Battery energy storage is a critical technology to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and build a low carbon future. Renewable energy generation is fundamentally different from traditional fossil fuel energy generation in that energy cannot be produced on demand. Coal can be burned whenever power is needed—wind and solar energy rely on the wind blowing and the sun shining. Solar energy presents a particular problem in that it cannot be pro....
As technological advancements occur through new developments in the offshore wind energy industry, there will be times where these large projects may impact the cultural heritage of humanity's past in our waters. Federal, State, and Tribal government agencies in the United States have regulations in place to protect archaeological cultural resources within and outside their territorial boundaries. The success of offshore projects relies on buildi....
The growth and rapid evolution of the offshore wind industry and the introduction of new, US Jones Act-compliant offshore wind vessels mean that wind operations may involve the use of Jones Act seamen, maritime employees, and other non-maritime employees. Such workers variously fall under the purview of the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), and other laws that determine their rights and remedies in cases of ....
Identifying trees, grasslands, and wetlands on landscape-scale project sites has never been simple or clear-cut.
Aerial photos are subject to divergent interpretations. Field surveys incur higher costs from hours spent documenting and mapping observations, and datasets such as the National Land Cover Database can be too coarse to capture nuances in the terrain.
While landscapes change constantly, regulatory officials request informati....
Fronius USA has announced their updated partner program, offering exclusive benefits and specialized trainings aimed at elevating the quality of solar installation, service, and support customers receive when using Fronius Solar Energy products. The new Fronius partner program, set for debut on June 3, 2024, is designed to equip solar installers and technicians with the knowledge and skills needed to professionally sell and safely install and repair Fronius solar products. At the core of the program is Fronius’ commitment to providing partners with comprehensive product training and essential resources to effectively implement Fronius solar solutions.
Fronius recognizes the rapid growth of the solar industry and is committed to the education of emerging solar companies. They also understand that as a growing number of solar inverters reach the end of their warranty period, there is an increasing demand for companies to service or repower aging systems to maintain optimum performance.
That is why Fronius has crafted a three-tier partner program tailored to suit technicians and installation companies at every level, catering not just to skilled installers proficient in Fronius technologies, but to both novice solar companies and those specializing in operations, repair, and maintenance of residential or commercial solar systems. All levels must fulfill criteria to become a partner, alongside meeting annual benchmarks to maintain partnership status, while reaping benefits such as exclusive service work, parts ordering, Fronius support and much more.
Service Authorized Installer
Recognizing the increasing demand for PV servicing, Fronius introduced the Service Authorized Installer program. This partnership, dedicated to in-field repairs, requires minimal criteria for enrollment, receiving the benefit of access to exclusive service components unavailable to non-partners.
Fronius Trained Installer
As the solar industry sees a rise in new companies, education on products, installation, repair, safety, and changes to industry codes and standards is a necessity. As a Fronius Trained Installer, comprehensive trainings are offered, both in-person and online, for aspiring professionals as they embark on their solar journey, or those looking to
expand their Fronius installation portfolio on their path to becoming a Fronius Solutions Partner.
Fronius Solutions Partner
With a global network of over 5000 solar installers and technicians, Fronius Solutions Partners play a pivotal role in Fronius’ mission to advance renewable energy solutions worldwide. Through collaboration with Fronius, they gain access to benefits achieved by meeting annual criteria, using Fronius technologies, and maintaining high standards by actively engaging in technical trainings. In return for their commitment to excellence, Fronius Solutions Partners are empowered with exclusive service work, customer leads, spare parts ordering abilities, complimentary premium digital services, prioritized technical support, early access to new product training, marketing and sales tools and much more.
Annual criteria to remain partner and receive these benefits can range from number of Fronius installations, use of Fronius digital tools, attending webinars, technical trainings and Fronius presentations or demonstrations, or completing online E-Academy courses. Each of these activities earns training credits, making achieving performance and educational benchmarks easy.
Fronius is expanding its partner program not just to increase the number of installers utilizing Fronius products, but also to broaden the geographic availability of solar technicians for PV system owners seeking servicing in their vicinity.
By equipping partners with support and trainings, Fronius enables them to navigate the rapidly evolving solar industry, ensuring success “together 100% for renewable energy.”
For more information or to apply for the Fronius Partner Program, email Fronius Solar Energy at [email protected]
De Gaulle Fleurance supported Banque des Territoires and the Climate Infrastructure Fund managed by Demeter in raising 46 million euros for See You Sun, to develop its new approach to solar energy.
Following an initial fundraising of 12 million euros in 2021, Rennes-based renewable energy player See You Sun raised 46 million euros in early April from its long-standing partners, Demeter via the Climate Infrastructure Fund and Banque des Territoires.
Their participation, combined with bank loans, should enable See You Sun to roll out an investment program worth 600 million euros in nearly 6,000 projects by 2028.
