By Katherine Berezowskyj

AREVA Multibrid M5000 offshore wind turbines

Not too far from Copenhagen, AREVA is making sure that some progress in reducing CO2 emissions is a reality. AREVA, through its German subsidiary Multibrid, has installed and commissioned six of its specially designed offshore M5000 turbines.

Located in the North Sea, these AREVA turbines are part of the Alpha Ventus project, the first German offshore wind park nearly 28 miles from the Island of Borkum. This is a major achievement for renewable energy because of the technical merit and large energy output these wind turbines have successfully demonstrated.

These five megawatt M5000 turbines are specially designed for the harsh marine climate and are able to capitalize on these excellent wind conditions. Already the six Alpha Ventus turbines have generated almost 30 million kWh, including nearly 10 million kWh with 99% percent availability in the last two weeks of November.

AREVA is very proud and excited about these technical achievements and what the M5000 contributes to the offshore wind industry.

For more information, check out the press release and the AREVA Multibrid Site.

Renewable energy – It’s a hot theme right now as states look at their future energy options, and wind is considered an excellent solution for producing electricity while protecting the environment. Just yesterday, the Daily Press of Newport News wrote a piece about how the “prospect of harvesting energy from the steady wind off the coast of Virginia appears to be gaining momentum.”

With a much per unit larger capacity than its onshore cousins, offshore wind turbines are increasingly under consideration as states like Virginia look at renewable energy sources they want to see developed.

AREVA is part of this conversation too, with our continually maturing renewables portfolio. This includes our 5 MW offshore wind turbines which we design and manufacture through our Multibrid subsidiary at our facility in Germany. Today, six of these turbines have been installed at Germany’s first offshore wind farm.

As part of the article’s look at wind in Virginia, the Daily Press identified AREVA as one of the companies examining potential projects in Virginia. In fact, AREVA is considering possible locations for wind farms throughout North America, in particular along the U.S. East Coast and Great Lakes.

Regarding possibilities in Virginia “at this point it’s still exploratory. But based on what we see, there’s certainly the potential and opportunity here if the offshore wind market should move ahead in the U.S.,” said AREVA spokeswoman Denise Woernle.

Another dimension of the AREVA renewable portfolio is ADAGE, a joint-venture with Duke Energy. ADAGE is currently developing 50 MW biopower (biomass to electricity) plants for construction in the U.S. and has already announced its first proposed site for Hamilton County, Florida.

For more information about ADAGE and biopower, check out the site here.

To read the rest of the piece, check out Daily Press article here.

By Jarret Adams

Today’s announcement of a memorandum of understanding for 80 offshore wind turbines for AREVA’s subsidiary Multibrid signals a major step forward for our renewable business.  Apart from the fact that this will be a contract worth over $900 million for AREVA, it reinforces our position as a major player in the renewables sector.

These wind turbines will be located off the North Sea coast of Germany, but AREVA is looking for opportunities for new business at various locations in North America. Our company remains one of a handful capable of producing the 5 MW offshore wind turbines.

AREVA also is involved in other renewable sectors, such as biopower (biomass to electricity). We have constructed 100 biomass facilities around the world and are now looking to build more in the United States.

Last September, AREVA and Duke Energy formed ADAGE, a joint venture focused on providing biopower solutions to U.S. electricity customers. Since its formation, ADAGE has moved forward with the goal of building 10-12 facilities over the next six years. In February, ADAGE announced a preliminary agreement with Energy Northwest to market 50 MW biopower facilities in Pacific Northwest.

Developing solutions for power generations with a small environmental impact from renewables, such as wind and biomass, along with clean nuclear energy is a main focus of our business.