International Renewable Energy Magazine February 2015

PILOT ISSUE February 2015

WELL CONNECTED First Subsea deliver

BRIDGE THE GAP Solar on Track

TIDAL WAVE

French choose Alstom

HEAVY HITTERS Biomass en masse

TIDAL TURBINES

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SUBSCRIPTIONS Annual Subscription UK and Europe £140, €210 Rest of the world US$25 EDITORIAL T: +44 (0)1923 823 789 www.internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com milton@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com Editor Richard Milton richard@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com Publisher Robin Peach Megga Publications, 1 Strathmore Lodge, Northwood Middx London HA6 2QY robin@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com Editorial Contributors North America

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Welcome to the future

T

he world’s capacity for renewable energy is set to more than double over the next ten years, rising from 1,566 Gigawatts in 2012 to an astonishing 3,203 Gigawatts in 2025. That is the key finding of a new report from global consultants Frost & Sullivan.

This doubling of capacity in only a decade implies an annual growth rate for renewable energy of some 5.7 per cent - outstripping growth in most other major sectors of industry, and underlining the key importance of Solar, Wind & Wave, Bioenergy and Geothermal & Hydro sources for sustainable future growth worldwide.

George Romain george@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com South America Ramos Velasquez ramos@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com Europe Daniella Miles daniella@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com Australasia

This, the first issue of International Renewable Energy Magazine, is launching at a highly propitious moment in the development of future energy resources.

Not only are all renewable technologies fast coming of age and falling in price, they are also moving inexorably to the top of national agendas for the world’s developed nations and big energy consumers, and also for the developing world.

Gary Carstairs gary@internationalrenewableenergymagazine.com International Renewable Energy is published

by Megga Publications, 1 Strathmore Lodge Northwood Middx London HA62QY International Renewable Energy is published bi-monthly

by Megga Publications GBR.

IREM uses, as preference, SI units throughout.

All dollars are US unless otherwise stated.

Each year brings higher and higher power generation from renewables and in 2014 both the UK and Germany broke records for solar power generation. On one especially memorable June day last year Germany, with 1.4 million Photovoltaic systems installed, generated a peak of 23.1 Gigawatt hours, equivalent to 50.6 per cent of the country’s total electricity needs . It was a significant tipping point - the first country to produce more than half of its energy needs from a renewable source.

This may be an exceptional performance - a peak which may not be attained on a permanent basis for some years. But it is both a clear sign of what can be achieved and also an event that puts down a stake in the ground for the future.

accounting for around one third of all renewable capacity (33.4 per cent). Wind will follow close behind with a predicted 32.7 per cent of capacity and Hydro power at 25.3 per cent.

In geographical terms, Europe will remain the leading region even though future capacity expansion in renewables will come from Southeast Asia, Australasia, North America, Turkey, Iceland and Kenya. Beyond 2025, say the consultants, marine power technology will also be widely deployed as government willingness to back emerging technologies increases.

It will be the job of International Renewable Energy Magazine to document this rapid expansion of what is fast becoming one of the world’s most important industries. At first online, and later both online and in print, we will bring you the latest developments in all areas of renewables - Solar, Wind& Wave, Bioenergy, and Geothermal & Hydro.

For the moment, oil and gas continue to dominate the thinking of states and statesmen who often have little incentive to question the way that things have always been done. But the forecast of a doubling in renewable output means the day has come much closer when the sign on many power stations will read ‘Fossil fuel doesn’t work here anymore.’

Richard Milton Editor

Most of the additional renewable capacity is expected to come from solar Photovoltaic, FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 1

LM Wind Power is a world leading supplier of components and services to the wind turbine industry Photo: Courtesy of the LM Wind Power group

2 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

CONTENTS SOLAR

18

21

18 – World’s largest solar-powered bridge opens in London

21 – SolarReserve & ACWA Power lead winning consortium in South Africa

After nearly five years in the making, Network Rail has cut the ribbon on the world’s largest solar-powered bridge at Blackfriars Bridge across the Thames

World’s leading molten salt energy storage technologyto deliver lowest price electricity from Concentrating Solar Power in South Africa

10 – Solar shines bright in Germany, UK and now India Solar photovoltaic has emerged over the past 12 months as a clear leader in renewable energy sources and has made massive strides towards becoming competitive with gas.

Richard Milton reports

WELL CONNEC

First Subsea

COVER: LM WIND POWER

TED

PILOT ISSUE February 2015

deliver

BRIDGE THE

Solar on Track

GAP

TIDAL WAVE

www.lmwindpower.com

French choose Alsto

HEAVY HITT

ERS

Biomass en mass

Photo: Courtesy of the LM Wind Power group

e

TIDAL TURBIN

Newcomer secur

m

ES

es berth

PILOT

April 28 - 30 China-Shanghai FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 3

Photo: Courtesy of the LM Wind Power group

4 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

CONTENTS WIND

35 – GE to supply Turkish energy developer GE has announced it will supply energy developer İÇDAŞwith 19 brilliant GE 3.2-103 wind turbines for the BIGA RES wind farm

33 – Boralex acquires wind farm with Enercon wind turbines

27 – Iberdrola completes construction of first wind farm in Kenya

30 – IKEA has announced Its largest global wind Investment to date: 165 Megawatts In Texas

29 – ABB wins $100 million subsea cable system order

38 – First Subsea Cable connectors chosen Subsea connector specialist, First Subsea, has supplied cable connectors for the second phase of the Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 5

CONTENTS BIOENERGY

48

Morbark’s Barracuda

62

48 48 – Shredders & Grinders

62 – Doppstats DH910 demonstrates raw power in Portugal

The variety of shredding and grinding units on the market makes

In southern Europe - very near to Porto, Doppstadt machines have been involved in the implementation of a sustainable energy supply

the decision making process a pleasurable headache

42/46

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www.banditchippers.com | 1.800.952.0178 FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 7

CONTENTS

GEOTHERMAL HYDRO & MARINE

66 – Alstom, together with GDF SUEZ, has been chosen by the French PM to supply equipment for a tidal energy pilot farm at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula (Manche)

62 – WORLDWIDE EVENTS CALENDAR – 2015

65 – N autricity secures grid-connected test berth at EMEC

63 – I celand warms to Geothermal but U.S. still lukewarm

Scottish tidal turbine developer Nautricity has secured a grid connected tidal test berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) 8 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Outotec provides leading technologies and services for the sustainable use of Earth’s natural resources.

As the global leader in minerals and metals processing technology, we have developed many breakthrough technologies over the decades for our customers in metals and mining industry. We also provide innovative solutions for industrial water treatment, the utilization of alternative energy sources and the chemical industry. www.outotec.com

VISIT US AT: IMPC 2014 For the whole story, please visit our YouTube channel.

Santiago, Chile October 20-23, 2014 Booth #4

EVENTS WORLDWIDE EVENTS CALENDAR – 2015 PV America 9-10 March Boston, MA, USA www.pvamericaexpo.com

Intersolar China 1-3 April Beijing, China www.intersolarchina.com/en/

SOLAREXPO 8-10 April Milan, Italy www.solarexpo.com

SNEC PV 28 - 30 April Shanghai, China www.snec.org.cn

Intersolar South America 1-3 September Sao Paulo, Brazil www.intersolar.net.br/en/

Solar Power International 14 - 17 September Anaheim, CA, USA www.solarpowerinternational.com

Intersolar India 18-20 November Mumbai, India www.intersolar.in/en/

10 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

SOLAR

SOLAR EDITORS COMMENTS

Solar shines bright in Germany, UK and now India

S

olar photovoltaic has emerged over the past 12 months as a clear leader in renewable energy sources and has made massive strides towards becoming competitive with gas.

The United Kingdom, for example, had installed nearly 5 Gigawatts of solar photovoltaic panels by the end of 2014, according to figures from the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change. This was not far from doubling the country’s capacity installed the previous year - up from 2.8 Gigawatts at the end of 2013.

Paul Barwell, chief executive of the UK Solar Trade Association says, ‘This milestone achievement is testament to the hard work of Britain’s several thousand solar businesses, almost of all of them small and medium sized companies, who are all at the forefront of a real solar transformation as the technology

steadily becomes one of the cheapest sources of clean, homegrown power.’

Barwell believes that solar could provide 50,000 jobs in the UK by 2030 if given the right government support. ‘Solar clearly works in Britain,’ he says. ‘Panels in London generate 65 per cent as much energy as in Madrid, and the panels work more efficiently in cooler temperatures.’

The industry believes solar electricity could be cost competitive with gas by 2020 and need no government support at all on homes and commercial roofs – if there is a stable framework and a level playing field for the technology.

Germany is furthest advanced in Europe, and hit several solar records in 2014. In June, solar energy met more than 50 per cent of Germany’s total electricity demand for the first time, set a new peak power production record

and hit new highs for weekly total output.

Electricity output from renewables has grown eightfold in Germany since 1990. Under an ambitious energy transition policy, known as the Energiewende, Europe’s biggest economy aims to generate up to 60 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2035. This shift is being accompanied by an exit from nuclear power. All of Germany’s nuclear plants will be switched off by 2022.

Most recent cause for celebration is the news that the World Bank is tipped to lend $500 million to the Power Grid Corporation of India for strengthening solar transmission, according to reports via a senior executive of the state-owned company.

‘The World Bank has expressed its intent to give the loan. The development is in the initial stage

and talks are still going on. We expect to finalise this in three to four months,’ said the executive.

Six or seven solar projects with a combined capacity of 7,000 MW will be added to the main grid, he added.

Currently India is dependent mainly on coal-based power for meeting its energy requirement.

Thermal power accounts for 59 per cent of the country’s total installed power generation capacity.

But the government of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been pushing for a shift to renewable energy with the emphasis on solar power generation in order to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels for its energy needs.

RM

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 11

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SOLAR

Iran launches its biggest solar power plant The solar power plant – that has been constructed in Kerman’s Zarand – has an annual production capacity of 390 megawatts (MW).

It comprises an 80 kilowatt power plant, 170 solar-powered light posts, 340 LED lamps, and a 4,000-meter cable network, reported the Persian-language newspaper Forsat-e Emrooz.

Iran has already announced plans to add 5,000 MW of new solar energy and wind energy capacity by 2018.

The majority of the new

capacity will be from wind energy projects. Nevertheless, Energy Minister Hamid Chitchina has previously emphasized that 500 MW has already been designated for solar power projects.

Experts say Iran’s push towards renewable energy resources is due to the fact that energy demand in the country is growing rapidly. As it stands currently, the Iranian grid

has a total capacity of 70,000 MW, while demand is growing rapidly — about 5,000 MW per year.

They also say that the high levels of solar radiation in Iran, coupled with the relatively low production costs of solar, have already made investment in solar energy projects attractive.

Hamid Chitchina, Energy Minister

Canadian Solar completes sale of 28.4 MW Solar Plant in the United States Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company”, or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world’s largest solar power companies, has announced that it completed the sale of the 28.4MWp West Antelope Solar Park to Dominion (NYSE: D). The 263-acre Project is located in Los Angeles County on the outskirts of Lancaster, California. The construction of the West Antelope solar power plant generated over 400 jobs between July and November 2014. Canadian Solar supplied 94,340 high performance CS6X300/305P Quartech photovoltaic

(PV) modules. White Construction was the provider of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction services (“EPC”). The total solar system output will be enough to power more than 6,100 homes and to offset a total of 31.5 tons of carbon dioxide.

The culmination of this project represents a two-year development timeline for Canadian Solar, including permitting, entitlement, power execution, and system installation. The 20 year Power Purchase Agreement with PG&E was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

“As the largest project that Canadian Solar has developed, built, and sold in the United States, the West Antelope Solar Park represents an important milestone for the company,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar Inc. “This project showcases the capabilities of our global PV project team in project development and execution, and it also demonstrates that large scale solar PV energy systems can be a significant, viable, and sustainable component of California’s energy mix.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Canadian Solar Inc

A decade into the modern age of clean energy, and nearly a decade into the new age of shale gas abundance, the global energy system is not just growing, but shifting shape.

At summit 2005, we will look at how phase change is likely to accelerate, and how to benefit from it.

VENUE GRAND HYATT NEW YORK

109 EAST 42ND STREET | NEW YORK | NY | 10017

12 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SOLAR

Snohomish PUD & Wash. Governor announce new energy storage enterprise

Gov. Inslee at the dedication of MESA project Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) and 1Energy Systems welcomed Washington State Governor Jay Inslee on 15 January to dedicate the first battery storage system built on the cuttingedge Modular Energy Storage Architecture (MESA).

The PUD’s MESA project, located at a substation in Everett, Wash., is designed to improve reliability and the integration of renewable energy sources.

The project was made possible in part by a $7.3 million investment from the Washington Clean Energy Fund. The PUD system, the first of several MESA energy storage projects the PUD is pursuing this year, positions the state as a smart grid technology leader and creates cost effective solutions to better utilize renewable energy.

“Washington utilities are some of the most innovative in the world, and I applaud Snohomish PUD and its partners for making this commitment to cutting-edge technology that will help us lead the world’s clean energy economy – other states are watching your work!” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “It’s exciting to see investments from the state’s Clean Energy Fund advancing our goals to save energy and cut costs for Washington companies and consumers, reduce harmful emissions, and support jobs throughout the state.”

“The electrical grid needs to change to take on more renewable power, and standards-based storage and software will play major roles in that change,” PUD General Manager Steve Klein said. “MESA provides standard

Installation of energy storage system including two large-scale lithium ion batteries, one built by Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa and a second by LG Chem. Both lithium ion batteries utilize a Parker Hannifin Power Conversion System

interfaces to bring more choices for utilities, reduces projects’ complexity and promises to lower costs.”

1Energy Systems, the principal PUD partner, is the architect of the MESA software controls.

“1Energy is pleased to work with Snohomish PUD, the State of Washington and our technology partners to realize deployment of the first MESA-based energy storage system,” said David Kaplan, CEO and Founder of 1Energy Systems. “This project, with others to come, lets our company create durable, highquality jobs here in Washington, building clean-technology products for export to global markets.”

To support the Snohomish PUD project and the other Clean Energy Fund projects, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is working with participants to develop use cases, or detailed descriptions of the many ways energy storage can increase renewable energy use and improve grid efficiency and resiliency. The PUD and the other utilities will consult these use cases as they implement and evaluate their projects. PNNL is also providing analytical and technical support, including conducting benefits analysis, designing test plans, and enhancing control strategies.

The MESA system provides a standard, non-proprietary and scalable approach to energy storage. The PUD’s energy storage program, which forges partnerships with major U.S. and international business partners, will include two large-scale lithium ion batteries, one built by Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa and a second by LG Chem. Both lithium ion batteries will utilize a Parker Hannifin Power Conversion System.

Later this year, the PUD will deploy multiple advanced vanadium flow batteries at a second PUD substation, which will be built by UniEnergy Technologies, based in Mukilteo, Wash.

“This project demonstrates how MESA technology standards, pioneered in Washington, will

Steve Klein PUD General Manager

David Kaplan, CEO 1Energy Systems

accelerate global innovation in energy storage,” said Darcy Wheeles, Program Director of the MESA Standards Alliance.

“Standards-based products make it easier and less expensive for utilities to control and optimize energy storage and integrate renewable power sources with the grid.”

The collaboration will produce state-of-the-art solutions, bringing together major equipment and software companies to establish the appropriate industry standards and interfaces. The open standards approach is much different than other energy storage projects in the past and is expected to result in the expanded application of plug-and-play type energy storage systems to help solve the expanding needs of today’s electric grid, which depends more on intermittent resources such as wind and solar.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 13

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SOLAR

Eiffage-led consortium including Schneider Electric and Krinner wins a contract for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of Europe’s largest photovoltaic power project, worth €285 million A consortium comprising Eiffage, acting through its Clemessy subsidiary (consortium leader), Schneider Electric and Krinner has been awarded a contract for the construction of a solar farm and an extra-high voltage substation – representing the largest photovoltaic power project in Europe – in Cestas, near Bordeaux, France. The consortium will also be responsible for the plant’s operation and maintenance.

Work on this project, worth nearly €285 million, is to begin immediately.

The project will call on the expertise of Clemessy subsidiary RMT for engineering studies, Eiffage Energia for connection work, Eiffage Travaux Publics for earthworks, Schneider Electric for the electrical conversion chain and Krinner GmbH for screw-in foundations and photovoltaic structures.

This project, developed by Neoen, a leading French player in renewable energies, will provide a total peak capacity of 300 MW. The farm will be connected directly to the very-high voltage power grid and is to come on line in October 2015. It will generate more than 350 gigawatt-hours a year,

This new contract (worth €285 million) testifies to Eiffage’s successful breakthrough in the field of turnkey energy management. Through its Clemessy subsidiary, Eiffage also secured – as part of a consortium – a contract worth more than €500 million in September 2014 for the supply, installation and operational maintenance of backup diesel emergency generators for all 900 and 1,450 MW nuclear power plants in France, representing a total of 38 plant units.

Eiffage is a European leader in construction and concessions, with activities organised around five business lines: construction, civil works, energy, metal and concessions with public-private partnerships. Thanks to the experience of more than 67,000 employees, Eiffage generated €14.3 billion of revenues in 2013, including 15% outside France. www.eiffage.com

bring a complete solution for the management, control and supervision of energy produced in this plant. This solution covers the complete electrical conversion chain, managing energy from the solar panels to the high voltage network. Schneider Electric also supplies services for the complete solution, with guarantees on the equipment availability rate for 20 years.

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machine Manufacturers, Nonresidential Buildings, Data Centres & Networks and the Residential sector. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group’s 150,000plus employees achieved sales of 24 billion euros in 2013, through an active commitment to helping individuals and organisations make the most of their energy. www.schneider-electric.com

Schneider Electric

Krinner

Schneider Electric, with its strong expertise in solar, will

Developing quality solutions from

enough to cater for the daytime power consumption of the entire population of Bordeaux.

Eiffage

innovative ideas is one of the secrets of the success of Krinner’s ground screws and photovoltaic structures. Growing interest in innovative screw-in foundations, especially in the field of renewable energies, has given Krinner an ideal opportunity to promote its specialised know-how.

Krinner is a market leader in development and installation techniques as well as in terms of total installed power, with more than solar power plants generating 1.5 gigawatts all over the world.

Backed by its high-tech equipment and years of experience, it is able to installer between 23 and 35 MWp of ground-based photovoltaic power facilities a month. Screw-in foundations and concrete-free solutions are the key to quick installation while protecting the environment.

Global PV Balance Of System revenues to exceed $20 Billion in 2019 According to new analysis from IHS Technology, revenues for the solar photovoltaic balance of system (BOS) market is forecast to grow at an average rate of 5% per year, reaching 21 billion in 2019.

China, India and other large markets in Asia will account for 44% of global BOS revenues in 2019, the report says, with many of these markets dominated by niche suppliers.

The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region will reach 34% of revenues. The commercial market, which IHS forecasts will reach 11.5 GW in 2019, will lead growth in the EMEA region.

The BOS market for the Americas will comprise 21% in 2019, the report says.

The structural BOS market, which IHS defines as including ground-mount trackers and fixedtilt and rooftop mounting systems, will account for 45% of the total global PV BOS market, reaching $9.3 billion in 2019. Within this category, rooftop mounting systems are forecast to grow 5% per year, due to strong global growth in both the residential and commercial rooftop sectors.

The electrical BOS market, composed of DC cabling,

14 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

connectors, monitoring hardware and combiner boxes, will grow faster than the structural market, IHS says. Revenues are expected to reach just under $3 billion in 2019.

“The Asian market is also highly attractive for BOS suppliers, especially in the ground-mount market, where local steel manufacturers are very active presently,” says Cormac Gilligan, senior solar analyst for IHS Technology. “This creates a huge opportunity for experienced PV mounting suppliers from EMEA and the Americas to expand abroad.”

PV Balance of System Equipment Report – 2015 IHS carried out the research for the second edition of its report on PV balance of system (BoS) equipment over a period of six months. This report provides market sizes, forecast and supplier market shares for the global balance of system equipment market, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that suppliers will face in five years’ time.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SOLAR

A consortium including SENER wins major contract in Morocco

The engineering and technology group SENER is involved in the consortium that was awarded the contract for construction of the solar power plants Noor 2 and Noor 3, phases 2 and 3 of a large solar complex in Ouarzazate, in southern Morocco.

This was somewhat a repeat decision by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), a Moroccan Government agency, who, for the construction of the first phase, the Noor 1 plant, had

chosen a similar project led by ACWA International Power which likewise included SENER in the construction consortium.

Under the latest contract, SENER will perform the engineering, construction and commissioning of the two solar thermal power plants, which make use of differing technologies: Noor 2 will use SENERtrough® parabolic troughs (designed and patented

by SENER), while Noor 3 will use a central tower and an array of

heliostats.

This means that SENER is involved in all of the solar thermal power aspects of the complex, given that Noor 4 — for which a contract has not yet been awarded — will be run on photovoltaic technology.

Set near the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, the complex is the country’s largest solar power undertaking ever. Noor 1 also employs SENERtrough® parabolic troughs and will have an installed capacity of 160 MWe. The figure for Noor 2 is 200 MWe and it benefits from second generation SENERtrough®-2 parabolic troughs, which have been tried and tested in Valle 2 solar thermal plant (in Cadiz, Spain) and lead to cost savings and improved efficiency. Lastly, Noor 3 will provide 150 MWe; the plant comprises a central tower with a molten salt receiver and SENER technology, and is a natural evolution of the Gemasolar plant (Seville, Spain), another SENER creation.

All of the plants include molten salt storage systems that enable them to continue generating power

without sunlight. Noor 1 will enter into service in 2015, while Noor 2 and Noor 3 will begin operations in 2017.

At present, SENER is a company at the forefront of solar thermal power. This can be seen both in the number of projects in its portfolio — it has contributed to more than twenty-five plants, most of them turnkey constructions, in Spain, the USA, South Africa and Morocco, totaling over 1,500 MWe installed power capacity and annual savings of more than a million tons of CO2 — and in the technological solutions it produces.

Some of the projects already in operation are technological milestones, for example Gemasolar and Valle 1 and Valle 2.

