lifetime. The investment cost has only very little
signifcance for the owner, whose involvement will span 20 years or
more. In the end all these considerations come down to the Life Cycle
Proft of the project.
The High Speed (HS) drivetrain
The HS drivetrain is well-known and proven, and today it is the
leading solution both on land and at sea. The majority of offshore
turbines use HS induction and doubly-fed generators. Well over
100 GW of capacity has already been installed on land using HS type
turbines from most of the top 10 OEMs and many other suppliers.
High speed gearboxes have been used in fxed speed turbines for
30 years. Gearbox technology is not a problem today: failure rates
are low when components from reliable, experienced manufacturers
are used. The combination of a HS drivetrain and permanent magnet
(PM) generator ensures the best kWh production and smallest size
and weight, and it also enables easy manufacturing and logistics. The
use of small, standard components also enables a fast time-to-market
for new turbines. In the context of offshore projects, however, people
tend to have doubts, often irrational, about gearbox reliability.
This explains why there is currently so much discussion about
gearless systems.
Low Speed drivetrain challenges
Market speculatuion is apparently currently favouring direct drive
systems. Even though the effciency of a large ring generator
itself is not very high, the DD does have a high system effciency,
and especially in low wind areas and up to 3 MW the turbines
are fairly normal in size. The Low Speed drivetrain is somehow
considered to be a foolproof design with fewer components, but
there is very little offshore operating experience available. In fact, the
component count of a DD generator itself is about two to four times
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higher than that of an high or medium speed unit, and the theoretical
failure rate of the stator winding depends on the quantity of coils
and connections.
Many studies show that it is the electronics that account for the
biggest failure rates in a turbine, and that there is no signifcant
difference in reliability between gearless and geared concepts.
Without gearing the low nominal speed, some 14 rpm, and
the enormous energy of the wind turning the long blades creates
huge torque. To cope with these forces, heavy, multi-pole generator
constructions with large (7 metre) diameters are used. The technology
itself is reliable the issues to be addressed are the generator size
and weight, manufacturing and logistics. When 120 tonnes of raw
materials like copper, steel and magnets have to be used to produce
the same kWh as a higher speed generator that needs only 16 tonnes
of the same materials, the difference is very signifcant. There are not
many suppliers for the large main components like DD generators
and bearings, and heavy turbines also need larger foundations and
the largest cranes for installation. A DD PMG needs, approximately,
a couple of tonnes of magnets, compared to a couple of hundred
kilogrammes in HS generators. With prices at their present high level
this makes a real difference. If using gearing makes it possible to
produce a 6 MW turbine with only a few magnets, why waste this rare
material? Direct Drive generator development has proven to be more
diffcult, time consuming and expensive than some feasibility studies
have indicated. There are also manufacturing challenges, like realising
an air gap of only a couple of millimetres between a 7 metre diameter
rotor and stator, to get a good level of effciency. The construction is
subject to bending by wind loads, requiring heavy support structures,
and there can be a danger of failure if the need to save weight results
in a design that is not strong enough. If a DD generator itself needs
to be replaced, the lost production time can extend to many months
and is also infuenced by weather conditions at sea.
A new solution for the medium speed (MS) drivetrain
A medium speed drivetrain is commonly considered to be more
reliable, with less wear than an HS type.
There are three potential ways to implement an MS design. In
each case the shaft needs to be in a direct line from the hub to the
generator non-drive end. That is, it cannot be offset as in a standard
high speed three-stage gearbox system. This is because the generator
shaft functions as part of the pitch tube it is hollow to allow cables
and/or hydraulic hoses for the blade pitch control system to travel
from the nacelle into the rotor hub. The nominal speed infuences
the generator size. In conventional designs it can be selected from
about 150 to 400 rpm using a single or two-stage gear. In future
gear concepts it could be 500 rpm or even more, enabling smaller
generators and slightly better effciency. The generator scope of
supply can range from stator and rotor parts only, to the complete
generator unit.
