Author: Arnes Biogradlija

The three-year Horizon 2020 funded WaveBoost project has drawn to a close with an improvement achieved to the reliability and performance of wave energy technology. Led by CorPower, the WaveBoost consortium designed and developed an advanced power take off (PTO) system allowing wave energy converters (WECs) to operate safer and more reliably in harsh ocean conditions while increasing annual electricity production by 27 percent. The system incorporates a pneumatic module that has 80% less components, thus reducing complexity and CAPEX while improving reliability, compared to previous designs. A redistribution system manages the power input from ocean waves to support grid…

Iberdrola has commissioned Europe’s largest photovoltaic plant after construction was completed last December. The Núñez de Balboa project, with 500 MW of installed power and an investment of €300 million, started operating on Monday. This project was developed in collaboration with Ecoenergías del Guadiana. It contains 1,430,000 solar panels, 115 central inverters, and two substations. The plant will generate clean energy to supply 250,000 people a year, and it will prevent the emission of 215,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Iberdrola received green financing from the European Investment Bank and Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), Spain’s state financial agency.

Renova has selected MHI Vestas to supply turbines for the Akita Yurihonjo offshore wind project in Japan. The project is expected to have a power generating capacity of approximately 700 MW, making it one of the largest offshore wind farms in Japan. Yosuke Kiminami, founding CEO of Renova said:”The Yurihonjo project will be a pioneer in the Japanese offshore wind market, and we recognize that the reliability of the wind turbines to be used is crucial. I am sure that the wind turbines developed by MHI Vestas, which commands one of the largest shares of the global offshore wind turbine,…

ABB and Hydrogène de France (HDF) will manufacture a megawatt-scale fuel cell system capable of powering ocean-going vessels.

OWC has been contracted to develop a ground model for a US offshore wind project and its cable route. The unnamed project will be managed from OWC’s office in Boston, MA, USA. Will Cleverly, managing director of OWC, said: “Our approach to ground modeling maximizes data value through GIS integration and analysis. We follow rigorous terrain and subsurface mapping principles, which, combined with extensive practical offshore acquisition and interpretation experience, allows us to produce quality outputs that focus on the key engineering project drivers. The primary objective is to characterize the seabed and shallow soils and to identify geohazards, focusing…

MHI Vestas has appointed Masato Yamada as the Asia Pacific regional manager. Yamada, formerly the company’s chief strategy officer based in Aarhus, Denmark, has been relocated to MHI Vestas’ Tokyo office. “We have a firm belief that MHI Vestas has a great opportunity in the Asia Pacific region, as several countries have begun to explore the potential of clean, offshore wind power. We are privileged to have an advocate such as Masato Yamada now leading the development of our company in Asia Pacific, and supporting the growth of our Japanese presence,” said co-CEO Johnny Thomsen. Yamada will guide the company’s…

SolarEdge technologies is planning an interactive, virtual solar show on the week of June 15th 2020. The virtual show will allow the solar community to see, hear, and engage with others about the newest smart energy innovations and industry trends, while maintaining social distancing. “Always looking for creative solutions to overcome obstacles, whether overcoming technology challenges or driving the industry forward under the present circumstances, SolarEdge has decided to use our leadership position to ensure that the solar community has an exciting opportunity to mobilize during this challenging period,” said Lior Handelsman, SolarEdge’s VP of marketing and product strategy, founder.…

Australia’s Northern Territory government has approved the acquisition of a large scale battery for the Darwin-Katherine grid at a project cost of A$30 million. Procurement will take place over the coming months with the BESS expected to become operational in the second half of 2022. The battery energy storage system (BESS) will reduce the need for gas-fired spinning reserve, that will save costs of around A$6.4 million and cut emissions by around 50.000 tonnes per year. The system will also enable more renewable energy to be absorbed from large scale solar projects. These batteries will significantly reduce costs for households…

The renewable energy sector added 176 gigawatts of generating capacity globally in 2019. New renewable power accounted for 72 percent of all power expansion last year, according to new data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Total renewable power growth outpaced fossil fuel growth by a factor of 2.6, continuing the dominance of renewables in power expansion first established in 2012. Solar and wind contributed 90 percent of total renewable capacity added in 2019, with solar adding 98 GW, 60 percent of which was in Asia, while wind expanded by almost 60 GW led by growth in China…

Vestas has received an order for 33 V117-4.2MW typhoon variant turbines from MHI Vestas for the Akita Noshiro offshore wind farm. The project is located in the northern Akita prefecture, and it will be Japan’s first utility-scale offshore project. Turbine delivery is scheduled in the second half of 2021 and installation is expected to start in 2022. Clive Turton, president of Vestas Asia Pacific said: “We are happy to be able to support MHI Vestas, our joint venture that focuses on offshore wind, in their first firm order in Japan. This order showcases Vestas’ experience in Japan and our comprehensive turbine…