Canadian Solar supplies modules for major solar project in Georgia Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company”, or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world’s largest solar power companies, today announced that its modules will power a series of projects in Georgia totaling 5.1 MW with Atlanta-based solar developer and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) provider SolAmerica Energy, LLC. As the sole provider of photovoltaic (PV) modules for these projects, Canadian Solar expects these projects to be completed in December of 2014.

Each of the projects will be owned by Citizens Energy

Corporation of Boston pursuant to a development and EPC Agreement with SolAmerica Energy. All of the projects will utilize Canadian Solar CS6X-310-P photovoltaic (PV) modules, and the energy produced from the arrays will be sold to Georgia Power pursuant to the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative.

The projects under construction include the following: • Taylor County Industrial Park in Butler, Georgia: 1.8 MW ground mount • Cook County Farm in Lenox,

Georgia: 1.3 MW ground mount • Terrell County Industrial Park in Dawson, Georgia: 1 MW ground mount • Goolsby Farm in Terrell County, Georgia: 1 MW ground mount R. Stanley Allen, President of SolAmerica, said, “As part of the 8 MW of solar projects that SolAmerica will develop and build in Georgia by the end of 2014, these projects will help grow the base of solar energy in Georgia.

Based on the performance and reliability of Canadian Solar PV modules in previous projects we developed, we hold full confidence in their product performance.”

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, commented, “Canadian Solar is pleased to be working with SolAmerica on these solar projects in Georgia. We await their completion very soon and also look forward to future projects with SolAmerica in the Southeast United States.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 15

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SOLAR

Nippon Paper and Mitsubishi commence operation of mega-solar plant in Komatsushima-shi, Tokushima Nippon Paper Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation have completed, on schedule, the construction of the solar power generation facilities (capacity of approximately 21 megawatts) on part of the land owned by Nippon Paper Industries in Komatsushimashi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Commercial operation commenced on February 1, 2015.

Komatsushima-shi in Tokushima Prefecture has among the country’s highest annual sunshine hours.

This represents Shikoku’s largest mega-solar project, and it is operated by Nippon Paper Mega Solar Komatsushima Limited Liability Company, a specialpurpose company (SPC) jointly established on the strength of Nippon Paper Industries’ assets

and technology, as well as the operating expertise that Mitsubishi Corporation has accumulated to date.

Nippon Paper Industries is striving to grow as a comprehensive biomass company, while it is determined to remain focused on expanding the energy business as the Group’s new primary source of revenue through the effective utilization of management resources, including land, power generation facilities and the related expertise to operate these facilities.

The Mega-Solar Project in Komatsushima represents the second project for Nippon Paper Industries in its solar power generation business following Otake Mill (Otake City, Hiroshima

Prefecture; approximately 826kW capacity). Mitsubishi Corporation has developed mega-solar operations totaling 140 megawatts in eight locations around Japan, and will remain

focused on addressing issues such as the improvement of the energy self-sufficiency ratio and global warming through its renewable energy business.

Mounting Systems publishes UK sales record for 2014

Mounting Systems, a manufacturer of racking systems for solar power plants, has made its UK sales volumes known.

The company claims to have sold enough racking systems to support 204MWp of new British solar power generation capacity,

around eleven times what they supplied to the UK in 2013. This used 3,670 tons of recyclable aluminium.

Mounting Systems states that it outperformed its predictions for the UK market in 2014 by large amounts, both in sales of systems

for solar farms, and on-roof systems.

The company’s success, believes Stefan Spork, managing director of Mounting Systems, is due to “Mounting Systems’ lightweight aluminium frames” that he believes are easy and fast to assemble.

The company predicts that it will continue last year’s success thanks to the acquisition of Haticon, an on-roof specialist.

Haticon, which Mounting Systems obtained from Norwegian aluminium company Sapa, is now being integrated into Mounting Systems.

Julian Moeller, senior UK manager of Mounting systems, is hopeful that 2015 will prove lucrative, stating: “In larger

Stefan Spork, Mounting Systems MD rooftops and multi-residential installations, a boom this year would not surprise us, so we expect more overall market share gains in 2015 and 2016.”

Mounting Systems is owned by German industrial group, Nordwest Industrie Group (NWI) and has offices in London.

NextEnergy Solar Fund boosts war chest with £61.4 m share issue The NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) has raised £61.4 million after releasing new shares on 10 February.

The company will issue a total of 59,750,000 new ordinary shares at the price of 102.77p per share

following the offer earlier this month.

NESF has letters of intent that grant it a pipeline of “assets available for acquisition” totalling 148MW. According to the company, the majority of these are certified

16 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

for 1.4ROCs under the renewable obligation.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of this placing and offer. Shareholders, existing and new, continue to strongly support the company and its

growth ambitions,” said Kevin Lyon, chairman, NESF. “As a result, since the company’s IPO 10 months ago, its market capitalisation has nearly tripled through further share issues, including this Issue.”

CUTTING EDGE

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SunEdison becomes first Renewable Energy Company to offer Solar, Wind, and Energy Storage SunEdison Acquires Energy Storage Operating Projects, Pipeline, and Project Origination Team from Solar Grid Storage

SunEdison becomes first renewable energy company to offer solar, wind, and energy storage SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the world’s largest renewable energy development company, and Solar Grid Storage LLC, a leader in deploying combined energy storage and solar PV systems, have announced that SunEdison has acquired the energy storage project origination team, project pipeline, and subject to customary consents and assignments, four operating storage projects from Solar Grid Storage. SunEdison now offers battery storage solutions to complement solar and wind projects worldwide, providing solutions that can benefit utilities,

municipalities, businesses, and consumers alike.

“Storage is a perfect complement to our business model and to our wind and solar expertise,” said Tim Derrick, General Manager of SunEdison Advanced Solutions. “Our strategy is to increase the value of the solar and wind projects that we finance, develop, own, and operate by improving their availability and ability to interact with the grid. With this acquisition we have added the capability to pair energy storage with solar and wind projects, thereby creating more

valuable projects and positioning ourselves as a leader in the rapidly growing energy storage market.”

The growth in the energy storage market is being driven by commercial and municipal customers who are interested in both immediate energy savings from solar and emergency backup power from storage, and by electricity grid operators, who place a high value on storage for its ability to make the grid more resilient and less susceptible to failure. Renewable generationplus-storage has proven to be a cost-effective way of integrating renewable energy such as solar and wind into the grid.

“Solar Grid Storage is unique in the storage industry in that we approach storage from a solar perspective. Understanding the core solar customer value proposition, as well as the ways that energy storage can add customer benefits and economic value to solar projects, enables us to deliver renewable energy projects that are more valuable for both customers and grid operators,” said Tom Leyden, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Grid Storage. “Becoming a part of SunEdison, a renewable energy market leader with a

Tim Derrick, General Manager of SunEdison Advanced Solutions

strong pipeline of customers and development projects, positions us incredibly well to accelerate our growth and integrate energy storage with renewables to help create the electricity grid of the future.”

The move into energy storage follows SunEdison’s successful acquisition of First Wind. With 5 gigawatts of solar and wind assets under management around the globe, the company expects to realize significant synergies and opportunities for growth by integrating energy storage into its global finance, project development, and asset ownership platform. Solar Grid Storage will integrate its solar-plusstorage control services with the SunEdison Renewable Operation Center, enabling global 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services for energy storage assets.

Crown Estate plots 3MW solar farm on disused quarry The proposed 3MW solar farm will build on the Crown Estate and Albion Stone’s previous solar installation, a 164.5kWp array on a stone factory. Image credit: The Crown Estate The Crown Estate has partnered with Portland stone provider, Albion Stone to submit a planning application for a solar farm on a disused quarry site.

The planning application is seeking approval to construct a 3MW solar farm across 7.4 hectares of land at a Quarry site in Easton on

the Isle of Portland, Dorset.

Malcolm Burns, portfolio manager for The Crown Estate, said: ‘’The site is particularly well suited for a solar park. It brings back into productive use spent quarry land while its landscape means that most of the solar park will not be visible from neighbouring homes. Our application is for a 25-year period following which the land would be restored.’’

If the site is given the goahead it would generate enough

electricity to power Albion Stone’s masonry factory as well as 400 local homes.

The planning decision is expected to be made in spring, with the project potentially connected to the grid early 2016.

The move builds on a previous solar venture between the Crown Estate and Albion Stone which saw the installation of a 164.5kWp rooftop array on a stone factory on the Isle of Portland in Dorset.

Malcolm Burns, portfolio manager for The Crown Estate

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 17

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SOLAR

World’s largest solar-powered bridge opens in London

Solar panels on Blackfriars bridge in London Photograph: Courtesy Network Rail

After nearly five years in the making, Network Rail has cut the ribbon on the world’s largest solar-powered bridge at Blackfriars Bridge across the River Thames

A

s part of a project with solar installation firm Solarcentury, the roof of the bridge has been covered with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, providing up to half of the energy for London Blackfriars station.

First Capital Connect, which runs Blackfriars, expects the panels to cut the stations’ carbon emissions by an estimated 511 tonnes a year, further reducing the carbon footprint of its train routes to the south east of England.

“Electric trains are already the greenest form of public transport - this roof gives our passengers an even more sustainable journey,” said David Statham, managing director of First Capital Connect.

“The distinctive roof has also turned our station into an iconic landmark visible for miles along the River Thames.”

The bridge will also act as a major advertisement for London’s efforts to become a sustainable

18 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

city, with tourists and workers viewing the panels as they enter the capital.

The project was one of the most complex to date for Solarcentury, which installed the panels in a series of phases over the past two years, pausing to minimise the impact on the station during the 2012 Olympic Games.

“We had different sections of roof available at different times

David Statham MD of First Capital Connect Managing director of First Capital Connect David Statham

Photograph: Courtesy of Network Rail

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Suzanna Lashford Head of Commercial Sales

to fit in with this complicated jigsaw of getting everything up and going,” explained Gavin Roberts, Solarcentury’s senior project manager, adding that the company had even considered shipping some of the components in via the Thames.

He added that as a city centre site Blackfriars presented a lot more challenges to a warehouse rooftop, such as transport restrictions and ensuring safety standards were followed while the station was still operating.

For such a large and complex project, Solarcentury said the key to success could be found in early planning and ensuring that the intergation of the panels is included during the design stage of the station’s wider upgrade project.

“Solar is often seen as an afterthought, coming in at the end of a project,” explained Suzanna Lashford, head of commercial sales for Solarcentury. “So having

everything designed in as early as possible [meant that the project] would not only be quicker, but would also be cheaper.

“We did that very well at Blackfriars, but in future it is a must to ensure everything is kept to a cost minimum. Projects would then look much more viable for clients and we’ll see more of them cropping up.”

And while ministers warn of the risk of a potential backlash against “monster solar farms” on green belt land, Solarcentury maintains a solar bridge in the centre of London can have quite the opposite impact on the landscape and perception of renewable energy.

“The fact that it’s so visual is a

real bonus,” said Lashford. “I think as a statement, London often tries to be a sustainable city and I think it’s great from that point of view.”

She now hopes the project will inspire more big infrastructure developers to embrace the benefits of renewable energy.

“Network Rail’s investment in this project is a positive sign for the solar industry,” she said.

“They’re an old English institution and they’re looking to the future to make investments into non-core technologies for the business, and that’s a great statement that other large corporations in the country can start realising.”

Blackfriars station solar panels installation underway in 2012. Photograph: Courtesy of Network Rail FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 19

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SolarReserve & ACWA Power lead winning consortium in South Africa

World’s leading molten salt energy storage technology to deliver lowest price electricity from Concentrating Solar Power in South Africa

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he South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) awarded preferred bidder status for a 100 megawatt (MW) Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) project to a consortium led by SolarReserve, a leading global developer of utilityscale solar power projects and advanced solar thermal technology, and International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power), the Saudi water and power developer, owner and operator.

The project was developed in response to the DOE’s Round 3 (CSP) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The Redstone Solar Thermal Power project, with the lowest tariff bid to date from any CSP project in the country, is scheduled to achieve financial close later in 2015 and commence operations in early 2018.

The first of its kind in Africa, the Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project features SolarReserve’s world-leading molten salt energy storage technology in a tower configuration with the capability to support South Africa’s demand for energy when it’s needed most - day and night. The 100 MW project with 12 hours of full-load energy storage will be able to reliably deliver a

20 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

stable electricity supply to more than 200,000 South African homes during peak demand periods, even well after the sun has set.

Fueled completely by the sun, with no back up fuel required, the project also features dry cooling of the power generation cycle as an important element to minimize water use.

The project technology will be based on SolarReserve’s successful Crescent Dunes project in the US, which is complete with construction and currently in final commissioning.

“The Redstone project marks an important technology advancement for South Africa in solar power,” said SolarReserve’s CEO Kevin Smith. “Due to the fully integrated thermal energy storage, the plant will provide dispatchable power on-demand, just like conventional coal, oil, nuclear or natural gasfired power plants, but without the harmful emissions or hazardous materials and without any fuel cost.

In addition, the project’s delivered electricity price is the lowest of any Concentrating Solar Power project in the country to date.” Smith added, “We appreciate the support of the South African Government and look

Kevin Smith CEO SolarReserve

forward to working with our partner ACWA Power and the communities where the project is located to help South Africa meet its renewable energy targets, stimulate long-term economic development and create new jobs.”

“This Redstone Solar Project together with our 50 MW Bokpoort CSP project in South Africa and the Noor1, 160 MW solar thermal power plant at Ouarzzate in Morocco, extends ACWA Power’s success in solar energy on the African continent. The Redstone Solar Project is another successful bid where we challenged ourselves to deliver the lowest tariff to date in the REIPPP programme for electricity generated wholly with solar power but dispatchable reliably both at day and night; again demonstrating ACWA Power’s

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commitment to reliably deliver electricity at the lowest possible cost.

All aspects of the project, from development phase to construction and then operations, have been structured to ensure maximization of value retention in not just only the South African economy, but also within the local economy of Northern Cape Province recognizing the intrinsic value in co-developing local people along with this asset which will co-exist with the local community The Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project will be located in Postmasburg, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province,

Alistair Jessop SolarReserve’s Senior Vice President of Development

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adjacent to the 75 MW Lesedi and 96 MW Jasper photovoltaic (PV) solar power projects successfully developed by SolarReserve and its investment partners.

Together, the three projects comprise the world’s first combined CSP and PV solar park with a total of 271 MW of generating capacity. Under the REIPPPP process, the projects ensure robust local participation and technology transfer, and are structured to exceed the minimum REIPPPP requirements for BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) equality on job creation, local content, ownership, management, procurement, and enterprise development.

All of the projects, as mandated under the REIPPPP, set aside a percentage of total project revenues for enterprise and socioeconomic development which will be invested for the benefit of local communities.

The Redstone project will create more than 800 direct jobs during the construction phase comprised of craft workers on site and will also create significant additional jobs related to equipment supply, manufacturing, engineering, transportation and other services.

Over 40% of the total project value

The project technology will be based on SolarReserve’s successful Crescent Dunes project in the US (above)

will be provided by South African suppliers – a portion of which will support BBBEE activities. South African companies will provide

investment in the project of at least R2.4 billion and the tax revenue forecast contribution for the Redstone project is estimated to be

SolarReserve and ACWA Power have further advanced solar thermal projects in development in South Africa under the progressive REIPPPP – Alistair Jessop

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 21

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The Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project will be located in Postmasburg, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province, adjacent to the 75 MW Lesedi (above) and 96 MW Jasper photovoltaic (PV) solar power projects 96 MW Jasper photovoltaic (PV) solar power projects.

ACWA Power is also particularly pleased to yet again lead in the field of project financing by structuring this innovative tower technology based solar power project with SolarReserve based on a project finance arrangement.

– Rajit Nanda, Chief Investment Officer, ACWA Power in excess of R6 billion in income tax over the first 20 years of operation.

In addition, during the more than 30-year operating life, the project will expend over R150 million per year in salaries and other operating costs, including land, insurance, and maintenance activities.

“SolarReserve and ACWA Power have further advanced solar thermal projects in development in South Africa under the progressive REIPPPP,” said Alistair Jessop, SolarReserve’s Senior Vice President of Development.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership here as well as in growing markets such as the Middle East.”

Rajit Nanda, Chief Investment Officer, ACWA Power, said: “ACWA Power is also particularly pleased to yet again lead in the field of project financing by structuring this innovative tower technology based solar power project with SolarReserve based on a project finance arrangement. The Redstone Project marks another significant milestone in ACWA Power’s target of adding renewable energy capacity to its multi-fuel portfolio

of assets capable of generating 15.5 gigawatts of electricity and producing 2.4 million cubic meters of desalinated water.”

About SolarReserve (www.solarreserve.com) SolarReserve, LLC – headquartered in Santa Monica, California – is a leading developer of utility-scale solar power projects and advanced solar thermal technology with more than $1.8 billion of projects in construction and operation worldwide. SolarReserve’s experienced team of power project professionals has assembled an extensive 5,000 MW worldwide development portfolio of largescale solar projects. The company’s diverse portfolio of solar power projects is comprised of advanced solar thermal technology (CSP), photovoltaic (PV) technology, and hybrid (combined CSP and PV) solutions that can deliver solar energy that is cost competitive with conventional energy sources, including projects that can provide reliable solar energy 24-hours per day .

SolarReserve’s 110 MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Plant located

22 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

in Nevada is the world’s first utilityscale facility to feature advanced molten salt power tower energy storage capabilities. The project, complete with construction and currently in the commissioning phase, is scheduled to commence full operations in early 2015 and will be the only operating utility scale molten salt power tower on the planet.

About ACWA Power: www.acwapower.com ACWA Power is a developer, investor, co-owner and operator of a portfolio of plants across 9 countries with a capacity to generate 15.5 GW of power and produce 2.5 million m3/day of desalinated water, and which has an investment value in excess of USD 22 billion.

ACWA Power was born out of the policy decision by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to increase private sector involvement in the power generation and desalinated water production sectors to include

ownership and operation of assets, and has now grown to be an investor, developer and operator of power generation and desalinated water producing plants in which it has a meaningful economic interest and exercises management control.

The company was incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has a paid-up capital of over USD 1.4 Billion. It is owned by eight Saudi conglomerates, Sanabil Direct Investment Company (owned by the Public Investment Fund), the Saudi Public Pensions Agency and the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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Marks & Spencer completes ‘UK’s largest rooftop array’, plots more for 2015 solar energy initiatives we are planning this year. The scale of the project demonstrates our ambitious goals and long term commitment to onsite renewable energy.”

The solar array is expected to help Marks & Spencer slash its carbon footprint by around 48,000 tonnes over 21 years. Amber Infrastructure claims that the 6.1MW project is the UK’s largest commercial solar installation.

Despite promising to put

“rocket-boosters” underneath the flagging commercial rooftop sector, the government has only trailed proposals to lift permitted development for rooftop solar up to 1MW, and allow PV owners to move the system and retain feed-in tariff payments. However, the sector appears to be gaining traction, with a number of big players announcing commercial rooftop divisions including, Lightsource, Conergy and Lark Energy.

Adam Elman, Head of Global Plan A Delivery at M&S, Hugo Adams, Director of Property at M&S, Munish Datta, Head of Plan A at M&S Marks & Spencer will be purchasing cheaper, greener electricity thanks to the installation of a 6.1MW solar array at its East Midlands Distribution Centre in Castle Donington.

The solar array is expected to generate 5,000MWh of energy every year, with Marks & Spencer purchasing the energy generated onsite through a power purchase agreement. The array is predicted to provide a quarter of the distribution centre’s energy requirements. The 24,272-module strong array was developed by Amber Infrastructure who acted as the sole funder for the project.

The minister for energy and climate change, Amber Rudd

welcomed the installation, particularly in light of the government’s push for increased commercial rooftop solar. She said: “There is massive potential to turn our large buildings into power stations – and this is a great example of how businesses can reap the benefits. More rooftop solar means more jobs – and will also help deliver the clean, reliable energy supplies that the country needs at the lowest possible cost to consumers.”

Hugo Adams, director of property at Marks & Spencer, added: “The completion of this project is hugely exciting for everyone at M&S. It is the first significant step in a number of

M&S has created an infographic to explain the impact of the new 6.1MW array

A decade into the modern age of clean energy, and nearly a decade into the new age of shale gas abundance, the global energy system is not just growing, but shifting shape.

At summit 2005, we will look at how phase change is likely to accelerate, and how to benefit from it.

VENUE GRAND HYATT NEW YORK

109 EAST 42ND STREET | NEW YORK | NY | 10017

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 23

EVENTS WORLDWIDE EVENTS CALENDAR – 2015 EWEA Offshore 2015 10-12 March Copenhagen www.ewea.org/annual2015/offshore2015

All Energy 6-7 May Glasgow, Scotland www.all-energy.co.uk

AWEA WINDPOWER 18-21 May Orlando, FL, USA www.windpowerexpo.org

Global Offshore Wind 2015 14th Annual Conference & Exhibition ExCeL, London 24-25 June 2015 www.renewableuk.com

Husum WindEnergy 15-18 September Husum, Germany www.husumwind.com

RenewableUK 2015 Conference & Exhibition ACC, Liverpool, UK 6–8 October www.renewableuk.com

EWEA 2015 17-20 November Paris, France www.ewea.org/annual2015/

Photo: Courtesy of the LM Wind Power group

24 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

WIND

WIND EDITORS COMMENTS

Wind will soon compete with gas says study

The cost of wind power has continued to fall compared with many other technologies over the past five years and is now approaching the level at which it can compete with conventional technologies.

So says a new market research report from MarketReportsOnline. com, “The Future Cost of Wind Power” 2015.

Power from natural gas and coal remains cheaper, says the study, but the steady growth in renewable penetration from both wind and wind power is leading to coal and gas-fired plants operating for less of the time, a factor which adversely affects their economics.

‘On the other hand’, says the report, ‘the low cost of wind power is leading governments to reduce subsidies to wind. By the end of the decade wind power could be the second cheapest source of electricity after natural gas in many markets.’

The study expects growth of wind power to continue strongly in the major markets of Europe, Asia and North America. Markets in Latin America are advancing more slowly and wind power in Africa remains a rarity.

