Wind Industry Quality Crisis, US Election Impact on Renewables
Highlights from EP 242 + exclusive content
⏱️ 4 minute read ⏱️
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In an ordinary week, we might focus more on Vestas’s manufacturing growth in Italy and Siemens Gamesa’s quarterly results showing both gains and ongoing challenges.
While those stories will affect the industry in the near term, the team also considers how US Presidential election results will have a much longer-term impact on wind.
Drill, Baby, Drill
Allen Hall, Joel Saxum, Rosemary Barnes and Philip Totaro have somewhat different views on how soon and how much the incoming administration could slow the renewables transition, and whether or how it might improve traction in others.
Based on trends we saw 2016-2020, and what we heard during the campaign, will the incoming administration just let states continue with their wind projects?
We know the incoming administration isn’t pro-wind, but can a President thwart projects with an executive order?
If natural gas is the big winner, won’t renewables also benefit from grid and infrastructure improvements? Is it possible Hitachi would consider investing even more in the Americas?
Spoiler alert: the gang agrees some of the worries about wind’s future are unfounded. Tune in to this week’s podcast to find out why.
Meanwhile in Canada
We take a hard look at the serious quality control issues that have been raised at GE Vernova’s LM Wind Power blade manufacturing facility in Canada. To be clear, allegations that employees were directed to falsify quality control data are deeply concerning ones - possibly every engineer’s nightmare - but at this point, they are still allegations. We tread lightly into “But what if -” territory and try to envision how things could be righted, and how long that might take.
Why Attend Wind Energy O&M Australia?
Held at the State Library Victoria, Wind Energy O&M Australia is a two-day technical conference with practical presentations, candid discussions, and information you can use the day you return to work.
And while we can’t announce their names just yet, new panelists were being finalized as of this newsletter deadline. Watch this page to find out soon!
When you attend Wind Energy O&M Australia, you will -
Get answers to your questions about operations, maintenance and budgeting.
Learn preventative measures to reduce blade repair costs
Discover which of the O&M best practices are really best for your operation
Expand your knowledge of repairs, refurbishment, and asset performance of gearboxes
Gain practical tips for working collaboratively with an OEM
While sponsorships are available for this not-for-profit event, sponsors cannot pay for presentation slots. Want to discuss sponsorship options or plan to meet up at the show? Contact us.
Where Do You Get the Wind News You Need?
Keeping up with the wind is hard! Links below take you straight to the stories we discuss in this week’s Uptime episode. Find newsletters you may have missed here.
Besides this newsletter and the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast, where you do get your wind news? Please take a moment to let us know; we’d really like to hear from you.
The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast is brought to you by Weather Guard Lightning Tech.
⚡️ NEWS FLASH 11/18/24:
🎤 New Interview:
Interesting Finds From Around the Web
ScottishPower signs £1bn offshore wind turbine deal with Siemens Gamesa
GE Vernova boss keeps search for offshore wind turbine orders on ice
BOEM Completes Environmental Review for Offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island Wind Project
Vineyard Wind's Blade Manufacturer Identifies Canada Plant For "Corrective Actions”
Class II Recall of Nearly 80,000# of Costco Kirkland Signature Butter
Investigation into incident at wind turbine in east-central Alberta
Resolve Composites turns material from Siemens Gamesa turbine blade into a boat
POWER-UP: GE Cypress Blade Tip Swap-out, Vestas Load Probability Control
Wind Energy Stock Watch
Vestas (VWDRY) $4.64 USD
GE (GE) $177.56 USD
Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY) $48.51 USD
Goldwind (XJNGF) $.86 USD
Iberdrola (IBE.MC) €13.40 EUR
Nordex (NRDXF) $14.23 USD
Stock prices as of close Tuesday Nov 19, 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.
Lightning Monitors Aren’t Enough
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