EWEC looking to winds of change

News focus

EWEC looking to winds of change Arriving from all corners

ment for wind power currently,

of Europe, wind energy

reFOCUS canvassed a few of

actors will meet this May at

the organisations who will be

the European Wind Energy

present and correct.

Conference (EWEC) organised by the European Wind Energy

Support side

Association (EWEA) to iden-

Two organisations that offer

tify the actions required to

a barometer for how wind

re-shape the European energy

projects are being put for-

mix and discuss what role

ward are the SGS Group

wind energy can play.

– which offers inspection,

The European energy story is at

verification, testing and cer-

a crossroads. Key decisions need

tification services for onshore

to be taken now that will have

and offshore wind farms, and

enormous impact on our energy

anemos Gesellschaft für

future. According to the EWEA,

Umweltmeteorologie GmbH,

given the political will, wind

which provides wind power

could provide more than 20% of

meteorology services.

Europe’s electricity needs within

“One of the main challenges at

ies from 90 km for the whole of

fight for their reputation. This is

the next quarter century, equiva-

present is to find qualified per-

Europe; over 20 km for Poland

unbelievable regarding the recent

lent to 200 million households.

sonnel in developing countries,”

and France; 10 km for Portugal

expertise of climatic change. We

With this in mind, EWEC will

an SGS company spokesperson

and Spain; and down to 5 km

wish to have more political and

analyse and debate the steps

told us. “In some countries there

for Sicily and Germany (see

industrial support. New laws and

required for meeting a large part

is a political opposition against

image opposite). This data shows

political basic conditions will be

of European electricity needs by

wind energy. More detailed and

the regional wind distribution

necessary to kick start the wind

wind power. These include stable

specific information to citizens

at different heights. They are

power industry.”

political frameworks, upgrading

and an increased lobby-work

indispensable for any long-term

And Lust DriveTronics GmbH,

the existing power infrastructure

could help to overcome these

correlation of wind measure-

which supplies manufacturers of

to incorporate wind energy,

challenge. Financial difficulties

ments and also serve as forcing

wind turbines and marine cur-

taking steps to continue cost

for wind farms, especially off-

data for site assessments studies

rent turbines with electrical pitch

reductions, increasing offshore

shore, could be eased by political

with mesoscale or microscale

systems and components agrees:

wind production and intensifying

funding of first projects to gain

models.”

“We would like to see more

research, innovation and tech-

more experience and lower pro-

Another company involved in the

support programs for renewable

nological progress in the wind

duction/erection costs. Technical

support side of the wind indus-

energies as already exists in some

sector. The conference will also

difficulties of wind farms, espe-

try is WKA Montage GmbH,

European countries, together

discuss ways to lighten the legis-

cially offshore, could be avoided

which specialises in the building

with advanced permission pro-

lative barriers and increase public

by using more third party verifi-

of foundations for wind turbine

cedures for the erection of new

awareness.

cation/certification to ensure the

generators (WTGs).

wind parks,” a company spokes-

The event will reportedly bring

required quality.”

WKA points to European

person said.

together over 3,000 key players

Such technical difficulties could

bureaucracy as a current issue,

On the transmission side,

from the wind and electricity sec-

ostensibly be addressed by better

and also mentions infrastruc-

DIgSILENT GmbH is a consult-

tors for 4 days of intensive net-

planning up front, and with this

ture: “to power infrastructure

ing and software company

working, new business develop-

in mind anemos told reFOCUS

towards a new age of wind

providing services in the field

ment and information exchange.

about its new ‘windatlas for

power industry, it will be very

of electrical power systems

Europe’, which it will present at

important to extend the power

for transmission, distribution,

The exhibitor Q&A

EWEC with its wind analysis and

supply system and to improve

generation and industrial plants

In addition to a full conference

visualisation tool WINDLAS:

its safety. There are lots of good

(at EWEC, the company will

program, there will be a parallel

“Based on the NCEP/NCAR rea-

ideas how to develop wind

present the latest version of its

exhibition with over 200 of the

nalysis data transient simulations

energy but the important condi-

PowerFactory software, with spe-

leading companies involved in

with the atmospheric mesoscale

tions [for developing them] are

cial focus on precise wind power

wind energy.

