Class of 2013

The Class of 2013 studies the changing energy landscape, from the shale gas revolution to the solar revolution to the industrial internet revolution, and everything in between. You’ll enjoy reading what the executives are doing to navigate their companies through these challenging times.

We are pleased and proud to present our 14th Class of the Millennium.

Mario Azar profiles Siemens Flex-Plant™ portfolio serving diverse markets in the Americas on page 4. He sees the US market shifting to independent developers competing for off-take agreements. In Latin America, Siemens opened offices in Mexico and Brazil.

Panda Power Funds Todd Carter tells us on page 5 that their mission statement is “Evolve or Die.” Since its founding in 2010, Panda is developing the Sherman and Temple Generating station in Texas. It has developed the 20 megawatt Pilesgrove Solar Farm.

Dave Walsh outlines Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas growth over the past 12 years on page 6. It involved building manufacturing facilities in Orlando, FL, Savannah, GA and Houston, TX. Walsh also commented on the Pratt-Whitney Power Systems acquisition.

Keith Manning on page 7 sees a huge increase in petrochemical, process and power industry projects from the shale gas revolution expected to surge in the next five years. Zachry recently acquired J. V. Industrial Companies, bringing Zachry’s workforce to over 20,000 at hundreds of sites. Zachry’s Freeport LNG project is moving forward with detailed design and construction set for 2014.

Hitachi Power Systems Americas Udo Zirn believes that 10 to 12 combined cycle plants will be built in the US each year over the next five years, both greenfield and brownfield. He further states on page 8 that the plants will be smaller combined cycle plants, replacing municipal and coop coal plants smaller than 200 megawatts.

With over 6,995 units and more than 14 million available operational field hours, Advanced Energy’s uptime averages 99.77 percent, Mike Dooley shares on page 9. Advanced Energy partners with the DOE on the SEGIS-AC program to test and develop new technologies for challenges facing high PV penetration into today’s electrical grid.

3M’s Renewable Energy Division was formed in 2009 to take advantage of breakthrough innovations to create new products in renewable energy, Tracy Anderson tells us on page 10. In solar, they’re increasing watts from panels. In wind they introduced a bonding adhesive for wind turbine blades and in transmission 3M’s ACCR technology can double the capacity of overhead lines.

REFUsol is manufacturing its three-phase inverters in Greenville, SC, Ben Driver said on page 11. The inverters meet ARRA, Section 1605 provisions. It will begin manufacturing large central inverters by the end of the year. The Greenville plant was opened last year and is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.

The discovery of the Eagle Ford shale oil deposits has dramatically lifted the fortunes of the Port of Corpus Christi, John LaRue tells us on page 12. The port is blessed with 20,000 acres of land, deep water channels and good rail and road connections to handle the expected increase in traffic.

The world is on the threshold of a new era of innovation and change with the rise of the industrial internet, Karl Fessenden predicts on page 13. The industrial internet starts with embedding sensors and other advanced instrumentation in an array of machines. GE estimates $32 trillion in economic activity from the industrial internet.

Jason You addresses ongoing challenges in solar including space limitation, lighter weight for panels and racking systems. LG Electronics USA introduced three innovative technologies outlined on page 14 to meet these objectives and continue the impressive growth in solar expected to rise 70 percent in 2013.

Over eight million electrical utility customers lost power during Hurricane Sandy, Uwe Schmiemann tells us on page 15. He gives examples of CHP plants keeping the power on at hospitals, universities and Atlantic City casinos.

Upsolar offers PV modules systems and power plants in more than 20 countries, Zhe Jiang shares on page 16. His target is to sustain a healthy growth rate between 20-30 percent each year and is exploring new manufacturing partnerships in Germany, Italy and Greece.

Roger Stark writes on page 17 that renewables need a policy framework that acknowledges their central role in achieving resource diversity, energy security and environmental sustainability. With suitable policy reforms, renewables promise to keep the U.S. on a path to a balanced resource portfolio. Without such reforms, we risk sliding into an all gas economy, with all the fuel price volatility and peak air risks that come with it.

Joe Thomas comments on Mage Solar’s policy of partnering with integrators, financing brokers and Solar Bridge to bring its modules to market on page 18. Mage also operates a Solar Academy that has graduated over 1,000 students from around the world.

World-Gen was invited by Scottish Development International to attend the “Offshore Wind and Supply Chain Conference and Exhibition” in Aberdeen in January. Prime Minister Alex Salmond spoke of how Scotland leads the EU in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He reset the renewable target at 50 percent by 2015, and 100 percent by 2020 on page 19.