Renewable Eng. Share Discussion Threads

[gibbs1] 18/7/2022 09:50

Wind Turbines and French Property Prices



18th July 2022

A new study finds wind turbines have little or no impact on property prices. Or does it?

As is the case in many other countries, wind turbines are a hot topic in France.

The installations are regularly the subject of litigation, as we have previously reported in our pages .

One of the frequent criticisms made by opponents is that they lead to a reduction in the value of real estate located nearby.

In an attempt to provide some clarity to the debate, the French environment and energy management agency ADEME (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie) has undertaken a major study of the issue.

The agency examined 1.5 million real estate sales between 2015 and 2020, which it cross-referenced with the installation dates of wind turbines.

ADEME concludes that wind power has no impact on the number of sales, and almost zero impact on the price of property. They consider the impact is close to that of other infrastructures (electricity pylons, relay antennas, etc.) and that there is a "considerable" gap between real and perceived impact.

According to the agency, the average impact on prices is only marginal - a decrease of around -1.5% of the value of a property, which the agency states is "5 to 15 times less than the margin of error of estate agents in rural areas."

Most of the coverage of the report in the press in France has reiterated this line, but a closer examination shows their conclusion to be more nuanced.

In particular, ADEME add a strong caveat, admitting that the study did not cover properties located less than 2km from a wind turbine, stating that "the low number of observations in the 0-2km range does not allow robust observations to be drawn (...) on a segment that is nevertheless the one where it would be logical to observe the strongest impacts". In other words, there were not enough sub 2km sales to be able to make an assessment.

The authors also admit their conclusions exclude the impact on properties of character, a "real estate segment on which wind turbines are likely to have the strongest negative impact," they state.

Although the agency admits a risk can persist for "exceptional" properties, (castle, manor, luxury residence, situation or remarkable building), there are few such properties amongst the general housing stock and they account for less than 10% of houses sold during the period 2015 to 2020. As a result, the agency was similarly unable to assess the impact on such properties.

In short, for properties of character and for those within 2km in of wind turbines, they are unable to say whether there is a reduction in the value of such properties.

Indeed, the authors themselves state: "we have identified two areas for further study - high end properties and properties in proximity to wind turbines."

The study also notes that the impact of wind power on real estate appears to be stronger in the north of France, which they consider might result from the high density of wind turbines, and on the Mediterranean coast, due to the coastal and tourist nature of the area and the high price of property.

To complement the statistical analysis, the agency also undertook surveys of professionals and residents living near wind turbines.

Although they wrote to 16 estate agents, only one provided a response. Not one notaire took part in the survey, yet both the notaires and the estate agents might have expected to have made a critically important contribution to the study.

Only 124 residents living less than 5km from wind turbines were interviewed with only 3% of them citing the proximity of wind turbines among the three main factors that devalue a property.

France Insider News

[the grumpy old men] 07/7/2022 10:50

SSE's Viking Energy Wind Farm to be awarded low-carbon power contract

Thu, 7th Jul 2022 10:12
Alliance News

(Alliance News) - SSE PLC on Thursday said its subsidiary Viking Energy Wind Farm will be awarded low-carbon power contract for 220 megawatts.

The FTSE 100-listed Perth, Scotland-based electricity provider said Viking's success came after a "competitive auction process" in the UK's fourth Contract for Difference allocation round.

SSE Renewables is currently constructing the 443 megawatt Viking project in the Shetlands Islands. The contract just secured is around half of the project's capacity at a strike price

of GBP46.39 per megawatt hour for the 2026/27 delivery year.

SSE Renewables Managing Director Stephen Wheeler said: "Viking will be the most productive onshore wind farm in the UK when it enters operation from 2024, and will play a crucial role in decarbonising energy supply in the Shetland Islands as well as in Scotland.

"Through the delivery of onshore wind energy projects such as Viking, SSE

Renewables is helping drive the delivery of SSE's Net Zero Acceleration Programme which will see the company double its installed renewable energy capacity to 8GW by 2026 and increase our annual renewable energy output fivefold to over 50TWh by 2031."

SSE said Viking is progressing through construction with over 50% of turbine foundation bases poured. "When complete in 2024, Viking will be the UK's most productive onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output," the company noted.

Shares were up 0.5% at 1,706.00 pence each on Thursday morning in London.

By Xindi Wei; [e-mail]

[grupo guitarlumber] 02/6/2022 09:32

WIND TECHNOLOGY.COM

June 2, 2022
Engie, Google Cloud to develop AI solution for wind energy

The AI solution will predict price and quantity of wind power to be sold in the market.
The project is expected to benefit the wind facilities across the globe. Credit: Pexels from Pixabay.

