Author: Francesco Miceli
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Risk & contingencies – a brief introduction
One of the hot topics frequently discussed in the creation of the budget for big projects is the appropriate contingency level and how to estimate it. My colleague Giuseppe had found an interesting paper online that has been the starting point for this post. So, what are contingencies? Some far reaching definitions consider different typologies…
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Blades installation: more options than you might think
How are the blades of the wind turbines installed? Although in general each wind turbine model has only one installation procedure, several technical alternatives have been developed through the years. The quicker and easier method is probably to assembly the rotor on the ground. The three blades are connected to the hub and then lifted…
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Do not trust me: reliance of data in EPCs
EPC contracts frequently include a clause on the reliance of data. It has several formulations, but it usually looks something like this: “Employer-Provided Information has been made available for reference only. The Employer makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness and reliability of any information, data, statement in the Employer-Provided Information.” The objective is…
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BoP strikes back: the increasing relevance of Balance of Plant
A key difference between combined cycle plants and wind or solar plants is the CAPEX / OPEX distribution. According on recent data of the American Department of Energy, for a combined cycle plant the CAPEX will be only around 25%, being the overwhelming majority of the investment in operational costs (that is, fuel) and maintenance….
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Automatic cost estimator – the Holy Grail of BoP
Yesterday I had the pleasure to drink an overpriced coffe (2,90€ for an Espresso? Really?) with my good friend José Ramón. He told me that I’m not writing on the blog often enough so I’ve decided to make an effort and find some time to write this post. The subject I have selected is an evergreen…
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Plate bearing test for wind farm roads & hardstands
Plate bearing test (also known as “plate load”) is one of the in situ investigations most frequently used during the construction of wind farms. Its objective is to confirm that roads and hardstands meet the minimum requirements for compaction and bearing capacity. Basically, it is performed pushing a steel plate against the material to be…
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Technical requirements and tests for wind farm roads and hardstands
Two readers asked me how to assess the quality of the civil works in a wind farm. This is a very broad topic and it requires some previous knowledge in geotechnics and road construction. However, I think that someone might found useful an introductory article with some of the requirements that I would recommend to…
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A soft spot for BoP: the soft-spot foundation
The soft spot foundation is another interesting technical solution that appeared in the marked some years ago. Basically, it is similar to a standard shallow foundation with a certain amount of a foamy, soft material just in the middle below the anchor cage. I understand that different alternative materials can be used, being a standard…
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Circular economy: use of wind turbines blades as combustible and mix material for cement production
One of the future challenges of wind energy is to find a solution to recycle old blades from decommissioned wind turbines. In this post I will try to summarize several possible alternatives and to describe in detail what I think is currently the best option: to use them as a component for the production of…
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Lightning protection of wind turbine blades
I have received a question from a reader regarding blades damaged by lightning. Specifically, the blade has been damaged before commissioning. At first sight the consequences could be less significant than usual, above all if the main crane is still on site and there is a set of spare blades available as happens frequently in…