The United States is showing some renewed interest in wind

as President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget includes a request of $170.9 million to fund the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s mission to safely and responsibly manage the Nation’s offshore energy and mineral resources.

The 2016 budget request includes a program increase of $750,000 for establishing the Renewable Energy Inspection Program. The funding will support the development of regulations, inspection guidelines, procedures, and criteria for inspections of offshore renewable energy facilities so that the appropriate regulatory structure will be in place to protect the safety of these facilities as well as the environment.

In Europe, Denmark, the UK, Austria and Germany have posted 2014 records for wind’s contribution to their electricity production.

Denmark’s energy ministry released figures showing that 39.1 per cent of its electricity in 2014 came from wind. This figure has more than doubled in ten years; in 2004 wind accounted for 18.8 per cent of the country’s electricity production.

An energy ministry spokesperson said last year’s

data represents a world record and beats other countries “by a distance”. Denmark’s most productive month was January 2014, when wind energy produced 61.7 per cent of its electricity.

July was the least productive month, with only 23 per cent of its electricity provided by wind.

In the UK annual electricity output of the UK’s wind energy sector grew by 15 per cent last year.

Overall, wind power provided 9.3 per cent of UK electricity supply in 2014, compared with 7.8 per cent in 2013. UK wind power generated 28.1 Terawatt hours of electricity in 2014, up from 24.5 Terawatt hours in 2013, according to an independent analysis of National Grid figures commissioned by wind trade body RenewableUK. December in the UK was a recordbreaking month, with 14 per cent of the UK’s electricity produced by wind, beating the record of 13 per cent set a year earlier.

The same month in Germany was also one for records. The country’s turbines produced 8.9 Terawatt hours in December, more than any month previously. The figures were published by IWR, a German renewable energy research institute. IWR believes the record could be broken again in 2015 as

Germany brings online a number of offshore projects, including Vattenfall’s 288 Megawatt DanTysk and RWE’s 295 Megawatt Nordsee Ost. Austria has doubled its installed wind capacity over the past three years, adding 1,015 Megawatts from 365 turbines between 2012 and 2014, according to the Austrian wind energy association IG Windkraft. In total, Austria has 1,016 turbines with 2,095 Megawatt. The capacity can generate around 4.5 Terawatt hours in a year, equivalent to 7.2 per cent of the country’s electricity needs.

Underlining the significance of the sector, EUR15.3 billion was invested in wind energy over the period 2012-2014, more than in the automobile or food sectors.

RM

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 25

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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Northland Power named 2014 business of the year

Northland Power Inc. (“Northland”) (TSX:NPI)(TSX:NPI.PR.A)(TSX:NPI. PR.C)(TSX:NPI.DB.A)(TSX:NPI. DB.B), an international producer of wind, solar, and thermal power in business for over 25 years, was named Business of the Year by the Netherlands-Canadian Chamber of Commerce at its annual luncheon in the Hague on November 12, 2014.

The award recognizes companies who have advanced the relationship between Canada and the Netherlands. Northland was selected from a shortlist of three companies based on its role as majority equity shareholder in Gemini, a 600MW offshore wind project located approximately 85

kilometres off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea. “It is an honour to receive this award,” said John Brace, CEO of Northland Power. “Our involvement in Gemini illustrates the mutual benefits that can result from collaboration between our two countries. We look forward to having a significant and positive long-term impact on the Netherlands economy while creating jobs and helping the Netherlands achieve its renewable energy goals. I would like to thank the governments of both Canada and the Netherlands for their support, which has been fundamental to the project’s success.”

Said James Lambert, Canada’s Ambassador to the Netherlands: “As Ambassador, I am delighted with the choice of Northland Power for this award. The company demonstrates the power of

partnership by enabling Canada’s largest-ever investment in the Netherlands, which will help to meet Dutch electricity needs through the production of green energy, CO2 reductions, and Canadian know-how.”

The Netherlands-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which was established before the Second World War, is a proactive, nongovernment, non-profit, voluntary organization of companies and individuals who contribute to the Canada-Netherlands relationship through their activities in business, cultural, educational and other spheres. The Chamber’s primary mission is to promote stronger economic ties between the Netherlands and Canada while seeking to raise public awareness of the special relationship between the two countries.

John Brace, CEO of Northland Power

James Lambert, Canada’s Ambassador to the Netherlands

Ahlstrom launches Ahlstrom AceBlade(TM) Carbon, a costeffective solution for manufacturing wind turbine blades Ahlstrom, a global high performance fiber-based materials company, launches today Ahlstrom AceBladeTM Carbon, a new product for the wind energy market.

AceBladeTM Carbon is a patent pending, unidirectional carbon fiber reinforcement with superior fatigue resistance and enhanced

mechanical properties. The product addresses the market need for longer and lighter blades.

The product delivers significant benefits for designers and manufacturers of wind turbine blades. AceBladeTM Carbon is a cost effective solution for vacuum infusion processes. Through

delivery of higher strength and stiffness as well as improved fatigue properties, longer and lighter blades can be manufactured with AceBladeTM Carbon.

The launch of Ahlstrom AceBladeTM Carbon aligns well with Ahlstrom’s strategy.

The company aims to grow

with high performance product offerings for a clean and healthy environment. AceBladeTM Carbon delivers a product offering supporting environmentally sound technologies.

Gamesa lands a new 8-year contract to service 132 MW for Parques Eólicos Gestinver Gamesa, a global technology leader in the wind power industry, has secured a new contract with Parques Eólicos Gestinver (a company 50%-owned by each of Gestamp Eólica and Genera Avante) to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 132 MW located in five wind farms in Spain.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gamesa will perform

maintenance services on 66 wind turbines of Gamesa 2.0-2.5 MW platform (11 G80-2.0 MW, 18 G87-2.0 MW and 37 G90-2.0 MW) located in Lugo, Coruña and Tarragona, Spain.

The new eight-year contract contains an option for a five year extension, and renews the operation and maintenance agreement Gamesa has had for the five wind farms since their

26 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

commissioning.

O&M services, key to the company’s growth Gamesa maintains over 20,000 MW for more than 200 customers worldwide through its O&M services area, a core component of the company’s end-to-end wind power offering.

The company views the delivery of effective O&M services as crucial to the creation of value

in the development, usage and monetisation of a wind farm. To this end, it draws on its extensive range of programs to maximize wind farm energy output, boost turbine availability and lower O&M costs, all with a view to minimizing its customers’ cost of energy

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

Iberdrola completes construction of first wind farm in Kenya

IBERDROLA INGENIERÍA, in a consortium with Gamesa, has completed the construction of its first wind farm in Kenya, the Ngong II project with an installed capacity of 13.6 megawatts (MW).

It was awarded by the state-owned Kenyan Electricity Generating Company Limited (KenGen) in a contract worth €21.4 million.

This renewable facility located in the municipality of Ngong Hills, about 30 kilometres west of Nairobi, consists of 16 Gamesa-

manufactured G52 wind turbines and was financed by the Spanish Enterprise Internationalisation Fund (FIEM).

The two companies completed the wind farm on a turnkey basis, i.e. the project included the stages of design, purchasing equipment, construction, assembling all of the components, connection to the electricity grid and maintenance over at least a year.

This project was completed two months in advance of the

scheduled date, after 16 instead of 18 months. It consolidates the operations of IBERDROLA’s subsidiary in Kenya, a country that has become a priority for the company.

The Ngong II wind farm was commissioned as part of an ambitious initiative involving electricity distribution networks and renewable energies being carried out by IBERDROLA INGENIERÍA in this country.

The Nairobi project will equip the Kenyan capital with a reliable and modern electricity system.

It is being carried out at the request of the state-owned firms KETRACO and KenGen (mentioned previously) and another local firm called Aeolus.

On the one hand, the initiative consists of setting up a new electricity distribution system including a high voltage network, with 15 new kilometres of overhead and underground power lines, four substations - Athi River, Isinya, Ngong and Koma Rock, 220

kilovolts (kV) in each case - and an extension to the most important substation in the city, Dandora, also 220 kV. On the other hand, the IBERDROLA subsidiary is building two wind farms: the Ngong II facility mentioned above and the Kinangop wind farm, which will have a capacity of 61 MW and will consist of a total of 38 turbines, each with a unit capacity of 1.6 MW, manufactured by U.S. firm General Electric.

This project consolidates IBERDROLA INGENIERÍA as one of the most international companies in its sector, with operations in almost 40 countries. The main activity of this subsidiary is the completion of turnkey projects for other companies in the group and for third parties, in the areas of generation, nuclear energy,

First power at Scottish north east wind farm

A wind farm in the north east of Scotland is now generating renewable electricity as announced by the Swedish energy firm building the project.

The £62mn Clashindarroch Wind Farm, near Huntly, is Vattenfall’s second operating wind farm in Scotland. This is the first of 18 turbines to start generating electricity and the supplier Senvion

will continue preparing the remaining MM82 Senvion 2.05MW turbines for operation.

Piers Guy, Vattenfall’s UK Country Manager said: “Vattenfall wants to build a wind business in Scotland that makes a telling contribution to Scottish climate change targets, helps keep the lights on and secure a robust Scottish wind power supply chain.”

“Generating first power from Clashindarroch is a significant achievement of which we are very proud. Building a wind farm of this size safely is a major engineering exercise and is testament to the skills and commitment of hundreds of workers from Chepstow to Dingwall via Grangemouth.

“The community will benefit too as generating power for the first time paves the way for significant local community investment later this year and for the next 20 years or more.”

On January 22 at 14:40 turbine number 18 generated first power from a wind speed of 7.8 metres per second (17 mph). Vattenfall and turbine supplier Senvion continue commissioning work on the remaining 17 turbines.

In an average year, Clashindarroch Wind Farm will generate over 110,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy. This would be capable of meeting the equivalent annual electricity needs

Piers Guy, Vattenfall’s UK Country Manager

of around 27,000 households and make 4 billion cups of tea every year. Based on standard industry formula, Clashindarroch would prevent the emission of over 40,000 tonnes of C02 every year.

Vattenfall’s 18-turbine Edinbane Wind Farm, on the Isle of Skye has been operating for five years.

Edinbane was the first wind farm that Vattenfall built in the UK

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 27

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

Kirti Vagadia appointed new CFO of Senvion SE The Supervisory Board of Senvion SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Suzlon Group, the world’s fifth-largest* manufacturer of wind turbines, has appointed Kirti Vagadia as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer. The appointment is effective as of 1st December 2014.

Tulsi R. Tanti, Chairman of the Suzlon Group and of the Senvion Supervisory Board said: “By appointing Kirti Vagadia, the Supervisory Board is strengthening the company significantly, because he has over 20 years’ experience in the wind energy industry and the management skills and background required to successfully oversee financial measures for the benefit of Senvion. The Suzlon Group is committed to Senvion and, by taking this step, is happy to be helping to guide the company’s

profitable and sustainable growth. We thank Kirti Vagadia for everything he has done for the Group so far and wish him much success in his new position.”

Before his appointment, Kirti Vagadia was Group Head Finance of the Suzlon Group and a member of the Supervisory Board of Senvion SE. He already stepped down from all his posts on 20th October 2014.

Andreas Nauen, CEO of Senvion SE, said: “We are looking forward to intensifying our collaboration with Kirti Vagadia. In his role as a member of the Supervisory Board, he was an important business partner for us with his great commitment and profound knowledge. We will benefit considerably from being able to use his knowledge in all relevant financial topics even more directly.”

The 49-year-old Kirti Vagadia

has a master’s degree in commerce from the University of Gujarat, India. He also is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mr. Vagadia has a total of 25 years of experience in Finance and has been associated with Suzlon Group since its inception in 1995 and has been responsible for raising funds for the company and Group across markets. He was also instrumental in Capital Market transactions of the Group, which included Private Equity transactions in the Group, IPO of Suzlon Energy Limited, Hansen Transmissions, issuance and placement of FCCB, QIP. At Senvion, he will be responsible for Finance, Compliance, Legal, IT, Support Functions and Internal Audit and Risk Management.

Kirti Vagadia appointed new CFO of Senvion SE (PDF, 129 kByte)

Energy Secretary Ed Davey opens England’s largest onshore wind farm at Keadby Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, today opened SSE’s Keadby Wind Farm - England’s largest onshore wind farm The £98m project sees 34 turbines generating up to 68MW of electricity. Since construction began in 2011 it’s contributed £43.3m to the UK economy and supported 723 jobs.

To help deliver the project SSE built a £5m bridge at North Pilfrey, allowing the majority of construction traffic to bypass neighbouring villages, protecting and enhancing the local community.

As a further signal of its longterm commitment to the area SSE will also be providing £8.5m in funding to support local projects over the 25-year lifespan of the wind farm.

Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “Onshore wind is the cheapest form of low carbon power we have.

It powers millions of homes and provides thousands of green jobs for people across the UK. But the benefits of onshore wind projects

like Keadby don’t stop there.

“As a direct result of this development local projects are able to access the £8.5 million fund SSE has set up to support communities in North Lincolnshire over the next 25 years.”

Paul Smith, SSE Managing Director Generation, said: “Today marks the culmination of SSE’s £98m construction project to build England’s largest ever onshore wind farm and its opening reflects SSE’s determination to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way, contributing significantly to the UK economy.

“SSE takes its responsibilities as a developer very seriously and makes a positive impact in the areas where it operates. Working in tandem with the local community is central to the success of Keadby, that’s why we’re investing £8.5m in local projects supporting everyone from toddlers to trainees over the next 25 years.”

During his visit Ed Davey met employees of the wind farm and those involved in its construction before unveiling a plaque to celebrate its official opening.

28 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Picture (L-R) Samantha Cunningham, Keadby wind farm site supervisor, Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Paul Smith, Managing Director of Generation He was also introduced to some of the local groups who have received support from the local community fund set up by SSE at the start of construction.

As part of SSE’s commitment to support communities close to its developments, two annual funds totalling £340,000 are available.

The Keadby Wind Farm Community Fund, open to community groups in the immediate wind farm area, and the new SSE North Lincolnshire Community Development Fund, now open to groups across the

region. These funds will run for the 25-year lifetime of the project – contributing £8.5million to the local community.

Projects already successful in securing funding include a £20,000 award for the refurbishment of children’s playpark in Ealand and nearly £70,000 in energy and infrastructure improvements to community buildings in Crowle, Althorpe, Luddington, and Garthorpe.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

Senvion wins 150 Megawatt contract for Canadian wind farm Senvion SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Suzlon Group, the world’s fifth-largest* manufacturer of wind turbines, has signed a contract for the delivery of its 3.2M114 Cold Climate Version type turbines to the 150 Megawatt (MW) Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n (MU) wind farm in Quebec, Canada. With almost 500 MW installed in Europe, the Senvion 3.2M114 already has a proven track record. It is the first time Senvion will be installing the 3.2M114, equipped with a hot-air de-icing system, on North American soil. The Senvion 3.2M114 turbines, each with a rated power of 3.2 MW, a hub height of 100 metres and a rotor diameter of 114 metres, are expected to produce enough electricity to power about 94.000 homes.

The MU wind project is owned and developed in a 50-50 partnership between the three Mi’gmaq First Nations of Quebec and Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (TSX:INE). It is the biggest wind farm project with First

Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc

Helmut Herold, CEO North America at Senvion Canada Inc.,

Andreas Nauen, CEO of Senvion SE

Nations participation in Quebec to date. The project was awarded a power purchase agreement in March 2014 and is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2016.

At the occasion of the contract signature, Andreas Nauen, CEO of Senvion SE, commented: “We are delighted to deliver our turbines for this flagship project with the First Nations. Big wind farms like MU highlight the importance of the renewable sector for the country.”

Helmut Herold, CEO North America at Senvion Canada Inc.,

said: “I am happy that, once again, Innergex has put its trust in us. I am convinced that our flexibility and our persistence but also our stellar performance at the VigerDenonville community wind farm have paid off. We have experienced local teams here in Quebec, which makes me confident that the project realisation will work very smoothly.”

Viger-Denonville is the first community wind farm in Quebec.

The Senvion MM92 turbines that were commissioned in November

2013, have an availability of 99.5 per cent on average.

Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. stated: “Signing this turbine supply contract marks an important milestone in the development of the MU wind project, founded on our strong partnership with the Mi’gmaq First Nations of Quebec.

As a result, the project’s risk profile and economic returns are improved.”

ABB wins $100 million subsea cable system order for Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm 600 megawatt (MW) cable system to enable transmission of energy from Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm to the mainland ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth over $100 million from Energinet.dk, the Danish transmission system operator, to build an alternating current (AC) cable system that will enable the integration and transmission of power from the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm to the mainland grid.

As Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm it will help to increase the country’s wind power capacity to over 40%, capable of providing electricity to meet the demand of over 600,000 homes.

Wind energy is a cornerstone of Denmark’s Green Energy plan to become fossil fuel free by 2050.

The planned 600MW wind farm will help strengthen regional energy

markets and increase the security of supply by boosting transmission capacity.

ABB’s cable system will connect the offshore wind farm platforms Kriegers Flak A and B to Rødvig, in Denmark. ABB will design, supply and install three high-voltage alternating current 220 kilovolt three-core submarine cables with a total length of about 100 kilometers (km) – 44 km from each of the platforms to shore and 11 km between the two platforms.

The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2018.

“Cable links are playing a key role in integrating renewable energy into the grid and transmitting clean electricity to millions of people. This is very much in line with our vision of

facilitating power and productivity for a better world,” said Claudio Facchin, President, ABB Power Systems division. “Our leadingedge technologies, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and vast global experience position us as a global leader in high voltage cable systems.”

Cable systems are essential components of sustainable energy networks, transmitting vast amounts of electricity over long distances, often across or between countries. ABB is a global leader in high-voltage cable systems with a worldwide installed base across applications including city center infeeds, oil and gas platform power supplies, subsea interconnections and the integration of renewables.

ABB has commissioned more

Claudio Facchin, President, ABB Power Systems division

than 25 high-voltage DC cable connections and numerous of high-voltage AC cable links around the world.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 29

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

IKEA has announced Its largest global wind Investment to date: 165 Megawatts In Texas The IKEA Group has announced that it has purchased its second wind farm in the United States from Apex Clean Energy: a 165-megawatt wind farm in Cameron County, Texas. This represents the single largest renewable energy investment made by the IKEA Group globally to date. The wind farm will contribute significantly to the IKEA Group 2020 goal of producing as much renewable energy as the total energy the company consumes globally. The Cameron Wind farm is expected to be fully operational in late 2015.

Earlier this year IKEA Group announced its first U.S. wind farm purchase located in Hoopeston, Illinois. The Cameron Wind farm will be more than one-and-a-half times the size of the Hoopeston project.

Together, the IKEA Hoopeston and Cameron wind farms are expected to generate nearly 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of around 90,000 American households. 1 “IKEA believes that the climate challenge requires bold

commitment and action,” says Rob Olson, IKEA US Acting President and CFO. “We invest in renewable energy to become more sustainable as a business and also because it makes good business sense.

And as a home furnishings retailer with sustainability in our roots, we are committed to providing products and solutions that help our customers be more sustainable in their everyday lives.”

IKEA Group has now committed to own and operate 279 wind turbines in nine countries, and will invest a total of $1.9 billion2 in wind and solar power up to the end of 2015. IKEA has also taken steps to further the development of a low-carbon economy by supporting key initiatives including the People’s Climate March, UN Climate Summit, RE100, and the Climate Declaration.

Mark Kenber, CEO of the nonprofit organization The Climate Group, said: “IKEA was one of the first major companies to recognize that tackling climate change makes good business sense. IKEA has set commendable renewable

energy targets for its own company, and its actions are positively influencing business practices and the energy market. It has played an instrumental role in setting up ‘RE100’, The Climate Group’s global initiative to support businesses in switching to 100% renewable power.”

IKEA renewable energy investments in the U.S. to date now include: 104 wind turbines located on wind farms in Hoopeston and Cameron; 165,000 solar panels installed on 90% of IKEA buildings across the U.S., providing an additional 38 megawatts installed capacity; and geothermal integrated into the heating and cooling systems of two U.S. store locations, in Centennial, Colorado, and Merriam, Kansas.

Cameron Wind is located in a particularly favorable wind area in the south of Texas, which is the leading state in the U.S. for wind energy production. The wind farm will be fully owned by the IKEA Group and will be constructed and managed by renewable energy company Apex Clean Energy.

Rob Olson, IKEA US Acting President and CFO

The project will use 55 Acciona 3-megawatt turbines.

“Apex is excited to partner with IKEA once again to bring clean, renewable energy from wind to market in the U.S.,” added Apex President, Mark Goodwin. “Both companies understand that this abundant resource is great for the planet, great for our business and great for our shared future.”

Norvento turbine hits new high

Medium wind manufacturer Norvento has set a daily generation record for its nED100 100kW turbine.

A machine at Slagnaw Farm in

Castle Douglas, Scotland, yielded 2177kWh on 26 October 2014.

The same turbine had generated 2035kWh the previous day, meaning that in 48 hours it produced 4212kWh – just above the total annual electricity consumption of the average UK household, according to DECC figures.

Norvento’s nED100 (pictured) is a direct drive machine that takes in a range of technology from the utility-scale wind sector targeted

at “maximising performance and efficiency”, the company said.

“This performance milestone is very pleasing but hardly comes as a surprise,” said Norvento director of UK business development Ivo Arnús. “We are continuously striving to refine nED100 as a product.

“Efficiency and performance have to stay top of the agenda for the manufacturers and distributors working throughout the sector.”

Norvento director of UK business development Ivo Arnús

Toshiba, Isagen to consider 50mw geothermal plant in colombia Toshiba Corp. and three other companies will consider developing Colombia’s first geothermal power station.

Isagen SA, Schlumberger Ltd. and West Japan Engineering

Consultants Inc. have agreed to join Toshiba at considering a 50-megawatt geothermal project in Caldas, Toshiba have reported.

The plant may start running in 2020 if the companies decide to

30 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

go ahead with construction after a two-year feasibility study, Toshiba said.