The funds raised will be used to accelerate the production of local, low-carbon energy by deploying solar shading systems throughout France, with an emphasis on the development of collective self-consumption.
Banque des Territoires and the Climate infrastructure Fund were advised by De Gaulle Fleurance on transactional aspects (Sylvie Perrin, partner, David Faravelon, senior manager, and Anne Kuhanathan, senior associate) and auditing (Béatrice Boisnier, legal counsel).
"We are proud to have contributed to this fund-raising, which will enable us to accelerate the deployment of ambitious solar projects throughout France over the next few years, with an emphasis on the development of self-consumption, which will also have a definite interest in the development of electro-mobility", explains Sylvie Perrin, partner at De Gaulle Fleurance.
Seeed Studio, a leading IoT hardware company, recognized the growing demand for an efficient and customizable open source electric vehicle (EV) charging solution. The challenge was to develop a product-ready solution that aligned with the evolving market needs, offering scalability, security, and adaptability for diverse applications.
Solution
Seeed Studio addressed this challenge by harnessing the power of the EVerest Project from LF Energy and the Zephyr Project. EVerest is an open source software stack for EV charging stations. By digitally abstracting the complexity of multiple standards and use cases, EVerest runs on any device, from unmanaged AC home chargers to complex multi-EVSE satellite public DC charging stations with battery and solar support. Zephyr is a small, real-time operating system for connected, resource-constrained, and embedded devices supporting multiple architectures.
These open source initiatives provided a robust foundation for the development of the reCharger project. Leveraging EVerest's energy management and grid integration focus, coupled with the Zephyr's real-time operating system for IoT devices, Seeed Studio created a modular and customizable solution.
Result
The collaborative effort between Seeed Studio, EVerest, and Zephyr resulted in the reCharger, a product-ready open source EV charging solution. The reCharger project comprises the BeaglePlay charging host controller, the reCharger HMI touch panel, the BeagleConnect wireless sensor, and the reCharger analog board. The integration of these components ensures secure, compatible, and feature-rich customizable EV charging, with real-time monitoring capabilities and environmental sensors for a safer charging environment.
Challenges During Development
The primary challenge, which is ongoing, is the competitive landscape in the Chinese charging market, with many closed suppliers. Overcoming this requires demonstrating the strategic and collaborative advantages of integrating with EVerest, showcasing the benefits beyond simply creating a cost-effective solution. Seeed is confident that the product will prove itself up to the task of providing a scalable, interoperable, efficient charging solution for EVs from all manufacturers.
Deployment Status
While the reCharger is not yet deployed in production, further integration with smart home and parking applications is underway. Developer interest is strong, and off-the-shelf dev kits will be available in 2024, marking the initial steps towards scaled deployment.
While specific metrics are pending, the project has garnered thousands of views, generating inquiries and interest. More quantifiable metrics are expected as dev kits become available and shipping commences.
Future Plans
Seeed Studio is currently working on next generation hardware for an improved charging product leveraging EVerest and Zephyr. Seeed also envisions expanding the use of EVerest and Zephyr beyond EV charging. The focus is on integrating scenarios around Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) applications, providing open source subsystems for commercial-ready solutions in emerging markets. This will not only create new business opportunities, but help speed decarbonization and the energy transition in the Chinese and also global market.
GenH2, a leader in hydrogen infrastructure solutions, announced that the company will be an exhibitor at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo being held May 20-24, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Cullen Hall, GenH2's Vice President of Product Development, will also participate as a panel speaker in the Hydrogen Workshop session taking place on Monday, May 20. GenH2 is a Gold Sponsor of the event, where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and commercial transportation technology providers showcase the latest products and solutions designed to decarbonize transport and pave the way to a cleaner future. GenH2’s booth (#1627) will feature the company’s state-of-the art zero-loss hydrogen transfer solutions.
James Fesmire, GenH2’s EVP & Chief Architect, will also be joining the company’s team at ACT. An inductee of the NASA Inventors Hall of Fame for developments in cryogenics, materials, and energy technologies, Fesmire has 35+ years of experience in cryogenics and low-temperature problem-solving with specialty in all aspects of liquid hydrogen storage and transfer.
“I am looking forward to seeing all of the new developments showcased at this year’s ACT Expo,” said Fesmire. “But I am especially excited to share the exciting zero-loss hydrogen solutions that we have developed at GenH2 to prevent evaporation and loss.”
The ability to ensure zero-loss hydrogen transfer and storage is key to unlocking liquid hydrogen’s potential, as demonstrated by a recent case study exploring the public bus sector (read study here). With standard bulk storage transfer systems, hydrogen loss occurs because the pressure increase generated during hydrogen transfer requires venting. The financial consequences associated with vented hydrogen are consequential, amounting to a 20% annual loss. Vented hydrogen also increases the effect of greenhouse gases, which in 5-10 years will result in financial penalties due to government emissions’ regulation.
