Post on 01-Apr-2015
Presentation Overview
• Bigger Machines
• Modular Tower Systems (MTS)
• Transportation Restrictions
• Flexible site Management
• Standardized Transportation Loads
• Cost Benefits and Comparisons
Is BIGGER always better?
• Larger wind turbines – 2.5 MW – 3 MW w/ 100 meter rotors
• Larger Tower– 70 – 100 meters– 100 – 200 tons
• Larger Trucks– Custom heavy haul trailers
Is BIGGER always better? (Cont.)
• Larger Cranes– 400 – 600 ton crawlers with 400’ booms
• This all equals more efficient turbines…
But also:
• More expensive transportation and installation
• Over length – 85’• Over width – 14’ • Over height – 14’• Over weight – 115,000 lbs• Painted surfaces prone to scratch = RUST• Tower is often an afterthought by the
turbine manufactures
Tower Transportation today
Base section 80m tower
TRANSPORTATIONConventional 80m Tower:
• Over Length / Over Width / Over Height / Over Weight• Cost: $60-80K for 500 Miles Transportation
MTS:• Ships Via Standard Flatbed Trailers• Cost Savings on Freight: 50-70%
MTS: Modular Tower Systems- Broad Market Application- Mimics Industry Standard Tapered
Design- Increased Bottom Diameter Options- Conventional Crane Installation- Low Freight Costs- Multiple Coating Options- ‘Simple’, Low-Labor Content
MTS PRIMARY COMPONENTS
T-FLANGES TRANSITION CASTING
PETAL FRICTION PLATE
PETALS
• Allows For Very Large Diameters• Enables Increased Tower Heights• Opportunity To Use Lower Strength Steel (A-36)• Dependent Upon Use Of Bolted Connections• Can Be Galvanized• Thickness Range: 3/8”-1” For Towers Up To 2.5MW/80m
FRICTION PLATES
• Bolted Friction Connection• Excellent Fatigue Characteristics• Commonly Used in Bridge Construction World Wide• Allows for Complete Installation from Inside the Tower
T-FLANGES
• Segmented Base Flange Design• Addresses Freight & Field Installation Objectives• Standard Anchor Bolt Connection to Foundation• Friction Plate Connection to Tower
TRANSITION CASTING
• Cast Design• Solves Geometry Transition Issues• Mates Seamlessly with Turbine Base Flange• Most Technically Complex Component of MTS Design
WIND ENERGY
WIND ENERGY
Hub height: 65 meters
Weight: 220.000 lbs
Sections: 4
Petals per section: 4
Standard trucks: 7
First installation: December 2nd 2005
Competitive Advantages
• Standard transportation to site– $70,000 vs. $16,000 (500 miles)
• Site assembly– Less than $9,000 per tower
• Tower price FOB factory– Same or lower than conventional
Competitive Advantages (Cont.)
• Tower Installation– 4 sections vs. 3 sections
• Savings are site dependent
• Faster lead time than conventional towers
• Working closely with Developers and Manufactures to optimize savings.
Recent Market Trends
• Surging fossil fuel prices put alternatives in the spotlight
• With low volatility, wind is becoming interesting to large utilities
• Disruption of the U.S. oil production as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Rita has put upward pressure on the oil prices
Recent Market Trends (Cont.)
• Elevated natural gas price and high volatility plus political initiatives, should spur broader interest for alternative energy among U.S. utilities.
• Wind is currently the lowest cost alternative• Declining interest rates will improve wind energy
competitiveness further.