French utility company Engie has partnered with tech giant Google for developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based wind energy solution.

Under this new partnership, Engie and Google Cloud’s AI Services and Industry Solutions (AIIS) will work together to develop a solution that can predict the price and quantity of wind power to be sold in the market.

Google Cloud Global Energy Solutions director Larry COCHRANE said: “At Google Cloud, we believe that more accurate data and predictions of wind power production will be valuable to electricity grids, creating benefits for consumers and making wind more competitive with fossil fuels.

“We are delighted to work with ENGIE on this project, which can accelerate Europe’s clean energy transition, while laying the groundwork for wind farms around the world to benefit from improved forecasting via Artificial Intelligence.”

AI solution will make use of performant and scalable data system as well as advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms to support decision making process.

Once completed, the project is expected to benefit the wind facilities across the globe with increased forecasting capabilities using AI.

ENGIE Global Energy Management & Sales executive committee member Alexandre Cosquer said: “ENGIE’s business entity ‘Global Energy Management & Sales’ has been developing its systems in the last decade to cope with the challenges involved in managing renewables assets.

“With already a double expertise in risk and data management, we were looking to intensify the renewables development, and to partner up with one of the most superior experts not only in data management but also in Machine Learning technology.

“Data, Digitalization and Risk Management are key enablers to bring value and accelerate the decarbonation of our power grids; in that context, a partnership with Google was obvious.”

[ariane] 24/5/2022 07:49

Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson combine wind and solar for 5G site

by Harry Baldock, Total Telecom

Monday 23 May 22

The duo has successfully modified a live 5G mobile site, integrating both solar and wind energy generation equipment, as well as the software to optimise supply and demand

When it comes to sustainability, for telcos the largest challenge is reducing the energy consumption of their ever-growing networks.


Many of the largest operators around the world, including the likes of Orange, Vodafone, and Deutsche Telekom, have already committed to reducing their carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040 – a target that will be very difficult to achieve without rethinking the way in which they view network energy consumption.

With this in mind, Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson have today announced a new collaboration, modifying a live 5G mobile site in Germany to support both wind and solar power generation and integration.

The site, situated in Dittenheim, had been part-powered by 12 square metres of solar panels for over a year as part of a previous partnership between the two companies. Now, a new trial has seen wind turbines added to further boost the site’s capacity for renewable energy usage.

The combined solution is facilitated by the Ericsson Power System, which jointly controls the two power sources and the batteries also integrated into the system. This not only allows for more optimised energy consumption from the various sources, but also allows the batteries as dynamic power storage units, storing renewable energy when available.

When conditions are right, the site can operate using energy from the renewable sources alone, without need to tap the electrical power grid.

“Ensuring an integrated management of clean, efficient and reliable power sources and usage is key for sustainable mobile site operations. Together with innovative partners we explore in trials how we can apply intelligent solutions and capabilities to optimize energy consumption and control at mobile sites,” said Leif Heitzer, SVP Technology Guidance and Economics at Deutsche Telekom.

Deutsche Telekom are not the only operator looking to incorporate renewable energy directly into their mobile sites. In November last year, Vodafone announced a similar project with renewable energy specialist Crossflow Energy, which would allow the sites to be entirely powered by wind and solar energy. Coupled with the latest battery technology, the operator hopes that this solution could allow them to deploy sites in rural areas entirely unconnected to the local energy grid.

[the grumpy old men] 18/5/2022 10:35

Siemens Energy Mulls Buyout of Gamesa


Siemens Energy said it was considering a cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of Gamesa with the aim of delisting the wind-turbine maker.

[adrian j boris] 16/5/2022 08:22

Greencoat UK Wind PLC said Monday that it has agreed to acquire a 12.5% stake in Hornsea 1, the world's largest offshore wind farm, from Global Infrastructure Partners for 400 million pounds ($490.6 million).

The renewable infrastructure fund said that the acquisition is for a total enterprise value of GBP1.1 billion after including GBP0.7 billion of limited recourse debt.

Greencoat expects to fund the acquisition from cash flow and its revolving credit facility. The deal is expected to complete in the third quarter.

"This transaction, once completed, will add another high quality operating asset to our portfolio and increase our net generating capacity to over 1.6GW," Chairman Shonaid Jemmett-Page said.

Hornsea 1 has a total generation capacity of 1.2 gigawatts and is located in the U.K. North Sea. It is 50% owned and operated by Danish offshore wind developer Oersted AS and 50% owned by U.S. investment fund GIP.



