An Overstuffed Eagle, Liquidated Damages, Vineyard Wind Update, and Day in the Life Instagrams
Highlights from Uptime episode 231 & exclusive content
⏱️ 4 minute read ⏱️
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Tour de Wind Headlines
Denmark is making waves in the renewable energy sector: the €13 billion investment in offshore wind represents the largest offshore wind power tender ever issued in Denmark, and introduces a novel financing model, in which companies are required to make concession payments and co-invest with the state.
Meanwhile, in Poland, Vestas is establishing a new nacelle and blade factory in potentially creating over 1,700 direct jobs by 2026. Europe seems to be having a moment…
Europe: Floating Wind, Government Support for the Win
Siemens Energy plans to hire around 4,000 new employees across Europe to bolster its grid equipment manufacturing capacity. The plan has a lot of support: the European Investment Bank set up a €5 billion counter guarantee facility, through a €500 million deal with Deutsche Bank. Why?
The region has ambitious carbon-neutral goals, for one thing, and with capacity for the global offshore wind sector expected to exceed 520GW by 2040, Europe is set to host over 70% of global floating wind installations.
What we want to know is, how can the US compete?
Will the lease auction off Hawaii’s Oahu’s coast, planned for 2028, move US offshore development in the right direction? What do you think?
We know what the locals think about Vineyard Wind lately…and it’s not good.
Protesters Flock to Vineyard Wind Downed Blade Site
Beach closures continue on Nantucket Island after debris from a fallen blade washed ashore.
A flotilla of frustrated fishers and photographers hanging around Vineyard Wind since the incident have shared some curious photos. Did the blade fail because of a bonding issue? Was it the same problem that downed a blade at Dogger Bank? When will we know more?
A Better Explanation of Vesta’s Q2 Financial Call, and Liquidated Damages
Here’s another reason why we love our readers (and listeners): Bill sent us an email that explained Vestas’ Q2 financial report better than we did in the August 20 episode, and we really appreciate that. Hear our new, improved explanation is in this week’s podcast. Thanks, Bill!
Techs Repairing GE Blades, We Need Your Help
Technicians working on GE blades, can you help us out? We know the 2x blades have a lot of lightning problems, and we’ve heard that in the process of repairing the holes, the grinders are throwing sparks. That shouldn’t happen, but we think we know why it is. If you’ve experienced this, please contact us at uptime@wglightning.com.
Are Our Hosts Overthinking Instagram?
Maybe, maybe not. At issue are some of the ‘Day in the Life' at a wind turbine job posts we’ve seen lately. Does the average wind employee really show up at 9am and go home at 5? Not the ones we’ve talked to at wind farms in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and elsewhere, but hey, if that’s you, let us know.
We know these posts are intended to be recruiting tools, and we hope they work - the wind industry needs good people in all sorts of roles. But if you’re scrolling through Instagram to find out about working in the wind industry, you should start here.
Tune in for first impressions and thoughtful insights on these and other recent wind news stories. Your hosts are Allen Hall, Joel Saxum, and IntelStor’s Phil Totaro.
⚡️ NEWS FLASH 9/2/24:
➡️ New Interview:
Interesting Finds From Around the Web
Fishing Flotilla Protests at Still-Damaged Vineyard Wind Turbine; Debris Continues to Wash Ashore
Skylift’s FlyingBasket Delivered over 5 Tons of Turbine Equipment Offshore
The Netherlands reinvents windmills: ultra-efficient silent wind turbine
US researchers: new sugar-based resin = easily recyclable wind turbine blades
Not wind related, but have you heard about the eagle that ate a racoon?
Blades Event in Boston!
The AMI Wind Turbine Blades Event, held in Boston on October 2-3 is the North America version of the popular European event, examining new developments in the materials, design, manufacturing and performance of wind turbine blades and more. Don’t miss Thursday’s panel on blade operation and maintenance - Allen moderates, with guests from ENGIE North America, Nordex and EDF Renewables. 🛬 See you in Boston!
Interesting, But How Does It Work?
The Archimedes wind turbine design is described as being silent, efficient, and bird- and bat-friendly. How does it work? See the demo starting at 7:24 in this video.
Wind Energy Stock Watch
Vestas (VWDRY) $7.45 USD
GE (GE) $164.21 USD
Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY) $27.93 USD
Goldwind (XJNGF) $.61 USD
Iberdrola (IBE.MC) €12.89 EUR
Nordex (NRDXF) $15.85 USD
Stock prices as of close Tuesday September 3, 2024. Note some stocks use OTC Delayed Price.
Stay informed: Each week we highlight wind energy news and the latest technology with insight from experts from around the world. If you learned something, please forward to a friend. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe now.
No-Maintenance Sensors Now Shipping with StrikeTape
Save money and headaches with a low-cost lightning sensor that requires no wiring and no maintenance. Produced by EOLOGIX-PING, it’s small, magnetizes to the turbine, and based on applications in the past year or so, it has been 100% effective. We know wind operations need it; now we include it with new sales of StrikeTape.
Questions? Email Joel at Joel.saxum@wglightning.com.