GenH2’s controlled storage zero-loss transfer systems were developed based on proof of concepts from NASA. By utilizing refrigerated storage systems, GenH2 ensures that liquid hydrogen remains in a sub-cooled state, eliminating the need for venting and preventing evaporation. This innovative approach not only prevents transfer losses during bulk tank fills but also eliminates daily losses during dispensing operations. With GenH2's technology, all evaporated hydrogen is recirculated back into the system, contributing to unprecedented efficiency gains.
"At GenH2, we are committed to driving the advancement of hydrogen infrastructure solutions that are pivotal in realizing a sustainable and carbon-neutral future,” said Greg Gosnell, President of GenH2. “Our presence at the ACT Expo underscores our dedication to revolutionizing hydrogen transfer efficiency with zero-loss transfer and storage solutions, and we are excited to showcase our innovative technologies that will accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy source."
On the opening day of the show (May 20th from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.), Hall will participate in a Hydrogen Workshop titled, Producing and Delivering Hydrogen. The panel will explore the crucial capacity building measures that hydrogen producers and station developers are implementing to realize the potential of the hydrogen economy. Lauren Murphree, Director of Product Strategy at Daimler Trucks North America, will serve as moderator for the session, which will include the following panelists in addition to Hall: Hernan Henriquez, President of Sales at BayoTech; Alessandro Faldi, Low Carbon Solutions Global Hydrogen Mobility at ExxonMobil; and Dr. Thomas Acher, Head of Process Design and Development at Linde Inc.
The session will offer attendees opportunities to:
Learn about the different techniques and value propositions for cost effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly hydrogen generation that will make this zero carbon fuel more accessible to commercial fleet customers.
Hear the latest on the industry’s “green” hydrogen initiatives and learn what to expect in terms of green hydrogen supply, sources, timelines, and most importantly, costs to the end-user.
Get an update on how today’s hydrogen stations are being developed to function across multiple fuel delivery platforms, including incorporation of onsite hydrogen generation, pipeline delivery systems, liquid hydrogen, and compressed hydrogen.
Explore methods for deploying and maintaining hydrogen refueling infrastructure in as cost-effective a manner as possible, as the industry works to achieve competitive prices.
Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (‘Solar Alliance’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V: SOLR, OTC: SAENF), a leading solar energy solutions provider focused on the commercial and utility solar sectors, is pleased to announce several contract signings that have contributed to a backlog of contracted projects exceeding $2.3 million and provide an update on its grant-supported project pipeline, which currently totals $3.7 million.
The Company is currently working with clients to submit projects for U.S. federal grant applications with a combined $2.6 million capital cost, in addition to $1.1 million in grant-supported projects announced on April 15, 2024. The grant applications are for United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Rural Energy for America Program (“REAP”) eligible projects. Subject to USDA approval, the Company anticipates these projects will be added to the Company’s backlog as early as the end of Q3, 2024.
“Solar Alliance is extremely proud to be supporting rural businesses as they make the transition to solar and reduce their electricity costs”, said CEO Myke Clark. “These projects allow for a faster cycle time from sale to construction and can generate consistent cash flow. The Solar Alliance team has developed sufficient capacity to provide solar solutions to commercial clients of all sizes. In addition to executing on these medium-sized projects, we remain committed to delivering larger projects that require a longer sales cycle. The combination creates an ideal cashflow combination as we continue to scale our business.”
The Company is also pleased to announce it has signed contracts for four medium-sized commercial projects for retail, agriculture and education customers in the Southeast U.S. The four projects have a combined capital cost of $615,000 and are located in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. The project in Alabama is the first for Solar Alliance in the state. All four projects are expected to be built in 2024.
These projects contribute to a backlog of contracted projects for Solar Alliance that now totals more than $2.3 million, supporting the Company’s growth through 2024. The Company has managed the backlog to a level that potentially allows for the rapid conversion to revenue while still maintaining our highest standards of execution.
“Solar Alliance continues to see strong demand for commercial solar projects, and we are now providing services to clients of all sizes. This resulted in strong revenue growth in 2023 and has provided the platform for Solar Alliance to begin targeting multi-megawatt opportunities. Our business development efforts now include assessing specific regional requests for proposals for solar projects in the 5 to 10 megawatt range, where Solar Alliance believes it has a competitive advantage as a result of our installation experience and regional brand awareness,” concluded Clark.
Lightsource bp is pleased to announce the appointment of Emilie Wangerman as our Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the United States and member of our executive team, effective immediately. Emilie will lead the growth and development of our ambitious U.S. portfolio, strengthening our market position as a leader in the region.