Write to Jaime Llinares Taboada at [e-mail]; @JaimeLlinaresT



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 16, 2022 03:01 ET (07:01 GMT)

[waldron] 12/5/2022 16:32

RIGZONE


TotalEnergies Starts Work On First Offshore Wind Farm Off France
by Eldina Jahic
|
Rigzone Staff
|
Thursday, May 12, 2022

TotalEnergies Starts Work On First Offshore Wind Farm Off France


French energy major TotalEnergies has started construction of the Eolmed project, operated by Qair and in which TotalEnergies has a 20 percent stake.

This 30 MW project is located some 12 miles off the coast of Gruissan and Port la Nouvelle. The start of production is expected by 2024.

The wind farm will consist of three 10 MW wind turbines mounted on steel floats and connected to the French Electricity Transmission Network by an underwater cable.

According to Total, the project meets the objectives of the partners to ensure its good environmental integration and to promote the know-how of the Occitanie Region thanks to the involvement of all the stakeholders.

Eolmed is part of the Occitanie Region's strategy to relocate industrial production – the consortium has chosen a joint venture formed by Matière and Ponticelli to produce the floats in Bagnac-sur-Célé and Port-la-Nouvelle. This joint venture will benefit from the port's new infrastructure and will mobilize more than 600,000 man-hours of work across Occitania.

This project is part of TotalEnergies’ strategy to develop floating wind energy, which allows access to deeper sites, further from the coast, and to take advantage of greater wind resources. The company is developing this technology in France and abroad through several projects at different stages of development:

In France, in addition to the Eolmed project in the Mediterranean Sea, TotalEnergies is participating in a tender in Brittany to develop a floating wind farm with Green Investment Group and Qair.

In South Korea, TotalEnergies is developing a portfolio of over 2 GW of floating offshore wind with Green Investment Group. As for the UK, the company is developing the 96 MW Erebus project in the Celtic Sea with its partner Simply Blue Energy,

In the U.S., the French company launched the TotalEnergies SBE U.S. joint venture with Simply Blue Group to contribute to the growth of floating wind in the country.

“We are proud to contribute through Eolmed to France’s development in floating offshore wind, a very promising segment in which TotalEnergies notably brings its extensive experience in offshore projects. Together with our partners, we will mobilize our know-how and our best resources to meet the technological and industrial challenges of this project, which meets the dual objective of developing local content while providing renewable energy,” said Olivier Terneaud, VP Offshore Wind at TotalEnergies.

To contact the author, email [e-mail]

[maywillow] 02/5/2022 08:54

Vestas Cuts Guidance and Books Hefty Writedowns on Russia, Ukraine Business
02 Mai 2022 - 08:14AM
Dow Jones News


By Dominic Chopping



Vestas Wind Systems AS late Sunday cut its full-year guidance after announcing hefty write-downs on its Russia and Ukraine business, higher warranty provisions and impairment losses on legacy offshore activities.

"The business environment worsened significantly during the first quarter of 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the associated ripple effects on global trade and cost inflation," Vestas said.

"At the same time, we have seen lockdowns in China that will continue to impact the wind-power industry throughout 2022, together with increased cost inflation for raw materials, wind-turbine components and energy prices."

In total, Vestas booked 565 million euros ($595.5 million) of one-off costs in the quarter, in addition to EUR195 million of warranty provisions caused by increasing repair and upgrade costs of offshore wind turbines.

The Danish wind-turbine maker said it recognized EUR401 million of costs following its decision to withdraw from the Russian market while stopping all service and construction activities in Ukraine.

The costs relate to inventory located in Russia and Ukraine that isn't expected to be sold, as well as assets such as buildings and equipment in Russia that have been written down to zero as they aren't expected to be used or sold, the company said.

Further costs of EUR183 million were booked in relation to an adjustment of its manufacturing footprint by ceasing production at certain factories in China and India, the company said.

Vestas posted a first-quarter net loss of EUR765 million, compared with a loss of EUR68 million a year earlier, as revenue rose 27% to EUR2.49 billion.

Analysts in a FactSet poll had expected a net loss of EUR89 million on revenue of EUR2.37 billion.

Order intake rose to EUR3.0 billion from EUR1.6 billion, while the total turbine and service order backlog reached EUR48.9 billion, compared with EUR44.7 billion, the company said.