model MM5 are performed for

missing . Another problem is

modelling and grid integration

To get a take on how some of

the year 1970 up to the present

that wind power and all other

these players view the environ-

day. The spatial resolution var-

renewable energies still have to

8 reFOCUS

March/April 2007

Forward planning: knowing the wind conditions before building commences is a must – this image shows conditions over Sicily (courtesy of anemos, another EWEC attendee.)

continued on page 11...

www.re-focus.net

News focus

The EWEC interview – Gamesa Gamesa is a well-known com-

electrical infrastructure. The

cal, economic, environmental

the future will have to be bet-

pany involved in the develop-

strong development of wind

and political realities. Gamesa

ter connected and reshaped.”

ment of wind power. The com-

power to date can continue

is working in this sense, the

pany, which says it has installed

in the coming years as long

selection of high-powered wind

Refocus: Have any laws/mech-

10,000 MW in 22 countries,

as the clear commitment of

turbines will be expanded with

anisms been good for your

carries out the design, manu-

the countries to wind power

the introduction of the Gamesa

business and helped you drive

facturing, sales, installation as

development continues to

G10X platform, which is cur-

forward into a particular mar-

well as operation and mainte-

strengthen, and that this sup-

rently under development.

ketplace/country?

nance of its wind turbines.

port is translated into concrete

How large amounts of wind

Gamesa: “Most of the coun-

action, notably a continuation

energy can be integrated into

tries that have chosen the

Refocus: What are the major

of the Directive on Electricity

the power network is also a

“Feed in tariff “ system, or of

challenges associated with driv-

from Renewable Energy

crucial issue for the future

regular tariff, such as Germany,

ing wind power forward, and

Sources beyond 2010. To con-

development of wind energy.

Spain or Denmark have under-

how can you/the industry strive

tinue growing, wind energy

For large amounts of wind

gone a bigger development

to overcome these?

also needs R&D – wind power

power to be integrated into

and settlement of wind energy.

Gamesa: “The major challeng-

has not exhausted its potential

the grid, closer cooperation

The “Feed in tariff “ system

es associated with driving wind

for further technological devel-

is needed between the wind

is considered as an easy, sure,

power forward are providing a

opment.

industry and utilities, sys-

effective and efficient system,

stable regulation framework, as

“The main R&D priorities

tems analysts, grid operators,

which allows the strengthen-

well as enhanced permomance

are the development of high

regulators and decision makers.

ing of small and medium size

through ongoing research

powered wind turbines, cost

Significant investments in the

companies, as well as one of

and development for even

reduction and research on envi-

transmission network are cru-

the most economical ways to

more competitive and realiable

ronment issues, as well as the

cial to improving the function-

produce wind power. It also

turbines – in parallel with sus-

need to adapt the electricity

ing of the internal electricity

counts on checked ability to

tainned investment to upgrade

networks to new technologi-

market. Electricity networks of

develop capacity.”

reduced system inertia and short

Asked what it would like to see

20 years. However, in 20 years

circuit power as well as lower

in terms of connection conditions

from now we will see substantial

analysis – according to various

robustness towards faults and

for wind power installation, the

periods of time where system

standards and connection condi-

larger upset conditions. There

company comments that there

load is below renewable genera-

tions).

is substantial need to further

have already been a number of

tion. For such situations, most

“Increased wind power instal-

develop wind power connection

revisions over the past years,

critical network operation condi-

lations will substantially change

conditions for all voltage levels to

converging step by step towards

tions with deteriorated supply

the dispatch pattern and

ensure reliably system operation

realistic needs. However, “there

reliability are expected, if the

controllability requirements of

in case of high wind power con-

is still substantial need in long

overall concepts are not properly

conventional power plants,” the

tribution. Further, system island-

term views of robust connection

reflected in wind power connec-

company says. Also, “overall

ing and restoration procedures

conditions, especially when con-

tion conditions.”

power system grid characteristics

after severe outages must be

sidering that units commissioned

Enervest is an investment com-

and dynamics will change due to

taken into account.”

today will still be in operation in

pany that develops wind farms

continued from page 8...

www.re-focus.net

March/April 2007

reFOCUS 11

News focus

continued from page 11...

is desirable that a similar development be expanded all over

in Germany in cooperation with

Europe to create the same cir-

experienced planning agencies.

cumstances in all EU countries.”

