Green Manufacturer - July/August 2010

Direct-Drive Nacelle

Yaw Systems
Hub
Main
Shaft
Yaw System
Mounting
Locations
Fiberglass
(epoxy resin)
Blades
Tower

3 Independent
Blade Pitch
Systems
(w/emergency
electrical supply)

Single Row
Cylindrical
Roller Bearing
Tower
Direct-Drive,
Synchronous
Annular
Generator /
Stator

Figure 3

The rotor hub assembly in a direct-drive nacelle drives the generator directly without the need for a gear train. Image courtesy of ENERCON.

United States - Wind Resource Map

Tier 1s, such as blade and tower facilities, subsequently have sited themselves in the same wind corridors to increase logistics efficiency.

The utility-grade wind energy industry has not been immune to the negative economic climate. Supply chain activity is down as OEMs prepare themselves for the projected increases in activity in late 2010 and 2011.

In light of this, now is the time for fabricators to investigate market opportunities to better equip themselves to reap the benefits that utility-grade wind energy manufacturing has to offer.

Get;additional;information;by;attend-ing one of the many supply chain events being sponsored in North America by organizations;such;as;the;Great;Lakes Wind Network, American Wind Energy Association;(AWEA),;and;the;FMA;Com-munications;Green;Manufacturer;Net-work.

Dale W. Reckman is director, field services, for the Great Lakes Wind Network, 4855 W. 130th St., Ste. 1, Cleveland, OH 44135, 216-588-1440, dreckman@glwn.org, www. glwn.org. The Great Lakes Wind Network is a nonprofit organization that connects manufacturers in the utility-grade wind energy supply chain.