In the fully integrated design (sometimes referred to as a
hybrid design), the gearbox and generator share the same frame,
bearings and shaft. This solution requires a joint development project
between the gear and generator manufacturers with the scope of
responsibilities and supply well defned. Full integration enables very
compact designs with low weight. This solution has already proved
itself for more than 10 years, since the frst serial produced turbines
using the Aerodyn Multibrid concept were launched in 2000. Today
1, 3 and 5 MW turbines are being installed and 7 MW units are being
planned by leading manufacturers. The MS drivetrain has many other
benefts, apart from the reduced top head mass. It offers the highest
system effciency, especially at partial load during low wind periods, a
long lifetime, and savings in tower and foundation costs.
A new semi-integrated solution brings additional benefts to this
compact design. In a 7 MW offshore turbine the separate generator
and gear are partly integrated via a fange connection, enabling
easy dismounting for servicing, low lifting weights and the use of
serial produced and individually tested plug-in generator and gear
components. With such a design, coordination with the gearbox
manufacturer is primarily related to the mounting interface fange,
as well as the coupling connecting the two shafts. Both units are
complete modules with their own shafts and bearings. This results
in easy logistics and further savings in installation costs because a
special crane is not needed.
Using separate units also enables better bearing current
protection to be achieved than is possible with the fully integrated
type. By selecting the semi-integrated design, where only the
mounting interface fange and coupling need customer-specifc
engineering, turbine OEMs can gain a fast route to serial production
and to offshore markets.
The third possibility, using independently mounted separate
units connected by an additional shaft, as in high speed three-stage
gearbox solutions, would offer no additional benefts. Instead it
would pose a challenge in mounting the gearbox and generator in a
stable, straight line due to the pitch tube requirement.
The medium speed PM concept is gaining acceptance in the
markets. Offshore turbines need reliable, cost-effective solutions that
allow cost to be lowered in all project phases. These solutions must
enable serial manufacturing and easy installation and operation of
wind parks to maximise energy production. A modern 7 MW MS PMG
with a nominal speed of around 400 rpm can be about 3 metres in
diameter and weigh under 30 tonnes. It offers over 98% effciency
the highest effciency of all commercial wind generator designs with
partial load effciencies of well over 97% even at 20% load.
This means the highest annual production of electricity. The
reliability is also very high, with the mean time between failure (MTBF)
estimated at some 25 years. The new semi-integrated MS generator
offers a proven solution ensuring the best Life Cycle Proft for the
wind park.
Author Details
Timo Heinonen is sales manager, wind power generators, at ABB Oy
Motors & Generators.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
By Pascal Verbiest
SAFETY IN THE
SUPPLY CHAIN
Contamination of zinc-rich paints in the form of high lead and cadmium content is not a minor issue for the wind industry.
These metals are toxic to humans and the environment, and their presence in many products is restricted by legislation. For
the industry to maintain optimum health and safety, paints with high levels of lead and cadmium should not be used.
HEAVY METALS IN ANTI-CORROSION COATINGS
Zinc-rich paints are often used as primers to coat wind turbines, as they
provide excellent, long-term corrosion protection in highly corrosive
environments. The more severe environments are classifed as C3
(medium corrosive), C4 (highly corrosive) or C5 (heavy industrial and
marine). Zinc-rich paints are essentially composed of zinc powders
(with average particle sizes between three and 10 microns), a small
quantity of binder, and solvents necessary for the spray application
and to obtain the right viscosity of the paint.
The thickness of a zinc-rich primer layer on a turbine can easily
mount up to 60 microns in a C5 environment. Given that zinc primers
have a zinc content in the dry paint flm of >80% by weight, a lot of
zinc powder is needed to protect a turbine tower adequately. For an
offshore turbine a typical zinc-rich paint protection system has a total
paint thickness of 320 microns.
EU corrosion standards do not govern the purity of the zinc
powders used in paint manufacture, which can vary a lot. Purity is
classifed according to the ASTM D520 standard, into type I, type II
and type III grades.
Lead and cadmium
A primary difference in the purity of zinc powders used in paint
manufacture is lead and cadmium content. Types II and III zinc
powders have low lead (0.01% and 0.002% max) and low cadmium
contents (0.01% and 0.001% max), while the lead and cadmium
content of type I zinc powders is much higher and can reach
1500 ppm (0.15%). Unfortunately, much type I zinc powder continues
to be used by paint manufacturers, despite the fact that types II and
III are readily available.
What is acceptable?
The PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) is the maximum daily human
exposure to a specifc substance allowed in a workrooms air over an
8-hour shift, as determined by OSHA (the US Occupational Safety
and Health Administration). The Action Level is the exposure value at
which action should be taken to preserve workers safety. Often this
value is set at 50% of the PEL value.
Scientists Gary Tinklenberg and Denise Doezema describe
acceptable levels of cadmium and lead exposure in their article
Health Concerns for Workers Using Zinc-Rich Coatings. Their research
demonstrated that when type I zinc powders are used, lead and
cadmium levels in the air are well above the PEL, and action levels for
lead and cadmium are exceeded during mixing and spray application
of zinc-rich paint.
Turbine manufacturers are developing green standards for their
suppliers. These should include a requirement to use type II and III
zinc powders in anti-corrosion primers.
Author Details
Pascal Verbiest is head of product development at Umicore Zinc
Chemicals.
e-mail: pascal.verbiest@eu.umicore.com
Types II and III zinc powders have lower lead and cadmium levels. Lutro
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TECHNOLOGY: RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
By Tildy Bayar
MEASURING
WIND OFFSHORE
Traditional approaches to wind resource assessment rely on the installation of met masts to take physical readings.
Although offshore resource assessment, particularly far offshore and in deep water, can present signifcant challenges
to this approach, solutions are emerging.
NEW ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGIES
For all stages of offshore wind development preconstruction,
site assessment, and follow-on meteorological masts holding
instrumentation (met masts) are essential tools for assessing the wind
resource in a given location. But given is a key word here: once a
met mast is installed, the measurable area is fxed, and thus limited.
Matt Filippelli, lead engineer with AWS Truepower, says: The
measurement side of met ocean characterisation is only one part
of three important components: you also have to translate point
measurement spatially (with more measurements or a model to
extrapolate out in space) and in time. Sort of like a triangle: measure,
correlate, predict (MCP). A met mast can only fulfl one point of this
necessary triangle; the other two must be accomplished through
computer modelling which, no matter how precisely calculated,
is still ultimately speculative. Developers want certainty with actual
measurements, not models, even in the prospecting stages, says
Filippelli. However, this isnt the biggest problem with met masts.
Most importantly, there is the cost.
In general, there is a signifcant cost disparity between onshore
and offshore wind equipment, and the costs rise with the distance
from shore. When we talk about offshore, were talking about such a
paradigm shift that onshore people often cant get their heads around
it, says Graham Howe, part of international business development
for renewables at Axys Technologies. O&M cost offshore is higher
too, and permitting. Costs for the construction of a single offshore
met mast can run between 3 million and 8 million. In 1020 metres
of water Howe says met masts make sense because the cost isnt
signifcantly greater than building a mast onshore, but once past the
20 metre mark their construction becomes more diffcult and thus
more costly.
For a small onshore wind farm, one met mast will likely be enough
to provide an accurate assessment of the wind resource at the site.
But for projects over around 20 MW, especially those located in
complex terrain, more than one mast will likely be required.
Extending these fgures to large offshore wind farms, multiple met
masts are necessary for a comprehensive resource analysis.
Alternative solutions
One such solution comes from the UKs Met Offce, the nations
weather service. Its Virtual Met Mast (VMM) has no physical
components, thus its cost is signifcantly lower than that of a physical
3Es FLiDAR is a standard marine buoy equipped with a Leopshere
WindCube lidar. 3E/GeoSea
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mast less than 10,000 (11,895). It uses the Met Offces powerful
global weather forecasting model, runs on two supercomputers, and
takes advantage of its extensive weather data resources. The VMM is
able to generate wind climatology for any European site at any hub
height, said Stephen Norman, a Met Offce consultant.
The Met Offce claims that the VMM can reduce the number of
masts necessary for large projects down to a single mast. Once this
mast is in place, its data can be correlated with the VMM data to
provide on-going wind measurements. The VMM is currently on offer
only in the UK and Europe, but Norman said they hope to expand
the programme.
While the Met Offces supercomputer approach relies on
assembling vast amounts of data and powerful number-crunching
to produce accurate measurements, others such as US-based MDA
EarthSat Weather, a company that provides weather forecasts for
the energy sector, continually hone the accuracy of their models.