Commenting on the appointment, Nick Boyle and Joaquin Oliveira, Group Co-CEOs said: “Emilie’s deep understanding of Lightsource bp – our business, people, and culture – made her the ideal candidate to lead the U.S. We see a lot of potential in the market and are confident that our talented U.S. team, led by Emilie, will be able to deliver on that opportunity and provide cost-effective, home-grown, low-carbon energy to the region at scale.
Emilie brings a critical balance of strategic and tactical leadership to our U.S. operations, and we have already seen Emilie’s skills as a leader during her interim role. We are excited to watch the U.S. team continue to maintain its market-leading position and contribute to our company goals under her leadership.”
Emilie has been an integral part of Lightsource bp since joining in late 2017 to significantly accelerate expansion into the U.S. market. During six years under Emilie’s leadership, the business development team executed more than 4GW of power contracts with a wide range of power purchasers that include universities, utilities and well-known brands such as McDonald’s, eBay, Verizon, and Amazon. Over the last seven months, Emilie has been acting as interim COO of the U.S.
Emilie Wangerman expressed her excitement about the appointment, saying: “The renewable energy market is at an inflection point with escalating global demand for low carbon, affordable electricity that also advances energy security and independence. I’m excited to lead the USA business in accelerating our Lightsource bp group growth ambitions and sustainability mission.”
Emilie brings a broad spectrum of experience and disciplines to this role, developed over her 20-year career, with more than 13 years working in the energy industry – from energy procurement to customer programs, operations, power marketing, acquisitions, and growth strategy.
Emilie has a Bachelor of Science in both Chemical Engineering and Psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University.
Clearloop, a Silicon Ranch company and leading provider of carbon solutions that accelerate decarbonization of the electric grid and expand renewable energy access in American communities that can benefit the most, announced that Intuit Inc., the global financial technology platform, and national specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op, flipped the switch on the new 2.8 MWDC White Pine Solar Farm in White Pine, Tennessee.
Intuit and REI each supported the development of 1.4 MWDC of the solar project through Clearloop’s unique and innovative approach to helping organizations reclaim their carbon footprint. This combined effort is estimated to prevent more than 162 million pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere over the project's lifetime and will produce enough low-cost electricity to help power nearly 400 homes in the local community. In addition to Intuit and REI’s support, the solar project is made possible by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Dispersed Power Program and the cooperation of local power companies including Morristown Utility Systems.
Since 2021, Intuit has worked with Clearloop to decarbonize the grid while expanding access to renewable energy across Tennessee. Intuit’s support of the White Pine Solar Farm builds upon its ongoing partnership with Clearloop and ongoing efforts for its Prosperity Hub Programin Morristown, TN and the surrounding areas. Intuit launched the Prosperity Hub Program in 2016 to promote economic prosperity for people and communities in need.
To further support the surrounding communities, Intuit is donating 1,600 renewable energy certificates (RECs) per year for the next 40 years evenly across the Jefferson County and Hamblen County schools, making these among the first communities to specifically power local public schools with renewable energy in Tennessee, and among the first green-powered schools in the Southeast. As part of the unique collaboration with Intuit and the local school systems, Clearloop is making a one-time $100,000 scholarship donation ($50,000 per school system) for high school seniors in the Jefferson and Hamblen County, Tennessee school systems.
"Intuit has long been focused on making a positive impact on climate, a significant issue that directly affects the wellbeing and ability of people and communities to prosper. We take a holistic approach to climate and sustainability, driving initiatives internally within our operational footprint, supply chain, and externally in the communities we serve," said Debbie Lizt, Head of Global Sustainability at Intuit. "Our collaboration with Clearloop and the local community allows us to bring a meaningful and intentional focus to new solar projects in areas where we can provide environmental and economic benefits to the communities for years to come."
REI’s partnership with Clearloop to help bring the White Pine Solar Farm to life demonstrates the company’s commitment to prioritizing clean energy development that focuses on investing in communities that can benefit the most. Through this partnership, REI will power its new state-of-the-art distribution center in Lebanon, Tennessee with 100% renewable energy. The distribution center will serve more than 60 stores and 5.6 million REI members in the area while using 30% less energy than code requires.
“The White Pine project represents an exciting addition to REI's renewable energy portfolio. We're proud to help usher in new-to-the-world solar energy in the Tennessee Valley, a region where we recently opened a new distribution center, operate multiple stores, and have thousands of members,” said Matt Thurston, Divisional Vice President of Sustainability, REI Co-op. “Clearloop's vision to decarbonize the grid by supporting projects that expand access to clean energy in more communities—along with the project's investments in the local workforce and regenerative land practices—is one in which we strongly believe.”