For 2022, the company said it now expects revenue of between EUR14.5 billion and EUR16.0 billion, compared with previous guidance of between EUR15.0 billion and EUR16.5 billion, and a pre-items earnings before interest and taxes margin of -5% to 0%, compared with 0% to 4% previously.

Service revenue is expected to grow by at least 10%, compared with previous guidance of around 5%, with a pre-items service Ebit margin of around 23%, compared with 25% previously, the company said.

It said it still anticipates total investments of around EUR1 billion for the year.



Write to Dominic Chopping at [e-mail]



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 02, 2022 02:59 ET (06:59 GMT)

[waldron] 29/4/2022 13:58

Shell PLC said Friday that it will buy India's Solenergi Power Private Ltd. for $1.55 billion, and that the transaction also encompasses the Sprng Energy group of companies.

The U.K. oil-and-gas company said that its subsidiary, Shell Overseas Investment BV, has signed an agreement with Actis Solenergi Ltd., and that it expects the transaction to close later in 2022.

Shell said that Sprng Energy supplies solar and wind power to India's electricity distribution companies. The acquired solar-and-wind assets will triple its present renewable capacity in operation, the company said.

"This deal positions Shell as one of the first movers in building a truly integrated energy transition business in India," it said. "Sprng Energy's strengths can combine with Shell India's thriving customer-facing gas and downstream businesses to create even more opportunities for growth."

Shares at 1210 GMT were down 4.50 pence, or 0.2%, at 2,180.50 pence.



Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at [e-mail]



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 29, 2022 08:36 ET (12:36 GMT)

[waldron] 27/4/2022 10:37

SSE PLC said Wednesday that it has formed a partnership with the renewable company of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. to participate in tenders for offshore wind projects in the Netherlands.

U.K. energy group SSE said the 50:50 partnership will participate in the Hollandse Kust (west) tenders, which are offering 1.4 gigawatts of power generation capacity.

Both companies view the Netherlands as a leading market for offshore wind development, supported by ambitious targets and a strong focus on innovation, SSE said.

Brookfield is a Canadian asset manager with around $690 billion of assets under management. Brookfield Renewable is its listed renewable power company.



Write to Jaime Llinares Taboada at [e-mail]; @JaimeLlinaresT



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 27, 2022 03:06 ET (07:06 GMT)

[waldron] 06/4/2022 06:55

BHP Signs Wind-Power Deal for Australian Nickel Operations


BHP Group Ltd. said it has now locked in enough renewable-energy supply to power its three major nickel operations in Western Australia from 2024.

[adrian j boris] 05/4/2022 12:06

Vestas Wind Systems climbed more than 9% in Copenhagen trading after the wind power group was upgraded to Outperform at Credit Suisse.


The Swiss bank highlighted that an energy crisis in the European Union added weight to the argument for increased wind power installations.

[waldron] 04/4/2022 20:28

Engie closes on financing for 665 megawatts of U.S. renewable projects


IEEFA April 4, 2022


Engie North America has successfully completed tax-equity financing and equity financing for renewables projects totalling 665MW.

The finance covers the Iron Star and Priddy wind farms plus the Hawtree solar park, which recently declared commercial operations.

The two wind projects located in Ford County, Kansas and Mills County, Texas, respectively, are owned by affiliates of Engie.

Iron Star comprises 62 4.8MW turbines and Priddy 63 4.8MW machines.

The 65MW Hawtree is located in Warren County, North Carolina.

The three projects were constructed during 2021 and early 2022.

[Staff Report]

[maywillow] 03/4/2022 10:45

SKY




Sophie Morris

Political reporter @itssophiemorris

Sunday 3 April 2022 10:15, UK



Sky News

Grant Shapps has pushed back against reported proposals to increase the number of onshore windfarms as the government prepares to unveil its energy security strategy next week.



The transport secretary told Sky News' Ridge on Sunday programme that onshore windfarms are "eyesores" and damage the environment, adding that he personally does not favour "a vast increase" in the number of them.





It had been reported that Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng wanted to double onshore wind power by 2030, and treble it by 2035.


Onshore wind farms 'an eyesore'




Looking ahead to the government's energy strategy reveal next week Mr Shapps told Sky News the government "will be looking for a greater mix to produce our energy", adding: "You might expect to see more nuclear reactors, nuclear power."

Asked if planning laws should be relaxed to allow for more onshore windfarms, the transport secretary said: "I don't favour a vast increase in onshore wind farms, for pretty obvious reasons - they sit on the hills there and can create something of an eyesore for communities as well as actual problems of noise as well.



"So I think for reasons of environmental protection, the way to go with this is largely, not entirely, but largely off-sea."