MDA EarthSat uses ensemble forecast methods which can produce
hourly forecasts as well as day-ahead and longer-term forecasts (up
to 10 days). Were always on the lookout for improvements in our
techniques that can squeeze every bit of predictive power from wind
and wind generation observations and from the dynamical forecast
models, says Dr Dan Kirk-Davidoff, chief scientist at MDA EarthSat.
Satellite wind resource measurement is another interesting area of
research. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has
developed a software processing interface for SCAT, a scatterometer
microwave radar instrument which measures radar backscatter,
providing close to real-time measurement of wind speed and
direction near the sea surface. SCAT was designed and developed at
the Indian Space Research Organisation/Space Applications Centre
(ISRO/SAC) in Ahmedabad and is installed on Oceansat-2, an Indian
oceanographic satellite. The KNMI processing interface turns the
satellite data into detailed wind charts.
NASAs QuickSCAT satellite also provided ocean-surface wind
speed data in near real-time from 1999 until 2009, when the spinning
antenna driving its scatterometer failed. Unable to restart the system,
NASA abandoned the satellite. However, a joint project for creating
a new satellite which will carry the next generation of meteorological
equipment has been announced by NASA and the US National
Hurricane Center and is scheduled to be launched in 2015.
Sodar and lidar
Sodar and lidar (Sonic/Light Detection and Ranging) are being used
increasingly in wind resource measurement. Like radar, the central
principle of both sodar and lidar is bouncing signals off something;
from the refected signal, wind speed and direction can be calculated
at different heights.
US company Second Wind uses sodar in conjunction with met
masts to provide wind measurement data. In addition, the company
claims its Triton Sonic Profler, a sodar device, can replace met masts
for many assessment applications. However, none of the companys
sodar products are currently in use in offshore applications.
Swedens Vattenfall also uses sodar onshore, with 17 systems
currently installed and fve more scheduled for delivery. Cost is an
issue: Vattenfall have said publicly that they use sodar because
they can get six sodars for the price of one lidar, says Howe. Daniel
Gustaffson, wind engineer at Vattenfall, confrms that sodar is a
cost-effective wind measurement solution: No building permits
are required because the system is mobile with set-up taking less
than an hour in most cases. Furthermore, maintenance is minimal...
while the system also provides correct data independent of weather
conditions. Vattenfalls sodar systems, designed by AQSystems, are
currently deployed at onshore sites in Sweden.
Nordex was using six AQSystems WindFinder sodar systems as
of 2010. Kristian Baurne, a Nordex engineer working in Sweden, also
cites easy transport, setup and lack of permitting as advantages.
But the industry hasnt really accepted sodar and lidar as
alternatives to traditional anemometry offshore. Axys has sold just
three systems to date, for example. Adoption has been slow, Howe
said, but that tide is changing, and all major developers are currently
evaluating the technology.
Lidars growing acceptance
Matt Filippelli identifes the novelty of the technology as the reason for
the wind industrys slow acceptance of offshore lidar. Not to say lidar
isnt an acceptable approach, its been shown to work, lots of people
are using it, we advocate and support its use but the general level
of understanding of the technology is still relatively modest amongst
the broader industry, which is still working through the understanding
of how to interpret the data, how to get it traced back to what the
industry is comfortable with vis a vis anemometer readings.
The NORSEWInD project, a consortium of 15 organisations, is the
frst signifcant attempt to test and review offshore lidar. One of its
The Vindicator measures wind from moving platforms Catch the Wind
TECHNOLOGY: RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
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key components, according to the projects website, is to design a
test programme to improve industry confdence in the use of remote
sensing techniques such as lidar. The four-year programme, due to
conclude in July 2012, delivers hub-height wind measurements based
on data obtained from lidar and sodar across the Baltic, Irish and
North Seas. Thirteen offshore lidars have been operational for the
past year as part of this programme.
While fxed Lidar is gradually becoming a known resource
assessment solution, the newest innovation is foating lidar.
Floating lidar
When compared with met masts, foating lidar where offshore lidar
systems are mounted on a bouy offers ease of setup, portability,
lack of permitting hassle, and lower cost. Filippelli says, A foating
measurement platform takes less time to engineer and deploy, less
time to permit and is easier to get consent for than a platform. And
because a foating solution is mobile and can carry a number of
measurement devices, it can produce more accurate measurements.
