Vestas to focus on China and the US, Progress at Dong Energy’s Gunfleet Sands

New York State to invest $95m

The New York State Public Service Commission has said it will make available approximately $95 million under its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) programme to develop a large-scale renewable energy portfolio, including wind, biomass, and run-of-river hydroelectric projects. As an added incentive, the RPS funding will enable renewable energy developers in New York to leverage federal grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). To date, New York’s RPS programme has resulted in the construction and operation of approximately 1,200MW of new wind capacity, with another 2,000MW proposed. The auction will be the fourth under a state mandate to derive 25% of New York's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2013. The auction will be conducted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Progress at Dong Energy’s Gunfleet Sands

Danish firm Dong Energy has started production from the first two of 48 offshore wind turbines it is installing at the Gunfleet Sands array off England’s east coast. It is the first instance of electricity being generated under the entire Round 2 of offshore wind farms in the UK as laid out by the Crown Estate in 2003. Gunfleet Sands will have a capacity of 172MW distributed on 48 Siemens wind turbines at 3.6MW each. So far 16 wind turbines have been erected. The wind farm will reach full production during 2010.
 
Transpower strengthens ties with Offshore Marine

Marine cable solutions provider Offshore Marine Management (OMM) has been chosen for guard vessel provision, coordination and project management services by Germany’s Transpower Offshore as part of its contract for the BorWin1 power cable. The contract involves supply of up to 11 guard vessels for the 120km cable route between Norderney and the BorWin Alpha platform in the German Bight sector of the North Sea. The power cable will provide power distribution to the German national grid from the Bard Offshore 1 wind farm that is under construction.
 
Vestas to focus on China and the US

Denmark’s Vestas has hired more than 5,000 workers for new factories in China, the US and Spain, according to the Guardian. The wind turbine manufacturer recently laid off 425 workers when it closed its Isle of Wight factory. Vestas is changing its geographical focus and is moving production from Europe to China and the US. In April this year, Vestas announced the need for lay-offs in Northern Europe due to lack of demand. In Denmark, 1,142 employees were made redundant. The order backlog of firm and unconditional orders amounted to €4 billion at 30 June 2009. Net income dropped 34% to €43 million in the second quarter from the same period last year. Vestas shipped 618 turbines, 12% fewer than last year. However, its revenue increased by 11% to €1.2 billion. The company maintained that it expected revenue to rise this year by 20% to €7.2 billion.