“The major challenge for the for wind energy plants,” a

North America and the emerging markets

source said. Even in Germany

NRG Systems is another compa-

where the conditions for the use

ny that makes tools to measure

of wind energy are very good,

the wind, and the data collected

not all plants can be operated in

is used in the siting and financial

an economically efficient way:

planning of commercial wind

“To advance and enlarge the

farms.

wind power market it is impor-

NRG’s products are sold in over

industry itself,” a source explained.

And the company also cites

tant to clear permanently all

115 countries, but the company

“[Current] rapid growth will con-

the lack of wind resource

obstacles that increase prices for

reports that it is currently con-

tinue to cause supply chain prob-

assessment standards for North

wind energy in an unacceptable

centrating on North America,

lems in many sectors of the indus-

America as a particular

way. The circumstances found

India, China and other emerging

try. While we look for new and

problem:

in Germany can be described

markets. So what must be done

better ways to harness the wind

“The USA needs to get off its

as nearly ideal. Wind power in

to move the market forward in

we must continually strive to mini-

high horse and support renew-

Germany is encouraged by poli-

these areas?

mise the company’s environmental

ables in all forms, with the

tics on the one hand and profit is

“There are many challenges fac-

footprint on this planet, and make

appropriate policies that fund

guaranteed on the other hand by

ing the wind industry today from

sure we [behave] as energy and

renewable expansion, and tax

fixed price electricity purchase. It

transmission to acceptance of the

environmental leaders.”

carbon based generation.”

future is the lowering of prices

The EWEC interview – REpower systems ag

REpower: “With the 5M,

things, it is supposed to obligate

same time the attractiveness of

REpower has proven its ability to

energy companies to assume

such projects will be increased

REpower Systems AG is a lead-

build and install a turbine desig-

the costs for connecting off-

considerably by the cost reduc-

ing manufacturers of onshore

nated for offshore use. In terms

shore wind energy to the power

tions of up to 30%.

and offshore wind turbines.

of the important offshore devel-

grid. This results in a substantial

“Another example where a

The international engineering

opment, we need to make a step

cost relief for the operators of

legislation enabled us to enter

company develops, produces

ahead, especially in Germany.

offshore wind energy turbines,

a new market is the so-called

and sells wind turbines with

Around 20 offshore wind farms

as the costs for connecting

PTC law (Production Tax Credit),

outputs ranging from 1.5 to

have been approved in the

to the power grid represent a

which is the US model for the

5 megawatts and rotor diam-

German North and Baltic Sea so

large part of the investments in

promotion of renewable energy.

eters of 70 to 126 metres for

far. The main challenges are the

offshore projects. This shifting

This was recently extended until

almost all locations. It also

costs for undersea cabling, which

of the costs to grid operators

the end of 2008. The promotion

provides a service and mainte-

form up to 30% of the installa-

is valid for a limited timeframe;

delivers tax privileges for wind

nance range.

tion costs. But with the adoption

construction of offshore tur-

energy projects in the USA and

At EWEC, the company will

of the so-called Infrastructure

bines must have begun before

was originally set to expire on

showcase the product evolu-

Act in 2006, this major challenge

31 December 2011.

31 December 2007.

tion of the MM (2 Mw) series,

for offshore development seems

The adoption of this act will

The extension of the PTC for a

which has seen the develop-

to be overcome, at least until

eliminate significant hurdles and

further year – which has now

ment of a new blade profile

2011.”

the backlog in investments that

been adopted – has created

have existed for years in regard

planning security for invest-

(REpower) and optimisation of the existing blade profiles (LM

Refocus: Have any other laws/

to the expansion of wind energy

ments in wind projects and jobs

with stall barriers and spoiler)

mechanisms been good for your

in the German parts of the

in the USA.

for the MM series turbines.

business and helped you drive

North Sea and Baltic Sea.

REpower Systems AG

forward into a particular mar-

With this, offshore wind power

announced its first US order for

Refocus: What are the major

ketplace/country?

and conventional power plants

56 wind turbines, which was

challenges associated with driv-

REpower: “An example of

on land are on equal terms.

also the largest individual order

ing wind power forward, and

good government support is

Moreover, customers will have

in the company’s history, as

how can you/the industry strive

the adoption of the so-called

planning security for their off-

recently as summer 2006.”

to overcome these?

Infrastructure law. Among other

shore projects – while at the

www.repower.de

12 reFOCUS

March/April 2007

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