“Clearloop's partnerships with Intuit, REI, and the local community help us realize our commitment to decarbonizing the grid with an intentional focus on commissioning new solar projects in communities where we can maximize the environmental, educational, and economic benefits of climate dollars,” said Laura Zapata, CEO and Co-Founder, Clearloop. “This project represents the possibilities fostered by responsible, thoughtful, and meaningful corporate climate action. We look forward to continuing to build on our relationships with corporate leaders and communities alike to deliver on the promise of a transformational and inclusive energy transition.”
As is the case with all Clearloop projects, the White Pine Solar Farm will be developed, owned, and operated by its parent Silicon Ranch for the lifetime of the project. Through this disciplined and community-focused approach, Clearloop will maintain a long-term vested interest in the East Tennessee region. The White Pine solar project’s energy output and the carbon it avoids are tracked live on Clearloop’s website here.
The United States is slow to anger, but relentlessly seeks victory once it enters a struggle, throwing all its resources into the conflict. “When we go to war, we should have a purpose that our people understand and support,” as former Secretary ....
Unleashing trillions of dollars for a resilient energy future is within our grasp — if we can successfully navigate investment risk and project uncertainties.
The money is there — so where are the projects?
A cleaner and more secure energy future will depend on tapping trillions of dollars of capital. The need to mobilize money and markets to enable the energy transition was one of the key findings of one of the largest studies ever conducted among the global energy sector C-suite. This will mean finding ways to reduce the barriers and uncertainties that prevent money from flowing into the projects and technologies that will transform the energy system. It will also mean fostering greater collaboration and alignment among key players in the energy space.
Interestingly, the study found that insufficient access to finance was notconsidered the primary cause of the current global energy crisis. In fact, capital was seen to be available — but not being unlocked. Why is that? The answer lies in the differing risk profiles of energy transition investments around the world. These risks manifest in multiple ways, including uncertainties relating to project planning, public education, stakeholder engagement, permitting, approvals, policy at national and local levels, funding and incentives, technology availability, and supply chains.
These risks need to be addressed to create more appealing investment opportunities for both public and private sector funders. This will require smart policy and regulatory frameworks that drive returns from long-term investment into energy infrastructure. It will also require investors to recognize that resilient energy infrastructure is more than an ESG play — it is a smart investment in the context of doing business in the 21st century.
Make de-risking investment profiles a number one priority
According to the study, 80 percent of respondents believe the lack of capital being deployed to accelerate the transition is the primary barrier to building the infrastructure required to improve energy security. At the same time, investors are looking for opportunities to invest in infrastructure that meets ESG and sustainability criteria. This suggests an imbalance between the supply and demand of capital for energy transition projects.
How can we close the gap?
One way is to link investors directly to energy companies. Not only would this enable true collaboration and non-traditional partnerships, but it would change the way project financing is conceived and structured — ultimately aiding in potentially satisfying the risk appetite of latent but hugely influential investors, such as pension funds. The current mismatch of investor appetite and investable projects reveals a need for improving risk profiles, as well as a mindset shift towards how we bring investment and developer stakeholders together for mutual benefit. The circular dilemma remains: one sector is looking for capital to undertake projects within their skill to deploy, while another sector wonders where the investable projects are.
This conflict is being played out around the world; promising project announcements are made, only to be followed by slow progress (or no action at all). This inertia results when risks are compounded and poorly understood. To encourage collaboration between project developers and investors with an ESG focus, more attractive investment opportunities can be created by pulling several levers: public and private investment strategies, green bonds and other sustainable finance instruments, and innovative financing models such as impact investing.
Expedite permitting to speed the adoption of new technologies
Another effective strategy to de-risk investment profiles is found in leveraging new technologies and approaches that reduce costs, increase efficiency, and enhance the reliability of energy supply. Research shows that 62 percent of respondents indicated a moderate or significant increase in investment in new and transitional technologies respectively, highlighting the growing interest in innovative solutions to drive the energy transition forward.
Hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, large-scale energy storage, and smart grids are some of the emerging technologies identified by survey respondents as having the greatest potential to transform the energy system and create new investment opportunities. However, these technologies face challenges such as long lag times between conception and implementation.
If the regulatory environment makes sense, then policy uncertainty is reduced, and the all-important permitting pathways are well understood and can be navigated. Currently, the lack of clear, timely, and fit-for-purpose permitting is a major roadblock to the energy transition. To truly unleash the potential of transitional technologies requires the acceleration of regulatory systems that better respond to the nuance and complexity of such technologies (rather than the current one-size-fits all approach). In addition, permitting processes must also be expedited to dramatically decrease the period between innovation, commercialization, and implementation. One of the key elements of faster permitting is effective consultation with stakeholders and engagement with communities where these projects will be housed for decades. This is a highly complex area that requires both technical and communication skills.
The power of collaboration, consistency, and systems thinking
The report also reveals the need for greater collaboration among companies in the energy space to build a more resilient system. The report shows that, in achieving net zero, there is a near-equal split between those increasing investment (47 percent of respondents), and those decreasing investment (39 percent of respondents). This illustrates the complexity and diversity of the system around the world. A more resilient system will require all its components – goals and actions – to be aligned towards a common outcome.