Toshiba has supplied 52 geothermal power generation systems with a combined capacity

of 3,400 megawatts worldwide, according to the statement.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

ABB to provide cable solution for offshore wind connection in Germany – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a significant order from the Dutch-German transmission grid operator TenneT to design, engineer, supply and install an Alternating Current (AC) power transmission cable system that will connect Butendiek, an offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, to the HVDC (high voltage direct current) converter platform SylWin alpha.

The cable will link the AC platform of the Butendiek offshore wind farm to the HVDC converter platform SylWin alpha. The Butendiek wind farm is situated around 30 kilometers (km) off the island of Sylt. The cable system to be supplied is a 3-core 155 kilovolt (kV) AC submarine cable, approx.

38 km long. It is scheduled to be installed and commissioned

in 2015. The high voltage cable originally destined for this project was lost in an incident in the Mediterranean Sea in July and ABB was requested to step in and help to support the project schedule.

The cable system will have a capacity to transmit 144 megawatts (MW) of wind power – enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 150.000 German households. The use of clean, renewable wind energy as an alternate source is equivalent to the abatement of almost 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year that could have resulted from fossil fueled generation.

“Germany is among the world’s leading proponents of renewable energy and continues to push for lowering environmental impact”, said Claudio Facchin, Head of ABB’s Power Systems business. “We have

a vast array of technologies and considerable experience in this domain and are pleased to support TenneT with this fast track project.

ABB has successfully commissioned more than 10 AC cable projects around the world for offshore wind projects and others are under execution. Butendiek is the sixth offshore wind connection project in Germany awarded to ABB by TenneT. ABB is presently executing the Sandbank AC cable link, which also connects an offshore wind farm to the SylWin alpha HVDC converter platform.

As one of the world’s leading high-voltage cable manufacturers ABB has extensive domain knowledge and experience across a range of applications including offshore wind farm connections, powering oil and gas platforms from shore, and underground or

Claudio Facchin, Head of ABB’s Power Systems business subsea interconnectors.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact.

The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.

Vestas secures 49 MW order in the Dominican Republic Vestas has received an order for 15 V112-3.3 MW turbines for the 49.5 MW Larimar wind power plant in Enriquillo, Dominican Republic.

This is the second order in Latin America that Vestas has received from Spain-based Grupo Cobra since September 2014.

The 15 wind turbines for this supply-only contract are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2015 and commissioned by the first quarter of 2016. Once installed, the Larimar wind power plant will produce approximately 227,000 MWh per year, providing

green energy to more than 62,000 people in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is betting on wind energy to reduce its dependence on fossil-fuel imports to generate electricity.

In 2011, Vestas installed the first large-scale wind power plant (Juancho Los Cocos) in the country.

With this new order, Vestas will maintain its market leadership position in the Dominican Republic.

Pedro Cuevas, Executive Director at Grupo Cobra, states that “We are delighted to have strengthened our partnership with

Vestas through this new deal. We expect the Larimar wind power plant to take wind energy a step further in this country, and we are convinced that Vestas’ contribution in offering the best in class energy solutions will pave the way for more projects to come”.

“We welcome this new order from Grupo Cobra, which enables us to further consolidate our presence in the Dominican Republic, where Vestas installed the country’s first large-scale wind farm in 2011”, says Marco Graziano, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

Marco Graziano, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 31

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind to serial produce blades on the Isle of Wight, UK Serial production of 80m blades for MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s V164-8.0 MW offshore wind turbine to commence on the Isle of Wight from as early as Q2 2015 pending firm and unconditional orders.

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will serial manufacture the 80m blade for the V164-8.0 MW, the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine on the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of the UK. The announcement is the first part of a wider industrialisation strategy in the UK which is expected to result in up to £200m worth of economic impact, including investment and safeguarding or creating up to 800 jobs.

As part of the strategy MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will lease the production hall at Vestas’ blades technology centre on the Isle of Wight from 1 January

2015. Production of blades could commence in the second quarter of 2015 depending upon a pipeline of firm and unconditional orders.

CEO Jens Tommerup said the agreement underlines MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s commitment to the UK offshore wind market.

“We are extremely pleased to publically announce the first stage of our industrial strategy here in the UK, the world’s largest offshore wind market,” said Jens and continues: “MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will become the first manufacturer with the capacity to serial produce blades for future offshore wind projects in the UK,

and we look forward to sharing further aspects of our industrial strategy in due course.”

UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “The energy sector is powering Britain’s economic recovery – the UK is already the world leader for investing in offshore wind, and 2,250 green jobs were created this year in our wind industry. We are building on that success with our historic reforms to the electricity market.

“The blades that MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will manufacture are being designed, tested and produced in the UK. This is another great example of how our offshore wind industry is attracting global investment – not just in building the turbines themselves but right across the supply chain and right across Britain.”

Vestas will continue to conduct research and development of blade technology on the Isle of Wight, including the testing and

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind CEO Jens Tommerup

UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey

verification of the V164-8.0 MW which is being finalised by Vestas on behalf of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind. The lease of the production hall will have no impact on Vestas employees working in R&D on the site.

Vattenfall Wind Power wins concession Vattenfall Wind Power has won the concession to build and operate the offshore wind farm Horns Rev 3, with a total capacity of 400 MW. The wind farm will produce electricity for 450 000 households from 2017.

Vattenfall’s CEO Magnus Hall welcomes the decision that Vattenfall had the most competitive bid. Now the company awaits approval from the Danish Parliament and EU. The construction of Horns Rev 3 is an important step towards both Denmark’s and EU’s goals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, goals that stipulate that 30 % of the total energy consumption in 2020 shall origin from renewable energy sources. For that reason, we trust the political majority to go along with the agreement and find

a solution suitable for all parties, says Magnus Hall.

– This large, planned offshore wind farm will affect Vattenfall’s ambitions concerning wind power and especially our focus on offshore wind farms. Today we are the second largest operator of offshore wind power farms in the world and one of the largest operators of on shore wind power in Denmark. That gives us even better ways and means to develop sustainable energy production to become both profitable and competitive – in benefit of the Danish consumers, says Magnus Hall.

With Vattenfall as owner of the concession for Horns Rev 3, the company gets a unique opportunity for synergies between several offshore wind power farms,

32 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

according to Alberto Mendez Rebollo, Head of Vattenfall Nordic Wind Power operations.

– Our Control Center in Esbjerg today monitors more than 1000 wind turbines, offshore and on shore, and Horns Rev 3 will imply positive synergies in operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the Nordic Sea. Both the Control Center in Esbjerg and the community Esbjerg, will gain a more important role as a chain of support when Horns Rev 3 is in operation, says Alberto Mendez Rebollo.

Offshore, Vattenfall owns 60 % of the wind farm Horns Rev 1, 80 wind turbines, and is currently building, together with Stadtwerke München, two offshore wind farms in the German part of the Nordic Sea: Dan Tysk and Sandbank.

Magnus Hall CEO Vattenfall

Besides that, Vattenfall is developing the wind farm Kentish Flats in the UK. In total, Vattenfall owns approximately 1800 MW, of which 1000 MW are offshore.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

EBRD finances its first wind farm in Kazakhstan

In a landmark project for Kazakhstan’s renewables industry, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the first largescale wind farm in the country to be financed under the new feed-intariff mechanism.

The EBRD and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) will finance the construction, connection to the power transmission grid, commissioning and launch of a greenfield 50 MW wind power plant located in Yereymentau in central Kazakhstan.

The EBRD will provide a KZT 14 billion (€59.2 million) loan to Wind Power Yereymentau, a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Kazakhstan, while up to €18 million of concessional financing will be provided by the CTF. The loan will

be guaranteed by JSC SamrukEnergo, Kazakhstan’s national energy company and the ultimate owner of the company.

Yereymentau Wind Park will be the first power sector project in Kazakhstan to receive CTF funding.

“Signing of this Loan Agreement is in line with the Kazakhstan’s lowcarbon economy agenda. This year we are completing the construction of the first wind farm with 45 MW of capacity. Our partnership with the EBRD and the CTF will enable us to increase capacity up to 95 MW” - says Almassadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Samruk-Energo. “The partnership between EBRD and CTF on financing this first wind farm project in Kazakhstan under the new feed-in-tariff mechanism demonstrates the contribution that climate finance can make to move renewable energy into the mainstream”- adds Mafalda Duarte, Program Manager of the Climate Investment Funds.

The wind power plant is expected to offset 120,000 tons of CO2 per annum, an equivalent of

450 return flights from Astana to Almaty, in a country still dominated by coal-fired power generation.

Most of the electricity, over 70 per cent, produced in Kazakhstan today is still generated by coalfired power plants benefiting from easily accessible local coal reservoirs.

However, Kazakhstan is seen as one of the most promising countries in the CIS for both wind and photovoltaic energy investments. About 50 per cent of Kazakhstan’s territory has an estimated average wind speed of about 4-5 m/s with the overall wind potential estimated at around 18,000 GWh per year. To date, renewable energy in Kazakhstan is mainly represented by a few hydropower plants mostly built in Soviet times.

“Supporting clean energy projects is at the core of the EBRD’s mandate. We stand ready to assist Kazakhstan in unlocking its potential in renewables by financing pilot projects with strong local and foreign companies,” said Riccardo Puliti, EBRD Managing

Director for Energy and Natural Resources.

The EBRD support for the Yereymentau wind project is the result of the successful cooperation with the government of Kazakhstan on creating the legal and regulatory frameworks for renewable energy.

The Renewable Energy Law was introduced in June 2013, with tariffs for renewable energy off-take agreed in 2014.

This first wind farm in the country will road-test the new regulations and will set the benchmark in terms of developing, building and operating a greenfield renewable project.

Boralex acquires wind farm with Enercon wind turbines

Boralex Inc. (“Boralex” or the “Corporation”) (TSX: BLX) has announced the acquisition of the equity interest owned by Northland Power Inc. into the Frampton community wind power project which has a total capacity of 24 MW (“Frampton”).

Owned by the municipality of Frampton at 33,3% and, after closing of the transaction, by

Boralex at 66,7%, the Frampton project will be located on private lands in the municipality of Frampton, in the ChaudièreAppalaches region in Québec.

Once constructed, Frampton will consist of 12 Enercon E-82 wind turbines and is covered by a power sales contract with HydroQuébec. With a 20-year term, the contract was awarded under the

Hydro-Québec Distribution request for proposals for 250 MW of wind power in 2009.

“The acquisition of this quality community project sets a new milestone in Boralex’s development in Québec and we look forward to beginning collaboration with the community of Frampton,” noted Boralex President and CEO, Patrick Lemaire.

Construction of the Frampton project will begin in the first quarter of 2015 in order to commission the project within the next twelve months. The project will require an investment in the range of $75 to $80 million.

The quality of the wind resource at the site suggests an average utilization factor of approximately 40%, which should allow the project to generate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of approximately $9 million annually.

Boralex President and CEO, Patrick Lemaire

Mr. Lemaire added that, “true to its development approach, the Boralex team will be meeting with the community very shortly.”

An Open-house meeting will be organized over the coming weeks to initiate contact with the community and present the next steps of the Frampton wind project.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 33

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Energy efficiency a priority for Peru as Lima hosts UN climate talks Much of the water powering Peru’s hydroelectricity plants is provided by rivers flowing from rapidly melting tropical glaciers in the Andes.

Peru is being put squarely in the spotlight as leaders from around the world descend upon Lima this December. The capital is the host of the final major international meeting before next year’s crucial climate change summit in Paris.

Against the backdrop of these talks, one of the questions that will undoubtedly be asked is what is Peru itself doing to take action on climate change?

Peru is one of Latin America’s economic success stories, with a rapidly expanding economy and a population being brought out of poverty. Much of this growth has been thanks to energyintensive sectors, such as oil and gas, mining, construction and manufacturing.

This has been positive for Peru’s population. The World Bank estimates that between 2005 and 2013 the poverty rates in the country dropped at a staggering rate, from 45 % to 24 %. But all this development comes with the need for a modern energy infrastructure to power it, as well as to meet the demands of a burgeoning urban middle class.

Outside of the remote rural areas, where grids can be inconsistent at best, electricity supply in Peru is comparatively secure and cheap. This is thanks to abundant hydroelectric resources and significant natural gas reserves. However the long term potential for both these resources has been called into question by climate change, driving a need for greater efficiency in their use.

This goes beyond the global focus on reducing greenhouse

gas emissions. Peru gets very little rainfall on its arid Pacific coast and areas of the country are already facing serious water scarcity. As well as worries around providing drinking water and irrigation for agriculture, this could cause a number serious energy issues in the future. Much of the water powering the country’s hydroelectricity plants is provided by rivers flowing from rapidly melting tropical glaciers in the Andes.

A greater focus on energy efficiency is one of the main solutions to the energy challenge facing Peru, as well as a way of boosting economic development and competitiveness. To support this the Carbon Trust is currently leading on a new project to help identify and enable energy efficiency for businesses in Peru, as well as helping to build selfsustaining local implementation capacity.

This work is being delivered with local partner, Perú 2021, working alongside two local technical consultants, SENATI and Südesco Energy. The project is financed by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), an alliance of organisations with a mandate to deliver climate compatible international development, with funding from the UK and Dutch governments.

“The partnership between the Carbon Trust, SENATI, Südesco Energy and Perú 2021, with support from CDKN, is a great example of the opportunity to share knowledge and skills to accelerate action on energy efficiency,” explained Sam Bickersteth, CEO of CDKN. “We are delighted to be working with them on this project and we hope to demonstrate how

these types of business models can be commercially viable, scalable and replicable, and in doing so help shift private sector finance towards climate compatible development.”

An initial pilot phase is currently taking place, involving large Peruvian organisations across a number of target economic sectors.

The seven pilot companies are: Corporación Lindley, a soft drinks company and Coca-Cola bottler; Universidad de San Martín de Porres, a private university in Lima; Peru’s second largest supermarket chain, Supermercados Peruanos; pension fund manager, AFP Integra; Tgestiona, a large outsourcing and shared services business; gold miners, Poderosa; and fish processors, Austral.

Energy efficiency will benefit these businesses in other ways than just saving them money on energy. It will put them ahead of the curve as local government seeks to limit the impacts of industry on the environment.

Just as importantly a number of multinational companies are now putting a far greater focus on the sustainability performance of their supply chain. Demonstrating robust energy and carbon performance supports winning international work, particularly

Sam Bickersteth, CEO of CDKN from European companies.

The work that is being done in the pilot phase of the project will help identify what is needed to build a successful programme across Peru. This will be built on the Carbon Trust’s 13 years of expertise in successfully accelerating the adoption of energy efficiency around the world, in countries including the UK, China, South Africa, and Mexico.

Through their actions to become more energy efficient the businesses involved in the pilot are setting an example for others in their sectors, helping to prove the case for change. So when the spotlight shines on Lima during the climate negotiations, it will be possible to point to clear action that is being taken to help create a more low carbon, sustainable economy for Peru.

Brazil developers register 19 gigawatts for july energy auction Energy developers in Brazil applied to sell power from 521 plants, with a total of 18.929 gigawatts, in an auction planned for July 24. Most applications were for wind farms.

Wind projects with a total of 11.5 gigawatts of capacity are registered

for the event, according to an e-mailed statement Monday from Brazil’s energy research agency, known as EPE. Developers registered 475 wind farms, 15 small hydroelectric and 13 biomass plants. Natural gas projects

34 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

were also an important part of registrations, with 18 plants with a total of 6.6 gigawatts.

In Brazil’s energy auctions, companies compete for long-term contracts to sell electricity from power projects they’re planning to build

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

iÇDAŞ to use GE’s first 3.2-103 Wind Turbines to power Turkey’s growth • GE To Supply İÇDAŞ With 19 Brilliant GE 3.2-103 Wind Turbines For The BIGA RES Wind Farm, Supporting Turkey’s Renewable Energy Goals • First Site To Install GE’s Brilliant 3.2-103 Wind Turbines

GE’s most powerful wind turbine—the 3.2-103

GE (NYSE-GE) has announced it will supply energy developer İÇDAŞ with 19 brilliant GE 3.2-103 wind turbines for the BIGA RES wind farm, located near the town of Canakkale in northwestern Turkey.

The 60 megawatt (MW) wind farm will feature GE’s most powerful wind turbine—the 3.2103—and will be the first units of this type installed anywhere in the world.

The BIGA RES wind farm will contribute to the Turkish government’s goals of reaching 20 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy and 30 percent of primary energy supplied from renewable sources by the year 2023. According to the Turkish Wind Association, the country had 3,424 megawatts (MW) of wind energy capacity installed as of the first half of 2014.

“We are pleased to collaborate with GE on this new wind farm that will help to provide Turkey with renewable energy and assists with meeting the country’s goals,” said General Manager Bülend Engin. “GE’s proven wind turbine technology and experience in power generation is a great fit for İÇDAŞ , and we are excited both for our customers and Turkey.”

With an 85-meter hub height designed to harness Turkey’s medium to strong wind conditions with low shear, GE’s 3.2-103 can provide strong power while being able to meet tip height requirements found frequently across Europe.

“Wind energy is a natural fit for Turkey and its citizens,” said Mete Maltepe, national commercial executive for Turkey with GE’s Power and Water business. “At GE, we are proud to contribute to the country’s efforts to meet its renewable energy targets.”

As a brilliant turbine, the 3.2-103 utilizes the power of the Industrial Internet to help manage the variability of wind for smooth, predictable power. By analyzing tens of thousands of data points every second, the 3.2-103 can wield advanced forecasting algorithms while communicating seamlessly with neighboring turbines, service technicians and operators.

About İÇDAŞ İÇDAŞ has been producing construction steel and alloyed steel since 1970, and is the second biggest steel producer of Turkey with its production capacity.

İÇDAŞ ranked as the seventh place among the 500 Biggest Industrial Enterprises of Turkey including the public sector in 2013, according to the determinations of Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), has around 10,000 employees together with the group companies. İÇDAŞ is the technology and quality leader in the steel industry and has devoted its roots to contribute to Turkish economy with being aware of the strategic significance of national steel industry for the Turkish economy. İÇDAŞshares the proper pride of bringing the name of our country to a notable point by putting forth competitive strength in a race, which is started well behind in the world steel sector with energy efficiency, process efficiency, environmental awareness, technology usage, and participation of its employees in productivity.

Besides the steel business, İÇDAŞ has been building vessels at its own shipyard and accordingly operating in seaway transportation. Additionally İÇDAŞ has been carrying on business at port operations at its Istanbul Ambarlı and Canakkale Biga İÇDAŞ Port and also logistic services via trucks and rail road between Europe and Turkey. İÇDAŞ has been engaged in the power generation sector since 2005 by commissioning its first 135 MW power station to supply with the electricity need of its own steel facilities. Recognizing the energy requirement of Turkey in electrical energy production, İÇDAŞ has strengthen its position in the energy sector with introducing two (2) additional new 135 MW power stations in 2009 and reached a grand total of 405 MW installed capacity.

In 2007, İÇDAŞ obtained permission to build the 2 x 600 MW Power Plant. First 600 MW Supercritical Unit successfully put into operation in 2011 and

Bülend Engin, iÇDAŞ General Manager

following the second unit put into operation in 2014.

Total installed capacity of İÇDAŞ will be 1665 MW and annual generation capacity will reach up to 14 million MWh by 2016 with achievement 60 MW wind energy project. İÇDAŞ currently covers almost 6 percent of the electricity consumption of Turkey.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 35

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

DONG Energy acquires full ownership of Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm development DONG Energy has acquired the remaining 66.66% ownership interest in the UK offshore wind development Hornsea Project One from its joint venture partner SMart Wind. SMart Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power and Siemens Financial Services. Hornsea Project One has a total capacity of up to 1.2GW, which will make it the world’s largest offshore wind farm once completed.

DONG Energy entered into the joint venture with SMart Wind in December 2011, with an option to acquire the remaining 66.66% ownership interest upon the development project receiving consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Consent was granted in December 2014 and DONG Energy, having exercised its option, has become the sole owner of the project.

Hornsea Project One is located 120km off the Yorkshire coast and covers approximately 407 square kilometres. When completed, Hornsea Project One will be able to meet the electricity needs of around 800,000 UK homes.

Samuel Leupold, Executive Vice President of DONG Energy Wind Power, said: “The size and location of Hornsea Project One makes

it the world’s first offshore wind farm with a capacity of more than 1GW located far from shore, and it brings some great opportunities for us and the supply chain to take advantage of economies of scale and further drive down the cost of electricity.”

Samuel Leupold said: “We will now continue on our own to develop the project towards a final investment decision. The size of the project and the excellent wind conditions at site together with our strong focus on cost will make Hornsea one an important milestone towards the 100 Euro/ MWh target. While the project is huge in size, it can be realized with technology which DONG Energy masters, though no one else has ever built offshore wind in that scale so far from the coast.”

Hornsea Project One is one of the three projects for which DONG Energy was awarded a Final Investment Decision Enabling contract (Contract for Difference) by the UK Government in April last year. With the Contract for Difference, DONG Energy will receive a fixed price per MWh of electricity produced for the first 15 years of operation. Hornsea Project One is expected to enter into commercial operation around 2020, provided that a final investment decision will be taken.

The information provided in this announcement does not change DONG Energy’s previous financial guidance for the 2014 financial year or the announced expected investment level for 2014-2015.

Samuel Leupold, Executive Vice President of DONG Energy Wind Power

For additional information, please contact: Media Relations Rune Birk Nielsen +45 9955 6543 Investor Relations Allan Bødskov Andersen +45 9955 9769 DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe.

Their business is based on procuring, producing, distributing and trading in energy and related products in Northern Europe.

DONG Energy has around 6,500 employees and is headquartered in Denmark. The Group generated DKK 73 billion (EUR 9.8 billion) in revenue in 2013. For further information, see www.dongenergy.com

36 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WIND

Alstom and Andrade Gutierrez open new unit for the wind market in Brazil

Alstom, global supplier of equipment and solutions for power generation, and Andrade Gutierrez, one of the largest infrastructure groups in Latin America, are inaugurating an industrial joint venture dedicated to the production of steel towers for wind turbines, Torres Eólicas do Nordeste (TEN). The unit is located in Jacobina, Bahia, 350 km from Salvador.

The joint venture, 51% owned

by Andrade Gutierrez and 49%

by Alstom received investment of around 30 million euros[1] last year.

