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Renewable Energy: Good news for offshore wind.

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1 to 14 of 14

  1.  
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    And at last a hint of joined-up thinking and pooling of brains...

    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-see-cheaper-offshore-wind-2020-reports-103654499--sector.html
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    The article doesn't give much clue as to how
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    Sounds like they're suggesting lots of little optimisations. TBF, market forces should push towards that anyway.
  4.  
    Hmmmmm. I have my doubts.
    Gamesa, Vestas and Siemens have been in the UK for ages. Vestas closed their blade factory on the Isle of white and also their nacelle factory in Campbeltown when the cash from the Scottish government ran out. Siemens do not make turbines in the UK but Gamesa are starting to do it in Scotland as they are now owned by Scottish utilities (I think). Vestas just run offices in Warrington and Siemens in LLanidloes. They operate sales and service departments from the UK only. No production at all.
    I think the main issue with offshore is installation costs when compared to onshore. A jack up barge can cost up to £250,000 per day. Take the poor weather and high wave days and you have spent £1,750,000 in a week and accomplished nothing.
    The jack up barge is very expensive due to supply and demand influences. That is not going to change and the same goes for turbines. It is a global market so why sell cheaper in the UK when you can sell in China.
    We will see but dont hold your breath.....
    Why does the UK government not back a British company and develope our own home grown turbines. We have a massive offshore market and yet we produce very little for the wind industry. We make towers and that it is it I think. We have the skills and empty docks so let's do it. Such a shame as we have so many great engineers,
    :cry::cry::cry:
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    Posted By: gustyturbine
    Vestas closed their blade factory on the Isle of white and also their nacelle factory in Campbeltown when the cash from the Scottish government ran out. Siemens do not make turbines in the UK but Gamesa are starting to do it in Scotland as they are now owned by Scottish utilities (I think). Vestas just run offices in Warrington and Siemens in LLanidloes. They operate sales and service departments from the UK only. No production at all.


    Vestas are building a big new yard at Sheerness to build and install turbines.
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    I did say "a hint of joined-up thinking". :bigsmile:
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012 edited
     
    £100/MWh, seems an odd way to cost an installation, but let us run with it.

    Take a 5MW turbine, and a life of 20 year and a capacity factor of 40%.

    That will be:

    5 (MW) x 8760 (hours in year) x 20 (years) x 0.4 (capacity factor) = 350400 MWh

    At £100/MWh that will be.

    350400 x 100 = £35,040,000

    I think even I could manage that to fit and run a turbine for 20 years.

    Did they mean £100/MW installed, which is very cheap or £100/MWhy^-1?

    Have I missed something or has someone else.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012 edited
     
    Two measures are common: the cost per MW of installed name-plate capacity, and the levelised cost per kWh eventually generated over [edit] the lifetime of the installation.
    Rgds

    Damon
    • CommentAuthorJoiner
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2012
     
    I was just about to say that!
  10.  
    Supposed to be 100 million investment in my old village of East Halton on the east coast for turbine manufacturing facility and new deep water jetty. Shame the locals cannot get planning permission for houses. If only planning was a level playing field. Also heard about a IGCC plant being proposed on the site next door which would not have been disclosed had it not been for the turbine development. Maybe one for Brian to check out as it will be a new coal fired plant hopefully similar to Buggenum.
  11.  
    Intersting article on offshore wind turbine access systems in the Engineer.

    http://www.theengineer.co.uk/1012917.article?cmpid=TE01

    John- I cannot see where C. GEN is going with the Killingholme project. They propose CCGT NG or IGCC using coal,coke or biomass but detail CCS will be required for IGCC. Just wish UK would adopt German emissions standards in combustion projects.
    I note DRAX are once again pushing for extra subsidy in order to finance 50% biomass but the spin appears to be on use of indigenous feedstock ignoring the reality that the major contracts appear to be geared to imports via Tyneports.
    Can only hope common sense will prevail but each new report confirms we are deliberately embracing combustion technology that will degrade air quality and impact on health and environment.
  12.  
    Seret,
    That is good news. I would imagine that the work will involve the final last bit of bolting stuff together. That is the kind of work that Vestas carried out in Campbeltown anyway. They try to keep as much as possible in Denmark so you must admire them for that. I guess when the government has bailed you out it does buy some loyalty I guess.
    Keep an eye on that facility. I would bet money it will be gone a few years down the line,
    Gusty.
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeJun 18th 2012 edited
     
    Posted By: gustyturbineSeret,
    That is good news. I would imagine that the work will involve the final last bit of bolting stuff together.


    To some degree I'm sure, given that it's right at the end of the supply chain next to where they'll be delivered to the customer. Companies like Airbus and Bombardier don't make everything from scratch on site when they're building an aircraft or a train, a lot of it is bunging together the subassemblies that turn up on a lorry. That's still technical work, and they're likely to be fabricating some of it on site, even if it's just wiring harnesses and the like. Then there's all the testing, commmisioning, warranty, mods and maybe a maintenance contract up for grabs too? It's all good green jobs.

    They were advertising for technician jobs a while back for the site, seemed to be more on the installation and commissioning side.
  14.  
    Yes it would be. The installation side of things is a bit tedious at times woth lots of bolt torque work or stretch bolt tensioning. Commisioning is a little better but for any real turbine faults they would call in the service techs to sort out the faults. It is an ideal way though to get in to the wind sector. Long hours though and the work can be very physical.
    You would be suprised to see how finished a nacelle can be when it is delivered. I would say that 99% of all the work has been done and they are almost plug and play units once the tower is up. At least in theory anyway!:wink:

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