Wind Energy Factoids 3

Add comment February 28th, 2009

There are up to 8,000 component parts in a wind turbine and include:

Rotor,

Nacelle and controls,

Gearbox aand drive train,

Generator and power electronics,

Tower,

Electrical collection system

See previous post here…  Wind

Wind Energy Factoids 2

Add comment February 27th, 2009

According to BC Research, Wellesley, MA, the domestic U.S. market value of wind turbine components and systems:

2007 market value of $7.9 billion

2008 estimated market value os $11.2 billion

2013 estimated value will reach $60.9 billion

Compound Annual Growth rate Expected to be 40%

See previous post here…  Wind

Wind Energy Factoids 1

Add comment February 27th, 2009

At the recent Wind Energy Initiative, some interesting facts were presented, here are a few:

20 Turbines per day were installed in Europe during 2008.

The U.S. leads the world in installed capacity of wind energy, but only 1.5% of electricity is produced from it.

Denmark, while a much smaller country, has 20% of its electricity produced from wind.

During 2008, the U.S. increased its capacity of wind energy production by 50% and added 35,000 new jobs.

Here is a recent press release from the American Wind Energy Association that explains some of the current market and capacity trends…  AWEA

Good or Bad for Business?

Add comment February 26th, 2009

Will this be good or bad for our local economy and especially manufacturing which comprises 21% of the workforce…

Good/Bad?

Mr. Roboto at RVC

1 comment February 26th, 2009

Persons interested in 21st automation can now get a chance for hands-on training at Rock Valley College. A recent addition to the Technology Center is a training robot that has the same programming interface of its industrial cousins. The robot was on hand at the College and Career night during Engineering Week. Various courses will use the robot and 12 seats of the simulator program for people interested in robotics and certification. Currently, RVC is unique, being one of two Community Colleges to have such a device. Local enthusiasts can now take courses at RVC utilizing the industrial robot. Certification training can prepare someone for a job for those who want to make money in this growing field.

Researchers, tinkerers, and enthusiasts are pushing the future of robot capability like the Kitchen Cleaning Robot Challenge (http://www.gizmag.com/kitchen-cleaning-readybot-robot/8913/ ) as seen below. 

GROUP ENERGIZED by WIND

3 comments February 26th, 2009

The Wind Energy Initiative of the Rock River Valley convened with a stellar updraft, hosting 70 energetic participants (no pun intended, well maybe). Discussions focused on growing the participation of local manufacturers in the WIND supply chain to additional companies in the region. The WEI committee envisions the region getting smarter about the requirements to be a world class wind supplier. Ideally, a company or companies would take the lead as integrator of subsystems that other companies could support to develop a Rockford-based supply chain. One current bottleneck for the success of “big wind” is the transmission or powertrain. The Rockford-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor is rich in experience and expertise in this area. Our region is a natural to participate. We just have to make the connections. Once the pathway is clear the WEI committee envisions working with local, state, and federal resources to eliminate stumbling blocks to meet that goal.There are many ways for the region’s companies to come up to speed. Many partnering and consultative options exist. Also, there are many conferences and trade shows to participate in. One upcoming event is the Windpower Expo in May in Chicago. ( http://www.windpowerexpo.org/ )

The WEI committee has organized a followup meeting to discuss these options and refine a focus for the region. The next meeting is 8:00-10:00 am, March 10, at the EIGERlab. Any company is welcome to participate.

The WEI was a committee formed from the Manufacturer’s Council of the Rockford Chamber. The group was a model of what a committee can accomplish in the 21^stcentury. I applaud the efforts of the team which includes: Tom  Austin, Melesia Boyer, Ellwyn Englof,  Pete Gustafson, Richard Hrynkow, Mark Lietz,  Mike Molander, Daniel Otho, and Mark Podemski.

Anyone interested in the next meeting of the WEI on March 10, 2009 can contact Richard Hrynkow at  815-395-6626.  

What this Country Needs

Add comment February 26th, 2009

OK, so I read AARP (if you don’t know what this is, well, I guess you’re not old enough).  I saw this article about one on my favorite leaders of the past.  Leadership

He’s done it before, so can his ideas do it again?  Remember, I suggested him before.  Read on…. Lee

Iowa does it Again in Wind

2 comments February 26th, 2009

I attended the Wind Energy Seminar this morning which I found very valuable in understanding the industry and what it takes to be a supplier to this growing industry.  I’ll have more later.

The session was well attended by maybe 70-80 participants including 2 men from Sweden who I don’t know.

As the presenters talked through the various issues, first I heard that Ohio funded an exploratory group to determine what was necessary to utilize their people in this industry.

Then I heard that the state of Iowa assisted the closed Maytag facility to help them enter the Wind market.  Well, I couldn’t contain myself and when I mentioned the story about IBM and Iowa (see here… IBM ) one of the Swedish men said that his company too, tried to get the state of Illinois to assist and all he got was a big zero.

Now I realize that both of these comments are a bit short on details, but the trend seems to me to be clear…if we as a region are going to prosper in the manufacturing field and take advantage of opportunities, we are simply going to need more involvement of the State of Illinois and funding capabilities.

We can’t keep losing opportunities because we are unable or unwilling to “join the party”.

We need to make the appropriate connections to see that we get any and all funding that is available.

Oh, by the way, Richard Hrynkow, Workforce Connection, explained how he got involved with this Wind Project.  In his job there, he sees skilled workers OUT OF WORK that meet the skill requirement for this industry.

So much for Rockford not having the skills….

Stimulus Jobs-Where will they be?

Add comment February 26th, 2009

Check them out here…

Jobs

Aerospace Manufacturing Center in Rockford

2 comments February 25th, 2009

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today announced he has secured $300,000 in federal funds to help establish a new training and research center at the Chicago-Rockford International Airport to help spur more careers in the promising aerospace manufacturing industries locally. The funding was included in an appropriations bill the House approved this afternoon. A Senate vote is scheduled for tomorrow.

The Aerospace Manufacturing Education and Research Center will be established on the grounds of the airport to support programs that develop, recruit and help grow the aerospace manufacturing community in the Rockford region. It will be a public-private partnership between the EIGERlab in Rockford, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Northern Illinois University (NIU), Rock Valley College (RVC), and other aerospace related manufacturing businesses in the region.

“Aerospace manufacturing has a bright future in the Rockford region, and the new education and training center at the airport will help build progress quickly,” Manzullo said. “This federal funding will be put to great use training our young people and researching new technologies in this advanced growth market. It will spur jobs for generations to come.”

Manzullo said Rockford is quickly becoming an “aerospace cluster” with advanced technology and production occurring at Hamilton Sundstrand, Woodward, Acument Aerospace, Smiths Aerospace (GE Aviation), Ingenium Aerospace, Kaney Aerospace, and smaller suppliers to the industry, such as Superior Joining Technologies in Loves Park, Forest City Gear in Roscoe, and many others. The aerospace market represents one of the biggest growth markets for our manufacturers, as the worldwide number of airplanes is expected to double from 18,000 today to more than 35,000 by 2024.