The plant occupies a built-up area

of 22,000 sq. meters on a 140,000 sq. meters plot, next to the main current and potential wind projects of the region. It took a year to build the unit and around 400 people were involved in the project.

With capacity to produce 200 metallic towers a year, the sites contributes directly to the region’s economic and social growth by increasing the production chain and generating new jobs. When the plant is fully operational, it will create around 250 direct employees, in addition to 600 indirect ones.

Jacobina unit is Alstom’s third

Wind unit in Latin America. The first one was opened in 2011, in Camaçari (Bahia) to manufacture nacelles, and the second one was opened in 2013, in Canoas (Rio Grande do Sul) to manufacture towers for Brazil’s south market and neighboring countries, such as Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Alstom has also contributed for the development of the supply chain for nacelles, towers, hubs and blades, positioning itself as a major player in the country.

QUOTATION “Brazil should enter very soon the ranking of the largest wind power producers in the world. So it is particularly gratifying for Alstom to open this new plant in Brazil and contribute to this growth”, says Yves Rannou, Senior Vice President of the Alstom Wind business.

Andrade Gutierrez positions itself as an integrator in the wind industry. The company can manage the countless interfaces of the different services required for the construction of a wind farm, and expanded its activities to build accesses, power and transmission systems, to install wind turbines, and now to product towers.

Therefore, the company plans to

Yves Rannou,Senior Vice President of the Alstom Wind business increase the supply of projects with quality, guaranteed operation schedules and cost reliability.

Alstom has already installed over 3,000 wind turbines in over 200 wind farms around the world, supplying over 5.8 GW of power.

The French company designs and manufactures onshore and offshore wind turbines between 1.67 and 6 megawatts, in addition to providing solutions to all geographic and weather conditions.

Green light for world’s largest planned tidal energy project in Scotland Construction of the largest planned tidal energy project in the world is expected to begin off the Scottish coast next month, developers have announced.

Atlantis, majority owner of the MeyGen project, said it had finalised all of the conditions required to initiate its first drawdown from financiers The Crown Estate and Scottish Enterprise.

The project has the potential to power nearly 175,000 homes through a network of 269 turbines on the seabed at Ness of Quoys in Caithness, north-east Scotland.

The company’s share price dipped on the news but Atlantis said it “knows of no trading or operational reason to warrant this change”, particularly given the good progress it is making on MeyGen. In an announcement to investors, Atlantis said: “The major construction and supply contractors to this iconic project have commenced design, engineering and procurement works in readiness for commencement of onshore construction at the project site in Caithness in January 2015.

“The equity investments in the project by Scottish Enterprise (through the Renewable Energy Investment Fund) and Atlantis value the MeyGen project on a post-money equity basis at over £70m.

“Onshore construction at the Ness of Quoys project site is expected to commence in January 2015, with ABB due to start construction of the onshore infrastructure for connection to the electricity transmission grid for power export.

“We believe MeyGen is the largest planned tidal energy project

in the world with a capacity of almost 400MW.” The first power to the national grid is expected to be delivered in 2016.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 37

FEATURES

WIND

First Subsea wins innovation funding for Offshore Wind cable and mooring connectors

First Subsea, has been awarded £130,000 of Process Technology Innovation Funding under the Government’s GROW:Offshore Wind programme

The award is for development of a monopile interface connector and hang off cable connector for offshore wind farms; and top tension mooring connector for floating wind turbines. These developments will place the UK at the forefront of offshore wind cable connector and mooring technology.

The most labour intensive and time-consuming element of installing power cable into an Offshore Wind monopile is its connection and termination. First Subsea’s patented connection systems are designed to streamline the cable installation process with its combination of monopile interface connector (MIC) and hang off cable connector (HOC) for both traditional and pre-stripped cable. The MIC secures the cable’s monopile connection while the HOC holds the cable in position on the hang-off deck ready for connection.

First Subsea believes the GROW OffshoreWind (www. growoffshorewind.com)

38 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

investment will greatly accelerate the development of patented connection systems. In addition to significant installation time savings offshore, they will provide robust and foolproof connections that can be readily adapted for a range of offshore wind turbines and cable protection systems.

“As the offshore wind industry strives to reduce turbine deployment costs, our connector is a major breakthrough in facilitating quicker and safer installations,” says John Shaw, managing director, First Subsea Ltd. “The GROW:Offshore Wind award will allow us to develop our engineering and production teams, and produce trial connectors to undertake

Offshore Wind Mooring & Tensioning Connector Another key part of the Innovation Funding Award is development of a patented mooring and top tension connector for the deployment of wind farms further offshore at

John Shaw, Managing Director, First Subsea Ltd

FEATURES water depths in excess of 80m, where monopiles are considered impractical.

The top tension connector will allow installation contractors to tension a floating turbine’s mooring lines without the need for divers, ROVs and specialist surface vessels. It uses a simple push and grip technology to connect mooring lines to a range of floating wind turbine platforms.

John Shaw again, “This is a particularly exciting development – new mooring technologies will be key to the success of deploying floating wind farms in deeper waters. The mooring and tensioning connector is designed to withstand the kinds of dynamic forces likely to be experienced in the high sea states needed for power generation.”

First Subsea Cable connectors chosen for Phase 2 Fukushima floating wind farm Subsea connector specialist, First Subsea, has supplied cable connectors for the second phase of the Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration, offshore Japan. Two First Subsea connectors have been used to connect 22kV cables to the facility’s floating 66kV power substation, in preparation for the arrival of a 7MW wind turbine in Phase 3, and another floating wind turbine in Phase 4 of the Fukushima project In Phase 1, two First Subsea cable connectors were used to connect 22kV cable to a 2MW wind turbine and the substation, and a

WIND

third cable connector for a 66kV cable connection to the floating substation. The new 22kV cable connections link the substation to pre-installed subsea cable joints close to the eventual positioning of the wind turbines in Phases 3 and 4.

Ease of Installation The First Subsea cable connector has a self-activating, ball and taper mechanism allowing both diverless and ROVless deployment offshore. The male connectors are guided into receptacles on the wind turbine and substation and, once engaged, cannot be released until the load has been removed.

A simple disengage mechanism allows the connector to be disconnected and recovered for reuse. The cable connection enables significant savings in vessel time, and greater installation flexibility

to cope with changes in weather conditions offshore.

“We are delighted that our cable connectors have been chosen for this landmark offshore wind project,” says John Shaw, managing director, First Subsea Ltd. “In Phase 2 we’ve once again demonstrated the ease of installation of the cable connectors offshore.”

Focus on Renewable Energy The Fukushima floating pilot wind farm project, which is headed up

by The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan, will lay the

foundation for the world’s largest offshore wind development off the coast of the Fukushima Prefecture.

The project, sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, is being developed by a consortium comprised of Marubeni (project integrator), the University of Tokyo (technical advisor), Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Shimizu, and Mizuho Information & Research.

GROW Offshore Wind GROW:OffshoreWind is supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, working to help English companies win contracts and create employment in the offshore wind supply chain, and delivered by industry experts from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), RenewableUK (RUK), Grant Thornton and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

RenewableUK brings unrivalled offshore wind sector insight, knowledge and industry contacts. This influence is encapsulated by RUK’s Supply Chain Strategy Group, which has representation from the offshore wind turbine OEMs together with significant lower tier suppliers.

The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is an independent company established by Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) to enhance the development and commercialisation of UK innovations critical in sustaining its global innovation leadership and economic competitiveness.

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is a technology innovation and knowledge centre. By combining world-class research, development, demonstration and testing facilities with leadership, industrial reach and engineering expertise, it helps to accelerate the design, deployment and commercialisation of renewable energy technology innovation.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 39

EVENTS WORLDWIDE EVENTS CALENDAR – 2015

Bois Energie 2015 Nantes, France 19-22nd March : Domestic Heating and Forestry 19-20th March : Industry and Local Authorities http://en.boisenergie.com/Why-exhibit_395.html

Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 16-18 April Portland, ME, USA www.nebiomassheat.com

International Biomass Conference and Expo 20-22 April Minneapolis, MN, USA www.biomassconference.com

AEBIOM European Bioenergy Conference 2015 4 May - 5 May Brussels, Belgium www.aebiom.org/conference/

40 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

BIOENERGY

BIOENERGY EDITORS COMMENTS

Europe in the driving seat

E

urope’s growing demand for imported wood pellets to generate renewable bioenergy will lead to an increase in forestland as U.S. growers try to keep pace with timber exports demand. That is the somewhat surprising finding of scientists working for the US Forest Service.

The European Union’s demand for renewable and low greenhouse gas-emitting energy is driving up demand for wood pellets used in the generation of biomass energy. This demand could provide lucrative new markets for US timber exports, increase wood prices, and lead to substantial increases of forested areas.

Karen Abt, research economist with the Forest Service’s Economics and Policy unit and lead author of a new report, says, ‘Southern forests and some northern forests as well, are being used to produce pellets for export to the EU. Current and proposed production levels have the potential to increase prices, but may also lead to an increase in timberland area.’

Abt and her team used a computer model to simulate timber markets in the U.S. Coastal South up until the year 2040.

She explains, ‘We modelled a “business as usual” scenario which continued the current level of wood production and an alternative scenario which increased the production of wood bioenergy.’

This alternative scenario accounted for continued bioenergy demands based on the most recent projections of wood consumption by pellet mills and other bioenergy producers.

In the “business as usual” baseline scenario, the simulation showed timber demand and prices rising in the short term, but falling in all areas across the South by 2040. However, when Abt’s team added the bioenergy component to the baseline, they saw a very different outcome. ‘Based on our assumptions, the results indicate increased bioenergy demand could result in an increase in pine nonsawtimber prices,’ says Abt.

Some critics of biomass have warned that heavier demand for timber could deplete southern forests. However, the study finds an increased demand for timber could mean just the opposite.

In Abt’s simulations accounting for additional bioenergy needs, there was actually an increase in the forest land base over the same period, despite the increased harvests.

As Abt points out, it’s all about supply and demand. ‘We know people plant more when prices go up,’ she says. ‘We also know that they keep more natural forest as forest when prices go up.’

Abt and her team based their i research on EU policy, the Renewable Energy Directive, which requires a 20 per cent contribution from bioenergy to the energy use of all EU Member States by 2020.

However, it is now clear the EU requirements will extend even longer, which probably means an even greater impact.

‘The EU has already extended their renewable requirement

through 2030,’ Abt says, noting that the new requirement also increases the amount of bioenergy required to 27 percent. ‘There is no indication that they will renege on this additional requirement, though the newest policy lacks countryspecific requirements, which adds a bit of uncertainty.’

There are currently studies under way by the EU Environment Agency on the effects of the Renewable Energy Directive on the sustainability of southern forests. ‘If new requirements are adopted,’ says Abt, ‘ this could affect use of southern forests for pellet production for export to the EU. All indications are that pellets from southern forests will meet the current EU requirements.’

RM

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 41

BIOENERGY

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

German Pellets and ZG Raiffeisen Energie form “best:Pellets” joint venture, combining forces for wood pellet sales The pellet producer German Pellets and ZG Raiffeisen Energie GmbH, a Baden-based trading and service company organised as a cooperative, have founded a joint venture for the sale of wood pellets. The aim is to group together the operations in southwest Germany’s pellet market to a greater extent in the future and to further expand the sale of wood pellets to end-customer.

The name of the joint subsidiary company will be “best:Pellets Handelsgemeinschaft”. The resolution to found the joint venture was adopted in the last few days and approval has been obtained from the cartellaw authorities. Pellet sales to consumers begin on 1 January 2015.

German Pellets, one of the world’s largest pellet producers, and ZG Raiffeisen Energie - belonging to one of Germany’s five main cooperative-based enterprises in the Raiffeisen group - each have a 50 per cent stake in best:Pellets GmbH.

Peter Leibold, Managing Director of German Pellets GmbH, explains: “For several years now, we have worked together with ZG Raiffeisen Energie in the pellet business in Baden-Württemberg Federal State, successfully and with a high level of trust. That is why a number of years ago German Pellets, as the manufacturer, also took over the supply logistics.

ZG Raiffeisen Energie’s woodpellets business area and the players involved command a lot of experience in the fuel business, with an outstanding network in the region. We are now taking the next logical step in our cooperation, so as to gain further market shares.”

For years, ZG Raiffeisen Energie has been selling wood pellets of the German Pellets brand to end-consumers in BadenWürttemberg. “German Pellets’ strength, impact on the market, specialist competence and high product quality have made it into an ideal and indispensable partner

for us in the pellet business”, says Rudi App, Managing Director of ZG Raiffeisen Energie GmbH. “Our declared goal is to group together our activities even more strongly now and to further expand pellet sales also geographically”, App points out.

With “best:Pellets Handelsgemeinschaft”, German Pellets and ZG Raiffeisen Energie are positioning themselves to continue capitalising on the potential of the growing pellet market in the future. The market presence in the BadenWürttemberg sales area is to be expanded and new sales channels opened up in Saarland and in Rheinland-Pfalz. The sales network – consisting of sales offices and storage facilities situated close to the customer, in addition to a modern vehicle fleet – will be further expanded.

Regional production is also an element in this concept, with two Baden-Württemberg-based

production facilities. Customers of best:Pellets Handelsgemeinschaft will benefit from the company owners’ competence in production and in sales: these factors make themselves evident in product quality and reliability. This also includes a high degree of flexibility, security of supply, and qualitymanagement that is well suited to the product.

Around 30 per cent of all Germany’s pellet-burning facilities are in the south-west of the country, and the market is attaining double-digit percentage growth annually. More and more people are opting for heating sourced from wood pellets, prompted by rising prices for fossil-based energy, and the desire for a fuel that is environment-friendly and climatefriendly.

TANAC S.A. announces plans to construct a US$60 million wood pellet mill in Brazill TANAC S.A. has announced its plans to construct a wood pellet manufacturing facility at its Rio Grande port site, in the south of Brazil.

Construction of the 400,000 tonnes a year plant commenced in October [2014] and is scheduled to complete in early 2016, with the first pellets due for export in mid-2016. A long term agreement for the supply of wood pellets has been entered into with Drax Power Limited (Drax), part of the UKbased Drax Group.

TANAC’s US$60 million investment will strengthen the company’s operations and create jobs, directly and indirectly, within the forestry supply chain, forest management and industrial

operations sectors of Rio Grande do Sul. TANAC’s primary product is vegetable tannin, a high valueadded product mainly used by the leather industry, and in water and wastewater treatment. Tannin is extracted from the bark of Acacia mearnsii (also known as Black Acacia or Black Wattle). After removing the bark, the remaining wood is chipped at TANAC’s woodchip mill, a proportion of these woodchips will provide the feedstock for the new pellet mill.

The move to wood pellet production is a natural step for TANAC. The Company has a longstanding and strong tradition in sustainable forest management as well as local sourcing. All of

42 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

TANAC’s own plantations are FSC Forest Management certified and local sourcing operations all carry FSC Controlled Wood certification.

Further, an important requirement under the Drax agreement is for an independent, carbon stock assessment to be conducted on the plantation area in the Rio Grande do Sul State every two years to ensure carbon stock levels are being maintained.

As well as managing its own plantations, TANAC manages a considerable outgrower program comprising a community of 40,000 families farming in Rio Grande do Sul State. Acacia mearnsii has been cultivated by farmers in the State since the early 1900s. The new pellet mill will ensure a market for

the Acacia mearnsii plantations of small and medium size farmers, helping local rural communities through job creation and revenue certainty.

TANAC’s wood pellet mill is strategically located in the southern part of Brazil and will be the largest plant in Latin America.

The operation will broaden TANAC’s product portfolio offering, customer base and geographic markets.

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BIOENERGY

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ReEnergy black river awarded contract to provide power to Fort Drum

Larry D. Richardson, the chief executive officer of ReEnergy Holdings.

The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency awarded a 20-year contract to ReEnergy Black River. Under the terms of this renewable energy supply agreement, ReEnergy Black River will provide secure, renewable electricity to Fort Drum.

“This is good news not only for ReEnergy, but for Fort Drum and the North Country region. This will enhance energy security and position Fort Drum as a leader in meeting the military’s ambitious renewable energy goals,” said Larry D. Richardson, the chief executive officer of ReEnergy Holdings. “The ReEnergy team is proud to assist the U.S. Army in meeting its renewable energy goals, and looks forward to enhancing the North Country’s green energy economy. “ The Defense Logistics Agency, the entity that awarded the contract, provides the Army, Navy,

Air Force, Marine Corps, other federal agencies, and combined and allied forces with logistics, acquisition and technical services.

ReEnergy Black River submitted a proposal in Spring 2013 to the Defense Logistics Agency as part of a competitive procurement process to provide renewable power to Fort Drum, a U.S. Army installation that is home to 37,000 soldiers and family members and employs almost 4,000 civilians.

The federal government is increasing its demand for longterm renewable energy as a result of renewable goals established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Executive Order 13423, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In addition, the Army has established a goal to achieve 1 gigawatt of renewable energy by 2025.

This contract is the largest renewable energy project in the history of the U.S. Army.

The ReEnergy Black River facility, located inside the fence at Fort Drum, has 60 megawatts of generation capacity. Before it was idled in early 2010 by its former owner, the facility primarily burned coal to produce electricity.

ReEnergy acquired the facility in December 2011 and invested more than $34 million to convert the facility to use biomass as its primary fuel, creating new jobs, environmental benefits, and a new renewable energy source

for the North Country region. The converted facility commenced operations in May 2013. It employs 33 individuals, and purchases biomass from suppliers that employ approximately 145 individuals to sustainably harvest biomass fuel from local forests.

The facility will provide all of Fort Drum’s electricity needs, which currently peaks at about 28 megawatts.

The facility will begin supplying 100% of Fort Drum’s electrical load as of November 1. Under the terms of the agreement, ReEnergy will build an electric transmission line to directly connect the ReEnergy Black River facility to Fort Drum’s two substations. Prior to the completion of that line, which is anticipated for late summer 2015, ReEnergy will arrange for bilateral deliveries to Fort Drum’s substations through an energy service company.

In 2013, ReEnergy Black River achieved certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®

(SFI®) Standard, which verifies that the facility’s biomass procurement program promotes land stewardship and responsible forestry practices. ReEnergy is the first company solely devoted to electricity production to be certified to the SFI Standard.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) selected ReEnergy Black River to sell renewable energy credits (RECs) to NYSERDA under New York’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

The Renewable Portfolio Standard, administered by NYSERDA, is a program that is tasked with obtaining 30 percent of New York’s electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

Through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and in collaboration with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, the ReEnergy Black River facility also will use locally grown shrub willow as a fuel.

Södra and Statkraft form jointly-owned company Södra and Statkraft have signed a cooperation agreement to start a jointly-owned company for the future production of biofuel at the former Tofte pulp mill. The company will be named Silva Green Fuel AS, and will be 49% owned by Södra and 51% owned by StatkrafT. The company’s first task is to find a cost-effective technology for profitable production of second generation biofuels based on forestry raw materials. A future commitment depends on whether the authorities facilitate the

increased use of biofuels through tax changes and other attractive incentives.

“Statkraft views forest-based biofuel as a potential new growth area in renewable energy. I think that the collaboration with Södra constitutes a solid basis for developing a commercially-viable and profitable project,” said Christian Rynning-Tønnesen, CEO of Statkraft.

“Södra is monitoring closely the technology developments and the business opportunities

44 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

presented by the utilisation of forest raw materials for industrial production of climate-neutral fuels. We have also enjoyed good collaboration with Statkraft in the past and look forward to combining the two companies’ expertise and experience in this project,” added Södra’s CEO Lars Idermark.

Statkraft has taken over all the shares in Södra Cell Tofte AS, which owns the former pulp mill site at Tofte. The site is favourably situated for a future venture into the area of biofuel: The location

already has an established infrastructure to handle large volumes of wood and it is located centrally in eastern Norway, with an excellent deep-water harbour.

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy.

Södra is a group with extensive forestry operations and a leading producer of paper pulp, sawn timber and bioenergy.

BIOENERGY

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Valmet and Nokianvirran Energia sign a letter of intent regarding a boiler plant delivery to Nokia Valmet and Nokianvirran Energia Oy have signed a letter of intent for a delivery of a biomass-fired boiler plant to a new steam heating station in Nokia, Finland. The new heating station will supply process steam to SCA Hygiene Products’ paper mill, Nokian Tyres’ factory, and district heat to Leppäkosken Sähkö’s customers.

The investment enables the currently used natural gas to be replaced with more cost efficient biofuels, such as forest residue and wood chips. In addition, it is possible to utilize peat and sludge from the paper mill. The installation work is scheduled to start in May 2015. The start-up of steam production is scheduled for the spring of 2016. The total value of the investment by Nokianvirran Energia is approximately Euro 45 million, out of which the share of

Valmet’s delivery is slightly more than a half. “With this investment we will be able to reduce the CO2 emissions and to secure competitive energy production for the owners of the company.

We trust Valmet’s long experience in combustion of demanding biomasses and their ability as a local company to deliver the plant within the very tight schedule,” says Leppäkosken Sähkö Oy’s Managing Director Juha Koskinen. Valmet’s delivery includes a HYBEX fluidized bed boiler, the steam value of which is 68 megawatt, flue gas cleaning equipment, electrification and Metso DNA automation system.

The boiler plant will be built in an existing boiler building, in which a coal-fired boiler delivered by Tampella and in operation since 1963, will be disassembled. Valmet

Corporation is a leading global developer and supplier of services and technologies for the pulp, paper and energy industries.

For wet and low thermal value fuels The main advantage of the HYBEX boiler is the possibility to use fuels with high moisture content and a low thermal value. It is ideal for the following fuels: • Bark • Wood chips • Sawdust • Forest residues • Peat • Sugarcane bagasse • Recycled wood fuels • Agricultural residues • Pulp and paper mill sludge • De-inking and water treatment sludge

Leppäkosken Sähkö Oy’s Managing Director Juha Koskinen

German Pellets buys pellets business from Nord Energie German Pellets GmbH is taking over the pellet business of Nord Energie GmbH & Co. KG, in RisumLindholm, Germany.