Says Filippelli: Developers need wind speed and other lidar data, but
if you talk to a manufacturer or turbine vendor or foundation company,
they ask for a suite of other information from the surface of the water
on down. You need a whole suite of met ocean characteristics. On a
buoy you can lump all those systems together and have one station
that gives you all you need.
However, Filippelli warns: Lidar is a measurement tool that
doesnt have the extent of acceptance that met towers do, and youre
adding an additional level of uncertainty with putting it on a foating
platform.
Developing standards
Aside from the industrys nervousness about the novel aspects of the
technology, the big issue is a current lack of validated data on foating
lidars accuracy. Howe says, For fnancing purposes, anemometry is
a known quantity, lidar isnt. Anemometry has IEC standards, lidar
doesnt. There is a lack of resources under which you can evaluate
foating lidar. Filippelli agrees. There are few areas where you can
validate against good high-quality offshore measurements, he says.
Several standards approaches are being considered. There are
concepts out there to help vet these in a public forum; people are
considering the deployment of tall towers or other bottom-fxed
offshore stations to help provide a facility against which the foating
tools can be validated against legacy technology (anemometers or
lidars that arent moving).
Another problem with validation is that foating lidar companies
use different methods to identify and screen out interference from the
bobbing and rolling buoy. Some companies have worked on making
their motion compensation algorithms as robust as possible; others
have focused on making the buoy as stable as possible so motion
compensation is unnecessary. Those approaches get scrutinised by
data analysts and have an effect on how data are interpreted and what
uncertainty is assigned to them, says Fillipelli. Each approach is very
valid scientifcally and technically; its just that building a campaign to
prove them out is a different process depending on which technology
you choose.
Solutions to validation issues
NORSEWInD initially tested two of the frst-generation lidars,
Leospheres WindCube and Natural Powers ZephIR, against data from
a met mast. Natural Power and GL Garrad Hassan have also developed
a validation process which includes controlled deployment at the UKs
Lidar & Sodar Test Site in Worcestershire, where the accuracy of units
is confrmed to an agreed set of best-practice standards.
3Es FLiDAR is a standard marine buoy equipped with a Leopshere
WindCube lidar on top of it. To stabilise the lidar unit the FLiDAR uses
mechanical compensation that counterbalances wave motion as well
as a software correction algorithm for the data. 3E has conducted two
validation campaigns, at 250 metres and 15 km off the coast. The
second trial was situated less than 1 km from a fxed offshore platform
carrying an identical reference lidar.
Axys Technologies WindSentinel foating platform carries the
Vindicator, a next-generation lidar designed to measure wind from
moving platforms. This sensor can take measurements up to a
maximum range of 300 metres, the company says. These components
have been engineered into the NOMAD buoy, a foating platform
designed to perform in extreme offshore environments. Howe says
one of the WindSentinels advantages is its sealed compartments that
protect the equipment on board from high waves. Two WindSentinels
are currently deployed, one on Lake Michigan and one off New Jersey.
The Vindicator is manufactured by US company Catch the Wind.
The company claims that Vindicators can substitute for both met
masts and wind forecasting models, and are a fraction of the cost of
standard fxed met towers.
Market potential
Howe estimates foating lidars market potential at 10 to 20
deployments per year globally. The developers of the UKs Round 3
project will be especially interested, he predicts. He also maintains
that the US is likely to see a major take-up of the foating lidar solution.
In its draft guidelines for offshore projects, the US Department
of Energy has made provisions for a number of met masts or double
the number of foating lidars. And China is interesting, says Howe,
because its government plan involves moving to water depths of 50
metres after 2015.
In terms of general acceptance of foating lidar as a primary tool,
says Fillipelli, theres so much uncertainty around what the market
will be, but I expect in the next fve years to see a few systems off
the US east coast in public demos, or at least two to three running in
a commercial fashion. In 10 years we should see foating lidar as an
equivalent option to bottom-fxed towers. It will defnitely be a more
broadly accepted approach.
Author Details
Tildy Bayar is associate editor of Renewable Energy World magazine.
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TECH NOTES
Fish noise study launched
A new study on the impact of
noise on the behaviour of fsh and
crustaceans has been launched
by the University of Hull. Designed
to inform the development
of offshore wind farms, the
research project uses underwater
television, high frequency sonar
and playback systems to replicate
and monitor the effect of any
artifcial noise in the sea, such as
ships, concrete piling strokes or
offshore wind turbines.
