10 renewable energy focus November/December 2008

Company showcase

Bodycote tests wind turbine bladesSweden-based Bodycote Materials Testing European Technology has used its aerospace

experience to develop a unique and compact

system for the ultrasonic inspection of wind turbine

blades manufactured using composite materials.

Windblast, reports the company, is a fast and

reliable system for inspecting the non-flat areas of

blades, including the leading and trailing edges.

Ultrasonic waves in the MHz range are used to

detect defects.

Dr Christophe Mattei headed the development

team from Bodycote: “Due to their geometry and

size, wind turbine blades are difficult to inspect

for porosity and delaminations in the skin of

the blade, as well as the lack of adhesion to the

bonded parts of the wind power blades”.

Windblast, Mattei reports, is made up of a

motorised scanner with an ultrasonic transducer

that moves quickly over the inspection surface.

The sensor can be configured for different blade

areas and blade shapes.

DuPont introduces Solamet PV159 for PV DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM), part of

DuPont Electronic Technologies has introduced

Solamet PV159, a thick-film metallisation paste

for front-side PV solar cell metallisation. The

company claims that its advanced material has

outperformed competitive metallisation pastes

in a wide range of processes, and in trials by

customers around the world.

The company says Solamet PV159 provides

up to 0.5% efficiency improvement on wafers

with shallower emitters, compared to standard

wafers, with substantial improvements also

shown on many other wafer/emitter types. The

product is also said to have a more favourable

environmental profile, as it is made without

cadmium as an ingredient.

Alanod invests in enhanced solar coilAlanod GmbH, based in Ennepetal, Germany, has invested in a modern

coil-to-coil lacquering line, and a further vacuum-coating line. Lacquers are

used to produce weather-resistant reflector and absorber surfaces in the solar

industry.

The company specialises in surface treatment of coil aluminium, first with

anodised products and also with coil-to-coil PV layer systems.

The coil-to-coil lacquering line technology has been tested thoroughly

through extensive research and development in a pilot plant over the last

two years. This line is expected to provide an annual capacity of about 2,500

tonnes, reports the company.

The new lacquering line is expected to begin production in April/May 2009.

By the end of 2009, Alanod says it will invest in a fifth vacuum coating line,

adding to the four lines already in operation.

PV Cycle aims for DoubleGreen While it will be another 10 years before large-

scale PV series reach the end of their lifespan, the

PV industry is already planning a voluntary take-

back and recycling scheme.

PV Cycle was founded in Brussels in July 2007 to

help make PV energy more sustainable. Today, 26

companies representing around 70% of Europe’s

PV industry have joined the organisation. They

are working to create a scheme to reduce the

demand for raw materials and recycle most of the

materials used.

PV Cycle is planning to implement the scheme in key

markets as of spring 2009, together with an effective

monitoring system. To do so, the company aims

to include all European PV module manufacturers,

importers and wholesalers in Europe.

Jan Clyncke, MD, PV Cycle, said, “full market

representation is key to ensuring the credibility

and effectiveness of our programme. Joining

DoubleGreen today will give new members the

opportunity to shape the scheme and make it an

exemplary business model.”

Centrosolar supplies Romanian national park with PV Hamburg-based Centrosolar AG has supplied solar modules to Rezetat

National Park in Romania’s southern Carpathian region. The PV installation

provides power for a refuge in a nature reserve.

The park, in the Rezetat Mountains, covers an area of 381 km2. The region

is not connected to the public power grid, as interference in the park’s

environment is prohibited, so PV modules are said to be the only option.

Centrosolar has provided crystalline modules from the company’s Solara

S-Series, with a capacity of 125 Wp. The solar generator provides 500 W

p and

in summer generates up to 2.5 kWh of power per day. The solar inverter is a

Studer Sinus producing 500 W.

Centrosolar’s partner LP Electric srl, located in Alba Iulia, Romania, handled

the transaction, including plant installation. LP sells and installs power plants

using renewable energy sources

New fund to invest in South Africa cleantechInspired Evolution Investment Management

has launched South Africa’s first ever clean

technology investment fund. The Evolution One

Fund is a 10-year private equity fund, targeted

to grow to ZAR 1 billion (South African rands) by

mid-July 2009. To date the fund has raised ZAR

400 million from four core international investors:

the International Finance Corporation

(World Bank), Castleway Properties, the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets, and

the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation.

With regard to investment, particular attention

will be paid to small, medium and micro-

enterprises; broad-based black economic

empowerment; and the transformation benefits

of underlying investment projects.

Dr Zuko Kubukeli, executive director of Inspired

Evolution, said, “having raised ZAR 400 million

from our core international investors, we are now

targeting a second round of international and

local investors.”

Principle Power signs for floating offshore wind power plantSeattle, Washington-based independent power producer Principle Power, Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Tillamook Intergovernmental Development Agency (TIDE) for the phased

development of a 150 MW floating offshore wind power plant off the coast of

Tillamook County, Oregon, USA.

The technology used by Principle Power – the WindFloat – was conceived by

Marine Innovation & Technology, and is exclusively licensed by Principle

Power. The WindFloat floating foundation for offshore wind turbines is said

to dampen wave and turbine motion, enabling wind turbines to be sited

in previously inaccessible locations with superior wind resource. The plant’s

location will be selected with the participation of local stakeholders.

Alla Weinstein, ceo of Principle Power, said, “upon fabrication of the WindFloat

structures, full assembly is completed onshore. This provides for practical

deployment to offshore locations, lowers costs and reduces weather dependence.”