“Moreover, the location in northern Schleswig-Holstein offers the opportunity to further expand the end-customer business in southern Denmark, using the facility as the connecting element that links our Wismar site with our Danish sales subsidiary”, notes Peter H. Leibold, Managing Director of German Pellets GmbH. The customers and workforce of Nord Energie will be integrated into the existing network of German

Pellets Group. The local proximity to the customer is maintained; delivery will continue to be from the storage facility in Bredstedt.

The relevant contacts and drivers remain as they have been up to now.

What will be new is that from now on customers will be obtaining their pellets directly from the manufacturer – premium pellets of the German Pellets brand, produced in northern Germany.

This means that, for the first time, the Nord Energie customers can also use the “PowerPlus” process of product refinement, obtainable

19th - 23rd March

solely from German Pellets. This technology refines wood pellets by using an ultra-thin film consisting of plant oil. As a result, the pellets’ flow-capability is increased and 95% less dust is generated when the pellets are blown into the storage area.

Nord Energie commands more than five years of experience in pellet trading and logistics, and has an outstanding reputation and a client base spanning years, based in Schleswig-Holstein, the Hamburg area and northern Lower Saxony.

Peter H. Leibold, Managing Director of German Pellets GmbH The German Pellets Group produces wood pellets and also wood-based products for animal hygiene, selling these in almost all of Europe’s core markets.

Nantes, France FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 45

BIOENERGY

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pellet plant project to create 175 jobs in Selma SELMA, Alabama -- Zilkha Biomass Energy is renovating an existing facility in Selma in a project that will produce wood pellet fuel and create 175 jobs.

The company is moving in to the former Dixie Pellets plant, which it bought out of bankruptcy in 2010.

It will become the world’s first full-scale plant to produce Zilkha Black Pellets, which are an environmentally sustainable and low carbon fuel that can be transported and burned by coal plants using their existing equipment, a press release said.

Unlike traditional compressed wood pellets, the hydrophobic Zilkha Black Pellets can’t be damaged by water.

The facility itself is expected to have 55 jobs, with another 120 jobs in the trucking and forestry industries in the community. And during construction, about 380 jobs are expected.

U.S. Bank, Stonehenge Capital Company and AMCREF Community Capital said today they are providing $5.3 million in financing for the project through federal and Alabama state New Markets Tax

Credits, a program that encourages the investment of private capital in designated low-income communities. Investors receive tax credits. Selma is the county seat of Dallas County, which has the third-highest unemployment rate in Alabama. Construction is underway, and the plant is set to begin operations in 2014.

“We’re excited to open the world’s first full-scale Zilkha Black Pellet plant in Alabama,” Jack Holmes, chief executive for Houston-based Zilkha Biomass Energy, said in a statement. “Selma

offers the workforce and training that will help make this facility successful. The plant will produce 275,000 tons of our Black Pellets per year, which can generate enough clean, renewable electricity to supply 50,000 homes per year.”

Birmingham’s Bradley Arant Boult Cummings served as borrower’s counsel to Zilkha Biomass on the deal. The team was led by Birmingham partner Beau Byrd, along with Birmingham partner Paul Compton, Nashville partner Mark Miller, and Birmingham associate Jimmy Long.

BRUKS supplies full front-end package for Black Pellet Plant in Selma, Alabama BRUKS supplied the full package of proprietary technology and equipment to a Selma, Alabama white pellet plant. The plant, which was previously closed and dismantled, has been restored to manufacture revolutionary black pellets for export. The plant’s new owner engaged BRUKS to utilize a majority of the existing white pellet equipment, redesigning and reconfiguring it to produce innovative black pellets. Black pellets are desirable due to physical properties that are more similar to coal than traditional white pellets.

BRUKS provided layout and process engineering for the project, as well as extensive site consultation during erection and start up. To reconfigure the plant, BRUKS first renovated the wood receiving and chip storage yard.

Two existing truck dumpers were utilized in the new wood yard, an additional third new BRUKS truck dumper was added to complete the renovation. The three dumpers discharge onto a common belt that transfers wood chips through a series of new conventional belt conveyors to a radial stacker, where a semi-circular pile is built.

The piled chips are then manually loaded onto a BRUKS stoker reclaim deck by existing wheeled loaders.

The green chips are reclaimed and passed through a rotary screening stage (using an existing screen), then a green grind station, featuring four BRUKS shredders, reduce the chips to a uniform, small size before entering the dryers. The green shredders include a chip cleaning function to remove stones and metal prior to grinding. Air collection is used to control dust. The ground and cleaned chips then pass through

dryers and into the balance of the plant. Equipment erection and installation was provided by a contractor selected and hired by the plant’s owner. Both the North American and German BRUKS offices were involved in the project.

Full plant operation is expected by the end of 2014.

BRUKS is a global leader in mechanical-engineering and equipment supply for the bulk materials handling industries.

BRUKS provides customer solutions for the bioenergy, biofuel, board and saw mill, bulk handling, and paper and pulp industries.

German Pellets: 2014/19 corporate bond fully placed, with a total volume of EUR 100m German Pellets GmbH, one of the world’s largest producers and traders of wood pellets, has proved itself able to fully place its 7.25% 2014/19 corporate bond (ISIN: DE000A13R5N7), with a total volume of EUR 100 m. The bulk of the capital obtained comes from international private placement among institutional investors.

At EUR 74 m., the investors’ level of interest significantly exceeded the volume initially targeted for new subscriptions, set at up to EUR 50 m. “We are happy about the successful placement.

The strong level of interest confirms our business model and

our investment projects in the US, associated with that model”, says Peter H. Leibold, Managing Director of German Pellets GmbH. The new influx of resources means that the company will drive forward its further internationalisation, as announced, and also extend its value chain in a targeted way. It is planned to make investments in the expansion of wood-pellet production in the US and also in the building-up of saw-mill and product-sorting capacities at the US sites.

In addition, a volume of almost EUR 26 m. was exchanged, equating to a bond-exchange level

46 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

of around 32% for current investors replacing their 2011/16 corporate bonds by 2014/19 corporate bonds.

By this means, the investors expressed their endorsement of the company’s strategy of early and active refinancing. “We wish to use the new incoming capital, going beyond the investment requirement for the planned realisation of our international growth plans, to make a further partial redemption of the 2011/16 corporate bond and to refinance.

We will decide in the near future regarding specifically what measures will be taken”, Leibold remarked regarding the further

financing plans.

The 2014/19 corporate bond has now been able to be traded at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 25 November 2014, on a whenissued basis. The bond is listed in the Prime Standard segment for corporate bonds. The bond issue was accompanied by quirin bank AG as the lead manager and sole book-runner, with Steubing AG as co-lead manager. quirin bank AG also operated as dealer manager and as the central organisation for processing of the bond exchange.

FEATURES

OPERATION FOCUS – CHIPPERS BIOENERGY

Doppstadt’s DH910 demonstrates raw power in Portugal

Porto

a new chip off the old block! –

I

n southern Europe - very near directly shredded in the forest. to Porto, Doppstadt machines Eucalyptus wood features a very have been involved in the high strength and hardness in implementation of a sustainable particular and therefore demands energy supply. There in Portugal, a great deal of power from the Doppstadt has undertaken a machine during chipping. series of trials concerning the Doppstadt’s DH 910 was deployed processing and chipping of some in Portugal and provided the best rather stringy eucalyptus wood. option for processing both trunk Eucalyptus trees have provided wood as well as any other waste raw material for the Portuguese wood left lying around (up to a paper industry for many years and max. diameter for softwood: are renowned for their fast growth 900mm and hardwood: 680mm) and good quality of wood. But into a quality defined chip-sized they also provide an excellent product which offered a good option for biomass production source of energy. This made the which can then be used as a DH 910 absolutely perfect for the renewable energy resource for processing of the eucalyptus. At generating power. For this, the the heart of the DH 910, trees are chipped and then burned a heavy solid steel in local power plants. The high rotor equipped with concentrations of resins and oils high-quality chipping make the material highlyknives beavers away to combustible and an ideal fuel produce only the very source with a high calorific value. best results.

The trees are firstly harvested using a fellerbuncher before being pre-sorted into similar sizes and then stacked in piles. The trees’ trunk, logs created from the branches and the crown material are all processed. The Minor or continual repositioning made latter is usually easy with a DH 910K tracked version seen here at a different project The Doppstadt precision chipper DH 910 is used for the economic production of wood chips and for the cultivation of woods and forest stands. A robust steel construction with fixing points for drive unit, chipping tools and other components guarantee stability and a long service life. The heavy rotor in the Doppstadt DH 910 consisting of a full steel construction with high-quality chipping knives is mounted on a triaxial central-axle trailer chassis with ABS. The DOPPSTADT DH 910 offers the possibility to process logs and residual wood (max. diameter 900 mm (2'11'') in case of soft wood and 680 mm (2'3'') in case of hard wood) into high-energy quality

On site near Porto the 910 processes crown and crud

products with defined chip sizes.

• Chipping is carried out by a rotor consisting of a solid full steel construction. The chipping blades can easily be adjusted outside the machine by a blade adjustment gauge. The large screening basket and the rigid cutter bar achieve a homogeneous product. Power is transmitted to the shredding drum by V-belt drive.

• The grain size of the chips can quickly be regulated by changing the material transport speed or by choosing the suitable screening basket.

• The precision chipper is ready to go in no time. All the control elements are centralized

in one control panel. By means of a remote control the most important functions can be controlled from the loader.

• Integrated impeller blower with cast range adjustment.

• Hydraulic pumps located in the engine compartment supply the control units and the hydraulic consumers.

• The combination radiator (water, charge air, oil cooler) is reversible thus permitting an automatic cleaning at regular intervals.

• Large, smooth-running doors and centralized lubrication points facilitate maintenance.

APRIL/MAY2015 2013 | | International Renewable Forest Industries FEBRUARY Energy43 47

Grinding out a profitable biomass business

The Vermeer TG5000 in Brazil

48 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Bioenergy

The variety of shredding and grinding units on the market makes the decision making process a pleasurable headache

B

eing spoilt for choice has to be a good thing. That is how contractors weighing up their options for size reduction units have to look at the current market place.

The variety of machines on sale from a diverse range of manufacturers is truly spectacular and genuinely caters for every application imaginable.

We have found, the priorities for contractors differ broadly but most machines are striving for a few basic, core, attributes including reliability, capacity, and flexibility. On top of that, an extra

spend will get an operator a quieter machine and a greater emphasis on fuel savings.

The luxury for contractors is that they can be confident that there is a machine out there that fits any operation perfectly.

The headache is that there is a mountain of research ahead of anyone who hopes to make the right decision.

This year’s review of shredding and grinding technology hopefully goes some way toward relieving that pain.

“Land clearing is a big business and requires the right equipment to process

wood waste in an efficient manner,” according to leading equipment supplier, Vermeer. “In most cases, contractors have a short window of opportunity to clear the trees, brush and undergrowth to make way for the site work to begin.

“Selecting the right equipment is important to help enhance productivity.

There are a number of options available, from large-capacity brush chippers to highvolume horizontal and tub grinders. Each has specific advantages and limitations, depending on the type of work.”

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 49

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

Grinders work best in conditions and applications that match up with their capabilities – Jay Sarver, Vermeer The Vermeer BC2100XL debris a contractor intends to process. Contractors performing land-clearing work involving tree takedowns generally will need a larger unit.

“If a land-clearing contractor plans to process trees where the bulk of the material is 400-500 mm in diameter, then a 21in capacity brush chipper would be sufficient,” Roorda said.

Before making a purchase decision, contractors should evaluate the tree material that they’ll be chipping. It’s important to choose a brush chipper that’s neither too small nor too large for the jobs they’ll tackle.

“If the chipper is too small, they’re going to spend a lot more time manoeuvring and handling the material,” he said. “Contractors can also expect additional costs by opting for a brush chipper that’s larger than needed as larger chippers have more horsepower, and more horsepower may require more fuel.”

The Vermeer TG5000

Tub grinders versus horizontal grinders

The Vermeer HG4000

Brush chippers Brush c0hippers have traditionally been used in tree-care applications. Now, larger models have made their way into the landclearing market. For example, if the land being cleared is less than 2 ha (5 acres), a large towable or self-propelled brush chipper is an option. The larger brush chippers

have the ability to process material up to 530 mm (21 in) in diameter, which will address most landclearing needs.

Todd Roorda, tree care and rental sales manager for Vermeer, says a good rule of thumb is to purchase a chipper that can effectively handle a minimum of 80-90% of the tree and brush

50 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

If the majority of jobs involve 2 ha (5 acres) or more, a horizontal or tub grinder may be the best option, as they grind greater amounts of material faster. In a situation where a single jobsite may have several debris piles, such as land-clearing jobsite, a self-propelled trackmounted option can be highly efficient.

There are two common types of grinders – tub and horizontal – that are used for land-clearing projects, ranging from 74-1,177 kW (100-1,600 hp). Two things to consider when selecting a size: the volume and size of material

to be processed; and the need for mobility.

“Grinders work best in conditions and applications that match up with their capabilities,” Jay Sarver, Recycling and Forestry Sales Manager for Vermeer, said.

“Tub grinders generally perform better with heavy, large-diameter material such as stumps and root balls. If processing longer raw material is the consistent application, a horizontal grinder may be the best choice.

“For some materials a tub grinder is perceived to have a higher production rate, but the horizontal models may have a distinct advantage when it comes to the longer, bushier material typically found in land-clearing applications.

“This is mainly because the tub depth is limited, and when processing the longer material, long branches may be difficult to feed. Horizontal models have the long feed table and conveyor that guide material into the grinder, avoiding the sometimes tedious task of material placement and manipulation,” he said.

Research your options Sarver believes that the most important thing for buyers is to carefully evaluate all the makes, models, sizes and machine options on the market.

“It’s more possible than ever before for customers to find a brush chipper or grinder that is good match for their type of business, the type of material they’ll consistently chip or grind, the production they require, and the working environment for the machine,” he said. “Buyers should

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

The first Vermeer HG8000TX exported to Europe (Belgium) in 2012 take advantage of all the research and development that has been done on the manufacturing side with the intention to benefit them the most.”

Once a buyer has determined what’s important and prioritised, the decision between choosing a brush chipper or grinder for land-clearing will be much easier.

Morbark has partnered with its European dealer, OBMtec, to produce the Barracuda, a singlerotor, slow-speed shredder for markets outside of Europe. The Barracuda, developed by OBMtec and manufactured at Morbark’s Michigan,US, factory, offers a

Our ultimate goal is to make our customers successful, so the machine was designed for versatility and ease of maintenance – John Foote, Morbark

ARJES BIOMASTER

SHREDDING & SCREENING

Integrated 4in4 screen deck Variable separation distances Patented T-Blade cutting tools Energy savings up to 15 %

POWERED BY

Wn aatccthionit! i

Powerful Volvo Penta engine Fuel efficient diesel unit with 768 hp

Automatic reversing function Protects against blade fractures Mobility through track system Maneuverability on every terrain

ARJES GmbH Werksplatz 1 36433 Leimbach Germany

Fon +49 (0) 36 95/85 855-0 Fax +49 (0) 36 95/85 855-14 info@arjes.de www.arjes.de

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 51

Morbark has partnered with its European dealer, OBMtec, to produce the Barracuda, a single-rotor, slow-speed shredder for markets outside of Europe. The Barracuda, developed by OBMtec and manufactured at Morbark’s Michigan,US, factory, offers a universal solution for industrial, C&D, wood and other waste streams, providing a high-quality end product with low operating, maintenance and fuel costs.

52 International Forest Renewable Industries Energy| AUGUST | FEBRUARY / SEPTEMBER 2015 2014

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER FEBRUARY 2015 2014| |International InternationalRenewable Forest Industries Energy 53

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

Key benefits of the Barracuda • Ease of maintenance: the Barracuda is designed with serviceability in mind. All daily maintenance, such as cleaning the air filter, and checking and changing fluids, can be done while standing at ground level.

• Versatility: the Barracuda’s ground-level adjustment door allows the operator to adjust grates in as little as two minutes, reducing downtime and increasing productivity. The counter knives can be repositioned to five different heights – higher for waste wood or lower for industrial waste – to give operators the best end product for whatever they run through it. Available setup options from 20-40 hammers and counter knives provide multiple alternatives to find the right mix of speed, fuel economy, and output quality to best fit the operator’s needs.

• Low operating costs: the Barracuda’s single rotor and bolt-on hammer inserts for reduced maintenance times, the internal rotor gearbox with high torque for greater fuel efficiency and large hydraulic reservoir for lower operating temperatures all play a part with the many other key features to reduce operating costs in this new design — all to increase an operator’s bottom line. universal solution for industrial, C&D, wood and other waste streams, providing a high-quality end product with low operating, maintenance and fuel costs.

“Adding the Barracuda shredder to our industrial product line allows our customers to easily expand their capabilities in C&D and industrial waste reduction,” John Foote, Morbark VP of Sales and Marketing, said.

“Our ultimate goal is to make our customers successful, so the machine was designed for versatility and ease of maintenance. With high fuel efficiency and low operating and maintenance costs, combined with the versatility to process a wide variety of materials, the Barracuda provides exceptional value to our recycling customers.”

As a stalwart of the mobile and stationary environmental technology sector, Doppstadt offers an innovative and extensive range of products. The preshredder DW 3080 K3 and the fine shredder AK 635 K have recently been redesigned.

Doppstadt describe the DW3080 K3 as “a tracked vehicle as strong as a mammoth”.

“This universally deployable Doppstadt machine is one of the most robust shredders in the world,” the company said.

Complemented by newly added star-screen modules to the rear, the DW3080 K3 shredder efficiently processes anything from wastewood to mixed construction waste.

Weighing in at a hefty 50 t, this mammoth amongst shredders can mix it with the biggest of its kind as well as the most difficult tasks required. The machine is quickly ready for use due to its hydraulic fold-out rear conveyor.

A multi-function display provides information about the machine data and is easy-to-use – including by remote control.

Doppstadt has reinforced the reversible rotor and hydraulic comb of the shredder and by doing so increased the machine’s stability and durability even further. The rotor teeth are made from wearresistant steel and tear the material through the shredding comb. In the event of foreign objects, the comb opens automatically to prevent any damage. A powerful direct drive provides high throughput and at the same time minimum fuel consumption. For maintenance and service work, both the comb door and the comb itself can easily be folded out, which simplifies the changing of the comb and any tools. The self-cleaning cooler is easily accessible but runs particularly quietly by means of a large fan wheel running at low speed.

The steady rotary motion of the star elements loosens up and circulates the material to be screened during its transportation along the deck and the different speeds of the individual star driveshafts pull the material apart for better screening. The grain size can be varied by choosing different star sizes and by changing the infinitely adjustable speeds on the screening deck elements. Finally, a fine screen deck separates the remaining screening material into medium and fine fractions. The second, medium-sized fraction of

the screened material is delivered to the front while the third fraction of screening material is delivered laterally via a fine grain discharge belt.

The new DHS 812 rear starscreen unit sorts the pre-shredded material into three different fractions. To ensure that the separated materials obtain a very high level of purity, the screening material is firstly transported on a shortened rear conveyor to a coarse screening deck. There, the medium-sized grain falls through the interstices and crevices in the star-screen. The coarse particles are transported from each starscreen shaft to the next and are then finally ejected laterally by an oversize particle cross-conveyor.

As an option, this material can be transported by a return conveyor back to the DW 3080 K3’s in-feed hopper.

The new DHS 812 (with rear star screen module) sorts shredded material into three different sizes

54 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Maximize Profits with the Morbark MicroChipper ®

95% ½" Minus Create micro-chips vital to the pellet mill market with the new Morbark® Whole Tree MicroChipper.

• Productive – Morbark’s exclusive enhanced Advantage 3™ drum creates uniform micro-chips, while the mechanically driven chip accelerator fully loads your truck.

• Practical – The operator-friendly, slide-in forestry grate system reduces oversized chips for a consistent, high-quality end product.

• Profitable – With high production of micro-chips per gallon of fuel used, the Morbark 40/36 MicroChipper allows you to reduce costs and maximize profits.

In customer tests, up to 95% of the micro-chips produced passed through a ½" grate, and an average of 65% passed through a ¼" grate.

The Morbark® MicroChipper is a new addition to our full line of heavy-duty Whole Tree Chippers from the leader in the industry. Learn more about our machines and our extensive product support network at www.morbark.com.

BUILDING EQUIPMENT THAT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

The track-mounted mobile Doppstadt AK 635 K fine grinder shreds waste wood, wooden pallets, green waste, log and root timber, biowaste and refuse-derived fuels as well

This universally deployable Doppstadt machine is one of the most robust shredders in the world – Doppstadt

Doppstadt’s DW3080 K3 weighs 50 t and gets on with its shredding duties reliably and quietly Meanwhile, the track-mounted mobile Doppstadt AK 635 K grinds log and root timber, waste wood and green waste.

A 2.5 t flail drum processes the material quickly and consistently at up to 1,140 rpm. First the material is caught at the impact edge and

56 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

then it is grinded at the baffle plate equipped with Hardox teeth.

The operator determines the final material structure and grain size by means of the fine shredding basket in the discharge area of the shredding chamber. For different materials and shredding structures there are baskets with 30-400 mm mesh size available. They can be replaced in a matter of minutes.

The material is transported depending on the load to the shredding chamber by means of the scraper floor and the

aggressive feed-in drum. This process is protected by an automatic reversing system. The electro-hydraulic scraper floor speed control enables the optimal use of engine output, thus keeping the throughput capacity on the highest possible level all the time. The operator regulates the speed manually by means of a potentiometer, thus adjusting the conveying speed to the material.

The engine of the grinder achieves a very high torque at an optimal course of torque.

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

“Horizontal grinders don’t have to break the bank,” according to Rayco. The RH1754 is designed to be a productive horizontal grinder priced within the reach of the small contractor.

“With low operating costs and versatility to process a wide range of materials, Rayco’s RH1754 is the economical solution for reducing green waste, pallets, lumber scraps, etc and making high quality mulch,” the manufacturer said.