Another way to de-risk the energy transition is to establish consistent, transparent, and supportive policy frameworks that encourage investment and drive technological innovation. The energy transition depends on policy to guide its direction and speed by affecting how investors feel and how the markets behave. However, inconsistent or inadequate policy can also be a source of uncertainty and instability. For example, shifting political priorities, conflicting international standards, and the lack of market-based mechanisms can hinder the deployment of sustainable technologies, resulting in a reluctance to commit resources to long-term projects.
Variations in country-to-country deployment creates disparities in energy transition progress. For instance, the 2022Inflation Reduction Act in the US has posed challenges for the rest of the world, by potentially channeling energy transition investment away from other markets and into the US. This highlights the need for a globally unified approach to energy policy that balances various national interests while addressing a global problem.
To facilitate the energy transition, it is imperative to establish stable, cohesive, and forward-looking policies that align with global goals and standards. By harmonizing international standards, and providing clear and consistent signals, governments and policymakers can generate investor confidence, helping to foster a robust energy ecosystem that propels the sector forward.
Furthermore, substantive and far-reaching discussions at international events like the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), are essential to facilitate this global alignment. These events provide an opportunity to de-risk the energy transition through consistent policy that enables countries to work together, ensuring that the global community can tackle the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition as a united front.
Keeping net-zero ambitions on track
Despite the challenges faced by the energy sector, the latest research reveals a key positive: 91 percent of energy leaders surveyed are working towards achieving net zero. This demonstrates a strong commitment to the transition and clear recognition of its importance. It also emphasizes the need to accelerate our efforts, streamline processes, and reduce barriers to realizing net-zero ambitions — and further underscores the need to de-risk energy transition investment by removing uncertainties.
The solution is collaborating and harmonizing our goals with the main players in the energy sector across the private and public sectors, while establishing consistent, transparent, and supportive policy frameworks that encourage investment and drive technological innovation.
These tasks, while daunting, are achievable. They require vision, leadership, and action from all stakeholders involved. By adopting a new mindset about how we participate in the energy system and what our obligations are, we can stimulate the rapid progress needed on the road to net zero.
Dr. Tej Gidda (Ph.D., M.Sc., BSc Eng) is an educator and engineer with over 20 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields. As GHD Global Leader – Future Energy, Tej is passionate about moving society along the path towards a future of secure, reliable, and affordable low-carbon energy. His focus is on helping public and private sector clients set and deliver on decarbonization goals in order to achieve long-lasting positive change for customers, communities, and the climate. Tej enjoys fostering the next generation of clean energy champions as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The Kincardine floating wind farm, located off the east coast of Scotland, was a landmark development: the first commercial-scale project of its kind in the UK sector. Therefore, it has been closely watched by the industry throughout its installation. With two of the turbines now having gone through heavy maintenance, it has also provided valuable lessons into the O&M processes of floating wind projects.
In late May, the second floating wind turbine from the five-turbine development arrived in the port of Massvlakte, Rotterdam, for maintenance. An Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS)
vessel was used to deliver the KIN-02 turbine two weeks after a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) and AHTS had worked to disconnect the turbine from the wind farm site. The towing vessel became the third vessel used in the operation.
This is not the first turbine disconnected from the site and towed for maintenance. In the summer of 2022, KIN-03 became the world’s first-ever floating wind turbine that required heavy maintenance (i.e. being disconnected and towed for repair). It was also towed from Scotland to Massvlakte.
Each of these operations has provided valuable lessons for the ever-watchful industry in how to navigate the complexities of heavy maintenance in floating wind as the market segment grows.
The heavy maintenance process
When one of Kincardine’s five floating 9.5 MW turbines (KIN-03) suffered a technical failure in May 2022, a major technical component needed to be replaced. The heavy maintenance strategy selected by the developer and the offshore contractors consisted in disconnecting and towing the turbine and its floater to Rotterdam for maintenance, followed by a return tow and re-connection. All of the infrastructure, such as crane and tower access, remained at the quay following the construction phase. (Note, the following analysis only covers KIN-03, as details of the second turbine operation are not yet available).
Comparing the net vessel days for both the maintenance and the installation campaigns at this project highlights how using a dedicated marine spread can positively impact operations.
For this first-ever operation, a total of 17.2 net vessel days were required during turbine reconnection—only a slight increase on the 14.6 net vessel days that were required for the first hook-up operation performed during the initial installation in 2021. However, it exceeds the average of eight net vessel days during installation. The marine spread used in the heavy maintenance operation differed from that used during installation. Due to this, it did not benefit from the learning curve and experience gained throughout the initial installation, which ultimately led to the lower average vessel days.