Pressed on whether that means the idea of a big increase in the number of onshore wind farms is effectively off the table for now, he added: "I'd urge you to wait for the energy strategy later in the week.

"But my thinking is what you really want to do is develop in other ways - nuclear, we will have offshore wind. I don't think you want a huge expansion of onshore wind.

"There may be cases where it makes sense, but I think by and large we've established... that offshore works very well. And by the way, it's providing quite a lot of our electricity already."

'More nuclear power' expected in energy plan

It comes as the The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported that Boris Johnson is preparing to announce plans to expand the government's commitment to move forward with new nuclear power stations this decade.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: "Next week we will set out an ambitious plan to supercharge our use of a diverse range of renewables including offshore wind, solar and hydrogen - all underpinned by nuclear and continued support for our North Sea oil and gas sector."

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News' Ridge on Sunday programme that the Labour party supports more investment in nuclear energy to help ease the rising cost of household bills.

He said: "We do support more nuclear in the system alongside that development of renewables.

"I think the danger is that, frankly the individual commissioning decisions on nuclear reactors all depend on the price you can achieve - they can be very expensive if you haven't been able to get the right deal and the right private sector partners to do that."



Labour 'support more nuclear'

Meanwhile, following Mr Shapps earlier remarks, Conservative MP Alicia Kearns described herself as "probably one of the only people in the country who think onshore wind can be quite beautiful in its own way".

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Kearns stressed the need for the UK to "clean up" its energy supply chains, adding: "I will not have bloodstained panels essentially pollute our environment."

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Kwarteng acknowledged that while he would be comfortable living next to a set of wind turbines, that would not overrule any local dissent.

"It's not up to me, it doesn't matter what I think," he said.

"If there's a plan in a particular community, it's what they think that matters. It's not my aesthetic preference that's going to determine it."





Theresa Villiers, a former Tory cabinet minister, and several other MPs put forward ideas for further action during business, energy and industrial strategy questions on Tuesday.

Ms Villiers told the House of Commons: "The price cap, the cut in fuel duty and warm homes discount are providing vital help with bills, but will the government commit to further action domestically and internationally to try to get energy prices down to help pensioners and other vulnerable groups?"

Business secretary Mr Kwarteng replied: "[She] is absolutely right to identify this as an issue and that's why we're working not only within this government, but across G7 partners to make sure that we get energy supply, diverse sources of supply which can keep prices down."

[sarkasm] 28/3/2022 13:24

Danish renewable-energy company Orsted AS said Monday that it has agreed to sell a 50% stake in its Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm in the U.K. to a French consortium for 3 billion pounds ($3.95 billion).

The consortium comprises AXA IM Alts and Credit Agricole Assurances, who will each own a 25% stake in the project.

Orsted said Hornsea 2 is currently under construction and will become the world's largest offshore wind farm once commissioned later in 2022. With a capacity of 1.3 gigawatts, it will provide enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 1.3 million homes annually.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, once the wind farm is fully commissioned and customary regulatory approvals are obtained.

Orsted said the deal doesn't change its financial guidance for 2022.



Write to Dominic Chopping at [e-mail]



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 28, 2022 07:21 ET (11:21 GMT)

[the grumpy old men] 27/3/2022 16:38

Minister: We should consider free power for those living near new wind farms

Press Association

Sam Blewett and Richard Wheeler, PA Political Staff

27 March 2022, 11:34 am

Energy bills for people living near onshore wind farms could be slashed under new reforms, according to a Cabinet minister.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi also suggested he supports more onshore wind farms but only if they are backed by the local community.

Boris Johnson has committed to publishing a British energy security strategy although when asked about onshore wind farms, the Prime Minister stressed there is a “massive opportunity” for the UK with offshore wind.

Wind turbine sizes
(PA Graphics)

Mr Johnson has also argued that investing in domestic nuclear and renewable energy could be the key to establishing a standalone energy policy as the country seeks to move away from Russian oil and gas supplies following the invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Zahawi told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “I would say that if we are going to make sure that we carry the will of local people, whether it’s onshore wind or nuclear, we have to learn from how it’s done well in other countries.

“The way you do that is to make sure the local community has a real say.

“But also we’ve seen great examples of other people where if they build a nuclear power station, within a certain radius of that power station they get free power.

“So it’s right to look at innovation to make sure we wean ourselves off hydrocarbons, we have to do that, we have to do that well, part of that is making sure we look after the will of the local people.”

Mr Zahawi insisted there “isn’t a row” around the Cabinet table about onshore wind.