A variety of tooth and screen options allow operators to tailor the end product to achieve their result. Despite its compact size, the RH1754 is outfitted with the same features found on larger grinders: • A wide infeed opening accepts pallets and bulky material • Easily removable debris screens and reversing fans keep the

The RH1754 is accessible to the smaller contractor

radiator clear and extend service intervals • A magnetic head pulley on the discharge conveyor sorts out nails and light metals

• T he screens can be changed in minutes to minimise set-up time.

The towable version is light enough to be easily transported from on job to the next.

“For those that want the ultimate in mobility, the RH1754 is available on a heavy duty steel track undercarriage.”

AIMING HIGH IT’S OUR JOB TO AIM HIGH: TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE MARKET, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT, BECAUSE WE ARE ON STEP AHEAD FOREST

AGRICULTURE

ROAD

HYDRAULIC

PRIME MOVER

RECYCLING

People who work in the mountains are used to aiming high with their feet on the ground and seeking the best results without wasting resources: for this reason LAND CLEARING products of FAE guarantee top quality and reliability with the lowest operating costs

FAE GROUP S.p.A. Zona Produttiva, 18 - 38013 Fondo (TN) - Italy Tel. +39 0463 8400 00 - Fax +39 0463 8400 99 - info@fae-group.com

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 57

BIOENERGY

German family company, ARJES, was founded in 2007 by Tetyana and Norbert Hammel. For the last 25 years, Hammel has developed innovative machines for the recycling industry. To realise his vision of future recycling machinery, around 100 employees work in the headquarters in Leimbach, Germany.

Year-after-year, ARJES optimises its products and introduces new products. All products are available with electric drive so “our customers do not depend on the fluctuation of fuel prices to recycle their waste, scrap metal or wood”.

“They are protecting resources and generating new ones with their ARJES machines,” the company said.

Different types and models make it easier for the customer to choose the right machine for their requirements. Ranging from the Raptor and BioMaster series, which are specifically designed for the forest industry, to the high end model VZ 950 with high capacities for shredding cars and scrap metal.

“All our machines generate end product sizes between 500 mm and 200 mm,” ARJES said. “Our newly developed ARJES Ventimill can generate even finer end product sizes of up to 15 mm.”

FEATURES

The Arjes VZ 950

The Arjes dual shaft VZ 750 shredder

The all-new Peterson 6710D is Peterson’s largest horizontal grinder, and is designed for operations that need the most durable, highest output machine.

58 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Powered by a 1125hp (838 Kw) Tier II, Caterpillar C32 engine (or an optional Tier IVi Caterpillar C32 engine), the 6710D is designed for the toughest jobs.

With a feed opening of 50 x 66 inches (127 x 168 cm), the 6710D can even process large stumps that used to be reserved for tub

grinders! The grinder is particularly suited for land clearing operations or other applications where mobility is desired. Track mounting also reduces material handling costs in conventional recycling yards as well.

With the R+ package, the 6710D can be configured as a mid-speed grinder to handle heavily contaminated piles, or a high speed grinder for typical land clearing operations.

Peterson’s three-stage grinding process with an up turning rotor and large grate area enables the 6710D to produce materials to exact specifications. Our quickchange multiple grate system makes it easy to customize grate configurations to produce a wide variety of finished materials. Grates are removed through an enlarged access door on the side wall of the 6710D. The 6710D features Peterson’s Adaptive Control System, which controls all components of the feed system to optimize output. This system monitors the grinding load and varies the speed of the feed system to keep the engine working at the top of its power curve. It automatically accelerates the feed system when the engine load is light, slows when the load is high, and reverses if the engine speed drops. It even monitors the engine temperature and varies the cooling fan speed to minimize power usage and reduce fuel consumption.

Unique to Peterson Grinders is our innovative latching Impact Release System, which minimizes damage from contaminants in the

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

Peterson 6710D

feed material. The anvil and first grate open on a severe impact, allowing the contaminant to be ejected, and then re-latch to permit continuous grinding.

Peterson specializes in developing delivery and processing equipment that turns low-grade organic materials into high value products.

In order to meet exhaust emission standards in Tier IV, JENZ is fitting the BA 725 with a new engine.

During the course of this necessary conversion, other areas of the machine were also optimised.

New engine for Tier IV Meeting exhaust emission standards is one of the largest challenges facing size reduction

manufacturers. All JENZ biomass processors are driven by high-powered, economical Mercedes-Benz engines. Since the changeover to Tier IIIb (beginning of 2012), the exhaust gas is posttreated outside the engine using SCR technology. The chemical reaction in a catalyst changes nitrogen oxide into water and nitrogen. This takes place with the aid of an aqueous urea solution (AdBlue), which is carried in an extra tank. The next stage, which

is the conversion to Tier IV final, cannot be implemented using the current Mercedes-Benz engines (OM 460, 510 hp).

For this reason JENZ will be fitting a new engine, the Mercedes-Benz OM 473 with a power output of 625 hp, to the BA 725 from the middle of 2014 as standard. This drivetrain operates extremely economically and provides extremely high torques. Furthermore, the engine manufacturer promises extremely

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FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 59

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

The JENZ BA 725 long service life. During the transition period up to the middle of 2015, JENZ will also be offering the BA 725 with the old MercedesBenz OM 460 engine as an option.

The proven drive concept is also present in the new BA 725. Using the Vario-Flex control system, which is fitted as standard, the operator can adapt the engine speed to the material and therefore save fuel. This is also helped by the JES function which enables the entire unit to be run down to tickover at the push of a button if a short break in operations is required. The optional twin-gear gearing enables the rotor speed to be adapted to the source material in a range between 400-1,000 rpm. This makes applications from chipper operation up to composting possible.

Optimised material flow, more safety JENZ has used the necessary conversion to emission category Tier IV to further optimise other areas of the machine. For example, the draw-in height has been increased from 720 mm to 820 mm, and the top draw-in roller speed has been increased by 30%.

This enables higher throughput rates and makes the machine more forgiving of irregular infeeds because the material is pulled apart by the roller.

JENZ has also improved the proven IPS impact protection system to further reduce the risk of machine damage. If a foreign body enters the machine, the rotor stops, the crosspiece under the rotor swivels downwards and away, the draw-in runs in reverse, and the screen basket opens. This means that the foreign body is automatically slung out.

Simple screen basket changing In order to make maintenance and conversion work easier, JENZ is fitting the BA 725 with a threepart screen basket as standard.

Each segment only weighs 25 kg and can be changed without any problems by only one person.

Older machines can also be fitted out with this new screen basket if the frame is replaced. New screen baskets with larger openings are also available with immediate effect for the manufacture of coarser chipping material.

Improved control system JENZ has set the standards for operation of all machines with its ‘easygreen’ control system irrespective of whether the machine is a chipper, a biomass processor, or an HGV, power takeoff shaft or stationary machine.

In addition to the well-known machine monitoring function, this controller also provides the operator with service and economic data.

Job management is a new facility: the terminal allows customer and job data to be recorded, saved and subsequently transferred to a PC with a USB stick so that it can be displayed in Excel. The data can then be used to invoice the customer at a later date.

Easygreen also makes error analysis easier. The terminal saves all the important operating parameters over a period of 10,000 operating hours. If there is a fault, JENZ customer service can access this data to limit the error as quickly as possible.

Extensive basic fittings The BA 725 is a powerful machine

60 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

for the professional processing of various forms of biomass.

The range of use is large, and ranges from garden cuttings and organic waste treatment through fragmentation of scrap, trunk and root wood, up to processing substrate for biogas facilities.

Due to the many possible task definitions, there is a whole series of additional fittings available for the BA 725.

This includes a new, easilyfoldable conveyor belt with integrated under-ride guard. The machine is extremely stably-built in order to guarantee long service life.

This all has an effect on the overall weight. For this reason the BA 725 is mostly fitted out with a tripleaxle chassis in the basic version.

This means that the operator can obtain road traffic approval, even abroad in Europe.

The Bandit Model 2680 Track Beast Recycler is designed for tree services, loggers, governmental agencies, and land clearing contractors looking for a heavy-duty grinder that can be maneuvered around job sites.

Production from the Model 2680 Track can exceed 300 yards per hour depending on the material being processed, which can include brush, logs, whole trees, stumps, logging waste, land clearing waste, construction and demolition debris, railroad ties, telephone poles, sawmill waste, pallets, slabs, bark, and chunk wood. This unit is effective in converting a variety of unwanted materials into usable products like compost, landscaping mulch, boiler fuel, animal bedding and more. It features a 24” diameter capacity with its 24” x 60” mill opening and engine options ranging from 440 to 540 horsepower. The Model 2680 Track sits atop a Caterpillar Model 320L steel track undercarriage with 600 mm, 23 5/8” wide track pads in either a single or double grouser format.

The Model 2680 Track is equipped with the patented Bandit cuttermill, which has proven to be the most efficient means of breaking down a wide variety of

materials. With a Bandit cuttermill you have the option of cutting, splitting, grinding and chipping with the opportunity to mix and match cutting devices to allow for the production of uniform material with varying sizes. The cuttermill turns downward, which not only helps to pull material into the mill but also allows it to be positioned for a decisive splitting action similar to an axe rather than a more violent, intensive, and less effective hammering action found on other grinding platforms. The result is less vibration, less fuel consumption, and more structural integrity when compared to machines that carry more weight and horsepower.

The Model 2680 Track features a 60-tooth setup on its cuttermill, allowing it to process a wide array of materials with ease with its 48” diameter by 63” wide dimensions.

Different combinations and styles of cutterbodies and teeth can be configured to control the amount of bite, assist in forwarding material through the screening system, and dial in the preferred size and consistency of the end product. A chipper knife set-up can also be equipped on the Model 2680 Track, allowing it to produce a dimensional, screened chip that can be used for fuel and other applications demanding a consistent, high-quality, preciselysized chip.

A single-speed 13’-6” long by 60” wide double slat design track-type infeed conveyor bed chain serves material to the cuttermill at 20 feet per minute on the Model 2680 Track, where it is captured by a 24” diameter x 60” wide internally driven floating top feed wheel. The cutting action is performed against the infeed chain which eliminates the need for an anvil, thus there is not a gap that is created between the chain and an anvil for materials to collect and wedge. Component weight is distributed and supported on a sturdy frame constructed from 1/4” thick steel with 20” deep formed high tensile steel plating and crosssection bracing using continuous welds for structural integrity as opposed to bolt-together techniques. Thus, the Model 2680 Track possesses the necessary physical reinforcement to stand tall for many years of service.

BIOENERGY

FEATURES

intake system helps protect the engine, reduce engine noise and extend the life of the machine.

Duratech - 3010T

With regard to how you want your material delivered, the Model 2680 Track offers plenty of choices when it comes to discharge options. The standard discharge conveyor is 18’ long x 4’ wide, single-speed at 280 feet per minute, and has an approximate stacking height of 12’-5”. From this standard discharge you have the option of adding a 42” diameter hydraulic thrower for loading end opening chip vans or broadcasting chips over a site. This device is mounted at the end of the conveyor and will swing 25 degrees side-toside (50 degrees total), 34 degrees up, and 12 degrees down to give you directional control of placing your chips. Furthermore, you can opt out of the standard discharge and thrower and go with a 27-1/2’ long x 4’ wide, two-speed (up to 480 feet per minute), height adjustable discharge system. This discharge can be moved down 20 degrees or up 32 degrees to reach a maximum stacking height of 15’ and includes a magnetic head pulley located at the end of the discharge for retrieving metal fragments or nails out of the flow of ground product. Finally, there is an innovative swinging / pivoting discharge system that is controlled by radio remote control that features both a primary and secondary discharge. The secondary discharge pivots side-toside 45 degrees with a maximum discharge height of 17’-6”. This total folding discharge system can extend to 30’ in length and also includes a magnetic head pulley.

Controlling your mobile Model 2680 Track is easy with a userfriendly radio remote control.

The remote, along with tether remote back-up and 50’ of cord, controls the yoke, infeed conveyor, discharge conveyor, engine throttle, and track functions from a comfortable distance.

Customize your Model 2680 Track to the fullest with many productivity enhancing options.

While a tether remote control comes standard, a radio remote is also available permitting an operator to control the unit from an auxiliary loader feeding the grinder.

For sizing material, select from a variety of square, rounded, baffled, or diamond screens ranging from 5/8” to 7” in diameter and gates up to 5” in diameter. Other add-ons worth considering are a higher mill opening, feed speed drive package, engine pre-cleaner, reversing fan options, and an air compressor. A full palette of standard and custom paint colors give you the freedom to choose the look to fit your brand or company.

The self-propelled Model 2680 Track, as with all Bandit Beast Recyclers, is designed and equipped with operator safety, user-friendly control, fuel efficiency, and simplified maintenance in mind. Components that are easily accessible save time on routine maintenance schedules and reduce downtime by being more serviceable out in the field. Feel free to contact a sales representative and ask about fuel savings statistics and production numbers based on your individual situation and needs. These factors, in combination with above-andbeyond factory support for your success, have proven over time that choosing a Bandit Beast Recycler is the best economical decision you can make for a long-term investment in a horizontal grinder.

DuraTech Industrial Grinders are among the best on the market. A few years ago they revamped the complete line and incorporated all the changes that their customers were asking for. This is an awesome Grinder line. The grinders are sold into Municipal, County, Industrial and Private Contracting

applications.

DuraTech Model 3010 The DuraTech Model 3010 Industrial Tub Grinders are the real deal. From the 30” (76.2 cm) wide oscillating stacking conveyor to the self-cleaning radiator screen, this machine is what their customers have asked for. Powered by either a CAT C15 475 HP (354.21 kw) or 540 HP (402.68 kw) Electronic Tier III Diesel Engine, with a PT Tech Fluid Clutch system that drives a heavy duty hammermill makes the 3010 one of the most efficient and productive grinders on the market.

Easy operation is the key, and thanks to remote controls, and a microprocessor controlled wet clutch, it’s easier than ever to operate. The self-cleaning air

The DuraTech 3010 Track Tub Grinder is designed for the customer that needs to get into rough terrain. With the 20”x15’ CAT track system this grinder can get to the job, no matter what the conditions. The Remote Control gives the operator control of the CAT diesel engine , as well as the CAT tracks, tub direction, and stacking conveyor. The 3010T meets the demanding needs of today’s land clearing contractor.

Duratech - 3010FL The 3010FL Industrial Tub Grinder with Grapple loader includes the following features; 7000 series loader with continuous rotating grapple, self-cleaning radiator screen, CAT C15 540hp Tier III diesel engine coupled with a HPTO fluid clutch to the heavy duty hammer mill and an oscillating stacking conveyor.

DuraTech Model 3010

Duratech - 3010T FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 61

EVENTS

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

WORLDWIDE EVENTS CALENDAR – 2015 HydroVision Russia 3-5 March Moscow, Russia www.hydrovisionrussia.com

Energy Storage Europe (Expo & Conference) Dusseldorf Germany 9-11 March www.energy-storage-online.com

Nordic Baltic Bioenergy Conference Riga 14 – 16 April www.nordicbalticbioenergy.eu

National Hydropower Annual Conference 27-29 April Washington, DC, USA www.nationalhydroconference.com

ESA 27-29 May Dallas, TX, USA www.annual-conference.energystorage.org

Geothermal Energy Expo Peppermill Resort & Casino 20-23 September Reno, NV, USA www.geothermalenergy2015.org

Energy Storage North America 13-15 October San Diego, CA, USA www.esnaexpo.com

62 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

EDITORS COMMENTS

Iceland warms to Geothermal but U.S. still lukewarm

I

celand, one of the world’s leader in exploiting geothermal energy sources, has reaffirmed its commitment to renewables by signing an agreement to support the 2016 Iceland Geothermal Conference. The agreement was signed signed by Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, and Rósbjörg Jónsdóttir, Partner at Gekon and Director of IGC 2016.

Iceland is also a member of IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, as well as being a part of the Global Geothermal Alliance initiative.

This initiative was set up to overcome the challenges faced by the industry, gather political support for increased geothermal deployment globally, and to increase collaboration between key actors from both the private and public sectors.

Iceland Geothermal Conference – IGC 2016 will be held at the Harpa Conference Centre in Reykjavík, between the 26th and 29th of April 2016, and will be hosted by the Iceland Geothermal Cluster. Around 600 people from 40 countries participated in the previous conference, which was held in

March 2013.

The conference will focus on the advantages of using geothermal energy and will feature case studies and talks from a variety of renowned speakers, and will be the place to generate ideas around geothermal and discuss the future of the industry with leading experts.

For more information concerning the Iceland Geothermal Conference 2016, visit http:// geothermalconference.is/ In the United States on the other hand, one of the nations slow to take up geothermal energy, comes news that Matt Becker, a member of the faculty in geological sciences at California State University has received more than $1 million in grant support over the last four years to fund research into geothermal energy in California.

Geothermal satisfies only 6 per cent of California’s and 0.3 percent of the U.S. nation’s electrical energy consumption at present. However, the Department of Energy awarded Becker and his colleagues a $579,980 project in 2010 followed by another award of $505,839 this year.

‘I think that the Department of Energy recognizes the relevance of our research,’ says Becker.

It was 10 years of research into fractured rock hydrology at the University at Buffalo that first led Becker into the study of geothermal energy. ‘I’ve looked at how water flows through bedrock for 25 years,’ he recalls, ‘But when I moved to California, all of a sudden, there was geothermal energy. It turns out both fields share the same problem: how does water flow through bedrock?’

Becker believes that geothermal energy holds great promise. ‘Natural gas may be more accessible now but it is not renewable,’ he says. ‘The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a report in 2006 on the potential for enhanced geothermal resources that argued it could produce the entire electrical needs of the U.S. for the next 2,000 years. The total available energy is 200 zetajoules. We’re sitting on a huge hot rock that is the Earth. There is an enormous potential for energy there.’

Enhanced geothermal technology is the process of

creating permeable reservoirs in rock that is hot but dry. The technology for creating enhanced geothermal reservoirs is similar to the hydraulic fracking technique used by the petroleum industry but it is typically accomplished without chemicals, using water alone. Well connectivity is the limiting factor in these types of developments, which is the subject of Becker’s research.

Becker urges greater government support for geothermal energy research. Sometimes geothermal wells are ‘dry holes’ and do not pay off. ‘Geothermal companies do not have the deep pockets of an Exxon or Chevron to weather poor investments,’ he says. ‘The government needs to step in and assume some of that risk. There has been an increase in geothermal energy research but it has been slow. With all the talk about renewables, why is it that every time you hear the word ‘renewable,’ people mean solar or wind power but rarely is it geothermal.’

RM

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 63

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ORE Catapult, EMEC and AFRC join forces to improve marine component reliability Three of the UK’s leading technology innovation, research and testing centres are working together on a joint project to test and analyse components in wave and tidal devices, to better understand issues around component reliability, improve performance and ultimately reduce the cost of marine energy.

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is working with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (ARFC), part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, to build a database identifying the common failure mechanisms of components.

EMEC will undertake a ‘forensic analysis’ of a variety of components that have failed to some degree across a range of wave and tidal energy devices, with AFRC providing support around component testing.

The resulting report will be made available to support the sector in engineering design choices around components and materials.

The UK’s wave and tidal industry is strategically important to the UK economy, and could be worth around £76bn cumulatively by 2050. However, in the highly energetic marine environment,

component failure contributes to high industry costs, which must be reduced if the industry is to move towards commercialisation and compete effectively with other sources of energy supply.

This project is the first under a new Collaboration Agreement between ORE Catapult and EMEC. ORE Catapult’s Elaine Buck was seconded to EMEC in August 2014 to identify common areas in which the two organisations could pool their resources and work together on a series of practical projects designed to support the wave and tidal industry in the UK and abroad.

ORE Catapult’s Strategy & Commercialisation Director Dr Stephen Wyatt said: “Through our collaboration with EMEC, we are able to provide a much more joined up approach to supporting the UK’s wave and tidal sector, pooling our common expertise and test and demonstration assets to tackle some of the key technology innovation challenges facing the sector today.

“This particular project also gives us the opportunity to work cross-Catapult with our colleagues at AFRC, part of the HVM Catapult, and other experts in the field who will help us get to the root cause of common industry failures.”

Dr Jennifer Norris, EMEC’s

Research Director, added: “At the moment, some of the components being used in marine energy converters are being tested for the first time – at least for the purpose of generating electricity from marine energy – in challenging high energy real sea conditions.

Many of the marine energy developers have experienced issues with component failures on their devices. Using off-the-shelf components can, of course, be the most efficient option when those components can cope with the challenges associated with marine energy capture, but sometimes these components – which have often been designed for use in different environments – cannot cope.

“The developers testing with us at EMEC collectively have the most experience in the world of the challenges, successes and failures of marine energy deployment and operation. By gathering failed components from a range of devices and looking at them in more detail at a variety of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) stages, this project will assist technology developers in the selection of appropriate components thereby improving efficiency and ultimately lowering the cost of energy.

ORE Catapult’s Strategy & Commercialisation Director Dr Stephen Wyatt “EMEC’s unique position will ensure that essential lessons learned from the early-stage deployments are shared with the rest of the sector, whilst protecting the intellectual property of the developers themselves, enabling the industry to progress more efficiently to commercialisation.”

In the coming weeks EMEC and AFRC will host a workshop, focusing on component testing. The workshop will target renewables developers, manufacturers and the supply chain for component production, and will cover a number of aspects of component testing including material selection and metallurgy, manufacturing methods, and opportunities for conducting component evaluation.

Alstom to build a geothermal plant in Indonesia Alstom has signed a $69 million agreement with PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy to build a 30 MW geothermal plant in Indonesia.

Under the terms of the agreement, the French multinational will be in charge of the geothermal plant’s design, supply, installation, and commissioning. The project is slated to be delivered by the end of 2016.

“The competitiveness of Alstom’s offer including quality, environment, health and safety, was key in the awarding of the contract. We are looking forward Alstom improving capability and

effectiveness to manage the project,” said Rony Gunawan, chief executive officer of PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy.

PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy is a subsidiary of stateowned oil and natural gas company Pertamina. It has been carrying out geothermal exploration and development activities since 2007.

