Siemens opens training centre in Bremen

Siemens has launched a wind power training centre for its service team in Bremen. The new facility, built on a surface area of more than 600 m², features an original nacelle of a Siemens 2.3-MW wind turbine. Siemens highlighted that the presence of a simulator, ladder structures, electrical and hydraulic modules, and a maintenance crane will give virtually a realistic experience. Siemens’ clients can also send their staff for training, which covers aspects relating to technology and operational reliability.

Gamesa chosen for contract worth $160 million
Western Wind Energy has chosen Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa to supply up to 120 MW of wind turbine generators for its project located in Tehachapi, California. Western Wind owns more than 4,000 acres of fee simple land and leases more than 22,000 acres in California and Arizona. The company said the Windstar Project will consist of Gamesa G80 2-MW, G87 2-MW and G52 850-KW turbines. It has gone ahead with such a mix considering the varied wind regime of the Windstar site. For its part, in late July, Gamesa had shared that it is on its way to sell between 3,300 to 3,600 MW of wind turbines this year.

Duke Energy plans its fourth wind farm in Wyoming
US electric power company Duke Energy has decided to build and operate a 200MW? wind energy project near Casper, Wyoming, its ninth wind farm in the US. Titled Top of the World, the project will feature at least 66 G.E. turbines with each capable of producing 1.5 MW. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company expects to start construction work in late 2009 or early 2010. Commercial operation is expected by the end of 2010. Duke Energy’s wind development pipeline consists of over 5,000 MW of projects located primarily in the Central, Western, and Southwestern regions of the US. By the end of 2009, the company will have more than 700 MW of wind-powered generation projects in operation.

Scottish Enterprise approves £13m funding for Fife Energy Park
The Scottish Enterprise board has confirmed more than £13 million funding for the next phase of investment at Fife Energy Park. This aid from Scotland’s economic development agency is aimed at securing a significant share of the UK offshore wind market.The additional funding will be used to upgrade the quayside and undertake coastal protection works. Fife Energy Park in Methil is a 134-acre site strategically located close to the new offshore windfarm leasing sites in the North Sea. In addition to being seen as a major hub for advanced manufacturing for the renewable energy sector, another main objective is to create more jobs through such investments. The decision to investment over £10 million in the first phase of this project in 2006 has already seen around 300 people getting jobs at the centre.

Helix to finance small wind turbines
San Deigo-based Helix Wind has set up a JV with Washington DC-based financial services company Atoll Financial Group to offer financing of its small wind turbines. As per the deal, Helix will finance turbines for distributors and end users. The move will also enable the company to build manufacturing facilities depending upon the business environment. According to Helix, the move will result in cash flow for commercial users with aggressive pay-back periods. Small or residential wind energy systems typically range from 400 watts to 500 KW or more and typically consist of a single turbine.

XEMC acquires Darwind’s 5MW direct drive turbine technology
China’s XEMC Windpower has forayed into Holland by signing an asset purchase agreement with Darwind, a Utrecht-based developer of offshore wind turbines. Financial details weren’t disclosed. The newly incorporated company XEMC Darwind will develop two 5MW direct drive wind turbine prototypes. It plans to install these in 2010.

SIAG acquires Aerisyn’s tubular steel plant in the US
Dernbach, Germany-based Schaaf Industrie (SIAG) has acquired wind turbine tower maker Aerisyn’s plant in the US. The plant is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. SIAG has opted for 70% ownership of the plant initially, with the remainder to be completed by 2012. According to SIAG, production at full capacity is almost 100 segments or 250 towers. This is expected to be attained by the middle of 2011. The company reportedly plans to add 120 jobs and invest $3 million.

Siemens opens new facility in Illinois
Siemens and wind turbine gear drive maker Winergy Drive Systems have come up with a new $20 million plant for the assembly and testing of mechanical gear drives. This is Siemen’s second plant in Elgin, Illinois. The existing plant will be maintained to manufacture the gears and components that will be assembled and tested in the new plant. It will also house the services and repairs business.