Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Member Helical Robotics, launches new Robotic Platform

Helical Robotics, Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance member since early 2011, has announced the launch of a new mobile robotic platform  that has the ability to effortlessly navigate almost any ferromagnetic surface.  Based in Oregon, Wisconsin, Helical specializes in creating unique robotic platforms that has the ability to conform to any solid surface and travel in any direction.  The primary usage of the platforms is servicing wind turbines, as the unique design can navigate along a wind tower or airfoil for servicing.  

The launch of the HR-1000LL mobile robotic platform released this week offers multi-directional potential and increased carrying and lifting capacity, allowing for greater capacity to service wind towers.  The platform can assist inspection, repair and cleaning of wind towers. 

Read more on the new platform in the company's press release and at www.helicalrobotics.com.  And, see a video of the HR-1000LL platform in action. 

Alliance Member ABB Announces New Order for Electrical Equipment for 2 Texas Wind Farms

Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Member ABB announced Thursday January 5th a new $50 million dollar order from Electric Transmission Texas LLC (ETT) to provide electrical equipment to two Texas wind farms that will enhance the existing transmission grid.  

North American Wind Power magazine reports that "ABB will design, supply, install and commission four static VAR compensators (SVCs) at two sites."

In a company press release, Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division, explains that “ABB has a strong track record of delivering environmentally friendly SVC solutions around the world and we have a large installed base in the US."  

Expected to be complete by 2013, ABB will begin work soon.  "We are pleased to support the grid integration of clean wind power and help improve power reliability in the region.” Leupp reported in the company press release. 

With locations in Wisconsin and around the world, ABB has been a Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance member since the beginning of 2010.  Read the full press release at ABB.com.   

Developers Apply to Build Western Wisconsin Large Wind Farm

This week developers Emerging Energies submitted permitting applications to the Public Service (PSC) Commission to built a large wind farm in Western Wisconsin.  The 41-turbine, 102.5 - megawatt project in the St. Croix County towns of Forest and Cylon is the first application to the PSC in more than two years. 

William Rakocy, founding member of Emerging Energies, based in Hubertus, WI, reports in a recent article in the Wisconsin State Journal highlighting the development plans that the company is confident about the project. 

Current conversations are being held within the PSC on siting rules for wind farms in Wisconsin, and this application could offer some clarity into the direction of these conversations. 

According to formal process of submitting applications, the PSC has 30 days to consider if the application is complete, then 360 days to make a decision. 

Wisconsin Wind Works will be following the process closely.  Read the full article in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Company to Specialize in Repairing Wind Turbine Gears

With the wind industry expanding across the country so will the need to repair gearboxes inside turbines.

A new company in Mukwonago, Gearbox Express has been formed to specialize in wind turbine gearbox replacement.

Currently the company is retrofitting a 43,000 square foot warehouse and expects to be operational by next year. The company has raised $1.8 million from investors and has been aided with a $1.8 million Small Business Administration loan along with a $3.4 million loan from the state of Wisconsin.

It is expected that Gearbox Express will create 100 jobs for the city of Mukwonago in a three year period.

Bruce Neumiller, the company's CEO said, "The firm will try to crave out a niche by having gearboxes ready to exchange and install at the same time the old gearbox is removed. That should result in cost savings for wind farm operator, who would need to bring in a crane only once rather than twice."

Alliance member Milwaukee Machine Works Highlights its recent purchase of a Leitz PMM-G

In this month's Cutting Tool Engineering Plus Magazine, Milwaukee Machine Works' (MMW) General Manager Mike Manna offers details on MMW's recent purchase of a Leitz PMM-G coordinate measuring machine from Hexagon Metrology Inc., North Kingstown, R.I.  

The machine, purchased to specifically support MMW's wind energy market division reportedly enhances the company's measurement accuracy for quicker and more concise measurements. 

The investment is expected to bring new opportunities to MMW, reports Manna. 

"Helping customers that require the capability of the PMM-G is a natural extension of what we already do,” Manna said. “Some of these large parts are used in machinery that is difficult to rework if there are problems after initial assembly. Installing a 20,000-lb. gearbox in a wind tower involves tremendous logistics. The corresponding costs to remove a gearbox from the tower are equally daunting. Measuring parts to assure you have made them to the engineering specification with additional accuracy assurance minimizes that risk.”

Read the full article on Milwaukee Machine Works in Cutting Tool Engineering Plus Magazine

'ATC files plan for $31 million Wisconsin-Illinois power line' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

American Transmission Co. on Thursday applied for state approval for a high-voltage power line that would cross into Illinois from Kenosha County.

The Pleasant Prairie-Zion Energy Center project would cost about $31 million and be built by 2014, under the utility’s plan.

The project, announced earlier this year, was one of several high-voltage power lines that company included in a $3.8 billion to $4.4 billion 10-year planning document it released last week.  

Depending on the route selected, the 345,000-volt line would extend 5.3 to 5.8 miles between the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant and the substation at the Zion Energy Center, a natural gas-fired power plant built by Calpine Corp. in Zion, Ill.

Read the entire article on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's web site.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP to Host: 'Intellectual Property Protection in the Emerging Offshore Wind Energy Sector'

Alliance member Michael Best & Friedrich will host an upcoming session on Intellectual Property Protection during the upcoming AWEA Offshore Windpower Conference and Exhibit on Oct. 11-13th in Baltimore, MD.  The session will be held at the Hilton Baltimore in the Key Ballroom 9-10 on Oct. 12th in the West (Main) Building, 401 West Pratt Street, Second Floor, Baltimore, MD. 

Citing the recent claims from American Superconductor (AMSC) against Sinovel Wind Group Co. for "stolen intellectual property", IP protection is a timely subject for those in the wind market.  The emerging offshore opportunities in the United States will generate greater competition within the market as future sites are determined and incentives are organized around offshore wind PPA's, making it more and more important for those within the wind market to focus on IP protection. 

Also during the conference, Michael Best & Friedrich will host a poster presentation on 'Offshore Wind PPA's, the Ontario Feed-In Tariff, and the New Jersey OREC Program: Strong Government Support to Key Success'. 

To RSVP for the sessions and find out more information, contact Jocelyn Gomez of Michael Best & Friedrich at jagomez@michaelbest.com or 414-225.4964.