“We are delighted to play a key role in helping Indonesia achieve its energy goals. This installation

64 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

reinforces Alstom’s continued commitment to the geothermal markets and the importance of this renewable fuel source,” said

Steven Moss, vice president in charge of Renewable Steam Plants at Alstom.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

Nautricity secures grid-connected test berth at EMEC

Deployment of Nautricity turbine at EMEC Shapinsay Sound test site (Credit Mike Brookes-Roper, courtesy of Nautricity) Scottish tidal turbine developer Nautricity has secured a grid connected tidal test berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), following successful sea trials at EMEC’s non-grid connected site last year.

In 2014, Nautricity tested its CoRMaT tidal energy converter and Hydrobuoy mooring system at EMEC’s Shapinsay Sound test site gaining experience of operating in real sea conditions.

The company is now moving a step closer to commercialisation having

secured a test berth at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site for its next generation prototype – putting their technology to the test in some of the harshest sea conditions on the planet.

Cameron Johnstone, Nautricity’s chief executive officer, said: “The objectives for Nautricity’s forthcoming operations at EMEC are threefold: we want to undertake technical de-risking of a grid connected 0.5MW CoRMaT tidal turbine within higher energetic tidal sites; evaluate the

performance of Nautricity’s new foundation system designed for shallower water operations; and demonstrate the ability to quickly deploy our tidal technology in tidal sites with short operating windows using smaller scale vessels.

“We are keen to get to get the next CoRMaT turbine into the water so we can build on our experience in Orkney. We’ve previously been through 3 scale prototype testing programs – as well as the full scale second generation device tested at EMEC’s Shapinsay Sound site last year. The principle of undertaking these tests was to hone in on the components of the complete system, and test individual components safely and easily. We are now looking forward to combining these to test a fully operational system.”

In addition to EMEC’s wellknown grid-connected sites, EMEC also offers real-sea testing in the less challenging conditions of Scapa Flow and Shapinsay Sound.

Neil Kermode, EMEC’s managing director, said: “Accessible real sea testing enables marine energy developers and suppliers to learn lessons earlier, more cheaply, and provide a

Cameron Johnstone, Nautricity’s chief executive officer stepping stone towards larger scale projects – as demonstrated by Nautricity’s progression. Previous testing in Orkney will stand Nautricity in good stead – not just in terms of technology readiness level, but with the whole wider supply chain.

“It is great to see a tidal developer using component testing here at EMEC to inform fullsystem technology development, but even better to see that development being taken to the next stage back here at EMEC. We will be delighted to see the CoRMaT turbine a step closer to commercialisation with gridconnected performance testing.

Carnegie connects first wave power machine to grid in Australia Carnegie Wave Energy Ltd., a producer of systems that generate power from the sea, connected its first power project to the grid in Perth, Australia.

The Australian Department of Defence will buy all the power from the project to run the country’s largest naval base, Perth-based Carnegie said today in a statement on its website. The wave-energy

system is also expected to produce fresh water. Carnegie didn’t disclose the size of the Perth project.

Carnegie’s CETO systems use a buoy submerged in the sea that moves with the motion of the waves. That action is used to pressurize fluid, which is piped ashore to power a turbine and produce electricity. The same

energy may also be used to produce drinking water from seawater.

The company is developing another project that will use larger versions of the CETO systems and is supported by A$11 million ($8.6 million) from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and A$20m in debt from Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corp.

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 65

Alstom chosen to equip pilot tidal farm at raz Blanchard in France

66 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

TIDAL

Alstom, together with GDF SUEZ, has been chosen by the French Prime Minister to supply equipment for a tidal energy pilot farm at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula (Manche), following the findings of a study conducted by the ADEME.

A

lstom, together with GDF SUEZ, has been chosen by the Prime Minister to supply equipment for a tidal energy pilot farm at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula (Manche), following the findings of a study conducted by the ADEME. This choice was made as

part of the “Programme des Investissements d’Avenir”1, for which the French Government initiated a Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) back in September 2013. Four Oceade™18 - 1.4MW tidal turbines, as well as an Alstom electrical subsea hub2 will be installed at this high-potential tidal

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 67

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

A

lstom, together with GDF SUEZ, has been chosen by the Prime Minister to supply equipment for a tidal energy pilot farm at Raz Blanchard, west of the Cotentin peninsula (Manche), following the findings of a study conducted by the ADEME. This choice was made as part of the “Programme des Investissements d’Avenir”1, for which the French Government initiated a Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) back in September 2013. Four Oceade™18 - 1.4MW tidal turbines, as well as an Alstom electrical subsea hub2 will be installed at this high-potential tidal site. With 5.6 MW in total capacity, the tidal turbines will be able to supply power to 5,000 people. The sea-based project is slated to begin in 2017 and is expected to operate for a period of 20 years.

This project will allow Alstom to test its Oceade™ 18 - 1.4MW tidal turbine under installation and operational conditions similar to those in commercial facilities. A 500kW prototype has already been tested at the EMEC3 in 2011/2012, producing 250 MWh of electric power for the network. It was then

replaced with a 1MW turbine in January 20134 which has produced over 750 MWh of electric power for the network, amounting to a cumulative total in excess of 1 GWh from both prototypes. Alstom’s Oceade™ tidal turbines, due to equip the GDF Suez pilot farm at Raz Blanchard, will thus enjoy the benefit of this feedback from two separate sources and of any improvements stemming from it.

Installing the Oceade™ 18 - 1.4 MW turbine at the raz Blanchard GDF SUEZ pilot farm represents a decisive step towards setting up commercial operations in tidal energy. A fully integrated team of 80 Alstom engineers devoted to tidal energy in Nantes and Bristol, has been focused on the development of the Oceade™ system, so as to cut down on the cost of electric power and to maximise the use of tidal resources according to the various local conditions (the velocity of the currents, the depth).

“Thanks to this project, Alstom technology will be in a position to demonstrate its efficiency, its optimised costs and

68 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

FEATURE

A team of 80 Alstom engineers have been working on the Oceade turbine prototype, and this pilot farm in conjunction with GDF Suez represents a “decisive step towards setting up commercial operations in tidal energy.

its maintainability, a necessary prerequisite to considering any future move towards a commercial phase on a larger scale,” said

Jacques Jamart, Alstom Senior Vice-President in charge of new energies.

Thanks to this project, Alstom technology will be in a position to demonstrate its efficiency, its optimised costs and its maintainability, a necessary prerequisite to considering any future move towards a commercial phase on a larger scale – Jacques Jamart, Alstom Senior Vice-President in charge of new energies

FEATURE

GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO & MARINE

Sam Bickersteth, CEO of CDKN

FEBRUARY 2015 | International Renewable Energy 69

September being the calmest (and driest) month in the

Renewable electricity capacity was 23.1 GW at the e (3.8 GW) on a year earlier, including 0.8 GW installed

MARKET DATA (UK)

Renewables Solar PV capacity increased by 1.9 GW (74 per cent)

wind capacity increased by 1.5 GW (13 per cent), wi UK Renewables’ share of electricityChart generation increases Q3(Chart 6.3)Ele 6.2 Renewable electricity around half of the increase. contributing pe generation TW 2014 over Q3 2013 14

Rene in from av Q3. kn reco mo sp Tota by 2 Hy 13.4 to 2014 rai TWh dri the 4 mm mo Over year Ge bioen pe Drax TW capa pe and ac

20

Electricity generated from onshore wind increased by 7.7 per cent in 2014 Q3, from 2.7 TWh in 2013 Q3 to 2.9 TWh, while generation from offshore wind was up by 14.1 per cent, from 2.0 TWh to 2.2 TWh. The increase in wind generation was due to increased capacity; the average wind speed fell from 7.2 knots in 2013 Q3 to 7.0 knots in 2014 Q3; September 2014 was the calmest month in in the last fourteen years with average wind speeds of just 5.5 knots.2 Hydro generation increased from 744 GWh in 2013 Q3 to 787 GWh in 2014 Q3 (5.9 per cent), despite average rainfall falling by 15 per cent. September 2014 was the driest month in the last fourteen years, and saw just 23.7 mm of

Renewables

Chart 6.1 Renewables’ share of 18 electricity generation 16 20% 14 18% 12 16%

Share of total generation (%) Generation (TWh)

Renewables’ share of electricity generation increased from 13.6 per cent in 2013 Q3 to 17.8 per cent in 2014 Q3. This was a 1.7 percentage point fall on 2014 Q1’s record share of 19.5 per cent. 1 Total generation from renewables in 2014 Q3 increased by 24 per cent compared to 2013 Q3, from 10.8 TWh to 13.4 TWh. Overall electricity generation (75.4 TWh) in 2014 Q3 was down 5.0 per cent on a year earlier (79.5 TWh); this reduction contributed 0.9 percentage points of the 4.2 percentage point increase in renewables’ share. Over half of the increase in renewable generation on a year earlier was due to increased generation from bioenergy, and particularly the conversion of a second Drax unit

10 14% 8 12% 6 10% 4 8% 2 6% 0 4%

Q1 Q2 2011

Q3

Q4

2% 0%

Q1 Q2 2011

Q3

Q1 Q2 2012

Q3

Q4

Q1 Q2 2013

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Wave and tidal

Solar PV

Offshore wind

Onshore wind

Q4 Hydro Q1 Q2 2012

Q3

Wave and tidal

Q4

Q1 Q2 Q3 Bioenergy 2013

Q1 Q2 2014

Q4

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bio Rene three Ge 13.9 pe

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Solar PV

Offshore wind

Onshore wind To note that the solar PV (and onshore wind) Hydro figures not only include Bioenergy installations confirmed on the Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) scheme, but also Electricity generated from onshore wind increased by 7.7 a large number of sub 50 kW installations per cent inthe 2014 from 2.7 TWh in 2013 Q3 include to 2.9 To note that solarQ3, PV (and onshore wind) figures not commissioned, and registered ononlythe TWh, while generation from offshore wind was up by installations confirmed on the Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) scheme, Microgeneration Certification Scheme, that but are 14.1 per cent, from 2.0 TWh to 2.2 TWh. The increase also a awaiting large number of sub 50 kW on installations commissioned, and confirmation FiTs (as well as any inregistered wind generation was due to increased capacity; the on the Microgeneration that are capacity supported Certification by the Scheme, Renewables average wind speedonfell from 7.2asknots in 2013 Q3 to by 7.0 awaiting confirmation FiTs (as well any capacity supported Obligation (RO) or un-accredited capacity). knots in 2014 Q3; September 2014 was the calmest the Renewables month in in the last fourteen years with average wind speeds of just 5.5 knots.2

Chart 6.2 Renewable electricity generation 20 18 16

In ren

1 fro Tota pe

can b www.

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43

Hydro generation increased from 744 GWh in 2013 Q3 Chart 6.3 Renewable electricity to 787 GWh in 2014 Q3 (5.9 per cent), despite average was the capacity (as quarter) rainfall falling by 15 at perend cent. of September 2014 driest month in the last fourteen years, and saw just 23.7 mm of rainfall, compared to a 10 year average for the 25 month of 120.7 mm.

8 6

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Q1 Q2 2011

Q3

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Q3

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Q1 Q2 2013

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Onshore wind

Hydro

Bioenergy

Q1 Q2 2014

Q3

To note that theHowever, solar PV (and onshore wind) to biomass in May 2014. rainfall, compared to a 10 year figures not also onlyledinclude installations increased capacity to average for confirmed the month of 120.7 on the Feed in Tariffs (FiTs)mm. scheme, but also increased generation from solar Generation from bioenergy a large number of sub 50 kW installations PV and wind. Renewables’ share 3 in 2014 Q3 increased by 31 per commissioned, and registered on the of electricity generation in the first cent compared to 2013 Q3, from Microgeneration Certification Scheme, that are three-quarters of 2013 increased 4.6 TWh to 6.0 TWh, mostly due to awaiting confirmation on FiTs (as well as any to 18.1 per cent, from 13.9 per cent plant biomass which was up by 60 capacity supported by the Renewables one year earlier. per cent from 2.2 TWh to 3.6 TWh. Obligation (RO) or un-accredited capacity).

70 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

Generation from bioenergy in 2014 Q3 increased by 31 per cent 20 compared to 2013 Q3, from 4.6 TWh to 6.0 TWh, mostly due to plant biomass which was up by 60 per cent from 2.2 TWh to 3.6 TWh. This can mostly be accounted for by the conversion of Drax (Unit 2) to 15 biomass.

Bio Q3 Ma Iro

Installed Capacity (GW)

Generation (TWh)

10

Generation from solar PV in 2014 Q3 increased by 79 per cent, 10 from 0.8 TWh in 2014 Q2 to 1.5 TWh, due to increased capacity.

At sh so off

In 20145 Q3, bioenergy had the largest share of renewable generation, at 44 per cent, with 22 per cent from onshore wind, 17 per cent from offshore wind, 11 per cent from solar PV and 5.9 per cent from hydro.

0

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

2

S sun ww we

Q3

2011 renewable 2012capacity totalled 2013 In 2014 Q3, 23.12014 GW, an Bioenergy and wastes Hydro Onshore wind increase of Offshore 19.5wind per centSolar(3.8 GW) on that installed a PV Wave and tidal year earlier. Between 2014 Q2 and 2014 Q3, total renewable capacity grew by 0.8 GW.

Solar photovoltaics December 2014 (PV) capacity was the largest

ye ren

So co by fro thi

14 12

inc

3

B bio bio

44

percent 16.6 pe fell by 0 per cen

factors 70%

Renewables

60%

Compar 2014 Q wind’s i just 0.2

50%

Chart 6.4 Renewable electricity load factors

Load Factor (%)

In 2014 Q3, onshore wind’s load factor fell by 0.6 40% percentage points, from 17.1 per cent in 2013 Q3 to 16.6 per 30%cent. Meanwhile, offshore wind’s load factor fell by 0.8 percentage points, from 24.7 per cent to 23.9 4 20% per cent.

70% 60%

10% Compared with 2014 Q2, onshore wind’s load factor for 2014 Q3 fell by 1.0 percentage point while offshore 0% wind’s increased Average Q1 Q2 Q3byQ40.2.

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 wind Q1 Q2 speeds Q3 Q4 were Q1 Q2 2011 2013 2014 just 0.2 knots lower. 2012

40%

Bioenergy 30% 20% 10% 0%

Q1 Q2 2011

Q3

Q4

Q1 Q2 2012

Q3

Q4

Q1 Q2 2013

Q3

Q4

Q1 Q2 2014

Bioenergy

Offshore wind

Hydro

Onshore wind

Q3

Installed Capacity (MW)

This can mostly be accounted for Q3, total renewable capacity grew by the conversion of Drax (Unit by 0.8 GW. Solar photovoltaics 2) to biomass. Generation from (PV) capacity was the largest solar PV in 2014 Q3 increased by contributor to the increase on a 79 per cent, from 0.8 TWh in 2014 year earlier, increasing by 1.9 GW Q2 to 1.5 TWh, due to increased (74 per cent), with the majority capacity.

In 2014 Q3, bioenergy of thiseligible coming from large-scale Chart 6.5 Feed in Tariffs: had the largest share of renewable schemes accredited under the installed capacity (as at end of quarter) generation, at 44 per cent, with RO. Of this increase, 255 MW was 3,000from onshore wind, 22 per cent installed in 2014 Q3 Wind capacity Solar PV 2,800 17 per cent from offshore wind, increased by 1.5 GW between 2013 2,600 11 per cent from solar PV and 5.9 Q3 and 2014 Q3. Of this, 447 MW Wind per cent 2,400 from hydro. In 2014 Q3, was installed in 2014 Q3, with 335 2,200 renewable capacity totalled 23.1 MW of this from the expanding Hydro 2,000 GW, an increase of 19.5 per cent Gwynt-ymor and West of Duddon 1,800 (3.8 GW) on that installed a year Sands offshore wind farms.

Micro CHP 1,600 earlier. Between 2014 Q2 and 2014 Bioenergy capacity increased by 1,400

Renewables AD

1,200 1,000

Chart 6.6 Liquid biofuels for 400 200 transport consumption Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Bioethanol 2011 2012Biodiesel 2013 2014

500

Volume (million litres)

At the e for the G per cen 2014 Q2 2013 Q3

2,600 2,400

In terms Q3, ther per cen previous

Wind

2,200 Hydro

2,000 At the end of 2014 Q3, 3.0 GW of capacity was eligible 1,800 for the GB Feed in Tariff (FiTs) scheme. This was a 5.1 Micro CHP per cent1,600 increase on the 2.8 GW eligible at the end of 2014 Q2,1,400 and 28.3 per cent higher than that at the end of AD 5 2013 Q3.1,200

Solar ph installat respecti

1,000 800

In terms of number of installations, at the end of 2014 600 Q3, there 400 were 606,102 eligible for the FiT scheme, a 6.0 per cent 200 increase on the 571,659 at the end of the previous quarter.

0

Renewa MicroCH installed

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 2011 2012 2013 2014

Solar photovoltaics (PVs) represent the majority of both installations and installed capacity eligible for FiTs, with, 0.4 GW between 2013 Q3cent and 2014 respectively, 98.7 per and 86.2 per cent of the total.6

Q3, with the increase from Drax

600

0

For bioe percent Tilbury largely 2014 Q load fac 2014 Q2

Offshore wind

For bioenergy, the load factor in 2014 Q3 was up 15.5 percentage points on a year earlier (when the closure of Tilbury during the quarter reduced the load factor), Chart Feed in Tariffs: largely due6.5 to the second Drax unit eligible coming online in installed capacity (asavailability at end of quarter) 2014 Q2 and operating at high levels.

The load factor 3,000 was up a further 2.3 percentage points on 2014 Q2.2,800 Solar PV

800

600

Q3

Hydro’s load factor inHydro 2014 Q3 rose slightly Onshoreby wind 0.9 percentage points, from 19.9 per cent in 2013 Q3 to 20.9 per cent. Although rainfall for 2014 Q3 was lower than for the same quarter in 2013, it was higher for the first two quarters in 2014, resulting in higher overall rainfall for 2014 year to date compared to 2013.

Installed Capacity (MW)

Load Factor (%)

50%

Hydro’s percent 20.9 pe than for first two rainfall f

400

DECC actual g Feed www.go load-fac

Unit 2 in May installations 2014 offset slightly Renewable eligible for FiTs (all except a reduction in485 capacity at 13litres MicroCHP) per ofcent of biofuels all renewable Inby2014 Q3,represented million liquid were Ironbridge.

At end of 2014 Q3, of 9 per cent on the total in installed capacity. consumed in the transport, a rise onshore had the largestlitres), share exceeding the previous 2013 Q3wind (445 million of capacity, 35464 per million cent, with 20 inload record high litres 2014factors, Q2.

DECC has atof recently produced based on per cent from solar PVfor andinstallations 19 per actual generation, accredited under the

cent from of bioenergy These and Feed in each Tariff. canperbe found at: 4 Bioethanol consumption fell using by 5.4 cent, from 224

Load Factors are calculated an average of capacity at the start and end offshore wind.to 212 million litres. Conversely, www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-and-annualmillion litres biodiesel by the time in the quarter when any new capacity came online. load-factors consumption rose by 24 per cent, from 221 million litres

in 52013 Q3 to 273 million litres in 2014 Q3.

300

Statistics on Feed in Tariffs can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/collecti

6 Biodiesel 56.3uptake per cent to the total on liquid To note contributed that Feed in Tariff statistics are based the confirmation date biofuel mix in 2014 Q3. Apart thetheperiod 2012 Q2 installed in a q commissioning (installation) date.from Hence amount of capacity to confirmed 2013 Q4, biodiesel has indominated the proportion on the FiTs scheme the same quarter.

200

averaging 60 per cent though varying between 35 per 45 4 Load Factors are calculated using an average of capacity at the start cent and end theper quarter. andof85 cent. Therefore, they can be influenced

by the100 time in the quarter when any new capacity came online.

5

6

Statistics on Feed in Tariffs can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/feed-in-tariff-statistics 0

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

2011 Feed in Tariff 2012 uptake statistics 2013 2014on the confirmation date, which can be several months later than the To note that are based commissioning (installation) date. Hence the amount of capacity installed in a quarter may differ substantially from that confirmed on the FiTs scheme in the same quarter.

Relevant tables

45

FEBRUARY 2015 December | International Renewable 2014 Energy 71

2015

EVENTS CALENDAR WORLDWIDE HydroVision Russia

3-5 March

Moscow, Russia

www.hydrovisionrussia.com

PV America

9-10 March

Boston, MA, USA

www.pvamericaexpo.com

EWEA Offshore 2015

10-12 March

Copenhagen

www.ewea.org/annual2015/offshore2015

Intersolar China

1-3 April

Beijing, China

www.intersolarchina.com/en/

SOLAREXPO

8-10 April

Milan, Italy

www.solarexpo.com

16-18 April

Portland, ME, USA

www.nebiomassheat.com

20-22 April

Minneapolis, MN, USA

www.biomassconference.com

Annual Conference

27-29 April

Washington, DC, USA

www.nationalhydroconference.com

SNEC PV

28 - 30 April

Shanghai, China

www.snec.org.cn

All Energy

6-7 May

Glasgow, Scotland

www.all-energy.co.uk

AWEA WINDPOWER

18-21 May

Orlando, FL, USA

www.windpowerexpo.org

ESA

27-29 May

Dallas, TX, USA

www.annual-conference.energystorage.org

Intersolar South America

1-3 September

Sao Paulo, Brazil

www.intersolar.net.br/en/

Solar Power International

14 - 17 September Anaheim, CA, USA

www.solarpowerinternational.com

Husum WindEnergy

15-18 September

www.husumwind.com

Geothermal Energy Expo

20-23 September Reno, NV, USA

www.geothermalenergy2015.org

RenewableUK

6-8 October

Liverpool, UK

www.renewableuk.com

North America

13-15 October

San Diego, CA, USA

www.esnaexpo.com

EWEA 2015

17-20 November

Paris, France

www.ewea.org/annual2015/

Intersolar India

18-20 November

Mumbai, India

www.intersolar.in/e

Northeast Biomass Heating Expo International Biomass Conference and Expo National Hydropower

Husum, Germany

Energy Storage

72 International Renewable Energy | FEBRUARY 2015

International Renewable Energy Magazine is attending the following shows in 2015

13 - 12 June 2015 iUme책 Sweden

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