Marine Noise The Effect
of Underwater Noise in Fish
and Crustaceans Behavioural
Responses in the Field is being
carried out by the University of
Hulls Institute of Estuarine and
Coastal Studies (IECS) as part
of the SoundWave consortium.
Sea trials are due to start in the
coming months.
Offshore health & safety
Placing health and safety at the
forefront of all offshore wind
activity is the goal of the G9
Offshore Wind Health and Safety
Association Ltd, a newly launched
forum from renewable energy
developers Centrica, DONG
Energy, E.ON, RWE Innogy,
Scottish Power Renewables, SSE,
Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall.
Senior executives of member
companies will not only commit
resources from their own respective
teams but will also aim to actively
lead the industry in fnding solutions
to the safety challenges that
offshore wind projects face.
The G9 intend to work together
to ensure that health and safety
is recognised as a core value
within the European offshore wind
industry as well as promote and
maintain the highest possible
standards through the life cycle of
offshore wind projects. In addition
the group intends to identify key
industry health and safety risks and
identify best practice solutions to
mitigate those risks.
Support vessel design launch
A number of new hull designs
designed to support offshore wind
installations have been revealed
by marine engineering frms.
Danish Yachts have unveiled
SeaStrider, a new range of SWATH
(Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull)
commercial vessels designed for
high-speed passenger transport.
The company claims that its
SeaStrider is groundbreaking both
in terms of design technology and
build and is the frst carbon fbre
SWATH to be built.
The frst boat under
construction in the range is for
carrying service personnel and
cargo to the offshore wind farms,
and for transit between the wind
towers. The design has already
been tank tested to signifcant
wave heights, permitting operation
in almost all weather conditions.
This version has an overall length of
25 metres and a beam of
10.6 metres, providing space for
24 passengers and fve crew over a
range of around 500 nm. In addition,
the vessel is to be ftted with the
base for use of a gyro transfer
gangway on the transom and with
specially designed brackets for a
single point lift, providing a one
wire lift either on land or on a larger
platform at sea.
In a related development, BMT
Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT
Group Ltd, has announced further
collaboration with Turbine Transfers
on the design of a 19 metre
Windfarm Support Vessel utilising
the Voith Linear Jet a propulsor
unit based on an advanced ducted
propeller with a stator positioned
in the duct aft of the propeller, in
a similar arrangement to that of a
waterjet. For the same installed
power the VLJ is expected to
provide a bollard pull approximately
50% higher than that of a waterjet
and in excess of 30% higher
than conventional propellers, its
developers claim.
Gearbox prototype testing
Prototype test results of the Brevini
Wind 3 MW gearbox, which will
operate in the new WinWinD
3 onshore turbine with a rotor
diameter of up to 120 metres,
have confrmed its performance,
its developers say.
With a mass of 35 tonnes,
the Brevini Wind gearbox is
25% lighter than that used in the
previous WinWinD 3 MW turbine,
with very low noise levels claimed
for the Brevini gearbox throughout
testing in Hamina, Finland, where
WinWinDs 3 MW wind turbine
factory is located. The compact
gearbox design also enables a
reduction in the dimensions of the
nacelle by 30% and, consequently,
the new WinWinD 3 turbine is much
lighter than comparable machines
of the same class. Erection of
the prototype is underway at
Raahe, Finland and the feld test
is scheduled to start as Wind
Technology goes to press.
Hydraulic lifting yoke trialled
A newly developed hydraulic lifting
yoke from Fyns Kran Udstyr has
been tested at the London Array
wind farm. Its Danish-based
developers say the yoke allows
a new way of handling offshore
wind turbine foundation Transition
Pieces (TP) which is faster,
cheaper and more secure.
Fyns Kran Udstyr says the yoke
makes the 370 tonne TP ready to
lift within 10 minutes only needing
one employee to handle and adjust
it. The 10 tonne yoke is hoisted onto
the fange on top of the TP and the
hydraulic system then secures the
yoke to the fange. During the lift,
the hydraulic yoke adjusts the TP
near to its centre of gravity (CoG).
The company claims improved
working conditions and enhanced
safety, but also large time savings
of approximately 50 minutes
per turbine.
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MARCHAPRIL 2012 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2

SECURING BIOGAS SUCCESS

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