The array cable re-connection operation encountered a similar effect. The process was performed by one AHTS that spent 10 net vessel days on the operation. This compares to the installation campaign, where the array cable second-end pull-in lasted a maximum of 23.7 hours using a cable layer.
Overall, the turbine shutdown duration can be broken up as 14 days at the quay for maintenance, 52 days from turbine disconnection to turbine reconnection, and 94 days from disconnection to the end of post-reconnection activities.
What developers should keep in mind for heavy maintenance operations
This analysis has uncovered two main lessons developers should consider when planning a floating wind project: the need to identify an appropriate O&M port, and to guarantee that a secure fleet is available.
Identification of the O&M port
Floating wind O&M operations require a port with both sufficient room and a deep-water quay. The port must also be equipped with a heavy crane with sufficient tip height to accommodate large floaters and reach turbine elevation. Distance to the wind farm should also be taken into account, as shorter distances will reduce towing time and, therefore, minimize transit and non-productive turbine time.
During the heavy maintenance period for KIN-03 and KIN-02, the selected quay (which had also been utilized in the initial installation phase of the wind farm project), was already busy as a marshalling area for other North Sea projects. This complicated the schedule significantly, as the availability of the quay and its facilities had to be navigated alongside these other projects. This highlights the importance of abundant quay availability both for installation (long-term planning) and maintenance that may be needed on short notice.
A secure fleet
At the time of the first turbine’s maintenance program (June 2022), the North Sea AHTS market was in an exceptional situation: the largest bollard pull AHTS units contracted at over $200,000 a day, the highest rate in over a decade.
During this time, the spot market was close to selling out due to medium-term commitments, alongside the demand for high bollard pull vessels for the installation phase at a Norwegian floating wind farm project. The Norwegian project required the use of four AHTS above a 200t bollard pull. With spot rates ranging from $63,000 to $210,000 for the vessels contracted for Kincardine’s maintenance, the total cost of the marine spread used in the first repair campaign was more than $4 million.
Developers should therefore consider the need to structure maintenance contracts with AHTS companies, either through frame agreements or long-term charters, to decrease their exposure to spot market day rates as the market tightens in the future.
While these lessons are relevant for floating wind developers now, new players are looking towards alternative heavy O&M maintenance options for the future. Two crane concepts are especially relevant in this instance. The first method is for a crane to be included in the turbine nacelle to be able to directly lift the component which requires repair from the floater, as is currently seen on onshore turbines. This method is already employed in onshore turbines and could be applicable for offshore. The second method is self-elevating cranes with several such solutions already in development.
The heavy maintenance operations conducted on floating turbines at the Kincardine wind farm have provided invaluable insights for industry players, especially developers. The complex process of disconnecting and towing turbines for repairs highlights the need for meticulous planning and exploration of alternative maintenance strategies, some of which are already in the pipeline. As the industry evolves, careful consideration of ports, and securing fleet contracts, will be crucial in driving efficient and cost-effective O&M practices for the floating wind market.
Sarah McLean is Market Research Analyst at Spinergie, a maritime technology company specializing in emission, vessel performance, and operation optimization.
A large percentage of new installations are being developed in areas that are prone to extreme weather events and natural disasters (e.g., Texas and California), including high wind, tornadoes, hail, flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, etc. With the frequency and severity of many of these events increasing, project developers, asset owners, and tax equity partners are under growing pressure to better understand and mitigate risk.
Figure 1. The history of billion-dollar disasters in the United States each year from 1980 to 2022 (source: NOAA)
In terms of loss prevention, a Catastrophe (CAT) Modeling Study is the first step to understanding the exposure and potential financial loss from natural hazards or extreme weather events. CAT studies form the foundation for wider risk management strategies, and have significant implications for insurance costs and coverage.
Despite their importance, developers often view these studies as little more than a formality required for project financing. As a result, they are often conducted late in the development cycle, typically after a site has been selected. However, a strong case can be made for engaging early with an independent third party to perform a more rigorous site-specific technical assessment. Doing so can provide several advantages over traditional assessments conducted by insurance brokerage affiliates, who may not possess the specialty expertise or technical understanding needed to properly apply models or interpret the results they generate. One notable advantage of early-stage catastrophe studies is to help ensure that the range of insurance costs, which can vary from year to year with market forces, are adequately incorporated into the project financial projections.
Investors, insurers, and financiers of renewable projects have taken notice of this trend, and are subsequently adapting their behavior and standards accordingly. In the solar market, for example, insurance premiums increased roughly four-fold from 2019 to 2021. The impetus for this increase can largely be traced back to a severe storm in Texas in 2019, which resulted in an $80 million loss on 13,000 solar panels that were damaged by hail.
