Author: Anela Dokso

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has appointed Marc Becker as CEO of its Offshore business. Becker served as managing director for Germany and head of Offshore Sales and Projects at Siemens Gamesa before leaving the company in early 2020. In the latter role, and previously as COO of Siemens Wind Power, Becker played a key role in building the company´s strong leadership position in the growing Offshore segment. Becker, who is to be the permanent replacement for Andreas Nauen who was promoted to CEO of the company in June, will be based in Hamburg and start his new role on February…

Tethys Energy Services (Tethys) and Aerones have won a competition to demonstrate a novel remote blade maintenance technique for offshore wind farms to one of the industry’s leading turbine manufacturers. The two companies have won a blade robotics innovation competition launched by GE Renewable Energy, the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and KTN, which called for robotics solutions focused on automating maintenance activities and reducing unplanned offshore activity during the O&M phase of offshore wind turbine blades. Tethys and Aerones will deliver a new offshore transportation and delivery platform to enable the Aerones onshore wind robotics technology to work offshore.…

Panasonic, Equinor and Hydro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership to explore possibilities for establishing a sustainable and cost-competitive European battery business. The companies will work together towards summer 2021 to assess the market for lithium-ion batteries in Europe and mature the business case for a green battery business located in Norway. The companies intend that this initiative is based on Panasonic’s technology and targets the European market for electric vehicles and other applications. The companies will also investigate the potential for an integrated battery value chain and for co-location of supply chain partners.…

RWE Renewables has started construction of the Hickory Park solar project, a 195.5-megawatt (MWac) facility coupled with a 40 megawatt 2-hour battery storage system, located in Mitchell County, Georgia. RWE is the operator and manager of the solar facility, selling the energy and renewable attributes from the facility to Georgia Power through its Renewable Energy Development Initiative program. The project is expected to be online in late 2021. The company entered into a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Georgia Power Company in November 2019. “We are extremely pleased to have a project of this size in Georgia under construction.…

Enel Green Power Panamá (EGPP) has started construction of the Esperanza photovoltaic solar plant, a 26.24 MW capacity project located in the town of Progreso, district of Barú, in the province of Chiriquí. The 41.85 GWh per year of energy generated by this plant, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021, will feed the local operation of important clients in the commercial and industrial sector of the country, while avoiding the emission of more than 23,600 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. It will cover an area of 40 hectares and will include the use…

Bladt Industries and Burns & McDonnell have formed a strategic alliance to bring together resources and experience and create local jobs along the Eastern Seaboard. Under the alliance, Bladt and Burns & McDonnell plan to source, fabricate, produce and assemble steel, concrete and electrical components for individual U.S. offshore wind projects. “Burns & McDonnell is recognized as an industry leader in the U.S. transmission and power delivery markets. With Burns & McDonnell having the ability to deliver projects in the U.S., combined with Bladt’s long track record and position as a central player in the green energy transition, our alliance…

Lekela has started commercial operation of its 140MW Kangnas wind farm in South Africa. This marks the completion of all five wind farms in a Lekela-led consortium across South Africa. Together, these total over 600MW and will provide clean, cost-effective power for up to 485,000 South African homes over the next 20 years. The Kangnas wind farm is situated just over 50km east of the town of Springbok in the Nama Khoi Local Municipality of the Northern Cape. Construction for the project began in 2018 and has been achieved with 50% of construction content manufactured locally in South Africa, including…

ABB has secured an order of around $150 million to deliver a comprehensive scope of technologies to power next-generation cruise ships built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri ABB will equip five newbuild vessels with Azipod electric propulsion, which has a proven ability to reduce fuel consumption on board. Each cruise ship will be powered by twin Azipod units, bringing the total ordered propulsion power for the five newbuilds to 178 megawatts (238,700 horsepower). Part of the order includes the largest and most powerful Azipod propulsion units ever to be installed at Fincantieri, rating at 20 megawatts each. The vessels will enter…

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company (GREC) has purchased a to-be-constructed 80 MW solar project from Broad Reach Power. The project, Fall River Solar, is located in Fall River County, South Dakota and has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in place with the investment-grade utility Black Hills Power (BHP). Greenbacker will oversee the construction which is expected to reach COD in Q4 2022. “We’re excited to have worked with Broad Reach Power on our largest solar project to date. Expanding our solar portfolio in South Dakota will provide a clean energy option and a source for local employment in the state.…

Forestalia and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have agreed to invest in a portfolio of 27 onshore wind farms under development in the Spanish province of Teruel, Aragon. The portfolio is expected to have a total installed capacity of more than 1GW. All the projects in the portfolio have secured grid connection rights and are currently being progressed towards financial close, which is expected in approximately 24 months. Under the terms of the agreement, Forestalia will provide development services to the portfolio of projects until they reach financial close and begin construction. This transaction represents a new investment for Copenhagen Infrastructure…