The event awakened the industry to the hazards severe storms present, particularly when it comes to large-scale solar arrays. Since then, the impact of convective weather on existing and planned installations has been more thoroughly evaluated during the underwriting process. However, far less attention has been given to the potential for other natural disasters; events like floods and earthquakes have not yet resulted in large losses and/or claims on renewable projects (including wind farms). The extraordinary and widespread effect of the recent Canadian wildfires may alter this behavior moving forward.
A thorough assessment, starting with a CAT study, is key to quantifying the probability of their occurrence — and estimating potential losses — so that appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate risk.
All models are not created equal
Industrywide, certain misconceptions persist around the use of CAT models to estimate losses from an extreme weather event or natural disaster.
Often, the perception is that risk assessors only need a handful of model inputs to arrive at an accurate figure, with the geographic location being the most important variable. While it’s true that many practitioners running models will pre-specify certain project characteristics regardless of the asset’s design (for example, the use of steel moment frames without trackers for all solar arrays in a given region or state), failure to account for even minor details can lead to loss estimates that are off by multiple orders of magnitude.
The evaluation process has recently become even more complex with the addition of battery energy storage. Relative to standalone solar and wind farms, very little real-world experience and data on the impact of extreme weather events has been accrued on these large-scale storage installations. Such projects require an even greater level of granularity to help ensure that all risks are identified and addressed.
Even when the most advanced modeling software tools are used (which allow for thousands of lines of inputs), there is still a great deal that is subject to interpretation. If the practitioner does not possess the expertise or technical ability needed to understand the model, the margin for error can increase substantially. Ultimately, this can lead to overpaying for insurance. Worse, you may end up with a policy with insufficient coverage. In both cases, the profitability of the asset is impacted.
Supplementing CAT studies
In certain instances, it may be necessary to supplement CAT models with an even more detailed analysis of the individual property, equipment, policies, and procedures. In this way, an unbundled risk assessment can be developed that is tailored to the project. Supplemental information (site-specific wind speed studies and hydrological studies, structural assessment, flood maps, etc.) can be considered to adjust vulnerability models.
This provides an added layer of assurance that goes beyond the pre-defined asset descriptions in the software used by traditional studies or assessments. By leveraging expert elicitations, onsite investigations, and rigorous engineering-based methods, it is possible to discretely evaluate asset-specific components as part of the typical financial loss estimate study: this includes Normal Expected Loss (NEL), also known as Scenario Expected Loss (SEL); Probable Maximum Loss (PML), also known as Scenario Upper Loss (SUL); and Probabilistic Loss (PL).
Understanding the specific vulnerabilities and consequences can afford project stakeholders unique insights into quantifying and prioritizing risks, as well as identifying proper mitigation recommendations.
Every project is unique
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters and extreme weather events globally is placing an added burden on the renewable industry, especially when it comes to project risk assessment and mitigation. Insurers have signaled that insurance may no longer be the main basis for transferring risk; traditional risk management, as well as site and technology selection, must be considered by developers, purchasers, and financiers.
As one of the first steps in understanding exposure and the potential capital loss from a given event, CAT studies are becoming an increasingly important piece of the risk management puzzle. Developers should treat them as such by engaging early in the project lifecycle with an independent third-party practitioner with the specialty knowledge, tools, and expertise to properly interpret models and quantify risk.
Hazards and potential losses can vary significantly depending on the project design and the specific location. Every asset should be evaluated rigorously and thoroughly to minimize the margin for error, and maximize profitability over its life.
Chris LeBoeuf is Global Head of the Extreme Loads and Structural Risk division of ABS Group, based in San Antonio, Texas. He leads a team of more than 60 engineers and scientists in the US, UK, and Singapore, specializing in management of risks to structures and equipment related to extreme loading events, including wind, flood, seismic and blast. Chris has more than 20 years of professional experience as an engineering consultant, and is a recognized expert in the study of blast effects and blast analysis, as well as design of buildings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio, and is a registered Professional Engineer in 12 states.
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Interestingly, the study found that insufficient access to finance was not considered the primary cause of the current global energy crisis. In fact, capital was seen to be available — but not being unlocked. Why is that? The answer lies in the differing risk profiles of energy transition investments around the world. These risks manifest in multiple ways, including uncertainties relating to project planning, public education, stakeholder engagement, permitting, approvals, policy at national and local levels, funding and incentives, technology availability, and supply chains.
Chris LeBoeuf is Global Head of the Extreme Loads and Structural Risk division of ABS Group, based in San Antonio, Texas. He leads a team of more than 60 engineers and scientists in the US, UK, and Singapore, specializing in management of risks to structures and equipment related to extreme loading events, including wind, flood, seismic and blast. Chris has more than 20 years of professional experience as an engineering consultant, and is a recognized expert in the study of blast effects and blast analysis, as well as design of buildings. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio, and is a registered Professional Engineer in 12 states.
